Question on tailpiece and saddle

[klystephen]

What effect will be if I use a longer tailpiece wire or higher saddle?

[sbain]

I extended the tailwire on a friends bass to reduce the length of string from tailpiece adjusters to bridge or afterlength as is sometimes described.
When these short lengths are plucked it seems to help if they sound a definite harmonic of the main string.
Prior to adjustment they appeared dead.
We were both astonished at the length of sustain after this procedure.
Try finger stopping along the short length to determine change in harmonic and measure the distance as a guide.

[klystephen]

Originally Posted by sbain

I extended the tailwire on a friends bass to reduce the length of string from tailpiece adjusters to bridge or afterlength as is sometimes described.
When these short lengths are plucked it seems to help if they sound a definite harmonic of the main string.
Prior to adjustment they appeared dead.
We were both astonished at the length of sustain after this procedure.
Try finger stopping along the short length to determine change in harmonic and measure the distance as a guide.

Would it help to reduce the tension of the strings too? Or darken the color of the sound?

[neilG]

Originally Posted by klystephen

Would it help to reduce the tension of the strings too? Or darken the color of the sound?

You can't literally affect string tension in this way. Assuming a given pitch and mass per length of string, the only way to lessen tension is to shorten the string length. What you CAN achieve is a different feel, and often sound and response based on other factors, such as what sbain described, the angle of the string break over the bridge, length of string below the bridge, tailpiece wire length, and so on.

[gbaker]

Originally Posted by klystephen

Would it help to reduce the tension of the strings too? Or darken the color of the sound?

Yes. Increasing the height of the saddle (above the plate) will reduce the angle of the string from bridge to saddle. This will reduce down-pressure at the bridge and will decrease string tension for a given pitch.

[neilG]

Originally Posted by gbaker

Yes. Increasing the height of the saddle (above the plate) will reduce the angle of the string from bridge to saddle. This will reduce down-pressure at the bridge and will decrease string tension for a given pitch.

Sorry to nitpick. Downward pressure and string tension are different parts of the equation. Decreasing the angle will reduce downward pressure at the bridge but string tension will remain the same. The laws of physics say so.

Here's something interesting to read on the subject.
http://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/tension.htm

[gbaker]

Originally Posted by neilG

Sorry to nitpick. Downward pressure and string tension are different parts of the equation. Decreasing the angle will reduce downward pressure at the bridge but string tension will remain the same. The laws of physics say so.

Here's something interesting to read on the subject.
http://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/tension.htm

No problem. I was misinformed and stand corrected. Only the down pressure is reduced. Thanks.

[klystephen]

Originally Posted by neilG

Sorry to nitpick. Downward pressure and string tension are different parts of the equation. Decreasing the angle will reduce downward pressure at the bridge but string tension will remain the same. The laws of physics say so.

Here's something interesting to read on the subject.
http://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/tension.htm

Then how to make to feeling of the strings not so stiff? I found the strings of my bass are quite stiff but actually the high of the strings are good.

[tstone]

>> Then how to make to feeling of the strings not so stiff? I found the strings of my bass are quite stiff but actually the high of the strings are good.

It's getting off the original tailpiece topic, but if you want a softer feel, you could use lighter gauge strings, or strings with a stretchier core, or some combination thereof. Of course, such changes may have other side effects, like change in volume, change in timbre, need for setup adjustments, etc.

[klystephen]

Originally Posted by tstone

>> Then how to make to feeling of the strings not so stiff? I found the strings of my bass are quite stiff but actually the high of the strings are good.

It's getting off the original tailpiece topic, but if you want a softer feel, you could use lighter gauge strings, or strings with a stretchier core, or some combination thereof. Of course, such changes may have other side effects, like change in volume, change in timbre, need for setup adjustments, etc.

It seems very complicated.....Poor that there is no experience luthier in my place.