String tension and volume

[Dr. Jake]

Any well-informed opinions out there on the question of how string tension and bass construction are related to the volume of sound an instrument produces? I've seen post after post claiming that both low tension and high tension strings produce more sound. I understand that each instrument will have a Goldilocks spot (not too high, not too low), but what causes an instrument to lean towards the higher or lower end of the spectrum? Does the composition of the top (solid vs. laminate) make the difference?

I'm one year into making the shift from BG to DB and just now experiencing the onset of string hysteria...

[Francois Blais]

An acoustic stringed instrument; can be a bass or a guitar or a lute, is a very complex system.
I'm afraid there's no way to reduce it to a simple equation.
As you said, each instrument is different.
An ordinary bass can greatly benefit from a simple soundpost adjustment, so, IMHO, the only way to tell how your instrument will react is to try different strings.

That's also the reason why many of us have whole boxes of used strings laying around.

[Dr. Jake]

Thanks for the reply, Francois. I'm tempted to want to say, "This is physics. There are rules." But I understand your point: whatever the equation is, it isn't simple or clear-cut. My teacher gave me a good demonstration of this yesterday. When I complained about my lack of volume, he checked my soundpost and felt that it might be too close to the bridge. Some quick outpatient surgery and my bass was noticeably louder.

[Francois Blais]

[Gearhead43]

Yes, there are SO many variables in the construction, materials, shapes, dimensions, etc, etc, of doubles basses - that is really is a trial and error thing finding the "right" strings for a given bass.

Even two "identical" basses from the same maker will sound different and may sound better with totally different strings on them.

That said, there are certain "all-around" strings, like spirocores, that can sound very nice on a great many basses. It also depends on the style of music you want to play.

[Mark Perna]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jake

Thanks for the reply, Francois. I'm tempted to want to say, "This is physics. There are rules." But I understand your point: whatever the equation is, it isn't simple or clear-cut. My teacher gave me a good demonstration of this yesterday. When I complained about my lack of volume, he checked my soundpost and felt that it might be too close to the bridge. Some quick outpatient surgery and my bass was noticeably louder.

You ARE right. This IS physics and there are rules. However, and this is a big however, the bass isn't a simple oscillator where changing one variable creates an easily predictable outcome. It is a very complex set of interlocking pieces that all affect one another. Mess with one variable and you disturb (positively or negatively) a whole bunch of other variables. And to make things even more difficult those variables are variable from bass to bass and set up to set up.

In the example you gave, your instructor adjusted your soundpost and the bass got louder. What else happened? How did the sound change? Is it brighter or darker, stronger or weaker fundamental, more or fewer overtones? Something else surely changed with the additional volume.

mark

[Dr. Jake]

True - I would say that with the soundpost moved a little south of the bridge, the bass has become just a bit darker. Not completely certain about the fundamental or overtones, though, as I also put on a set of Helicore Hybrids. I was worried that they would be too bright, as this had been my problem in the past. But with the soundpost adjustment, my string hysteria is temporarily in remission.