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Double Bass Stark E

#5
I put one on my Kolstein bass and it rocked! I had to, tearfully, take it off because the tension was too great for the bass. It was affecting the other strings that no amount of adjustment could correct. I put the Mittel back on and the bass played great again.

I'm trying to decide where I'm going to use the Stark now. I've finally had enough of the Evahs. I'm putting the Spiros/Dom back on. I might put the Stark on that bass. The Mittel rocks pretty hard already though so I have to think about it.

mark
 
#7
I cant tell if it was the sudden shift in the weather around here or the stark E but the tension all across just got real tight. Does just changing the E increase tension in the other strings?
 
#9
Stark E pulls on the neck pretty hard. It's a very high tension string. As such it can pull the neck into some more bow than it previously had under some other string. In effect you raise your string height slightly in response to the increased camber. That can make the whole bass feel stiffer.

fwiw, thats one of the things I like about it. It tightens up my bass in good way.

That's also why the whole stark set can be a real killer.

If you have adjusters you may want to drop the height a turn or two.
 
#10
flatback said:
I cant tell if it was the sudden shift in the weather around here or the stark E but the tension all across just got real tight. Does just changing the E increase tension in the other strings?
Click to expand...

You might want to check the angle of the bridge. It may be pointing slightly up (i.e. toward the headstock) which will also tighten everything up. Make sure it is vertical.

My Kolstein bridge has a tendency toward shifting or angling up. Whenever I feel the bass tightening up, I reset the bridge by pushing down on it with slight but firm pressure until it is vertical. The bass loosens right up.



mark
 
#11
calivox said:
You might want to check the angle of the bridge. It may be pointing slightly up (i.e. toward the headstock) which will also tighten everything up. Make sure it is vertical.

My Kolstein bridge has a tendency toward shifting or angling up. Whenever I feel the bass tightening up, I reset the bridge by pushing down on it with slight but firm pressure until it is vertical. The bass loosens right up.



mark
Click to expand...

Thanks guys. I use a bridge with the MTM (Moser titanium) adjusters so the tension is never increased even if it is slightly out of true. I played this string last night on the gig and it sure growls. Seems like a really good match for the rest of the spiros. Also I have a compensated tail piece so i suspect i am not getting the full force of the increased tension....
 
#12
...yea it sounds great but I think its too much tension for me. It really affects all the other strings. It feels like the dif. between weich and mittel only from mittel up. The extra growl isn't worth carpel tunnel to me and i don't feel like getting into a whole new cycle of futsing with strings...
 
#13
flatback said:
Stark E
yikes. That has some balls.


...yea it sounds great but I think its too much tension for me. It really affects all the other strings. It feels like the dif. between weich and mittel only from mittel up. The extra growl isn't worth carpel tunnel to me and i don't feel like getting into a whole new cycle of futsing with strings...
Click to expand...
That in a nutshell is my dilemma as well. So I put it on, take it off, put it on, take it off etc.

Insanity.
 
#15
To date, it's the only E string I've ever been happy with. I use a full set of Starks on my ply, and the Stark E and three Dominants on my hybrid. Being a tension junkie can be a drag on the last set of a long gig, or on the second gig on a day where there is more than one. OTOH, it sure is nice to be happy with the strings on my bass since it allows me to cruise right on through all of the "string flava of the month" threads without my wallet getting lighter every time. :)
 
#18
Anybody wanna sell me their slightly used Stark E?

Calivox???

I just installed my old, slightly used Spiro Mittel E&A.

This feels like it's going to be a great mix with my Obli D&G.

The bottom is brighter & punchier...and the top mellower and more flexible feeling.

Problem is...my Romanian Lemur flatback is a little weak in the super low-end so I'd like to try this mystical E string and see if it rocks on my bass.
 
#19
Jason Hollar said:
Anybody wanna sell me their slightly used Stark E?

Calivox???

I just installed my old, slightly used Spiro Mittel E&A.

This feels like it's going to be a great mix with my Obli D&G.

The bottom is brighter & punchier...and the top mellower and more flexible feeling.

Problem is...my Romanian Lemur flatback is a little weak in the super low-end so I'd like to try this mystical E string and see if it rocks on my bass.
Click to expand...

Exactly my setup and I bet you will like it. My Upton Romanian also is a little weak in the low end, so maybe I'll follow you if you get two offers on the Stark ;).
 
#20
On second thought...

I might let you have first dibbs on the used stark if anybody has one!

These Mittels have more tension than I originally thought.

Now I remember why I abandoned them before!

I'm going to let these settle in for a few weeks and see how it goes before I start ramping up. I think maybe a brand-spankin' new spiro might be the ticket.

The Obli D&G sound nice & warm and balanced with the new/old strings.
 

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