I got a new bass, but need help.

[bassplayertda]

Hey, I recently got a new double bass with Helicore strings. The only problem is, whenever I try to play anything fast or staccato, the strings have a sort of squeaky sound. It's kind of metallic. Does anyone know what this is, or how I could fix it? I had this problem with my last bass too.

[Andrew McGregor]

Arco or pizz? If it's arco, that'll be a bow technique issue of some sort...

[dchan]

It most likely is bow technique problem. If you have a teacher, work out these problems carefully. If you don't, get one immediately - trust me on this one. .


Here's a not totally unrelated story. When my one of my college's basses imploded because of a bad neck joint, the orchestra director bought a Christopher plywood to replace it. It was setup with Helicore Orchestral strings, or so the string tail-silks indicated.

They were the WORST arco strings I have ever played, bar none (well, I would say they're tied with Supersensative Red Labels). I couldn't bow them, they squeaked like a family of mice, just awful.

So what was the problem? I have a feeling the 'Orchestrals' were completely mislabeled and were probably Helicore Pizzicatos. But I can bow Spirocore Mittels to a pretty good degree, and Pizzicatos are supposed to be about the same arco-wise (but maybe I'm wrong about this. Any Pizzicato users bow these?) Plus, while they were very loud and boomy when played pizzicato, they didn't have much sustain if I remember correctly.

Anybody want a crack at these? I still have them around, since I immediately replaced them with an old set of Obligatos. They're pretty much brand new.

[bassplayertda]

I'm pretty sure it's not my technique. I've been playing for 3 or 4 years, and my teachers have all said I have great technique. The bass that I use in my school Orchestra sounds great. It might just be the Helicore strings. Once I get some cash, I'll try those strings dchan suggested. The only problem is that I have an audition into the North Carolina School of the Arts on the 30th, so whatever I do I have to do it fast. Thanks for the help guys, and Happy New Year

And to Andrew, it's the arco that sounds bad. The pizz is wonderful. It has a great tone.

[Hector Wolff]

Yes, the pizz sounds good because the heliocore orchestra has pretty decent sustain for an arco string.

The metallic sound you complained about is normal for most brand new steel strings, especially the heliocore.

However, I would disagree about the heliocore orchestra being hard to bow and squeeky. I played them for a couple of years and thought they bowed rather well - not as well as many of the classic bowing strings, but still not bad.

[dchan]

Originally Posted by bassplayertda

I'm pretty sure it's not my technique. I've been playing for 3 or 4 years, and my teachers have all said I have great technique. The bass that I use in my school Orchestra sounds great. It might just be the Helicore strings. Once I get some cash, I'll try those strings dchan suggested. The only problem is that I have an audition into the North Carolina School of the Arts on the 30th, so whatever I do I have to do it fast. Thanks for the help guys, and Happy New Year

And to Andrew, it's the arco that sounds bad. The pizz is wonderful. It has a great tone.

I don't think you actually told us which exact set you had - you merely said they were Helicores, which come in Orchestral, Hybrid, and Pizzicato varieties.

Orchestral - blue and yellow tailpiece silks
Hybrid - green and yellow tailpiece silks
Pizzicato - red and yellow tailpiece silks

I really didn't suggest any strings, actually. I said I had a probably 'mislabeled' batch of Helicore Orchestrals. Come to think of it, D'Addario does have a bad reputation when it comes to quality control, so both of our Helicore sets might have simply been bad sets. I've had many sets of Helicore Orchestrals that were fantastic, and have played others that have had some bad strings.


That said, the Obligatos are decent arco strings. But I would suggest Pirastro Flexocors (although not Original Flexocors, for cost reasons) over Obligatos because Obligatos don't last very long.

But my main suggestion would be to bring your bass to your luthier to check out the soundpost fit, bridge fit, etc. He/she will be able to make sure your bass plays and sound correctly.

[Andrew McGregor]

Originally Posted by bassplayertda

I'm pretty sure it's not my technique. I've been playing for 3 or 4 years, and my teachers have all said I have great technique. The bass that I use in my school Orchestra sounds great. It might just be the Helicore strings. Once I get some cash, I'll try those strings dchan suggested. The only problem is that I have an audition into the North Carolina School of the Arts on the 30th, so whatever I do I have to do it fast. Thanks for the help guys, and Happy New Year

And to Andrew, it's the arco that sounds bad. The pizz is wonderful. It has a great tone.

Ok, an obvious solution presents it self: swap basses with the school in the meantime, use the school bass for the audition, while you figure out what's up with yours.

Sounds to me like a string problem, but it could also be soundpost position... so solutions have already presented. Only trouble with that is that it won't have settled down by the 30th, whatever the issue actually is, so it doesn't solve your immediate problem.

[bassplayertda]

I got a pair of Hybrid Helicore strings. I might ask my Conductor if I can borrow the school bass for the audition if the problem isn't fixed. I'll take the bass to my luthier to see if it's a problem with the soundpost.

[bassplayertda]

It turns out the bass was just really bad. I tood to a luthier, and he deemed it "unplayable" He listed to many reasons for me to list them here, but I got my money back for it (thank god) and am now renting one from my newly aqquired bass teacher.

[MDEbass]

Hmmmm....I switched basses recently and out new helicores on them. Dadarrio hybrids. I dont get squeaky sound like you describe, but sometimes they do sound a little to bright and harsh, but the more i break them in the less it is a problem. Maybe its your rosin or bow. Maybe rehair?

[bassplayertda]

I'm renting from my teacher now, and it sounds great. I'm not sure what the problem with the strings were...whatever it was, I don't have it now.