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Double Bass Kolstein Travel Bass
- Thread starter peterpalmieri
- Start date
Here is a video of me playing at church with no amp for those wondering what this bass sounds like
Seriously considering buying one of these instruments. For those who have flown with them: how many of you are flying with the rectangular "neck off" case, and how many are flying with the normal "mini-trunk with the neck still on" case and trying to pass it off as a cello?
Any and all experience with airlines reactions to these appreciated. Would of course prefer the "neck-on" option for convenience, but if I can get a working bass to another country either way, I'll be thrilled when I get there.
Any and all experience with airlines reactions to these appreciated. Would of course prefer the "neck-on" option for convenience, but if I can get a working bass to another country either way, I'll be thrilled when I get there.
Good idea to hit up Phil polumbi and Harvey S. Not either is active on TB
Great idea imo. It’s a great instrument.
- Dec 13, 1999
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- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
Sadly, I deactivated my FB account for personal reasons. It's inconvenient sometimes, but the piece of mind gained is priceless, so....
Good for you on FB
Being a kind of local Kolstein player. I’d say most of the folks that I do know of traveling are removing the neck. Maybe flying to Europe, giving it a good set up when they get there and travel via car or train with it assembled. Which means bringing a soft bag and being creative with packing other belongings in the case for the rest of the trip.
I haven’t heard details about more of a daily flight type tour to give any details.
When I talked to Barrie he said a lot of people were going with the regular assembled flight case, but that the cases could be bought separately from the basses for about $500 - I guess so you could have one for trips where you knew it would be OK to travel with the neck on and another for snarky airlines? He also said that the padded gig bag came standard with the bass and that most people traveled with it inside the case no matter which case they chose.
I think the "neck off" flight case makes more sense, if only because I don't trust airlines to have a consistent policy over time. Sure would be convenient not to have to take it down and put it up everywhere you went, though...
I think the "neck off" flight case makes more sense, if only because I don't trust airlines to have a consistent policy over time. Sure would be convenient not to have to take it down and put it up everywhere you went, though...
This a kind of struggle for all travel basses. There is a need for an ultra-thin soft case. My Chadwick is much better when not broken down. I've transported it bare in cars, which is weird but not so bad for tough Shen, this Kolstein bass is much more of a fine instrument. $500 is super reasonable for a flight case.
Getting ready to order one of these so I can get it in time for an upcoming international opportunity. Spoke to Barrie today and he's going to give me email info for Harvie S. and Phil P. so I can get travel details. Current price is a little more than I thought, but the chance to take my own instrument overseas is too good to pass up, and I've been miserable borrowing basses or playing fretless for concerts, so it seems like a good thing to do.
On the phone today Barrie said the mensure would be 41", and the price includes a 2 piece hard shell case, soft gig bag, and extra soft bag for the neck. Apparently he says Phil P. just checks the body and carries the neck on board in the soft bag. I guess it would limit me to a personal bag on the flight, but apparently Phil has been doing this for a while now and hasn't had any problems. Anybody have any questions I could throw in when I talk to Phil before I pull the trigger? I'm pretty convinced that it's the right thing to do because of the one I played in Ithaca, but if there are other considerations before I lay out a large chunk of change, please voice them now!
On the phone today Barrie said the mensure would be 41", and the price includes a 2 piece hard shell case, soft gig bag, and extra soft bag for the neck. Apparently he says Phil P. just checks the body and carries the neck on board in the soft bag. I guess it would limit me to a personal bag on the flight, but apparently Phil has been doing this for a while now and hasn't had any problems. Anybody have any questions I could throw in when I talk to Phil before I pull the trigger? I'm pretty convinced that it's the right thing to do because of the one I played in Ithaca, but if there are other considerations before I lay out a large chunk of change, please voice them now!
I used to play with Ira from time to time when I was a student at UMiami.
I've had my Kolstein Busetto bass for about 2 weeks now. I've used it on 5 of my jobs, and it has been a real treat to play! I haven't flown with it yet, but hope to this summer. Years ago I toured with a czech-ease, and this seems much more manageable size-wise and the tone and response is much more in line with my goals. 2 of the musicians I was joined by last week said that once we started playing, they would have thought it was a regular acoustic bass...and that's because it is!
The Kolstein setup is fantastic! The string length is a very comfortable 41 inches, and it has more acoustic tone, projection and volume than you'd expect possible. I won't expect it to cover a job with drums without an amp, but for small rehearsals it'll do the trick acoustic!
Logistically it's also been fantastic. I'm able to comfortably sit on a regular armless chair, so if you're used to sitting you don't need to lug around a tall stool. I've even been able to walk with ease into jobs in one trip with a backpack with an acoustic image 2-channel head, a tone Dexter, a vocal microphone, cables, a song book, a folding music stand and a mic stand. I carried the bass over my right should, and my mas45 cab in my left hand very comfortably!
I've also enjoyed being able to sit on my couch comfortably for a little more relaxed practice session!
In short... all the characteristics of a good carved instrument are there. They may not be quite as loud acoustically, but it's enough to satisfy, and give a very rewarding amplified or recorded sound. I'm excited and proud to own this instrument!
The Kolstein setup is fantastic! The string length is a very comfortable 41 inches, and it has more acoustic tone, projection and volume than you'd expect possible. I won't expect it to cover a job with drums without an amp, but for small rehearsals it'll do the trick acoustic!
Logistically it's also been fantastic. I'm able to comfortably sit on a regular armless chair, so if you're used to sitting you don't need to lug around a tall stool. I've even been able to walk with ease into jobs in one trip with a backpack with an acoustic image 2-channel head, a tone Dexter, a vocal microphone, cables, a song book, a folding music stand and a mic stand. I carried the bass over my right should, and my mas45 cab in my left hand very comfortably!
I've also enjoyed being able to sit on my couch comfortably for a little more relaxed practice session!
In short... all the characteristics of a good carved instrument are there. They may not be quite as loud acoustically, but it's enough to satisfy, and give a very rewarding amplified or recorded sound. I'm excited and proud to own this instrument!
Have had mine for a bit now and just recently got it set up closer to the way I like it. It played great out of the box with the Kolstein Heritage strings, but they are too low tension for me so mine now sports a set of Spiro reds that are gradually breaking in. I am pretty amazed at the amount of sound the little body puts out acoustically, and the way the top and back hum when I dig in - I like that a lot because for whatever reason I am very attuned to the kinesthetic response of the body of the instrument, and this gives me all of the vibrational signals I am used to. So far, count me very impressed.
I will travel with it via plane in January to the JEN conference in Reno and I look forward to playing it on the trio hit there. Will write a full review sometime after it's had its first use doing what it's designed for. In the meantime, I'm enjoying practicing on it in 12 keys each day and getting to know how to pull the sound out. Kudos to Barrie and company for this addition to the travel bass repertoire!
I will travel with it via plane in January to the JEN conference in Reno and I look forward to playing it on the trio hit there. Will write a full review sometime after it's had its first use doing what it's designed for. In the meantime, I'm enjoying practicing on it in 12 keys each day and getting to know how to pull the sound out. Kudos to Barrie and company for this addition to the travel bass repertoire!
Am I correct in that they’re no longer making this in the 39” ~ 5/8 scale length ... or is it still an option?
