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Double Bass more thump, less mwah... any ideas?

bob atherton

bob atherton

Mar 8, 2005
307
116
69
#1
Hi,

I use a Steinberger CR4M and am pleased with it. My band used to be more world/funk and a bit of jazz. The tables have turned somewhat and there is now much more jazz .I guess this comes with maturity and age… (-;

I use Tomastic Spirocore (light) strings and would like to get more of a DB sound and less of the sustained mwah.

I have been using foam, dusters, loo roll; you name it to dampen the strings at the bridge. Is there a prescribed method and do any NS owners have their favourite setting to get as close as possible to a DB sound?

Thanks very much.
 
#3
Thanks Ray, intresting thread. Still not sure what is the best string for straight plucked jazz, no arco at all.

I know it's almost imposible on an ERB, but I would like to get as close as I can to a DB tone without the sustain that mine and so many other EUB have.
 
#5
I've had good results with my CR4M with a set of Spirocores (medium weight I think), and raising the action fairly high helped as well. This enables you to "dig in" and play more in an upright style, if you see what I mean, as although just changing the strings definitely resulted in less "mwah" and more thump it was also a question of experimenting with technique as well, also eq. I've settled on bass at 12 o'clock, treble at 12:10 with the amp set flat.
 
#6
Allthumbs (?), what setting do you use on the 2nd and 3rd knobs? I use pot two at 3 oclock and pot three at 9 oclock. I tend to use the tone pots set to 12 oclock, but tweak them depending on the venue.
 
#8
bob atherton said:
Allthumbs (?), what setting do you use on the 2nd and 3rd knobs? I use pot two at 3 oclock and pot three at 9 oclock. I tend to use the tone pots set to 12 oclock, but tweak them depending on the venue.
Click to expand...

Bob,

From the top down:
Knob 1 (volume): adjust to taste
Knob 2 (p/u balance): 4/5 o'clock, ie a lot more piezo than mag
Knob 3 (treble): 1 o'clock
Knob 4 (bass): 12 o'clock
switch: up, though i've found the centre position gives a bit more thump as well
 
#9
Ahhh, not boasting but I have 5 knobs... :)

knob 2 is the piezo / mag blend. I use about 75% piezo to 25% mag. the 3rd knob is a bit of a mystery but appears tobe an arco / pitz kind of thing. This is the one that I set to about 3 oclock. I think my CR4M must be quite new as the battery cover is at the top of the back plate on the rear so batteries can be changed and use 4/4 strings at the same time.
 
#11
bob atherton said:
I use Tomastic Spirocore (light) strings and would like to get more of a DB sound and less of the sustained mwah . . .

Is there a prescribed method and do any NS owners have their favourite setting to get as close as possible to a DB sound?
Click to expand...

Bob -- I've also got the CRM with five knobs, and I've been going through the same effort you have, to try to get it reasonably close to a DB sound (realizing of course that it's a different instrument than a DB and it can only come so close). Anyway, I've had good results with the following:

Spirocore Weich strings -- I believe you are also using these.

Raise the action, as somebody else mentioned in their reply.

I set Knob 2 (magnetic-piezo) fully clockwise for piezo, as this has less of the mwah (at least to my ears) than the magnetic. I imagine this also may vary by the amplifier you're using. I use a the little portable Gallien-Krueger MB150 combo amp.

I set Knob 3 (pizz-arco) in the center (12 noon position). It actually has the most DB-like sound if I set it fully clockwise (arco position), but I lose too much pizz volume at that setting, so I keep it at noon.

I set Knob 4 (treble) full counterclockwise (no treble at all).

I turn Knob 5 (bass) fully clockwise, all the way on.

That's the best I've been able to do, for a reasonable facsimilte of a DB sound. Hope this helps. Good luck.
 
#12
bob atherton said:
Thanks Ray, intresting thread. Still not sure what is the best string for straight plucked jazz, no arco at all.
I know it's almost imposible on an ERB, but I would like to get as close as I can to a DB tone without the sustain that mine and so many other EUB have.
Click to expand...
I put Helicore light pizz strings on my Paulin EUB because (apart from being easist to find) they were recommended for a nice growly pizz sound. However I'm wondering whether all the rules are different on a solid-body EUB that has more inherent sustain than a flexible acoustic instrument.
On a solid EUB would orchestral strings with minimal sustain sound like pizz strings do on an acocustic?
Bob, is that why you're suggesting Flexocore 92's?
 
#13
bob atherton said:
Ahhh, not boasting but I have 5 knobs... :)

knob 2 is the piezo / mag blend. I use about 75% piezo to 25% mag. the 3rd knob is a bit of a mystery but appears tobe an arco / pitz kind of thing. This is the one that I set to about 3 oclock. I think my CR4M must be quite new as the battery cover is at the top of the back plate on the rear so batteries can be changed and use 4/4 strings at the same time.
Click to expand...

Five knobs and a re-positioned battery cover? I'm envious! I love my NS to death, but it's a real pain having to flick switches to play arco - and as for changing the batteries...

Good luck in the search for thump.
 

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