New Bass "tightness"- how to down play this?

[emilio g]

My bass is a brand new Di Vicenza (Ceruti copy) Bass from Kolstein's. I play lots of jazz and lots of classical music. My arco vs. pizz time is about the same.

The bass came strung with Kolstein Varicores. Top end was too bright but bearable, and the E&A sounded too weak and sluggish.

At the moment I have Spirocore Mittels on the E,A,D and Varicore on the G with low action.

-I'm considering trying a Stark E after reading how huge the sound is on so many basses, but the Mittel sounds great if the Stark isn't for me.

-The Mittel A is it. Sounds loud and clear and I don't have much trouble bowing it.

-The G string pizz has a clear attack and nice sustain but still sounds too nasal when bowed. Considering the bass was made in 2008, it'll have a bit of that new shoe smell, but I'm thinking a darker string might be in order. Basically I'd love a string that still has that nice "pingy" pizz attack and long sustain but a little darker arco sound.

-I think my D string will be a mittel unless I need something to better match the "magic" G string...whenever I figure out what that is.


For G and D strings I've looked at so many different things I'm getting a headache...mostly because I have no idea where to start the hunt. I've seen Avishai Cohen use an Oliv G and it sounds killer, but would that not work well with low action (G is about 5mm)? What about a Weich? Any and all suggestions would help me out!

[txstatebass]

If you have a good stereo system, try keeping your bass near the sub woofer.

[salcott]

Put some EPs on, raise the action a turn, and play long tones with the bow as much as you can.

[Mark Carlsen]

Your heading says it all....Soundpost adjustment

[salcott]

I'll certainly go along with Mark; I assumed internal issues had been addressed.

[bonaventura]

I had a carved bass made a few years back and the luthier who made it insisted I come back towards the end of the first summer and he put in a new sound post. He said a new bass needs a new sound post after the top rises. In the meantime, play, play, play. All of the suggestions here are in line with that basic goal: getting the top vibrating and the whole bass loosening up a bit.

Edit: Just a further thought -- This not being really a "string" issue, you might get more from posting a thread over in Setup & Repair where some of the venerable luthiers might have a comment... Cheers, Bill

[emilio g]

The setup issue might or might not be it. It was just setup in the last 2 months at Kolsteins. Could it change that drastically, that quickly? But then again Bill Merchant claims that most luthiers fit soundposts too tightly, so I'd be interested in what he has to say about it.


As for the subwoofer thing...that works?! I'll have to try it.

In the last month or so especially the bass has definitely loosened up a lot from where it was, but the G string can still really scream sometimes.

As far as strings, I was told to avoid guts unless I really love the tone because they tend to be expensive and not as stable as steel (sorry Olivs). I generally like the tension and feel of spirocores. Is there a string slightly darker with similar playing characteristics?

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by bonaventura

the venerable luthiers

You mean 'the old guys?'

[christ andronis]

Originally Posted by emilio g

..... Is there a string slightly darker with similar playing characteristics?

Try Dominants....

[Jason Sypher]

Rather than go down the very expensive string experiment try the simple adjustment first. The weather has changed quite drastically in the last two months and that could easily affect your bass and over all sound. Then, once you get that out of the way find the sweet spot with your string height (I'm assuming you have and adjustable bridge). After that just play the hell out of it everyday. Allow yourself and you bass to settle in a bit. Try, and I know this is tough, to not get bogged down in being overly judgmental or expectant. Just play. If you're out on a session or gig, let someone else play your bass and stand back and admire the sound. Sometimes I will be hating the sound of my bass, pass it off to someone for awhile, have a beer and when I get back to the bass it sounds fantastic! So much psychology here but just ease up, take it slow and try to keep from getting frustrated. Oh, but get that soundpost adjusted first, I bet Barrie will do it for free as it is a new purchase. While you down there play that Riviere Hawks bass and tell me what you think. I really dug it last week, on my birthday, the day Bernie Madoff took away all my chances of buying it!

[emilio g]

Thanks for the advice as far as adjustments and all. After the holidays I should have a chance to take the bass to Bill or Barrie and get some opinions.

..and don't let me fool you into thinking this bass doesn't sound good. My teacher, the other bassists at school, and generally everyone say this bass sounds and feels awesome. But I can be a perfectionist.

I also have yet to record with it so I'm trying to get a friend to do some test recordings. He mentioned that its very possible that the brightness I'm hearing is only under my ear...back up 20 feet and its a different story.

[Phil Rowan]

You could always throw on one of those tone filters on the G and D string if you want the strings to be dark while you break them in. I have a bag full that was sent to me for free from Pirastro.

[dchan]

Originally Posted by Phil Rowan

You could always throw on one of those tone filters on the G and D string if you want the strings to be dark while you break them in. I have a bag full that was sent to me for free from Pirastro.

+1

If you don't feel like waiting, you can buy some rubber washers from your local hardware store - it works just as well.

[txstatebass]

Originally Posted by emilio g

As for the subwoofer thing...that works?! I'll have to try it.

As the story goes, from my luthier, the sound of the sub woofer helps the top vibrate to those low notes. I've also heard that from recording engineers. They said to do that the night before a recording and the bass will sound better. What ever works and can't hurt the bass in the process, right?

[hdiddy]

Originally Posted by Mark Carlsen

Your heading says it all....Soundpost adjustment

This is the first thing that popped in my mind. Soundpost adjustment and possibly another setup job. That and long tones with a bow.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by hdiddy

long tones with a bow.

Have you tried long, loud tritones? The procedure was recommended here some time ago, and I find it useful for waking up a bass that's been on the bench for a few weeks.

E/Bb, A/Eb, D/Ab, loud and long.........

[dchan]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Have you tried long, loud tritones? The procedure was recommended here some time ago, and I find it useful for waking up a bass that's been on the bench for a few weeks.

E/Bb, A/Eb, D/Ab, loud and long.........

You're playing the devil's music right there....

[hdiddy]

Yeah I would be afraid of conjuring a small demon or something.

[bonaventura]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

You mean 'the old guys?'

yeah, it's an old word, it just came to mind and i didn't really know specifically all of its meanings. meanings 1 or 2 don't seem to apply to the luthiers here on TB. i guess i had meaning number "3 a" in mind, the part about achievement, goodness and benevolence. Interesting, that even Webster's online dictionary points to a relevant example ("as in a venerable jazz musician")...

Main Entry:
ven•er•a•ble
Pronunciation:
\ˈve-nər(-ə)-bəl, ˈven-rə-bəl\
Function:
adjective
Date:
15th century
1: deserving to be venerated —used as a title for an Anglican archdeacon or for a Roman Catholic who has been accorded the lowest of three degrees of recognition for sanctity
2: made sacred especially by religious or historical association
3 a: calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments <a venerable jazz musician> ; broadly : conveying an impression of aged goodness and benevolence <encouraged by the venerable doctor's head-nodding> b: impressive by reason of age <under venerable pines>

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by dchan

You're playing the devil's music right there....

Well heck, we're discussing the Extra Large Size Devil's Instrument anyhow - what better way to wake it up!