Double Bass What bass do I buy?

[damonsmith]

I've had three basses with non-mechanical extensions. None of them were in any way fragile.

I meant fragile in the scheme of things, as in not like a BMX bike or anything - another place on the instrument where an issue can arise. I understand they can be done very well these days.

 

[the_Ryan]

You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. Most extensions are put on after the fact. If you get a bass that already has one on it, you more than likely just won't know the history.

There are some pretty bad/old fully or (shudders) single gated extensions out there that were put on several decades ago on some old basses, but the aftermarket(?) extensions contemporary shops and luthiers make currently are much better and more consistent now that some kind of consensus has been reached in the design, and in the Chicago area I know Andrew Hassel does great work. If you're purchasing (not commissioning) a bass the only “danger” in having an extension put on a bass that doesn’t have one is that they’re kind of a money pit: they’re expensive and they don’t add resale value (which is not important to me, but it is to some), but if your musical needs require one it’s definitely worth spending that money.

To the OP more directly, I’m not going to dissuade you from commissioning an instrument at all, but definitely play a lot of basses before you do so. 5-string basses with high Cs are an incredibly niche instrument, and it’s something I would want to try before commissioning an instrument like that (full disclosure, I generally detest the sound of the high C/D string on basses, especially on 4-string basses, but that’s an argument for another day). There’s nothing wrong with commissions at all, but not having the knowledge of what you like or dislike in a bass will make them much more of a gamble.

 

[Sam Sherry]

View attachment 7098342

Words to live by, and a jpg which will appear elsewhere from time to time!

 

[damonsmith]

Words to live by, and a jpg which will appear elsewhere from time to time!

It is from the great text based artist Jenny Holzer. She just had a big Guggenheim show.

 

[Mark_T]

If you aren’t an expert in playing a bass with a high C, you’ll find teachers familiar with it quite rare, so you and your teacher will both be sort of working things out on the spot. That in addition to the much more limited selection of strings and basses.

It’s not always true but sometimes the fact that something isn’t done frequently is an indicator.

 

[garrett2]

It really depends on what you will be playing. I loved my gut high C! If you are interested in solo repertoire and you can find a bass that's not overbuilt -- that's a difficulty with 5 strings often -- I can't see why not. Also be carefully about the fingerboard arching. However well it is done, you will probably have to beware of the bouts on the C and E. A guitar-shaped bass would be ideal.

All that said I switched back to 4-string. I just decided that for what I want to play, Bach and 20th c. literature that was more than enough. If Florentin Ginot can do it then the problem for me isn't the lack of a string. It's the (extreme) lack of competence!