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From: rwfi@ur-tut.UUCP (Robert Fink)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: question on string bass
Message-ID: <184@ur-tut.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 23-Oct-85 12:29:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: ur-tut.184
Posted: Wed Oct 23 12:29:53 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Oct-85 05:09:39 EDT
References: <21021@mgweed.UUCP> <226@well.UUCP>
Reply-To: rwfi@ur-tut.UUCP (Robert Fink)
Organization: Univ. of Rochester Computing Center
Lines: 37

In article <226@well.UUCP> rchrd@well.UUCP (Richard Friedman) writes:
>
>Normally, the lowest string on the Contrabass (string bass) is tuned
>to E.  It is sometimes very necessary to have a low C on the instrument
>and usually a fifth string attachment is added.  The physical limitations
>of tuning properly to low C require keys to finger the string.

Well.... not quite, and as a doublebassist (a rare and oppressed breed) I
feel compelled to "set the record straight". Bassists are often called to
produce notes below E, the open sound of the lowest string, and there are
various ways to do this.  The simplest is to retune the E string down, but
that messes up the fingerings, and the E string, if tuned lower than about
D, begins to flap, rattle, and generally sound like hell.  Another option
is the one described above, where a fifth string, tuned to C, is added to 
the bass.  This solution has its problems, also, since it requires complete
reworking of the bridge, fingerboard, and nut, and actually crowds the strings
too close together for normal playing.  Note that this 5th string looks like
all the others- no special machinery is needed to use it.
      The standard solution to this problem is the ingenious piece of machin-
ery described in the original question.  Called a "C extension", it is used
to create a new type of FOURTH string, which can be either a C or E, depending
upon the bassists needs. This string is extended past the end of the finger-
board in a metal track.  When the C extension is in the locked position, it
behaves exactly like a normal E string.  Unlocking the extension allows the 
rest of the string to vibrate, causing it to sound as a C string.  The keys
are needed, because the extended part of the string is just sticking out 
"in mid air"-- there is no fingerboard underneath it to press down on!

        Probably more than you wanted to know, but.........


                                                Robert Fink
                                                Eastman School of Music

P.S. A C-extension costs upwards of $800 (not including installation)!

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