New Bass Break In

bankerwithabass · #1 10-23-2007, 09:56 AM

I just acquired a new bass from a reputable luthier here in Denver CO, that was made by West Coast String Instrument Co. (Has anyone heard of this company?) It is a 3/4 Chinese Bass, a carved instrument and it looks and sounds beautiful. I had a Realist pickup installed on it.

Immediately it sounds 100 times better than the Palatino that it replaced without amplification. I played it last night for the first time in a big band setting amplified. I had to play around with the EQ on my amp to get it to punch through, but once I did it has a great sound and also sounds hugely better as well. (No surprise there!)

My question is, as the wood opens up and more complexity begins to come out will that be reflected in the amplified sound as well or with the amplifier on is what I hear now what I will hear down the road. This assumes that the amplifier is at higher volumes. I'm just curious as to what to expect.

Is there any special precautions to take with a new carved bass?

Thanks!!

Cathead · #2 10-23-2007, 06:19 PM

I played one of those at The Gibson Showcase at Opry Mills in Nashville last week. They wanted $5000.00 for it and it came with a hardshell case on wheels. That was out of my range, but it was a very nice bass and I enjoyed playing on it.

greitzer · #3 10-23-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bankerwithabass

...My question is, as the wood opens up and more complexity begins to come out will that be reflected in the amplified sound as well or with the amplifier on is what I hear now what I will hear down the road. This assumes that the amplifier is at higher volumes. I'm just curious as to what to expect...

If your bass does open up over time (mine did), I think the improvement you'll get in sound will be a lot more noticeable unplugged. When you're plugged in, with the amp at higher volumes, a lot of the character of the sound you're getting is laid on by the pickup and the amp speaker.

If you're playing arco unplugged, you would notice the difference much more. At least that's in my experience. I'd be interested in what others think about this.

sleeper · #4 11-02-2007, 10:42 AM

As your wood opens up so will your sound, interestingly enough as time goes on you will just fall in love with your bass all the more. I know I have(I have a (plywood)Chinese made bass called a Christopher). Originally my bass had a lovely tone, good sound projection and was just flate out resonate. Now I am just crazy about and I will only give this bass up for a Jackstabt or when I go to grad school >.<;

Silversorcerer · #5 11-02-2007, 09:26 PM

I think even with a pickup, some of the improvement translates. I remember back when I upgraded my bass to carved. I was thinking most of my other gear was not so great either (K&K bassmax with Fender RAD combo). The difference of the new bass probably outweighed anything else I could have improved. But over time it seems to get better and I think it shows up in the amplified sound of it also. Various band mates even commented on it as the bass got just a year of age on it and in those situations it was often amplified.

The biggest difference by far was the recent addition of a condenser microphone. That really translated the maturing sound of the instrument to the amp. I also upgraded the amp substantially. The DB is only 2.5 years old now so I know it still has a good bit to go. The trick for hearing as much of the real sound of the bass as well as the way it opens up seems to be the condenser mic, IMO.

It might be that different pick-up types perform somewhat differently in this aspect. I was using a bridge wing mounted K&K bassmax. I still use that if I need to get really loud.

Eli_Upright12 · #6 11-03-2007, 08:00 AM

My bass (A romanian hybrid bought from Henry Bahmes in Madison,WI) has been great in its two years of life, but has definitely improved and changed through out that period, even going through phases of wolf tones and different character, even so it still doesn't compare to any even 50 year old basses, or at least not yet.

I really like Francois Rabbath's idea that the more good focused vibrations you put into your bass the more it will give you back, and Ive noticed that as Ive progressed as a player my bass seems to respond more to my improving technique and sound better and better everyday.

accutone · #7 11-03-2007, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bankerwithabass

Is there any special precautions to take with a new carved bass?

Yes, keep it under 240bpm for the first 5,000 measures.

Silversorcerer · #8 11-03-2007, 01:05 PM

On the precautions issue: If the wood was well aged when the bass was carved, it's probably not going to have a lot of "new instrument coming apart" issues. Shrinkage of wood improperly aged is something to look out for, but most intermediate priced instruments are made from wood aged at least 5 years (which is really nothing, 15-20 years is better). And even aged wood can shrink if it drys out too much, so humidity is important. Forced air heating is the worst thing to subject it to. Get a humidifier if you have central forced air heating and humidify at least the room where the bass lives. Think of it as a really big cigar.

I pretty much treated mine like, "I bought this thing to play it ..." and I've taken it everywhere in all kinds of weather, short of sub freezing. It has definitely experienced the great outdoors;- dew fall, fog, high 30's and mid 80's, with no ill effects. In fact that seems to accelerate the opening up of the sound if not the seams. Note though that it is considered a "heavily wooded" instrument and weighs 31.5 lbs. The thinner the wood, the more careful one should be. The main thing is not to let it get hit by sudden changes. I've done everything not recommended (except letting it get too dry) with mine and it defies the characterization that fully carved instruments are fragile.

I do keep a watch on the humidity. That much is just common sense. Any wood that gets too dry will crack.

arnoldschnitzer · #9 11-03-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silversorcerer

Shrinkage of wood improperly aged is something to look out for, but most intermediate priced instruments are made from wood aged at least 5 years (which is really nothing, 15-20 years is better).

Wood air-dried in Georgia 15-20 years will be much more damp than wood aged 4-5 years in Arizona. What is most important is that the wood has dried throughout, and has undergone at least a few cycles of expansion and contraction. The number of years of aging is less meaningful.

Silversorcerer · #10 11-06-2007, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

Wood air-dried in Georgia 15-20 years will be much more damp than wood aged 4-5 years in Arizona. What is most important is that the wood has dried throughout, and has undergone at least a few cycles of expansion and contraction. The number of years of aging is less meaningful.

This is quite true. I have some wood that had been salvage cut from a stump in California (northern) almost 50 years ago. It was still very damp when it arrived in Atlanta. It must be really humid in the forests of northern California.

The humidity can vary a good bit in Atlanta, but it is generally on the moist side even when it is cold;- except for indoors with central heat. It doesn't seem to be too bad on carved basses here although I do know one fellow who had a carved new Christopher bass that cracked. He probably didn't do the humidifier drill, but I don't know the details.