Double Bass Muted string

[saltydog]

I have a brand new set of D’Addario Kaplan Solos on my EUB. I am very happy with them for both Pizz and Arco … except for one item. When playing arco, the A string is very muted and unresponsive in comparison to the other strings. When playing pizz it seems it seems to have the same response level as the other strings; but with arco it is definitely not.
Any hints or suggestions? Is there any sort of adjustment on my Rumble 100 amp that might help boost that one string?
Thanks for any suggestions
salty Dog

 

[Francois Blais]

Was it the same with the previous strings you had?
Stagg EUB, right?

 

[AGCurry]

Adjusting your amplifier isn't likely to help. The problem is likely to be in the instrument and/or its pickup and electrical bits.

 

[saltydog]

Was it the same with the previous strings you had?
Stagg EUB, right?

No, I had a set of Zyex on them that, while acceptable for Pizz were horrible for arco. Th new strings are great except for the troublesome “A”.

 

[saltydog]

Adjusting your amplifier isn't likely to help. The problem is likely to be in the instrument and/or its pickup and electrical bits.

Thanks AG……yeah, your thought are a distinct possibility; but I am hoping it’s just a matter of a bad string: that’s much easier to deal with.

 

[saltydog]

No, I had a set of Zyex on them that, while acceptable for Pizz were horrible for arco. Th new strings are great except for the troublesome “A”.

and yes, a Stagg EUB.

 

[Francois Blais]

I understand the Zyex were bad for arco, but was the A the same level as the others with arco?
If so, then the problem would likely be the Kaplan A string.
But if the arco unbalance was already there with the Zyex, then mot likely a pickup/bridge problem.
Pizz and arco don't involve the same vibrational patterns on the pickup/bridge.

 

[saltydog]

I understand the Zyex were bad for arco, but was the A the same level as the others with arco?
If so, then the problem would likely be the Kaplan A string.
But if the arco unbalance was already there with the Zyex, then mot likely a pickup/bridge problem.
Pizz and arco don't involve the same vibrational patterns on the pickup/bridge.

I solved the muted A string problem on my Stagg EUB. I realized that all the strings sounded pretty much the same if the Stagg wasn’t amped.
So that told me that it was some sort of electronic or amp problem. I took the bridge off and low and behold the Piezo wire on the low end side wasn’t even close to being in the well correctly. It was all bunched up on one side. So I repositioned it correctly and now all the strings sound pretty much the same when bowing. By the way, good problem solving at your end. Many thanks.