Double Bass Bass Feels Tight - What to do????

[robobass]

I'll definitely check this out and mention it to the luthier.

I think it is probably a soundpost issue as I think i still have the same sundpost that was in it when I lived in Boston and now I'm in Southern California. Might be a length issue? I appreciate it.

Important information. For sure you should have your SP checked if you've moved to a different climate. That may alone be the problem. Sorry I didn't pick up on this earlier.

Also, I agree with Hdiddy that you shouldn't be too loyal to your instrument. Flipping through a lot of basses in your younger years can teach you alot!

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Yeah no kidding. I thought my sensitivity to intonation was ok with the student bass. Boy was I wrong! The bass literally teaches you things.

 

[robobass]

Yeah no kidding. I thought my sensitivity to intonation was ok with the student bass. Boy was I wrong! The bass literally teaches you things.

For sure. One cool thing is how after owning a nicer bass for awhile, you can pick up a student ply and make it sing in a way that you never would have had you not made the upgrade.

 

[pmckee]

So is anybody looking to buy a Shen Willow or what?

Just kidding...I will look into all the things everybody has mentioned when I go get a set up on it. I am hoping its a soundpost issue and not an instrument issue.

 

[vejesse]

Before this thread dies I'd like to reiterate my position that outside of the string height and the type of strings used, the fingerboard surface has a huge effect on how the bass feels. I don't think most players appreciate the significance. The fingerboard surface is the foundation for setting the bass up to play. As the neck warps you can lower the string height but that setup will still feel slow yet the strings will rattle past the break.

If a bass feels stiff the first places to look are the fingerboard surface and the string height at the nut and bridge. If the soundpost is too long or not placed optimally that's not helping but it's a more subtle effect.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

Heya robobass, not trying to refute this, just seeking understanding: how will the OP know what is relief due to neck bowing vs the luthiered (hmm, is that even a word?) fb scoop?

Paul, if you put the straightedge along the seam between the ebony fb and the neck, you will see straight away whether the neck is warping forwards. Even easier, just sight along the seam from the scroll end. Warping here is a very common ailment, and a very common reason for a tight "feel".

 

[swingingoodtime]

Paul, if you put the straightedge along the seam between the ebony fb and the neck, you will see straight away whether the neck is warping forwards. Even easier, just sight along the seam from the scroll end. Warping here is a very common ailment, and a very common reason for a tight "feel".

Hi Matt! Ahhhh, now THAT makes sense, thanks for that. I'm learning and this is good...

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Before this thread dies I'd like to reiterate my position that outside of the string height and the type of strings used, the fingerboard surface has a huge effect on how the bass feels.

Agreed. My new board with much less camber (scoop) than the old one made my bass much more playable and less "tight" feeling.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

latest issue of ISB mag has a whole section on "tight" feel!

 

[pmckee]

What's ISB mag?

 

[Matthew Tucker]

It's the quarterly rag from the ISB: International Society of Bassists

 

[Waltjie]

I'd definitely look into trying a longer tailgut, or at least trying one made of a more flexible material.

 

[robobass]

Before this thread dies ...

It doesn't burn out - just fades away...

 

[passionbass]

i have the same problem with my bass originally bought with nylon strings.
once i changed to steel strings, its tight as steel.

will a longer tail gut help?

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Nut up and learn to play steel strings. Yeah, sometimes it's just simple as that.

 

[swingingoodtime]

I'd definitely look into trying a longer tailgut, or at least trying one made of a more flexible material.

If that's the area of your bass that you're targetting, a longer tailgut with your existing tailpiece may result in incorrect afterlengths (string length between bridge & tailpiece). If it's currently the stiff coathanger wire type, better to try the more flexible material, or maybe a Marvin cable tailpiece.

i have the same problem with my bass originally bought with nylon strings.
once i changed to steel strings, its tight as steel.

will a longer tail gut help?

What steel strings are we talking about here? Yes, they take more work than nylons, but some are stiffer than others; I remember a set of La Bellas (can't remember the model number, though) that was as stiff, tight & inflexible as coathanger wire. Just horrendous. No comparison between them & Corelli's or even a heavier string like Spiro Mittels for that matter.

 

[Don Higdon]

I know I am outside the realm of this forum right now, but how do the velvet anima's play sound arco?

Bad.

 

[bassist1962]

I am learning that setup is everything. I've had the instrument since mid 2006, but finally had a repair budget this last tax check. seams repaired, new spiro weichs, new bridge, bow rehaired. Sounded great for about six weeks to two months, then started sounding choked and feeling tight, volume loss, etc.. I noticed two things - the bridge had tilted, and the soundpost was almost directly behind the bridge foot. re-adjusted the bridge, and moved the sp about an inch and a half south, and the bass is much looser, and sings like never before. Even the E string is ringing out all the way into thumb position. Just a couple of minor adjustments made a huge difference.