Double Bass Boosey and Hawkes Excelsior

[Bob J Green]

Hi, I just bought a Boosey and Hawkes Excelsior DB, apparently 1960s, dirt cheap and if you saw it you'd know why! Having said that it seems pretty solid, although I am a DB newbie. The strings sound kind of dull, though, I want to get a more punchy sound as I will be playing exclusively pizzicato.

Any recommendations for strings?

Any opinions on the bass?

 

[Leo Smith]

Spirocores are generally considered to be the punchy pizz only string.

If there is a bass repair shop near you, take the instrument there for a once-over.

Where are you located, BTW?

 

[Bob J Green]

Spirocores are generally considered to be the punchy pizz only string.

If there is a bass repair shop near you, take the instrument there for a once-over.

Where are you located, BTW?

Welwyn Garden City, about 20 miles north of London. There is a bass shop in Watford, about half an hour away.

 

[marcox]

Dearest Bob, it is a beloved tradition in these parts to post one or more photographs of one’s new bass.

(Congrats!)

 

[Bob J Green]

It shall be done, sir.

 

[LouisF]

If you are near Thwaites, they are very reputable: Thwaites Fine Stringed Instruments and Bows

 

[Bob J Green]

They are about half an hour away - I had some brief dealings with them about 10 years ago and they were very helpful.

 

[misterbadger]

It's also a tradition around here to spend about $1000 trying different strings before settling on Spirocores.

 

[Leo Smith]

It's also a tradition around here to spend about $1000 trying different strings before settling on Spirocores.

brilliant and true. US$1000 might get you 3 sets of different strings at today's prices....

 

[Bob J Green]

Here is my B&H bass in all its glory

 

[groooooove]

those may be superflexibles on there? good string! but they are probably real old.

fresh set of spirocores will do you well.

congrats on your new bass!

+1 to others that said, have someone look it over.

I played a bass i got from my teacher for years thinking "i like it why bother bringing it in." once i finally had someone look at it, we learned that the soundpost was obviously done by a DIY-er and in a completely wrong spot (directly under bridge foot.) new post made and suddenly the bass was 10X better.

I was less experienced at the time and the carved bass with a bad post still sounded better than my laminate. with the new post cut that bass served me well, professionally, for years.

 

[eh_train]

Bob,

Congrats on the bass!

Do you know where it was made? Those tuners, if they’re original to the instrument, suggest the former Czechoslovakia.

On second look, though, their fit seems a little bit wonky. Maybe they’re replacements?

 

[Francois Blais]

You seem to have Jargar mediums on, so no surprise if pizz sounds a bit dull.

 

[Bob J Green]

those may be superflexibles on there? good string! but they are probably real old.

fresh set of spirocores will do you well.

congrats on your new bass!

+1 to others that said, have someone look it over.

I played a bass iQUOTE]

those may be superflexibles on there? good string! but they are probably real old.

fresh set of spirocores will do you well.

congrats on your new bass!

+1 to others that said, have someone look it over.

I played a bass i got from my teacher for years thinking "i like it why bother bringing it in." once i finally had someone look at it, we learned that the soundpost was obviously done by a DIY-er and in a completely wrong spot (directly under bridge foot.) new post made and suddenly the bass was 10X better.

I was less experienced at the time and the carved bass with a bad post still sounded better than my laminate. with the new post cut that bass served me well, professionally, for years.

New set of Spirocores going on tomorrow! I've had a peer around inside, and the soundpost is not directly below the bridge foot. Once I've got the strings on it (I've done it before so I'm quite confident about doing it) I'll book it in at my local shop to get it looked at.

 

[Bob J Green]

You seem to have Jargar mediums on, so no surprise if pizz sounds a bit dull.

Yes, it does sound a bit dull. The previous owner said he'd used it for bluegrass which possibly needs a less punchy sound?

 

[Bob J Green]

Bob,

Congrats on the bass!

Do you know where it was made? Those tuners, if they’re original to the instrument, suggest the former Czechoslovakia.

On second look, though, their fit seems a little bit wonky. Maybe they’re replacements?

I think it's a Czech bass, apparently it was made in the 60's. The tuners are possibly a little wonky, it looks like 4 individual machine heads similar to what you might find on a bass guitar, but then there is a large black metal plate mounted on each side of the headstock through which the tuners are mounted into the wood. If necessary I will replace them, one or two of the tuning keys seem to be a little loose although not affecting the action of the tuners themselves.

 

[Francois Blais]

I've had a peer around inside, and the soundpost is not directly below the bridge foot. Once I've got the strings on it (I've done it before so I'm quite confident about doing it) I'll book it in at my local shop to get it looked at.

Beware!
The soundpost must not be directly below the bridge foot, I mean it must be at some distance.
This can be adjusted to modify the tone of the instrument.
To be done by qualified craftman (or woman) only!

 

[Bob J Green]

Beware!
The soundpost must not be directly below the bridge foot, I mean it must be at some distance.
This can be adjusted to modify the tone of the instrument.
To be done by qualified craftman (or woman) only!

That's what I was getting at - the soundpost may not be in the ideal spot (I will get this checked out) but at least it isn't somewhere ridiculous!

Just from the point of view from a relative novice, what does the soundpost actually do? Is it to transmit vibrations through to the back of the bass, or does it have strengthening properties to stop the bass from becoming misshapen? Also, I've heard that if you take all the strings off the lack of tension across the body is enough to loosen the sound post, is this correct? I intend to swap my strings one at a time, like I do on my bass guitar. Plus it's a floating bridge, I believe, and I would think it needs to be in exactly the right place.

 

[misterbadger]

Yes to both soundpost functions, And, yes, change one string at a time. The centerline of the bridge should line up with the notches of the ff-holes, and equidistant from the notches side-to-side.

 

[Bob J Green]

Yes to both soundpost functions, And, yes, change one string at a time. The centerline of the bridge should line up with the notches of the ff-holes, and equidistant from the notches side-to-side.

Thank you misterbadger!