Double Bass Dead A and E string on Romanian Double bass

[jajabinker]

Hello beautiful people !!!
I have just come in possession of a 40 year old Double Bass . But the A string sounds totally dead, sounds like slapping a cardboard box ... open and fretted. And the E string is relatively weak sounding and unclear compared to the others and kind of dead also. Any advice as to solve this issue? Your help is appreciated it’s my dream to learn upright !

The strings are old!

and the bridge I would say does not make complete contact with the body

 

[RSBBass]

The bridge fit is a likely culprit. Old strings do die too. I would say new strings and a setup are in order.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I also suspect the bridge fit. Push the bridge down so that it’s at a 90 degree angle to the top at the tailpiece side. Then have the soundpost checked by a luthier.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

A setup by a luthier (who will correct your bridge fit and feet As well as the soundpost Position) and new strings (not the cheapest ones!). Your luthier might have old ones that are better than yours to try.

 

[1st Bass]

Soundpost issues would be my guess, too, once you have the bridge fitting right.

 

[Don Hergert]

Nice looking bass!

What kind of strings are on the bass? Your E and A description sounds like some forms of gut-a-like (weedwacker) E and A strings; they tend to sound fine amped, but mostly dead acoustically.

If you're not sure what kind of strings you have, pictures of the strings at the pegbox, tailpiece and bridge can probably tell us what you have.

 

[marcox]

I hate to bring up this possibility, but my luthier diagnosed that same problem (on a post-WWII German laminate) as a detached bass bar. That's a more expensive repair than a bridge or soundpost adjustment.

If you have access to an Invalid Link Removed you can see for yourself.

 

[Scott Lynch]

The bass needs an inspection from a qualified luthier. Sounds like a setup issue but could be a number of things. If you are willing to provide your general location, we may be able to give recommendations on where to take the bass.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Setup issue. You’re trying to play pizz on a bass set up for classical that has a poor bridge fit. Of course it sounds like hot buttered crap.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I actually listened to your clip. WOW. That bass needs some bench time.

 

[jajabinker]

The bass needs an inspection from a qualified luthier. Sounds like a setup issue but could be a number of things. If you are willing to provide your general location, we may be able to give recommendations on where to take the bass.

I live in IndiA. And I don’t know any luthiers around here.

 

[jajabinker]

I hate to bring up this possibility, but my luthier diagnosed that same problem (on a post-WWII German laminate) as a detached bass bar. That's a more expensive repair than a bridge or soundpost adjustment.

If you have access to an Invalid Link Removed you can see for yourself.

View attachment 4449084

I just checked the bass bar (with my iPhone ) and it seems to be glued on well

 

[jajabinker]

I will go for a string change and try to get better bridge contact

 

[marcox]

I just checked the bass bar (with my iPhone ) and it seems to be glued on well

The problem is usually at the ends, which may be difficult to see. But if you’ve confirmed that the bass bar is solidly attached for its entire length, that’s an expensive repair you don’t have to worry about!

 

[eh_train]

I will go for a string change and try to get better bridge contact

That'll be a good start. From your soundclip, though, some of the problem might be in the fingerboard scoop. You mention being somewhere in India, hopefully there is someone near-ish who deals with setting up violin family instruments. A proper setup will make a huge difference in how playable and decent sounding the bass is!

 

[GretschWretch]

I just listened to the clip and I'm wondering if the "noting out" could be because that part of the fingerboard has been overdressed and those strings have a dip under them that chokes them by the less dressed, farther-up-the-fingerboard?