Double Bass solo strings with an extention

[geoffbassist]

hi guys, i hope you can help answer my question. Im a college bassist who wants to get and extention for my bass. however i will have to use solo stings for my final recital. Are solo strings long enough to use with an extention at solo tuning. im not bothered about using the notes on the extention but was concerned that the f sharp string wouldnt be long enough to use with 'ski ramp'.
thanks Geoff

 

[ADissen]

A solo F sharp spirocore extension string is available, which is what I would recommend before trying to stretch a non-extension string. I believe Edgar Meyer uses the spiro for his extension aswell. Im not sure if any other brands give that option without a special order. Good luck with the recital.

 

[Francois Blais]

What strings do you have, Geoff?

 

[geoffbassist]

im using the evah Pirazzi orch gage...i really like them as i play jazz as well...great string and would love to try their solos...
it wouldnt matter if the twine is exposed over the ramp as long as the 'regular' string length is ok and that they are long enough to reach the tuner...
thanks for your help guys, cheers Geoff

 

[mcnaire2004]

Edgar Meyer keeps his bottom string in orchestra tuning.

I do to. Honestly, if you are going to play something in solo tuning, I doubt you will have a ton of bottom string work. And on all the stuff that I have dealt with, it is easy enough to play up a step. That is my recomendation.

 

[geoffbassist]

thanks mcnaire that makes sense....cheers geoff

 

[Jesse Dietschi]

There are times where the bottom string is needed in relative tuning to the other strings (see David Anderson's solo bass pieces), as well as times where using a) the bottom string and b) the extension can be useful (example: exposition of Bottesini 2nd concerto with the descending D-C line that you have to play in 4 different octaves- you can use a harmonic on the E string to get the last C if you have your extension open). There's also the Arpeggione sonata where you actually need to play below the low E (F#), so having both a properly-tuned solo F# string as well as one long enough to accommodate the extension can be very useful.