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Double Bass Marvin Wire Tailpiece

#62
I just sprung for one since I recently, I found a crack on my Pecanic's TP. The cracks goes from the D hole to the ebony stripe (my tp has a ebony stripe down the middle). The cause was when I installed the olives, the strings were too big and caused it to split. I doubt if it will break any further but it's just a precaution. Also, if I ever get around to doing a refin on my bass, the colors of the TP will no longer match.

I'll report once it's installed. I'm hoping it means I can raise my strings even further - more sound. :)
 
#64
My neighbors are going to hate me. :p
I will try this thing first... and once I find the time, I'm going to get some Sloane machines and do the refin. This will end up being an Uber-Christopher Hybrid and maybe a new bridge. :D
 
#67
All the overtones sort of jumped out of the strings. That bass was strung with permanent solos, and is a naturally bright bass meant for solo rep. It will be very interesting to see what kind of effect it has on my very dark big.
 
#68
Dear friends last weekend i received my wire tailpiece and i'd like to share with you my experience. Let me tell you that when i received my new DB i made a meticulous mode matching between the FB tap tone and the tailpiece tap tone. I used a programme named "Overtone analyser", obtained by Bodo Maas (Invalid Link Removed), and the matching improved dramatically the sound (response, sustain and dapth). I new the concept from the violins i made and the results were as expected.
When i fitted the wire tailpiece the DB changed altogether. It became a much,much better instrument, with more volume, more sustain and a better playability (attributed IMHO to teh additional elasticity of the tail's cables). I am still astonished from the results and given the fact that i have not yet set properly the soundpost i expect even better results.
I believe that the wire tailpiece eliminates the need for mode matching and improves the bridge's vibrations to the optimum level. Since i play only pizzicato, i'll try the same experiment with one of my arco using friends in order to establish a more complete idea about this marvelous tailpiece and i'll keep you informed.
 
#69
Dear friends last weekend i received my wire tailpiece and i'd like to share with you my experience. Let me tell you that when i received my new DB i made a meticulous mode matching between the FB tap tone and the tailpiece tap tone. I used a programme named "Overtone analyser", obtained by Bodo Maas (Invalid Link Removed), and the matching improved dramatically the sound (response, sustain and depth). I knew the concept from the violins i made and the results were as expected.
When i fitted the wire tailpiece the DB changed altogether. It became a much,much better instrument, with more volume, more sustain and a better playability (attributed IMHO to teh additional elasticity of the tail's cables). I am still astonished from the results and given the fact that i have not yet set properly the soundpost i expect even better results.
I believe that the wire tailpiece eliminates the need for mode matching and improves the bridge's vibrations to the optimum level. Since i play only pizzicato, i'll try the same experiment with one of my arco using friends in order to establish a more complete idea about this marvelous tailpiece and i'll keep you informed.
 
#70
I had the same experience except that I had not had the mode matching done on my modest bass. I tried the Marvin, hoping that it would eliminate that issue, (at least with the tailpiece end of things). My Marvin trial was this cheap man's attempt to postpone that next step.

Seems that all of us are having similar results, regardless of playing style/technique.

As I said before, I am getting noticeably improved clarity and consistency, arco and pizz, than I had previously, with fairly low strings (5-8mm). I like that. :)
 
#72
Eli_Upright12 said:
I'm so glad to see that I had a profound effect by posting about my experience with this thing. I hope everyone gets a chance to share their new found knowledge with all their bassist friends.
Click to expand...

Its said by many folks in sales and marketing that a prospect needs to hear about and/or see a product three (3) times in order to buy it.

I had read about this tailpiece elsewhere and was curious. Your thread here was my reference point #3. :)
 
#73
Ok so I put on the tailpiece, tensioned the bass and started listening: I know my bass very well and it has been stable and unchanged for about a year now (same strings too).
The Marvin Tailpiece does this for my instrument: it makes it somewhat louder...not shout from the rooftop louder but noticeably louder. It seems to vibrate more openly and the harmonics are more bell like and pure.
Where it really counts: the notes (all the way up) on the A and E have a depth and openness that sings like the rest of the instrument. This is particularly evident and useful in thumb position.
THe pizz as advertised is the same tension but easier to play and the notes sound fatter like more fundamental is coming thru at the beginning of the attack. Kind of like suddenly realizing that all the pictures you were taking previously were slightly fuzzy and out of focus.
The quickness of response both with the bow and particularly pizz is beautiful,and addictive and the bass seemed to take to the increased vibration like it was waiting for it.
Will it make an inferior instrument sound like a great one? I doubt it, in fact in may just amplify the problems, but it may also solve some in instruments that could really benefit from the increased vibration.
 
#74
FYI, I exchanged further e-mail with Kevin Marvin and he agrees it would be good to have a single model that can accommodate both the Velvet and regular strings. He's working on that and I hope to get to try it out soon.

As far as the sound goes now that I have been playing on mine more, the sound is definitely clearer, brighter (which may not be a good thing to some people), and quicker to speak. On my bass, the G used to be booming and it actually seems softer now but on the other hand, the volume, tone and response across all the strings is a lot more consistent.
 
#80
I just received mine today. There isn't much to the package. Overall it looks like it's done well but the rings to hold the strings could've been done a little better. I will do some smoothing using a Dremel before the install to clean it up.
 

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