Double Bass Longer tailpiece wire for softer feel?

[B String]

Is it possible to make the overall feel of the bass softer by
putting on a longer tailpiece wire? I'd like to raise my action
but the bass feels very taut even with lower string height.

 

[vt picker]

i had good success with moving the bridge up 1-2" and using nylon tailpiece "wire". my tailpiece was just about at the saddle, now it's 1-2" toward the bridge.

 

[bejoyous]

It'll be easier to just pick a lower tension string. One of the sticky threads at the top of the STRINGS categories has a tension chart. There is also lots of info there about how different strings speak, sound and feel.

And no, changing the length of the TP wire won't effect the tension of the string but raising the action will.

Also, you want the between-the-bridge-and-tailpiece length of string to be 1/6 the playing string length to prevent wolftones. Changing the length of the TP wire would cause them. It's also and big PIA operation because you need to take all the strings off at once and the soundpost usually falls over when this happens. You also need to have some kind of clamp to secure the tailpiece wire. Whereas changing strings just releases the tension one string at a time.

 

[basswraith]

i had good success with moving the bridge up 1-2" and using nylon tailpiece "wire". my tailpiece was just about at the saddle, now it's 1-2" toward the bridge.

So you shortened your string length 1-2"??

Guys....dont do this.

If you want a looser feel try getting a shorter TP wire and move the TP down further to the saddle. This will give the after length of the string more room to vibrate. Try and get the after length pitch to ring close to a 4rth or a 3rd many octaves above the pitch of the open strings. Don,t use a cable thats too thick. Try 3/32" braided cable.

Also the seasons are changing perhaps the SP is in the wrong place or too close to the bridge or just too tight. Move a tad bit further south. that may help.

good luck.
Michael Hartery

 

[B String]

It'll be easier to just pick a lower tension string. One of the sticky threads at the top of the STRINGS categories has a tension chart. There is also lots of info there about how different strings speak, sound and feel.

And no, changing the length of the TP wire won't effect the tension of the string but raising the action will.

Also, you want the between-the-bridge-and-tailpiece length of string to be 1/6 the playing string length to prevent wolftones. Changing the length of the TP wire would cause them. It's also and big PIA operation because you need to take all the strings off at once and the soundpost usually falls over when this happens. You also need to have some kind of clamp to secure the tailpiece wire. Whereas changing strings just releases the tension one string at a time.

I appreciate your thoughts, but I prefer to have a little more
string under my fingers. I'm using D'Addario hybrids. I've had
Spiro's. My bass really didn't like Weichs. I didn't like the feel
either. I already have a 42in string length and I have VERY
short fingers, so I'm working a bit harder than I want to. Just
trying to get a softer feel without going to skinny strings.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

It's worth a try, I felt the strings to be a bit softer in the feel after trying this myself. But it wasn't radically different.

 

[bonaventura]

Is it possible to make the overall feel of the bass softer by putting on a longer tailpiece wire? I'd like to raise my action but the bass feels very taut even with lower string height.

I put on a longer the TP cord, a synthetic one, and it helped. It is a 4/4 bass, and needed less string length below the bridge. Actually, doing that helped me get rid of a wolf tone.

Getting low tension strings is also a good suggestion. Animas, guts...

+1: You might consider getting a higher saddle where the TP cord/wire crosses the top. I've got one that raises the cord sticking out by about 1". That breaks the hard angle of the TP and strings at the bridge. Less sharp an angle, tension reduced... looser feel... easier on the bass ...and the bassist.

 

[vt picker]

looks like it was closer to 1" move toward the bridge (from almost right on the saddle). do you think the changes then are more due to the synthetic tailpiece or willing it to feel/ sound better? i know that can happen too.

i don't bow so i don't have wolf tones (at least that i notice). i'm interested in the string length ratios. i do have a 5/8 bass, string length is 40"

thanks, i'll try to refrain from spreading bad info.

kelly