Double Bass E string Intonation Problem

[TrevorOfDoom]

Please forgive my ignorance of this side of the bass world. Been an electric bassist for 20+ years, and just bought a cheap DB to pluck around, have fun, and broaden my horizons.
I bought a Cremona plywood wonder, and yeah, I know it's not great, but it's what I could afford.
I don't know how to intonate my strings.
I had a tech install a new bridge, and the string heights feel great, and the A, D, and G string sound wonderful.
The E string, however, needs help.
When I tune it, it sounds like it never settles on a note, just constantly fluctuates around the note center.
And it does this no matter where on the neck I'm fingering.
Also, its note spots, or where I finger to get a note (dunno what the technical term for that is), are off from the rest of the strings.
The G on the E string is in about the same place laterally as the B on the A string, if that makes sense.
The A, D, and G string all have correct corresponding interval placement, but the E string is off.

The strings are Eurosonic Light Tension, and they're what came on the bass.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Don Hergert]

If you're anything like me, you'll love the double bass, but it's a completely different animal to play.

The standard recommendation is to take some lessons to start out, aside from giving you a foundation to build on, your teacher can show you a lot of the tricks of the trade. You may even decide to continue lessons on an ongoing basis.

In specific answer to your intonation question, part of this could be bridge location -- a floating bridge is the master of intonation. Next is setup, and among those settings your strings and action have a huge effect on chording intonation. You might want to consider taking your bass to a double bass specialist for a complete setup.

If your bridge is in the right location, then you may have to experiment around. On my DB, I have found when I'm tuning, I'm best off tuning the D and the A strings to my electronic tuner, and then tuning the G and E strings to those strings based on harmonics. You may find a similar concept works for you.

If you aren't already doing so, bowing (arco) helps tremendously with intonation practice. Again, a teacher can guide you into proper bowing techniques.

This all may sound complicated, but it's very very worth it. Enjoy your DB!!

 

[jasonrp]

I could be wrong but it may be two things that I've noticed myself doing. Because the E is so close to your plucking hand, you can pluck with a lot more force and not even realize it. Mine will bounce around the note center if I pluck hard. As for the notes seeming out of place with the others, is your hand curling as you reach around the neck to finger a note? When I tune, it seems like I'm having to move my hand a bit to hit the proper notes when it's actually just because the heel of my hand starts curling a little bit downward as I go to the lower (A and E) strings. Make sense?

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I’ve got lessons lined up for the other side of the holidays, so I’m on my own until then. Lots of Youtube videos.
As for the DB tech, i took it to a reputable shop in the area that deals only with orchestral strings (violin, cello, and DB). They have a tech who only works on DB, and that’s who installed my bridge.
So i’m gonna say it’s in the right spot.
I may have to work on my plucking strength, as that could be it.
As for hand positioning, i’m tracing the note centers from one side of the neck to the other, so I can tell where a note should be based upon where a note was on the previous string.
So the G on the D string is on the same level as the C on the G string, and the D on the A string.
But on the E string, that’s a Bb(ish).
The Bb on the G string is the same as the F on the D string and the C on the A string, but on the E string it’s a G#(ish).
Does that make sense?
All the octave harmonics are on the same level (laterally), except the E string.

So if this were a fretless bass, i’d blame intonation.
But it’s not the same, so I’m kinda stuck.

I still like playing the thing, and i’m playing along to a bunch of tunes, but I just avoid the E string.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

I am thinking there could be a problem with the (E-) string. Also, if the E-string is much too low in height, it could cause problems with intonation. But since you had a new bridge installed, that does not seem to be the problem (unless it has accidentally been moved sideways).

 

[SAlcott]

Try replacing the E string.

 

[delta7fred]

The A string on my EUB had a lose winding which gave similar symptoms to your E. Changing it cured the problem.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Try replacing the E string.

^^^ This.

You may want to try a Spiro E, pretty much a pluckers classic, if you are not into arco.
Intonation is up to the player on an upright, unless the string is bad. You should never have to avoid a string.

 

[robobass]

Definitely sounds like a defective string, or maybe it is just too light. Did the repair person look at the soundpost? That could also contribute to the problem. Even if it looks like it's in the right spot it may be too tall, and the "right spot" is different for different basses and players.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Yeah, the tech checked out the soundpost.
This guy does nothing but DBs so I trust his work.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Take it back to your luthier to check out.

 

[damonsmith]

^^^ This.

You may want to try a Spiro E, pretty much a pluckers classic, if you are not into arco.
Intonation is up to the player on an upright, unless the string is bad. You should never have to avoid a string.

I would try the Sprio E and arco. Spiros are a great arco string.

 

[s0707]

Yeah, the tech checked out the soundpost.
This guy does nothing but DBs so I trust his work.

Just curious, did you take it to Violins Etc?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Take it back to your luthier to check out.

And since you get there, the luthier might have some old E (and other) strings that you can try to identify if the string was the problem.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Just curious, did you take it to Violins Etc?

Yeah.
Honestly, other than Blackerby's, it's the only shop in town I know of.
Por que?

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

And I just bit the bullet and ordered a new E string.
Same kind. Eurosonic Light.
I'll keep you all posted.

 

[s0707]

Yeah.
Honestly, other than Blackerby's, it's the only shop in town I know of.
Por que?

Thanks for the tip. I was just curious about options available in Austin.

I've been renting a hybrid from Violins Etc for about 10 months, and in my (inexperienced) opinion the setup is good, except the E string could be a little lower at the nut. I remember when I first went there and tried some of the carved basses they have (used & new), a lot of them had very weak open A's, I don't know if they were wolf notes or something else -- it surprised me that so many basses in their room sounded like that. But I'm no expert. Anyway... sorry for the derail.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

Thanks for the tip. I was just curious about options available in Austin.

I've been renting a hybrid from Violins Etc for about 10 months, and in my (inexperienced) opinion the setup is good, except the E string could be a little lower at the nut. I remember when I first went there and tried some of the carved basses they have (used & new), a lot of them had very weak open A's, I don't know if they were wolf notes or something else -- it surprised me that so many basses in their room sounded like that. But I'm no expert. Anyway... sorry for the derail.

S’all good.
I dunno if Rock N Roll rentals does DBs, but i also don’t know if i’d trust a DB from them.