Double Bass Paul Kowert - Punch Brothers - gear

#21
I have some updates (source: Chat with their sound guy who's mixed them and all Thile's projects for over a decade).

First, Paul is simply a hell of a player. The engineer gave Paul most the credit.

Second, Paul is playing a really tricked out bass. Different tuning. Octave higher. In some ways it's a big cello. His creamy thumb-position playing was notably muted when he picked up my bass.

Third, he's running into a $1200 preamp that I guess takes care of a lot of issues. He's playing a modified Grace Designs Felix (the modification is now OEM with version 2).​

The engineer also mentioned that Jeff Picker (Nickel Creek's touring bass player) does not transition from pizz to arco as smoothly and, thus, needs a bit more tweaking at the board. Paul, however, needs only slight adjustment between pickup and mic when changing between pizz and arco.

I got to spend a total of 6 hours with Paul over 3 days. He's a class-act, total music lover, has no pretense or barriers. Hell, he even played "Back in Black" as an example of good bass restraint. He's also a huge John Paul Jones fan (who isn't) and had some good stories.

Always nice to meet someone you hold in high regard and find out they're a decent, normally-functioning adult.
 
#22
Equipment[edit]
Kowert plays a double bass made by Luthier Daniel Hachez in 2006 ("Daniel Hachez Bass #28").[4] Inspired by mentor Edgar Meyer, Kowert plays in an unconventional tuning that combines orchestral tuning and solo tuning.[5] In orchestral (or "standard") tuning, the bass is tuned in ascending fourths from E to G (i.e., E, A, D, G). In solo tuning, the bass is also tuned in fourths but begins a major second above orchestral tuning, running from F# to A (i.e., F#, B, E, A). Kowert's tuning adheres to solo tuning for the instrument's three highest strings but reverts to orchestral tuning for the lowest string (i.e., E, B, E, A). Additionally, Kowert regularly uses a C extension, resulting in an even wider range of pitch (i.e., C, B, E, A).[6]

In addition to his Hachez bass, Kowert regularly plays a Shen SB-180 bass modified by luthier Arnold Schnitzer to include a removable neck.[7][8] This modification, Kowert claims, has proven indispensable for the demands of touring, particularly with Punch Brothers. "The way we traveled on the Who's Feeling Young Now? tour," Kowert explains, "would not have been possible without this thing."[9]

Since 2021, Kowert exclusively uses a bass made by Nick Lloyd (#55, 2021).

Kowert uses a bow made by Reid Hudson.[10]

Wikipedia
 
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#24
sixpants said:
... Octave higher. In some ways it's a big cello. ...
Click to expand...

I don't know exactly what this is supposed to mean, but I'm pretty sure this is not the case. Or, at least, was not the case last Oct when I played it.

Kowert's tuning adheres to solo tuning for the instrument's three highest strings but reverts to orchestral tuning for the lowest string (i.e., E, B, E, A).
Click to expand...

This WAS true - and confusing as all heck to me.
 
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#27
salcott said:
This WAS true - and confusing as all heck to me.
Click to expand...

Tune your E to D. Not that confusing.[/QUOTE]

Sure - I imagine I could get used to it. But when someone I hold in such high esteem hands me his bass, and 1/4/5 in G aren't where I expect them to be, it kinda set this thumper of modest ability back on my heels a tad.
 
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