Spirocore Weich - over pronounced 11th harmonic...!?

[douglas81]

I've gone through a few sets of strings on my bass and find Spirocore Weich with a fairly highish action are to my taste. However, the D string and E string have an overly pronounced 11th harmonic - i.e. an open E has an overly loud A# overtone (three octaves up). It only poses a problem on the open strings and isn't pitch specific - for example, if I drop or raise the tuning, the exagerated overtone remains (though obviously relative to the new pitch).

On the E string, it's a bit annoying and makes it seem like there's less fundamental. On the D string, it's just plain aggravating.

The G string and A string don't exhibit this problem and a stopped D (on any string) doesn't have the excessive overtone. This leads me to believe it isn't a problem with the bass, though maybe it's something to do with the way the nut is cut? Raising or lowering the action at the bridge doesn't make any difference. Oh, and other strings (Helicore, for example) don't exhibit this problem.

Has anyone noticed this about Spirocore Weich before and can anyone tell me (incase I make a pointless purchase) whether the Spirocore Mittel will have less of this overtone? I know these things will vary from bass to bass, but any thoughts would be appreciated.

In case you're wondering why I don't just put the aforementioned Helicore on there - tonally it doesn't match.

I wouldn't bother bringing this up, but it's a wee bit annoying on what is otherwise a great sounding set of strings on my bass.

Cheers,

Douglas.

[Mark Carlsen]

Check both afterlengths between the tailpiece and bridge and up in the pegbox.
I would guess something is ringing in one of those spots and may be dampened in some manner.

[douglas81]

Originally Posted by Mark Carlsen

Check both afterlengths between the tailpiece and bridge and up in the pegbox.
I would guess something is ringing in one of those spots and may be dampened in some manner.

No - it's neither.

Any other ideas...?

[Mark Carlsen]

Does this happen when you play pizz?

[Matthijs]

Does the overtone stay when the string ages? I find spirocores tend to have some "ringing" extra sounds during the first day's or week.

Question is if it's the string itself or a specific interaction in the resonance of string and bass. You might try this out by treating it as a wolftone. Attach something heavy like a wood clamp to the headstock or the f holes. If there's a difference this might be an indication it's not just the string, but the combination of string and bass.

[douglas81]

Originally Posted by Mark Carlsen

Does this happen when you play pizz?

Yes, it's more pronounced when playing pizz. Less obvious when bowing, but emerges when you allow the string to vibrate freely after a stroke.

[billyfalconer]

Originally Posted by Matthijs

Does the overtone stay when the string ages? I find spirocores tend to have some "ringing" extra sounds during the first day's or week.

This would be my first assumption.

[douglas81]

Originally Posted by Matthijs

Does the overtone stay when the string ages? I find spirocores tend to have some "ringing" extra sounds during the first day's or week.

Question is if it's the string itself or a specific interaction in the resonance of string and bass. You might try this out by treating it as a wolftone. Attach something heavy like a wood clamp to the headstock or the f holes. If there's a difference this might be an indication it's not just the string, but the combination of string and bass.

I've had them on for three or four weeks now and there's not much difference (the E string seems a bit better, maybe).

Tried systematically dampening every part of the bass and string. I think it may just be a characteristic of the string. If it was only occuring on one of them, I'd be inclined to believe it was a shot string. The fact that it's two is quite puzzling. I was hoping someone would comment on noticing the same problem...

[douglas81]

Originally Posted by billyfalconer

This would be my first assumption.

Is it something you've experienced before?

[billyfalconer]

Originally Posted by douglas81

Is it something you've experienced before?

Yep.

[douglas81]

Originally Posted by billyfalconer

Yep.

Specifically an over pronounced 11th harmonic? The reason I ask is because the strings have definitely settled a bit and aren't nearly as metalic sounding, but that ringy harmonic remains.