Double Bass Five string bass setup considerations

[jmpiwonka]

I just had an initial setup done on a bass and the bridge is actually quite thin. Bass isn’t overly bright, actually thinking this might be one that just sounds great with spirocores. Only thing is the string height is still pretty high so it might brighten up a bit as I drop that down some. really so many variables to consider.

 

[JBarz]

Ok, a little update from cloud nine:

Damien’s high A2 string came in today and it is the nicest gut I’ve ever played. Takes all the whiney scratchy stuff I didn’t like about the E and blends it seamlessly into the Spiro RM D string.

The bass is feeling “finished”. The Marvin Tailpiece helped loosen up the feel of the whole axe tremendously, and I ended up setting the action even lower. Now, even the most awkward chord voicings (ie, AbMAJ7 in first position) are speaking clearly and easily.

I’ve been bowing it like crazy, amplified, with the cabinet pointing directly at the top of the bass to try to break it in, but more than anything this gut just needs a month to settle. Arco curve is good! The thickness of the top two gut strings somehow managed to balance all 5 string’s bowing radius real nicely! No complaints!

I’m very pleased.

The little booger luthier apprentice pictured has managed to make a couple of very minor, but obnoxious scratches in the otherwise flawless finish, though, causing me to consider relic’n the instrument. I’ve heard people get silly with packing tape, hammers, etc to get new basses to the place where you don’t care if it gets the occasional ping or ding. He’s cute, but he’s a pistol, that one…

 

[BassDaddy11]

Love it! Great job (both of you)

 

[JBarz]

Wanted to pop back into this thread to report that everything's settled and I've found 5 string fifths Moksha on the Shen 5'r with the following strings:

C - Spirocore Mittel LOW B tuned up 1/2 step
G - Spirocore Red Mitchell 3/4 mittel
D - Thomastic Dominant D
A - 40 gauge Damian Dlugolecki gut
E - 27 gauge Damian Dlugolecki gut

I switched out the pickup for a Yamahiko single element bass side, put in the capacitor mod (which brought the pup to life, IMHO), but had to add a couple of thin Koa wood shims above the adjusters after everything settled to get the 'base line' straight height right. I was planning on recutting the bridge with a premium ($$$) 4/4 one, bought the blank, but am going to hold off because this one is speaking just fine.

For some reason, it seems like the D string on this axe really sets the tone for the whole instrument. I tried everything I could - all the Spirocores, plain gut, gamut pistoy, Oliv, etc. The Dominant D really was the special sauce that bridged the whole instrument.

My boy Garry Goodman at octave4plus.com hasn't given up on a steel wound Spirocore-like flat wound high E. He's working on the 3rd prototype right now and must have the patience of a saint. He says the trick to getting really thin bass strings to hold tension is to tune crazy slowly - like over the course of several weeks, 1/4 turn every couple hours. I f'd up the previous two by trying to crank them up to tension too fast, but he says once they're stable, if you're patient enough, they should last 5-10 years.

The plain gut is responding marvelously under the bow, but I am curious to see if we can make an all steel set work.

 

[JBarz]

Thanks.

Darn Obligato high E already snapped. What crappy fragile strings! I contacted Thomastic, Pirastro, and Aquila (@Mimmo ) if anyone would manufacture (or retrofit an existing cello string) a Spirocore/Perpetual/‘red springs metal’ style high E string. Anyone else have any bright ideas as to what I could substitute?

I revisited the Obligato high E and am here to report that I was originally wrong and it DOES work great over the Spirocore RM set. The original one I tried must have been defective or maybe I put it on before the string grooves were properly smooth and lube’d. Regardless - I’m here to say: It works, ya’ll. Looking forward to recording a little something soon to show off how delightfully excellent and well balanced this setup sounds/feels, especially arco.

 

[JBarz]

I feel like I’ve got this instrument in full song. Ended up going with Obligato E and A over Sprio RM C G D. Perfect.
Wanted to close the thread out with a little video of that tune “ Darn that Dream “…. I remember I used to think this tune was the cheesiest tune ever when I was a kid, but now I just love it.