Recent content by jimconklin

I suppose composers take into account the presence or absence of sympathetic vibrations in the strings section. And, I suppose sympathetic vibrations are less important in an orchestral than in solo or chamber music settings. As a beginner, I do not have the capability to control these to any...

I am just learning double bass. Mine is tuned in fifths. On many notes, other strings vibrate, too. This phenomenon is probably also present on basses tuned in fourths. Is it ever a problem, and if so, what do you do about it? Conversely, some notes do not stir up sympathetic vibrations, or only...

Thanks to a referred site, I was able to find answers to all my questions about bow hair and string response..

I tried another bow, and it seems to have been the answer. Now, I am wondering whether the hair of a bow becomes worn smooth with use. Does it, when new, have a roughness that, combined with the rosin, grabs the string? If so, I can imagine that, over time, the roughness of the hair will be...

Just starting on DB. 3/4 fully carved 2-year-old Chinese bass tuned in fifths with Pirastro Obligato fifths tuning set. Arco only. All strings hum happily when open. G string OK on even stopped pitches, but gets VERY hard to move on in-betweens. Is there an explanation, and a work-around?

Thank you! I have had a little experience with violins and cello, but with no other stringed instruments. I like to know how things work, the mechanics, and that slows me down a lot when I get into the realms of art and sensuality.

The set of strings I got, after inquiring one of the major dealers, is Pirastro Obligato. Maybe I ought to try the Spirocore. I sure would feel more confident if I thought the strings were not overloading the neck and adjacent structure.

When I am new to something, I put as lot of emphasis on things I do not understand, or have only a little previous experience with. So, with the bass, I assumed the fingerboard would be straight and from what I have read, many of them are. Mine has a slight upward curve in the lowest two inches...

I am new to the double bass. When I get all the strings up to pitch I see that the neck is pulled upward so that the space between the strings and the fingerboard has increased. The luthier from whom I bought the bass says this is OK. I surely would like to have other opinions and observations...

Many thanks for your ideas. The woman from whom I bought the bass, Nancy Rohn, is a stringed instrument repair person. She is coming over to look at the bass today, so she may be able to get it going again. While it was working, I very much liked the sound and response with the fifths tuning...

I am new to the double bass. I bought a used one recently and learned that some bassists were using strings tuned in fifths. I bought a set and installed them. The strings seemed too high for bowing and I cut down the bridge. As I brought the strings up to pitch I heard creaks and cracks. The...

I am new to the double bass. I bought a used one recently and learned that some bassists were using strings tuned in fifths. I bought a set and installed them. The strings seemed too high for bowing and I cut down the bridge. As I brought the strings up to pitch I heard creaks and cracks. The...