I NEED LESS TENSION ,MORE SUSTAIN

[igor kondur]

HI,!
NOW I AM TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT STRING SET FOR MY ALTER EGO BALLADE ELECTRIC UPRIGHT AND...
I NEED LESS TENSION ,MORE SUSTAIN -WHAT KIND?
CORELLI 370-M,F,OR TX?
NOW I AM USING SPI RO SOLO IN ORCESTR.TUNE,BUT IT
TOO STIFF FOR MY LEFT HAND...
THANK YOU!

[Francois Blais]

Hi Igor.
Is you CAPSlock key stuck or what?
Please disengage it, seems you're shooting at us.

Spiro solos in orchestra tuning are too stiff?

There must be something wrong with your instrument!

How high is the action?
(space between the strings and fingerboard, at the end of the fingerboard)

What is the height of the strings above the fingerboard, at the top nut?
Should be no more than one or two business cards.

[igor kondur]

Hi,Francois!
thank you for reply!
i am sorry for Caps lock-it was a bad public computer
i am looking for something soft for my left hand-i have some neurological problems with it
so, my spiro actions now:
G=5mm
D=7mm
A=8mm
E=10mm
the height of the strings above the fingerboard, at the top nut is
one buisness card
i use both piezzo and magnetic pick up with my bass,so i need only metal strings
may be Corelli 380m should be ok?or i can save money and play
on spiro solo? thanks!

[tornadobass]

Originally Posted by igor kondur

so, my spiro actions now:
G=5mm
D=7mm
A=8mm
E=10mm
the height of the strings above the fingerboard, at the top nut is
one buisness card

One problem is that the bridge curve isn't right for your fingerboard. If it tapered from about 5mm to 8mm (maybe even 7mm)) that would be more comfortable and still should play okay.

In part the setup depends on neck relief and how hard you pull the strings. My BugBass is strung with Helicore Hybrid light strings and action from about 5mm to 7mm and it's very easy to play...and now problem with string rattle. The Spiro Solos should be lighter yet.

[igor kondur]

yes,i should try to change string action from 5 to 8 mm
and then post about

[igor kondur]

my eub is alter-ego baby bass
www.babyego.com

[Basso Musico]

Originally Posted by igor kondur

my eub is alter-ego baby bass
www.babyego.com

Hi Igor,

Then you are in business - the babyEGO is designed so that the fingerboard action can be customized by the owner. It's very, very easy. Look at the back of the bass and you will see - from top to bottom - a screw (takes an allan wrench), then the preamp, then below that (perhaps) another screw. The bottom one is for the leg extension, the top one is for the action.

So get an allan wrench that fits the top screw - should have come with the instrument, but if not, it costs like $.50 USD, and start turning the screw. I can't remember which way makes the action higher and which makes it lower, but I think clockwise makes the action lower. Anyway, it's pretty obvious. There is a pivot mechanism inside the heal of the neck that makes this work.

As far as strings, AlterEGO sells their instruments with spirocore or Velvet. I have a 5-string babyEGO with Velvet on it, and the thing sounds pretty great, a lot like the sound of gut. This won't help your sustain issue, but the strings are so soft to the touch that it certainly will help your hands.

Where are you? I have this instrument in the Boston, MA area, but I think that AlterEGO folks are taking something similar to MusicMesse in Frankfurt.

Thanks,

Rick McLaughlin
PS - read my blog about the AlterEGO Figaro 4-string here:
http://mrpcbass.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/my-new-bass/

[igor kondur]

Hi ,Rick!
thank you for reply!
i live in moscow,russia-
to reduce string action on baby bass very easy-that i know with special screwdriver
but if my G string action is 5mm and E-11mm i need to reduce only E string action.
Then i do it -and now-E is 8mm-and much better

what is your favorit proportion between schertler pu and alter-ego coaxial cable pu under foot?50/50?

unfortuntly alter-ego baby bass sound too much "doublebassy"for music that i ve play now-so i replace wonderful
velvet 180 by spiro
and i decide to use biesele magnetic pu for very loud rock gigs
but for jazz gigs alter -ego is VERY GOOD!VERY NATURAL !
THANK YOU!
BEST REGARDS
IGOR

[GW in Ohio]

Just a note on sustain....

I have a Barker B1 upright electric bass with a hollow body.

The sustain on this thing is unbelievable.