Double Bass different strin length, different sound ??

[bigmatteo]

Good Afternoon,
i publish a video,where i compared the tone quality. of two basses with different string length, i played both arco and pizzicato, i apologize for my bad arco skill, the audio was recoreded two years ago, when my technique was bad.

Here is the link:



Happy Christmas

Matteo from Milan

 

[Francois Blais]

With all due respect, I don't think this test has much value.
The basses are different.
The strings are different.
The string lenght difference is another thing, but the other factors far outweigh it, IMHO.

 

[Paps]

Yes, I think string tension would be a big factor.
Not only the tension of the strings as advertised, but the set-up of the bass as regards bridge height and neck angle which will affect how the top responds. (Also 5 string vs 4 string)
Open strings as compared to higher stopped notes and string height...

 

[RSBBass]

Thanks for trying but I think there are too many variables to draw much conclusive information from you video.

 

[SAlcott]

Along with good recording technique, a proper experiment requires the ability to play consistently, both arco and pizz. I'd suggest more practicing and less posting.

 

[GerardSamija]

It is likely that one could discover just as significant a sound difference in 1 bass, by simply moving the soundpost to a very different location. Many basses I've adjusted have sounded so much better with a post adjustment that players were shocked, wondering what miracle had been performed. Often it was simply that the previous post setting was far too tight, or too close to the bassbar, or both. Far too often even a properly tensioned post can be much too close to the bridge, shutting down most of the potential richness of a given bass.

 

[Sam Sherry]

. . . or do it the wrong way: One bass, adjustable bridge, move the bridge to 39, 41 and 43" and adjust for the same string height in each location.

It won't be perfect because the sound post would benefit from adjustment but it would show SOMETHING. (Or maybe it would show the result of nothing!)

 

[GerardSamija]

I had one 1950's Hofner violin to adjust, about an ounce heavier than usual for a violin. The tone had always been rather simple and harsh for the owner, since childhood. I tried small post adjustments, as it was a bit too close to the bridge. Nothing changed. A bit further, nothing again. Ended up with the soundpost a bit shorter and about 15mm from the bridge, and perhaps 4mm further from centre than the bridge leg - an extraordinary distance for a violin, but this had a very stiff spruce belly, so could tolerate the gap. Still no change at all. This violin seemed to ignore soundpost adjustments. I tried a different post, but it made zero difference. So the player ended up ordering a set of 'octave' strings, making it sound like a sub-viola. It sounded great! Fairly powerful voice, not brilliant, but certainly a much more pleasant sound than original in violin tuning. So it became her stage viola, with the convenience of not needing to play different tuning. Some instruments are like that. Stubborn.

 

[Martin Beer]

. . . or do it the wrong way: One bass, adjustable bridge, move the bridge to 39, 41 and 43" and adjust for the same string height in each location.

It won't be perfect because the sound post would benefit from adjustment but it would show SOMETHING. (Or maybe it would show the result of nothing!)

You could also devise a temporary fake nut to shorten the effective scale length, that way the bridge and soundpost relationship would be constant.