Recent repair to bass front - string dilemma...

[Herbert P....]

My mongrel bass (no known maker) is a big old baby from the early 19th century.
Since falling out of love in '94 with the (then) ubiquitous Spiros, I journeyed thru the gammut of gut and synthetics in the years between. Tried just about everything.

Along the way settled variously for: a while on Innovations (140H), brief sojourn with Velvets (Anima), fell in love with Eudoxas, but couldn't get on with the stubbornly sticky-feeling of the silver top-wind, and then Thomastik Dominants for a good long while, then Heritage until discovering the very good Evah Pirazzis last year. Been very settled with the EP's.

Then had front of my bass rennovated in July by the very wonderful Roger Dawson.
Many cracks and studs re-done, an accumulated list of ailments that have needed attention for some years now.

Got the bass back 3 weeks ago, and the mid-frequency range was startlingly strong, bringing back a real strength to the 'tenor' range of the instrument.
However, there seems to have been a loss of warmth, except for a huge - and I mean huge - spike around 110Hz.
This doesn't cause problems acoustically, but amped up i'm having to dial in the fiercest EQ settings ever (I have a stereo mixer for the two sound sources - piezo contact and a condenser mic that are processed independently, then mixed output goes into a 3 band Parametric Equaliser, and finally into a Hartke head and custom built speaker cab).

My speculation is that over the years my changing string allegiances may be due to the progressive deterioration of the instrument's battle warn front (it had a very hard life before I got it back in 1985 and sent it to rehab).

Therefore the EP's suddenly seem cold and hard - not words I'd ever have used about them before.

I'm aware that the front will take time to settle down after major surgery, but feel very much inclined to begin the Lord Of The Rings-style string search, again.... Oh boy.

Anybody out there got wisdom to share?
I've tried calling Roger by the way, but think he may be off convalescing after a recent operation.

Steve (aka Herbert P....)

[Herbert P....]

Coupla things:

1. Speculation on Roger Dawson's recent hospitalisation proved premature... They ain't ready for him yet. The Man Of Steel soldiers on. Spoke with him today, at last.

2. Surprise event a few days later when my blocked ear canals (from recent flu) cleared, and I hadn't really realised how blocked they'd been! Result: Warmer bass tones returned and defamatory remarks about EP's evapourate somewhat. Sorry Evah - how could I have doubted you?

3. Roger reminds me that the 'normal' stabilisation period for a recently rennovated front could be anything from 6 to 8 weeks, so I'm going to keep plugging away and hear how things develop.

So far it does seem to have warmed up - over and above the subjective flu-induced effect alluded to above. Have changed the G & D for the time being anyway, starting with the Innovation Super Silvers (mainly to be kind to my ailing wallet....).

Amping-up situation will be interesting to monitor too as time progresses.

As always, wisdom (wry or otherwise) very welcome.

Steve

[bonaventura]

Not exactly the run-of-the mill situation. But interesting. Please post your impressions after the glue hardens and the top settles in. Cheers, bill

[Herbert P....]

Thanks Bill. This was becoming one of the loneliest threads in history!...

Super Silvers certainly have evened things up. My surmise - that the front is more efficient now it's fixed, and doesn't need all the energy the EP's were providing.
The lower tension of the SS's does the trick, and balances beautifully with the two EP's on the bottom.
Through the amp on Tuesday's gig it was all much happier too.
Big, warm and slightly gutty vibe, the way I like it.

Just a shame the SS's don't like the bow much, but then again, neither do I.... Use it about as often as Ray brown ever did....

Will give it coupla more weeks of course, but that's the story so far.