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Double Bass "boxy" sound?

Pacman

Pacman

Layin' Down Time
Staff member
Gold Supporting Member
Apr 1, 2000
17,408
9,863
Omaha, Nebraska
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
#1
I'm a relative newbie to DB, although I've got a pretty good gig doing it.

I'm playing an Englehart M1 ply bass with a Realist or BassMax pickup, and lately I've noticed that the sound is sort of "boxy". I'm not sure of another way to describe it. No real richness to the sound. I've also noticed slight imperfections of the way the bridge meets the top of the bass (gaps of .5mm or so). Am I just getting a more critical ear, or does the bridge fit contribute to a less than perfect sound? How can I tell the difference. Should I stop listening to John Patitucci and Christian McBride? Should I shut up and color? Should I seek therapy?

An unrelated question: I was surfing the net and found a website that sells endpins for Arco and Pizz styles. Is this snake oil? Can one endpin style sound better for a style of playing?

Thanks for your patience.
 
#3
It's a relative thing, but yes, bridge fit matters. Keep in that you can have bad contact even when you don't see gaps. That's why luthiers are worth the money.
Hmmmmm...different end pins for arco and pizz ? Is this place in southern California, by any chance? Do they also sell crystals that enhance energy flow? How about a colonic designed to perfect your bow angles?
I guess you know where I stand, Pac.
 
#4
Originally posted by Pacman
I was surfing the net and found a website that sells endpins for Arco and Pizz styles. Is this snake oil?
Click to expand...

Well, ya see, the endpin density tends to modulate your callous determinability factor. And if your determinability goes, then your demographics are all out of adjustment.
 
#6
Thanks, guys. I'm bringing my bass to the doctor's tomorrow. I'm going to have a new (adjustable) bridge put on, and get rid of that pesky coat hanger tailpiece cable, too.

I'm easily the luckiest guy in the world. I've got a gig where they pay me to learn the big bass, even though when I got the gig I couldn't play a note! Not only did they get me a bass exactly like the one I own (to aid in my learning process), but now I play a Lakeberg and Baer for the classical stuff (at which I really suck, but I'm trying!) It would seem that the jazz upright thing has really bitten me, though, and it's so cool that I've got a gig that encourages me to learn this stuff.

'preciate the help.....
 
#7
I have heard people talk of the length of the endpin still inside the bass dampening the sound, and some people insist that heavy materials decrease the amount of vibrations possible by the wood of the bass. But I've never heard of a different pin for arco or pizz.

And contrary to what DONOSAURUS MAXIMUS claims, I've heard that mauve crystals clog the receptor antennae of the conjunct psychic fertlebinder, causing a loss of perceived high frequencies when amplified. But I should add as a courtesy to IRONSAM (who no doubt would have had to remind others of this) that this information is strictly heresay, and is therefore inadmissible.
 
#9
Debates, discussions
These are words with a D this time
Dialog, duologue, diatribe,
Dissention, declamation
 
#12
Originally posted by arnoldschnitzer
You guys are all loco...Take the Engelhardt to the furniture stripper and get the ten pounds of polyester off it!
Click to expand...

Would removing the finish make a difference?
 
#15
I glued two crystals to my end pin and I must say the tone is much clearer.
It may have been because I was using the crystals as ear plugs to help my intonation.

YMMV



In all honesty the best things I did to improve the tone of my ES9 was to replace the week, tiny end pin and the tailpiece cable.
Also removing the inch of poly on the back of the neck improve playability.


Originally posted by Pacman
Debates, discussions
These are words with a D this time
Dialog, duologue, diatribe,
Dissention, declamation
Click to expand...

Calm down Adrian.
 
#16
Originally posted by gruffpuppy

In all honesty the best things I did to improve the tone of my ES9 was to replace the week, tiny end pin and the tailpiece cable.
Also removing the inch of poly on the back of the neck improve playability.
Click to expand...

I did that first thing (the poly on the neck), and the tailpiece cable goes tomorrow, when the bass goes for the new bridge. I'm going to ask about refinishing, too. Where'd I put that turpentine......
 
#18
Originally posted by Pacman
I'm a relative newbie to DB, although I've got a pretty good gig doing it.

I'm playing an Englehart M1 ply bass with a Realist or BassMax pickup, and lately I've noticed that the sound is sort of "boxy". I'm not sure of another way to describe it. No real richness to the sound. I've also noticed slight imperfections of the way the bridge meets the top of the bass (gaps of .5mm or so).
Click to expand...
Your "boxy" sound may be due to a poor fit of the pickup under the bridge-wing. BassMax, and other wing pickups will deliver a different sound as they are moved around to different positions under the bridge wing.

If your bass sounded good, and THEN got "boxy", the pickup may have shifted due to tugs on the connecting wire when putting it in the case, or un-plugging, or whatever. Experiment with rotating and moving it around under the bridge wing.

Also, wing pickups are notorious for producing different sound if the slot it's inserted into is too tight, or especially if it's too loose. If it's too tight, where the pickup has to be forced in, you can crush the piezo element. Then it sounds REALLY different! :rolleyes:

The space under the bridge foot shouldn't be very significant to the sound of the pickup, but it it's enough for you to see at all, you should have it fitted by a luthier.

The feet are what transmit the string vibrations to the top of the bass, and you lose volume and clarity with a bad fit. You want to get absolutely as much surface contact as possible between the feet and the top of the bass.

Also you'll have more trouble keeping the bridge in place when re-stringing your bass if the feet don't fit well, and the bridge may tend to slide around between the F-holes pretty easily even while fully-tuned.

You can fit the feet yourself, if you're very careful and very patient. Put a sheet of sandpaper down on the top of the bass, where the feet go, and move the bridge back and forth on the sandpaper, to sand the bottoms of the feet while using the face of the bass as the contour-guide. I don't remember for sure, but I think 40-grit is a good sandpaper to use.

You just have to be careful that you move the feet always in the same place, in a straight line, headed back and forth between the fingerboard and the tailpiece. They won't match the contour of the face-swell, otherwise.
 

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