Less boomy strings for a New Standard

Peck_Time · #1 11-06-2007, 01:32 AM

I've had Spiro Weiches on my New Standard Cleveland for 3 or 4 months now (almost a record for me!), and I like them more than the Spiro Mittels that came on the bass.

However, the Cleveland has so much bottom end that sometimes I feel like i'm playing a timpani drum! That sounds cool, but I'd like a bit more clarity - a bit less boom.

Any suggestions? - the Mittels were too hard on my hands on my Cleveland (they're great on my Christopher).

16fuss · #2 11-06-2007, 02:52 AM

if you like thin and easy to play strings- try the corelli! i think they will make the sound a little tighter. they have a little less sustain than spiro-weich but a comparable timbre. the lower notes are not as fat as on spiros. arco they are 10 times better than spiros. i had no problems playing amplified with them.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #3 11-06-2007, 05:28 AM

Although I like and use high tension strings, I have a similar issue with my LaScala ply on the low end. IMO, I don't think the problem is necessarily the strings. Here's a couple of experiments you can try:

1) Dampen the afterlength of the strings with something really soft, like a hand towel woven between them, then play. Does this dry up the boom at all?

2) Take a look at your tailpiece. Is it made of composite materials? If so and if it's like mine, it's designed to vibrate freely, which can produce a "boom halo" effect. Try wedging something like a Nerf football or a regular bath towel between the table and the tailpiece and see what happens when you play. Lower and closer to the edge will produce less muting, and higher up by the strings will produce more. If this is part of the issue, you could try replacing the tailpiece with a heavier type which vibrates less, or simply devise your own dampening method.

3) While playing, place your knee on the back of the bass and press. Does this change the sound to your liking?

One of the things about the NS plys I've noticed is that they are unbelievably resonant. While this is a good thing in many ways, it can sometimes be too much of a good thing if you're looking for a more focused sound. I ended up going in the opposite direction with my ply and using much more tense strings to try to get more focus out of it, but these other things all helped. Good luck - they're great basses, and well worth the effort.

Jason Sypher · #4 11-06-2007, 07:00 AM

Sounds like you need a soundpost adjustment....

**Jeremy Allen** · #5 11-06-2007, 07:06 AM

I had one of those Pecanic compensating tailpieces on my Cleveland, and Nick Lloyd said that it focused the sound and made the bass less tubby than it was with the original tailpiece. You should try Chris's and Jason's suggestions, but if you end up shelling out money for different strings to solve the "problem" then you may consider one of these tailpieces too (I think mine cost $175 or something).

Peck_Time · #6 11-07-2007, 01:11 AM

Thankyou for the suggestions everyone!

The boominess I was hearing wasn't good boominess like a set of gut strings, just in case anyone was wondering.

I put a sock in the afterlength (my tailpiece is a composite 'Wittner' brand), and that helped the sound noticeably. I had a heavy ebony tailpiece that I had taken off my Christopher, so I put it on the Cleveland.

Results: I'm not sure what happened, but the bass feels a lot 'looser' now , the weiches feel soft and the sound is more even and punchy. The boominess has abated a lot. It's a huge change really.

My Cleveland hasn't had a setup since it was shipped 7,814 miles from the USA, so maybe I inadvertantly fixed something?

Downside: I wanted an excuse to buy a set of Evah Pirazzis, and it looks like i'll stick with the Weiches.

Uncletoad · #7 11-07-2007, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

Sounds like you need a soundpost adjustment....

I agree. The soundpost on mine is now about exactly one soundpost's diameter from the tailpiece edge of the bridge foot exactly centered on the foot. It has been closer to the foot by 1/2 that distance and the sound tightens up and looses some boom there.

I like mine as boomy as I can get it without loosing the E strings tightness so I moved it down as far as I could to still maintain the E string. It gets really loud and boomy futher down still but the E string peters out.

I also experimented with moving it toward the centerline of the bass and away still within the edges of the bridge foot and it tightens up moving inward. Moving outward created a woofy A string.

I like the light composite TP on that bass. It's quick and punchy for pizz. The ebony one I tried made it to slow. Rang for arco a touch better but the E string lost some ring and the pizz slowness made me go back to the composite.

ymmv.

Uncletoad · #8 11-07-2007, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peck_Time

Downside: I wanted an excuse to buy a set of Evah Pirazzis, and it looks like i'll stick with the Weiches.

I wouldn't buy the EP if you feel the spiro weichs are to boomy. Those will make you feel like you are in a swamp. Stick with all steel. If you can get used to the Mittels it would tighten the whole thing up. It gets really round sounding with lighter strings. All light gage guts makes it sound really big tuned kick drum.