String Vibrations and "Echo"

[kjazz1958]

I have an old German carved flatback, that just had the top off to tighten braces up and fix a top crack. I changed the strings from 5+ year old Spirocores, and now I am getting an "echo chamber" effect, especially higher up on the neck (this is Pizz. playing only). After changing strings several times in various combinations, moving the bridge around, I finally discovered that the "echo/reverb" effect is caused by sympathetic vibration of the strings NOT being played. I can dampen the three other strings while playing the "G" string, and the problem goes away. It also goes away when I put back on the old old strings... but my bass sounds much better with the new strings.

So my question is: what can I do to get rid of this? Keep playing in the new strings (Helicores) and hope they get less "lively"? Could it possibly be my tailpiece wire (airline cable type) length, or position of the tail?

I think the repairs have made my bass more resonant, but it is annoying to have "spillover" in my sound (it can sound like I am playing in a cave!)

Ideas? I also need a good luthier in Denver area, not an easy find...

[reedo35]

Here's one right in Denver..
http://www.rossdoublebass.com/html/about.html

[anonymous0726]

I think that you're used to dead-ass strings and have to learn to mute things while you're playing -- especially through an amp with a compress-y pickup like an Underwood.

[mchildree]

You might try wrapping a piece of velcro strip around the afterlengths of the strings (between the bridge and tailpiece). Steve Azola does this on his basses, and I found it really helps on my acoustic uprights...especially when recording.

[kjazz1958]

Thanks for the velcro idea; I'll try that.

[christ andronis]

does it happen on just one pitch....or more? When I first read your post, I thought you might have had a wolf tone.