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Double Bass Seth Kimmel #32 6 String

tappingtrance

tappingtrance

Cooke Harvey
Jul 27, 2005
595
37
70
www.thesplashingpearls.com
#1
So having played my Seth Kimmel #28 5 string for about 7 months I met with Seth and we designed a 6 string. More modern looking or less ornamental (?) chopped the scroll off, no purfling, distinct gamba shape and the same fingerboard width as my 5 string with a string length of 38 1/4". Obviously the strings are closer and I like that a lot! I have played it for about two weeks and back east here it has been extremely snowy, frigid and lacking humidity yet the wood is speaking quite nicely. Alaskan Sitka Spruce on the top, quartersawn maple on the sides and black walnut on the back. Flatback with a soundhole on the shoulder both for ornamentation and functionality.
A note on the stain. Seth has a 1928 Martin guitar that is small and sounds big. He copied the guitar and put this purple stain on it that I really like, and keeping with the theme "let's make this special" he used it on the bass.
 

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#8
Schoolhouse said:
Congratulations, both to you for supporting modern makers and to Seth for his willingness to make such a unique instrument.
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Thanks Thomas for your comment - I love tradition but I am always looking for the sound and feel for myself. Seth has been great to work with and adapt his thinking to new designs. I applaud the tradition of bass making, I marvel at it, so why not take a chance on a new design I say!
 
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#12
Ummmm.... Wow. The saxophonist, composer and bandleader John Lurie had a label years ago that he called Strange and Beautiful Music. I hope that whatever music you make on this instrument fits that title somehow. Not sure this would blend in exactly on a straight ahead jazz gig.
 
#15
Nathan Levine said:
Ummmm.... Wow. The saxophonist, composer and bandleader John Lurie had a label years ago that he called Strange and Beautiful Music. I hope that whatever music you make on this instrument fits that title somehow. Not sure this would blend in exactly on a straight ahead jazz gig.
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Well you just hang on the normal 4 strings, admittedly the top two strings are more sonorous and speak out when bowed, but for soloing in pizz think of a 6 string electric sound. Here is a recent example of using the new bass in our band. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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