Changing basses..'Finalized' (Not!)

[Ken Smith]

Here are the basses I use. The Marcucci is my main orchestra bass. The Kreutzer is my back-up or secondary bass for pit shows and outdoor events and to keep the bass warmed up a little is my Viennese style bass (probably made in Prague in the early-mid 19th century). I recently learned that when the Viennese bass came to market nearly 20 years ago, it was selling as a Venetian (Italian) bass.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Here are the basses I use. The Marcucci is my main orchestra bass. The Kreutzer is my back-up or secondary bass for pit shows and outdoor events and to keep the bass warmed up a little is my Viennese style bass (probably made in Prague in the early-mid 19th century). I recently learned that when the Viennese bass came to market nearly 20 years ago, it was selling as a Venetian (Italian) bass.

And then there were two! .. To be continued..

[Ken Smith]

1. Current main Orchestra Bass (Pollmann)
2. Secondary Orchestra Bass (Kreutzer)
3. Home Practice Bass (Prague bass)
4. Possible future main Bass (in restoration) (Lowendall)

[Ken Smith]

The Lowendall impressed me so much and in many ways, that I have decided to put it thru a full restoration. I dropped it off at AES in NY last Saturday. It will then likely become my main personal bass. In the mean time (4-6 months), I am using my Pollmann.

[Ken Smith]

Last night I took out the Pallotta Lion (made by Jeff Bollbach) to a rehearsal. The main reason was to test it a little bit more before sending it back to Jeff for a C-Extension. It would be made with a double wheel and no hole thru the head, with the extension form fitted over the Lion.

Last night, between stops from the conductor, my stand partner tells me how good the bass sounds and how well I was playing it. He has heard me play over 15 different basses in 4 different orchestras over the last 4 years.

Today, out if the blue he calls me to tell me specifically how well the Bollbach fit me in playing and sound last night and reiterated he was only calling me for that reason. He asked if I would keep that Bass as my personal one going forward. I replied.."Maybe" .. We were playing Sibelius 2, which I had played about 4x in 4 other orchestras in the last year. So I asked, "was it maybe because I knew the piece from just playing it 4x last year?"

[Ken Smith]

People tell me in a couple of sections I play in that THIS bass is louder then my much bigger Pollmann. Now set-up with a beautiful C-Extension so I can play all the written notes like with my other basses I use. Maybe I should switch favorites again?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

People tell me in a couple of sections I play in that THIS bass is louder then my much bigger Pollmann. Now set-up with a beautiful C-Extension so I can play all the written notes like with my other basses I use. Maybe I should switch favorites again?

After a few jobs using the Marconcini and also having the Marcucci back in my rack (with different strings now, OFC's instead of Bel's), I have decided to pack up the Marconcini and leave it ready for sale and to also switch back to the Marcucci as my main Bass and hold on to it rather than have it up for sale.

The Marcucci just fits me in all the ways the Marconcini does not. It's a personal thing despite how great the Marconcini. I do feel fortunate that I was able to have both basses job-ready this past year to compare them now that the Marconcini has a C-Extension and can go out on jobs where it is needed. But, it's packed up now and waiting for a new home!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

People tell me in a couple of sections I play in that THIS bass is louder then my much bigger Pollmann. Now set-up with a beautiful C-Extension so I can play all the written notes like with my other basses I use. Maybe I should switch favorites again?

I was using the Marconcini a couple of weeks back at rehearsals for a concert but felt it didn't have 'enough' so I brought my Lowendall for the concert. Last week I brought the Marconcini to an Orchestra rehearsal and my stand partner tells me as he did a year ago that this smaller Italian has more sound and roundness of tone than the other two big basses I usually play, the Pollmann 4/4 and the Lowendall.

I had solo strings on the Marconcini but felt they sounded to thin so first I tried a Flexocore mix and then a new set of Evah weichs like I had on the bass 4 years ago at the ISB in Rochester. These strings for me felt too slow and wide sounding with the bow, less center. Although watching Stefano Sciascia play it 4 years ago at the ISB with the same strings, he sounded great.

So, with the same solo set back on (original Flat Chrome G/D/A and Flex 92 E/C), the bass sounds good. I bought those strings back in 2011 for the Storioni for Leon Bosh to play on a recital but then he tells me he tunes up orchestra gauge strings. The bass was sold with Belcantos on it before Leon came over from the UK and used the Bollbach Lion instead.

So the Solo set I have on the bass is maybe 1-2 years of being strung up on at least two basses but are over 6 years old. I think the bright edge is gone now and they are mellowed out. Slightly thinner gauges and softer feel but on this bass, a huge round sound. Go figure!

I just put my pickup on the bass for a rehearsal this evening as I will have an amp for some of the tunes as the other 3 bass guys try and stay out of my way.. lol

With the ISB just around the corner in a few weeks, there is no way to tell what will be sold at or after the show so I want to get my licks in on this Italian before it's gone. If not, I think it might make it to the front of my line-up.

Marconcini (main all around bass), Lowendall (2nd Orch. bs), Pollmann (alt Orch. bs.), Kreutzer (shows, Pops, jazz bs.), Prague/Bina (home practice bs.).