Hello DB side, I mostly hang out on the BG side, but today I try something new.
About 18 months ago I bought a used Christopher plywood bass (from everyone's favorite bass store, Craigslist) with the ambition of playing in a community orchestra in a few years. It required massive setup work, and as part of the cleaning process, I strung it with new Preludes. (It came with a Glasser fiberglass bow and I also acquired a low-grade carbon fiber bow as part of a dispute with Music & Arts about a trumpet rental for one of my kids).
My youngest has started cello lessons, so I have recently been spending a lot of time in thumb position to help with learning those songs. And man, do I sound awful up there. I would describe it as a combination of wubby and whiny. I don't like it at all and my wife complains constantly.
I have been trying to figure out what needs to be done to improve this situation. I took my bow to a local store and tried one of their (hybrid) basses, strung with Flexocores, and it was much better (and actually very nice when tried with one of their more expensive wood bows). I took my bass to Bob Ross and tried a bunch of different bows, and while some were better, none were actually "good."
My teacher lent me used Obligato D and G, and it is a big improvement; maybe a nicer bow would bring me all the way to "good" with these strings. My wife claims she can't hear a difference. I'm not sure how used they actually are.
The low register with the Preludes, is fine, I guess. It's not inspiring but it sounds like a bass. The lower register with the Obligatos I'm still getting used to. There is a lot more treble and I'm finding them more finicky about getting a sound out. They act like they're kind of slippery and I have to set the bow more firmly.
Where I am ultimately at is trying to figure out if 1) it is possible to remedy this situation with strings (and maybe a better bow, too) or if ultimately I need to save for a new bass, and 2) what strings will be the best place to start to avoid spending $8,000 over the next year swapping sets out?
So to answer the questions in the sticky:
1) My goal here is orchestral playing, so 90% arco and pizz only when the score directs.
2) My sound goal for thumb position is "cello like." My teacher's bass sounds great up high, but it's some kind of local-luthier-made fully carved flatback, so it's not really comparable. I want it to sing when I'm playing those simple cello pieces. My goal for lower playing is...I'm not totally sure. Whatever the hypothetical conductor wants. On BG I'd be interested in solid mids to ensure a good place in the mix but on DB with layers and layers of other instruments around me I'm not sure whether just a bunch of boom is better or what.
3) The Prelude mediums feel fine to me. I don't think I'd want tension much lower because I'd probably have to raise the action.
4) The only ones I've used are the Preludes, they sound awful in thumb position. They are pretty easy to bow compared to the Obligatos.
About 18 months ago I bought a used Christopher plywood bass (from everyone's favorite bass store, Craigslist) with the ambition of playing in a community orchestra in a few years. It required massive setup work, and as part of the cleaning process, I strung it with new Preludes. (It came with a Glasser fiberglass bow and I also acquired a low-grade carbon fiber bow as part of a dispute with Music & Arts about a trumpet rental for one of my kids).
My youngest has started cello lessons, so I have recently been spending a lot of time in thumb position to help with learning those songs. And man, do I sound awful up there. I would describe it as a combination of wubby and whiny. I don't like it at all and my wife complains constantly.
I have been trying to figure out what needs to be done to improve this situation. I took my bow to a local store and tried one of their (hybrid) basses, strung with Flexocores, and it was much better (and actually very nice when tried with one of their more expensive wood bows). I took my bass to Bob Ross and tried a bunch of different bows, and while some were better, none were actually "good."
My teacher lent me used Obligato D and G, and it is a big improvement; maybe a nicer bow would bring me all the way to "good" with these strings. My wife claims she can't hear a difference. I'm not sure how used they actually are.
The low register with the Preludes, is fine, I guess. It's not inspiring but it sounds like a bass. The lower register with the Obligatos I'm still getting used to. There is a lot more treble and I'm finding them more finicky about getting a sound out. They act like they're kind of slippery and I have to set the bow more firmly.
Where I am ultimately at is trying to figure out if 1) it is possible to remedy this situation with strings (and maybe a better bow, too) or if ultimately I need to save for a new bass, and 2) what strings will be the best place to start to avoid spending $8,000 over the next year swapping sets out?
So to answer the questions in the sticky:
1) My goal here is orchestral playing, so 90% arco and pizz only when the score directs.
2) My sound goal for thumb position is "cello like." My teacher's bass sounds great up high, but it's some kind of local-luthier-made fully carved flatback, so it's not really comparable. I want it to sing when I'm playing those simple cello pieces. My goal for lower playing is...I'm not totally sure. Whatever the hypothetical conductor wants. On BG I'd be interested in solid mids to ensure a good place in the mix but on DB with layers and layers of other instruments around me I'm not sure whether just a bunch of boom is better or what.
3) The Prelude mediums feel fine to me. I don't think I'd want tension much lower because I'd probably have to raise the action.
4) The only ones I've used are the Preludes, they sound awful in thumb position. They are pretty easy to bow compared to the Obligatos.
