The object of my lust...

[Chris Rice]

http://www.poellmann-contrabass.de/b...nezia/main.htm

[ghoti]

Nice looking standup.

Finding a good standup bass is pretty hard, and/or costly. Then you have to lug it around.

[Chris Rice]

I own two decent uprights already (and I stand up to play most basses).

In reality, my Shen and Englehardt cover my needs. But I love drooling over the Pöllman basses. Stunning woodworking.

[ghoti]

In my experience, standing up only works if you're using fingers and not bow. In a Jazz band or Classical orchestra, you want a stool.

I haven't played an upright bass in 15 years at least, and when I did, they weren't mine. When I finally got to stop playing that arm-twisting torture device they call violin, I studied cello and bass. I had a lot less background in them, though, so concentrated on voice instead.

So then I pick up guitar to chunk chords on, and there's this thing called tablature which seems like it should be music but is like learning a different alphabet, and bass guitar which I seem to have a decent amount of skill on but comprehending the notation for songs seems counterintuitive given my background...

I'll probably get an upright bass...never...but who knows?

[Chris Rice]

I just have a problem with the term "standup bass." I played with an idiot drummer who always called it that. Dammit, I play the Contrabass!

I played in school for 11 years and played two years with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra. My B.A. is in music with double bass as my instrument. I've never gotten along with playing on a stool. Might have something to do with being 6'3" though. Whenever I try to bow while on a stool my leg gets in the way. I studied for a little while with Virginia Dixon, she really opened up a new world of holding the bass for proper access.
I do OK on a stool for folk gigs where I bow on 2-3 songs at most.

Here's my Shen at a soundcheck:

[ghoti]

String Bass or Double Bass is fine. People just call it standup to distinguish it from the electric bass.

I don't think height has that much to do with it. I'm 6'4" and never had a problem with using a stool playing bass...but admittedly I played cello a lot more so the bowing technique kind of carried over.

And voice was my major in college...try to explain that to dim people sometime. What's your major? Music. Really? What instrument? Voice. Huh? I'm a singer. Oh. So you're not a musician?
__________

Interestingly enough, whenever I see people playing String Bass, I kind of wonder what kind of genius stuck the "finger rest" on the first electric basses. I mean, the idea is to get acoustic musicians to switch over and so you simultaneously ignore that their instrument has no frets and they play pizzicato with the FINGERS and not the thumb...and it take years before they even stop doing that...

[Chris Rice]

Exactly. Just as voice not being an instrument, double bass being a standup is bothersome to me.

I came to cello in my senior year of high school, playing with the lower orchestra during my lunch period. I prefer holding it baroque-style between the legs without endpin.

[musicofanatic5]

Standup goes with the word comedy. Funny-man. Ha ha.
I play a string bass/bass viol/upright/contrabass/bass fiddle/doghouse/bull fiddle, but I do not do no standup. Nothin' funny about it.
The bridge alone on that Pollman is a work of art.

[Chris Rice]

Well said! I was having trouble articulating it. If I were Dick Smothers I'd play standup bass.

I'm a sucker for the bridge, the f-holes, the rosette, the scroll, the fingerboard, the corners, the tuning keys, and the tailpiece. Oh yeah, and the shape. I love how different bodies balance visually.

[Thor]

Chris,

Dare I ask what the cost of admission is on one of those Pollman's?

Sure looks purdy. Delving into "Stand-up bass" is on my future to do list, but with two small children I barely have time for the "sit-down bass"!!

Cheers,

Edward

[Chris Rice]

I believe they start around $15,500 and go up to over $30,000.
Lemur has 3 for sale.
http://shop1.mailordercentral.com/le...ts.asp?dept=32

[Chris Rice]

They have a used one for $9,950
http://www.lemurmusic.com/double_bass.asp?bass=124

[Thor]

Hey, simply hit the "Buy it" link for $22,600.00



I'd click the "Add to Wish List" button, but I don't think that they will hold my wish list in their system for 20 years!

ahh, some day. Hopefully a lot sooner for you Chris!

Cheers,

Edward