C-Extensions

[Jake Newcomb]

Jeff, what do you think of extensions as a luthier? A luthier I know hates them, so does a bow maker I know who does great work on violin family instruments.

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Hi Jake. I'm not Jeff. He's busy gloating about last night. He deserves to do so. His bass sounded great in Bill Blossom's able hands!

About extensions--all C extensions are an imperfect solution to a major problem (needing to reach the low C to Eb). If professionally constructed and installed, they work well and sound good. In my opinion, the machine types are very problematic and I do my best to convince players to avoid them. Also, it is in vogue to get extensions which go down to a low B. I think this is a bad idea. There is too much torque pulling the neck and extension out of whack when you make the piece that long (hanging off the scroll about 4 inches). Every one I have seen, even relatively new, has been warped, with the center of the extension lifting up toward the string.

I think the trend toward chromatic-gated extensions is here to stay. I also think it makes the most sense to have this type made all at once, not to have the extra gates rigged up later.

[Jeff Bollbach]

Originally Posted by Jake Newcomb

Jeff, what do you think of extensions as a luthier? A luthier I know hates them, so does a bow maker I know who does great work on violin family instruments.

I think there is a higher % of basses with extentions that sound great than 5 strings that sound great. There are folks who hate them just cuz they are a pain to install[create]. I used to feel that way untill I started to have some success with extentions.

BTW, Arnold-I forgot to tell you that I played Ken's Martini with the chromatic x-10-shun that you made. That was a beautiful thing-worked fantastically!

[Jake Newcomb]

Thanks Arnold and Jeff! I was asking because I do not really like playing on extensions. Don't get me wrong, I've had the experience of being in orchestra sections where we had a some great players with extensions on their basses and the low notes sounded awesome. For me though, I just prefer a bass without one.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Jake Newcomb

Thanks Arnold and Jeff! I was asking because I do not really like playing on extensions. Don't get me wrong, I've had the experience of being in orchestra sections where we had a some great players with extensions on their basses and the low notes sounded awesome. For me though, I just prefer a bass without one.

I know exactly how you feel. A few years ago I started looking into getting a 5-string. After trying one out I opted for having a Bass I had converted into a 5er. The first Bass I thought of converting didn't have enough room in the peg box to comfortable fit the 5th gear so we put a fingered extension on it instead. The next Bass was bigger but we still had to take some wood out just under the Scroll. This was not a pedigree of great value but did have a huge sound. Arnold turned it into a great 5-string Bass while doing a needed restoration. I played it for a few concerts and several rehearsals but after getting my next Bass done with a chromatic extension which can be fingered as well, I found this to be the best for me in most situations.

I found the 5th string in my way when not in use. Also, playing it was not as easy as I thought. The only music I found the 5er to be better to use than an Ext. was the Brandenburg Concertos where the low notes change faster than one could change the stops. I think with practice, one could pull it off. With the Beethoven's 5th, it can be fingered but how in-tune are you? Is intonation that important that low down and at that tempo?

Some players have a 5er at home for those special occasions when it would be best to use one. The majority of the players in USA just fight it out with whatever extension they have on their Bass. I am in the 'fight it out' stage as I have since put my 5er up for sale..

[Jake Newcomb]

I'd just rather leave the notes below to E to other people. I'd like to get a bass with a beautiful carved head like Jeff's 'Simba' bass so no conductor will ever demand that I get an extension.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Jake Newcomb

I'd just rather leave the notes below to E to other people. I'd like to get a bass with a beautiful carved head like Jeff's 'Simba' bass so no conductor will ever demand that I get an extension.

Actually, Jeff mentioned he could make an Extension for Simba if I asked. It would be slightly different from his regular extensions though. The principal of the Philly Orch, Hal Robinson has an extension on his gargoyle head Italian Bass with the string running thru the head, mouth and jaw going into the tuner shaft.

[Jason Mendelson]

I had an extension added to my bass... The only thing I do NOT love about it is when playing pizz jazz, I dont get that same heavly growl out of hitting an open E when the E lock is in place... know what I mean? It doesnt lock as tight, I have to tighten it every now and then...

The extension was added by my luthier in miami florida, paris banchetti (spelling?)

Here is a pic of the extension...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...b/P1040480.jpg