Double Bass Bass with dead A string?

[Calvin Marks]

I played a smallish bass recently. Probably made 100-200 years ago and the string length was around 39-40". It was extremely loud on the E, D and G but the A string sounded completely dead with the bow. I played some pizz on the A and it was just a "thud" sound with zero sustain. Curious if you think this bass had an issue with the bass bar? Never encountered an instrument with such a loud and clear E, D, and G but weak and non-resonnant A.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Post might be tight.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Yep. Start with the soundpost.

 

[David Potts]

Try very gradually moving the post north, towards the bridge, in very small amounts as you test with the bow and listen. IME adjusting the post north-south pairs the strings, G with A and D with E, alternating through a series of closely spaced nodal distances from the bridge. My starting point is to stand the post its own diameter below the bridge foot and centering on it. My first moves of the post are south, looking for the the G to relax and resonate (warm up). Then I listen for and adjust the G/A and D/E balance before worrying about east-west movements that tighten or loosen the post and can help with final adjustments. I am finally down to "love taps" with a large wooden spoon.

Another thing that varies is the stiffness of the strings as you move the post between nodal points. I put this down to a sort of balancing act between the downward pressure of the bridge, the possible humping up of the belly caused by string tension and the north-south strength and flexibility of the belly while the post acts as a pivot point. My luthier once told me that the traditional positioning of the post top its own diameter south of the bridge also corresponds fairly well with the "sheer point" of the spruce front (1 1/2 times the thickness of the belly under the bridge foot). With the post closer than this the belly should withstand the pressure of the bridge without bending. Further away will lend towards distortion of the belly bending over the post, something we see happen with the sound post "bump" in thin plywood fronts .

 

[David Potts]

On second thoughts it could also be a dud string. Were the four strings a set or mixed brands? The first thing I would do is change the A string and try again.

 

[David Potts]

Incidently I am looking locally for a small 3/4 (5/8th?) that is old, lighter in weight, has good depth of sound and is a cannon. Sounds like your one above. They are hard to come by here. I have a better chance of finding a small "blockless wonder" than ,say, a Ferdinand Seitz. I attach a picture of my two current basses. The Xavier Jacquet (?) 7/8 is just too big and heavy now for my 82nd year and the smaller Kramer/de Sola is beautiful and powerful but ties up a lot of money. I don't want my family to try and sell it later in in such a small market here.

 

[Bassman415]

What string are you using on the A ? If it’s a belcanto A string they’ve had a lot of issues with the A string lately. I’ve experienced my. It sounds like the bass has a cold just on that string while the rest of the set is cranking. Rule out the string before moving on to post adjustments

 

[GretschWretch]

Incidently I am looking locally for a small 3/4 (5/8th?) that is old, lighter in weight, has good depth of sound and is a cannon. Sounds like your one above. They are hard to come by here. I have a better chance of finding a small "blockless wonder" than ,say, a Ferdinand Seitz. I attach a picture of my two current basses. The Xavier Jacquet (?) 7/8 is just too big and heavy now for my 82nd year and the smaller Kramer/de Sola is beautiful and powerful but ties up a lot of money. I don't want my family to try and sell it later in in such a small market here.

I sympathize with your wish to make everything easy for your family but, regarding the de Sola, if you are getting rid of everything else don't you deserve to get to keep at least one joy-toy?

 

[walking_line]

What string are you using on the A ? If it’s a belcanto A string they’ve had a lot of issues with the A string lately. I’ve experienced my. It sounds like the bass has a cold just on that string while the rest of the set is cranking. Rule out the string before moving on to post adjustments

I just experienced this with a new set of Bel Cantos. The A sounded ok-ish with the bow, but was so very anemic played pizz. Didn’t know this was a known issue. Just replaced the A a couple of days ago.