Double Bass Owning two double basses with different necks

[CaseyVancouver]

My experience is it does not matter.

I go between two basses that are very different. One is a large 7/8ths tuned in 5ths with an Eb neck (actually an F neck because of the tuning) and different sl, that I use only for classical. The other is a small 3/4 tuned in 4ths, with a (almost) Db flat neck for jazz.

I go back and forth seamlessly, also standing or sitting as I see fit.

Once you get over the differences the size, tunings, necks, sl really don’t come into it.
That stuff is the mechanics of playing, the music is the intellectual and more important part.

Sometimes I play violin viola or cello in practise to hear how the bass sits with the other parts.
Fun to do but not a big deal with all the differences.

 

[Earl]

Both, it will make a man of ya!

 

[danielson]

Thanks so much for the comments everyone.. I didn’t realise this was such a hot topic!

A twist in the plot.. I forgot to mention the cheaper Hungarian (Eb) bass came with gut strings on it (unlike the other bass which has metal strings). I’m thinking more and more that this may be one of the main reasons I like the Hungarian’s sound so much, so I’m thinking to just swap strings and turn the German bass into the “superior” one with gut strings and the D neck which I am much more used to.

Any other thoughts very welcome, and thanks again for sharing all!