Double Bass Bass height

[nicechuck]

I just extened the endpin on my upright, makes it easier to pluck at the end of the fingerboard, and to play in higher positions, but what I noticed is that the bass is louder now. Not sure how much is because the body being 2 inches higher off the floor, but I can't imagine that 2 less inches of the metal endpin being out of the body could make that much difference. Any thoughts?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Maybe you think the bass is louder because your ear (as a player) is closer to the body?

 

[nicechuck]

Yea, that's what I'm thinking, tho I've read about the endpin length making a difference too

 

[1st Bass]

Stand on a two-inch block while you play, and see if the difference is still there.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Good advice!

Since my bass is so large and I'm rather short I never pull the endpin out. So I cannot tell you anything about different endpins.

But it seems the length and material makes a difference. At least if you pull it out several inches. I just thought the difference you heard could be more due to the reduced distance of ear to body than the endpin resonance. Get some listener a few meters away from the bass and let him decide (repeat to make sure this is the reason). It could also be that your bowing/plucking position got closer to the bridge and this might be the reason for the sound change.

OK, in the end, if it sounds better and you still feel comfortable play this way.

 

[bssist]

I just read the Traeger book wherein he stated that the endpin MUST be out at least a couple inches in order for everything to vibrate properly. He didn't get much into the specifics on the topic, just that it makes a definite difference.

I just turned down a hickory drumstick to use as an endpin and I was amazed at the difference it make in both tone and volume.

 

[JoeyNaeger]

Traeger says a lot of things make a huge difference, I wouldn't worry to much about most of them.

 

[nicechuck]

Thanks for the replies. This steel endpin has a pin in the inside end and I can't actually remove it, if I could, I'd probably cut some off of it to see what difference that would make, but I've been happy with the sound anyway, so not worried about it, just a bit surprized to notice the difference with just that little change

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I have seen these videos referenced in the german www.geba-online.de double bass forum:

http://www.youtube.com/v/XNqctOTMyjg&hl=de_DE&feature=player_embedded&version=3

http://www.youtube.com/v/kMIUGQmuiUA&hl=de_DE&feature=player_embedded&version=3

So you can listen a bit before you decide if you want to remove your endpin for experiments or not.

 

[nicechuck]

Thanks for the videos, quite interesting