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Double Bass "Airy" E string when bowed.
- Thread starter mizmor
- Start date
Sounds like you're not moving the bow fast enough at your sounding point and it's "stalling". Try faster bow or play closer to the bridge. If your strings are standard length on a half size bass, they are going to be flabby to begin with, only making matters worse. The problem will be more noticeable on the lower strings.
To add to NeilG's comments, are the Helicores that you have fitted specifically for a 1/2 size 'mensur'?
On a well fitted string you should still see some silk on the length of string in the peg box i.e. in the short section between the tuner peg and the nut. Thats the first thing to check - if you've got no silk visible you probably have 3/4 strings on a 1/2 instrument and they wont be reaching their 'design length' where they will be at the right tension to produce their optimum sound and perform the way they should.
Secondly as an experiment, if you have silk visible and do have 1/2 size strings fitted after all , try tuning your E to say an F# and see if the unwelcome sound disappears and the airiness turns to volume and clarity. If so, you may need to change strings on your E at least as it could be that you have a bass that favours a higher tension string.
On a well fitted string you should still see some silk on the length of string in the peg box i.e. in the short section between the tuner peg and the nut. Thats the first thing to check - if you've got no silk visible you probably have 3/4 strings on a 1/2 instrument and they wont be reaching their 'design length' where they will be at the right tension to produce their optimum sound and perform the way they should.
Secondly as an experiment, if you have silk visible and do have 1/2 size strings fitted after all , try tuning your E to say an F# and see if the unwelcome sound disappears and the airiness turns to volume and clarity. If so, you may need to change strings on your E at least as it could be that you have a bass that favours a higher tension string.
If you can then take the bass to a repair shop, preferably a bass specialist. Could be a dud string, a wrong string (as above), needing adjustment of sound post, or your technique, or even the instrument itself. A few minutes with a repairer/luthier would be time well spent.
DP
DP
