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Double Bass Minimalism

VictorW126

VictorW126

Apr 6, 2008
462
743
White Sea, Russia
#1
Hey. I looked at the TB-forum for photos of different basses here and many of them have various additions, like piezo-systems or C-ext.
For a long time I liked basses with a large number of accessories: with an adjustable bridge, with a quiver for a bow, with protection, with several types of pickups and on-board preamps, with tail mechanics and complex tuners. I thought it was beautiful and status.
Today I adhere to the idea of extreme minimalism: there is nothing superfluous on my basses, not even bumpers on the treble side. Simple bass. Now it seems to me that is the essence and beauty of an acoustic instrument - clear sound and nothing more! I'm not talking about practical convenience, I'm talking about aesthetic perception.

Is there anyone who agrees with me?

DB.jpg
 
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#2
I have debated skipping out bridge adjusters. I generally don't need them in this climate and it makes sense that a single piece of wood would transmit vibrations better. Bass bumpers, I think are a necessity for keeping carved back and sides safe.

I would love to go without an extension, too, but I play in settings where I'm the only one with those low notes. In lots of cases they're more weight and trouble than they're worth, though.
 
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#3
I ike the simple look but I also have lots of accessories that I feel are necessary for me:

Bass bib scarf
Bridge adjusters
DPA 4099b
Bow quiver

Interesting thread. I never thought of my bass having lots of extra accessories but I guess it does.
 
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#5
VictorW126 said:
Hey. I looked at the TB-forum for photos of different basses here and many of them have various additions, like piezo-systems or C-ext.
For a long time I liked basses with a large number of accessories: with an adjustable bridge, with a quiver for a bow, with protection, with several types of pickups and on-board preamps, with tail mechanics and complex tuners. I thought it was beautiful and status.
Today I adhere to the idea of extreme minimalism: there is nothing superfluous on my basses, not even bumpers on the treble side. Simple bass. Now it seems to me that is the essence and beauty of an acoustic instrument - clear sound and nothing more! I'm not talking about practical convenience, I'm talking about aesthetic perception.

Is there anyone who agrees with me?

View attachment 3530988
Click to expand...
Agreed! I shudder when I see basses with all sorts of things hanging off them (multiple pick-ups, mics, various pre-amps, etc.), and several boxes on top of the amp attached to various pedals. Certain things certainly are necessities - bridge adjusters for most of us, bow quivers if we use a bow, and some way to amplify the instrument. Speaking for myself, I want to stay more on the musician side and less on the sound engineer side!
 
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#7
I was happy with the belt hook until one incident. I played an arco intro for a duo performance in a wedding gig in front of an audience of about 50 people, reached to hang the bow to the belt hook, missed it and dropped the bow to the floor.
Very elegant way to start a gig. No need to mention I bought the quiver the next day.
 
#10
statsc said:
Agreed! I shudder when I see basses with all sorts of things hanging off them...
Click to expand...
You mean like this?

IMG_1520.jpg


IMG_1511.jpg


I had to take pictures of this, just because it was so ridiculous.

In my defense, only the Realist, quiver, and bridge adjusters are mine. On this particular show, the sound engineers (in their infinite wisdom) added the mic and Schertler pickup. (Why they didn't just use my pickup, I'll never know.)

The real kicker?

I still couldn't hear myself well enough when everybody was playing. Because the sound guys (again, in their wisdom) couldn't tolerate a small amp in the pit. So, I had to try to drive a 14-piece orchestra, with drum set and percussion, without an amp. :rollno:
 
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#13
Carl Hillman said:
You mean like this?

View attachment 3534204

View attachment 3534205

I had to take pictures of this, just because it was so ridiculous.

In my defense, only the Realist, quiver, and bridge adjusters are mine. On this particular show, the sound engineers (in their infinite wisdom) added the mic and Schertler pickup. (Why they didn't just use my pickup, I'll never know.)

The real kicker?

I still couldn't hear myself well enough when everybody was playing. Because the sound guys (again, in their wisdom) couldn't tolerate a small amp in the pit. So, I had to try to drive a 14-piece orchestra, with drum set and percussion, without an amp. :rollno:
Click to expand...
Yes; makes me dizzy!
 
#19
I absolutely agree with you (though I think "no bumpers" may be taking it a bit too far)

I do have a adjustable bridge and I can't seem to be happy with any of the pickup options that are gig-to-gig mountable, I spent years trying. Currently using a Gage Lifeline which is easy enough to take off if I have a stretch of not needing it. I have a bow quiver, but don't have it on unless I'm going to need it for some reason.
 
#20
TroyK said:
I absolutely agree with you (though I think "no bumpers" may be taking it a bit too far)

I do have a adjustable bridge and I can't seem to be happy with any of the pickup options that are gig-to-gig mountable, I spent years trying. Currently using a Gage Lifeline which is easy enough to take off if I have a stretch of not needing it. I have a bow quiver, but don't have it on unless I'm going to need it for some reason.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the original question is interesting because of this. For example, similar to your comment, when I read the first post, I felt that bridge adjusters was taking it a bit too far. But on my own bass, I elected to not have bumpers because it added something I felt detracted a bit from the main look of the bass, but mostly because I don’t require bumpers for my uses. It’s an interesting topic for sure and I look at this stuff a tiny bit differently now.
 

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