Fellow upright players— Ojust slapped on a new set of La Bella 7710s, because who doesn’t want to sound like Ron Carter on the upright? Wondering if any of you also play on these atrings and can give me observations on the way the strings reapond to your bow. I’m having a devil oc a time avoiding scratchy attacks and I can’t tell if it’s the strngs, the rosin, or if the holidays have simply takem a toll on my arco chops.
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Double Bass LaBella 7710s
- Thread starter Art Esposito
- Start date
Those strings are super hard to bow. Not recommended. Friend who uses them says sandpaper on the arco part of the strings, pops rosin and a Fiberglass bow, or something like that.
Fighting somewhat the same battle with different strings...
Try starting the bow level but at an angle against the strings, tilting the bow itself so that just a little of the bow hair is rubbing the string to start out. As the note gets going, little by little go flat with all the bow hair against the strings.
That seems to work with my E and A, which are also not recommended for arco -- that is, it works for long notes where there is time to make this transition to start the string, reducing the harsh tones. For short notes where there isn't time to start the string, I don't have a definite solution, but generous rosin and a tight bow with significant bow pressure may help (you may already be doing this).
Try starting the bow level but at an angle against the strings, tilting the bow itself so that just a little of the bow hair is rubbing the string to start out. As the note gets going, little by little go flat with all the bow hair against the strings.
That seems to work with my E and A, which are also not recommended for arco -- that is, it works for long notes where there is time to make this transition to start the string, reducing the harsh tones. For short notes where there isn't time to start the string, I don't have a definite solution, but generous rosin and a tight bow with significant bow pressure may help (you may already be doing this).
Yes, I have discovered this the hard way. I tried the sand paper approach and wore throught the tape wrapper— total fail.
Gonna see if I can get my money back, but I’m doubtful
Ah poopie man I think you’re supposed to do it a little. Is the tape unwinding all over?
Me. Play like him? Sure. Sound like him, hard pass.
Nothing but respect from me for Mr. Carter, but I do not want to sound like him.
I have enormous respect for the man. I love his ideas but I don't like his sound.
Tone is highly subjective obviously.
Tone is highly subjective obviously.
I really like his sound. He gets a bad rep cuz in the 80s he went straight through the pickup into the studio so you hear just the pickup on some records
