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Double Bass My new double bass

J

JDM

Oct 12, 2005
35
0
59
www.myspace.com
#1
Hi all I'm very new to the double bass and recently aquired a 'Collins' double bass made in Germany. It's got a transducer pickup on the bridge which the previous owner bought of Ebay. It's a great looking bass with pine front and birch back and sides. The only problem is, it sounds very dull and ringy through my Hartke HA350 head with SWR 210 CAB. I expected much more, but as a mainly electric player, I know I can expect some sound challenges while making the leap from electric to accoustic. Can anyone offer any wisdom on the issues of amp/pickup etc....for the double bass,
Thanks,
Jon
 
#12
you may be able see the pickup from this?
any help would be great:
107_0796.gif
 
#16
Sorry for side-tracking, but: Isn't that bridge positioned way too far up? It's generally supposed to be lined up with the inner notches in the f-holes.

Have you had a professional look at the set-up of your bass? The bridge position and other factors will affect the sound a lot.
 
#17
Lets see. From the angle of the picture, your bridge looks
like its in the wrong (very wrong) place. The pickup looks
like a home made or cheap piece of junk. The Hartke head
is not one usually used for acoustic instruments, and if the
pickup is a piezo type, you need a buffer preamp for it.
Other than that, you're good to go.
 
#18
Thanks for the replies, as for the position of the bridge, surely it's a matter of personal choice, plus being a factor in the instruments intonation. It seems to me that the position of the bridge will affect the action too. I'm relatively happy with mine and the intonation is ok on it.
Jon
 
#19
JDM said:
Thanks for the replies, as for the position of the bridge, surely it's a matter of personal choice...
Jon
Click to expand...
I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn express last night,...but not really. I have a feeling that if you get an adjustable bridge to help with the string height and reposition the bridge (and maybe soundpost), that your bass is going to sound and play better than it does now. And if you're happy now, then you'll be stoked later!

There's info in "Set-up and repair", or from all the luthiers and would-be luthiers/players on how to move the bridge yourself if you don't want to shell out for the adjustable bridge and/or take it to a shop. Don't let the soundpost fall. (It's got me before.) Just a little time and patience. Congrats on the DB!
 
#20
Once again, I thank you good American folk for your wisdom on matters concerning double bass; it's a very new animal for me having played exclusively electric for the last 20 years. I'm currently in a contempory jazz quartet playing mostly originals plus some Astral Project stuff, Bill Bruford's Earthworks and others...we play local gigs and festivals in the South Wales region (that's NOT) in England in case you're wondering!!!!
It's going to be a while before I get up to speed on my new beauty with our current set, but hey, music is a journey?!
I know I've digressed, but that's a little more about me than 'problems with me pickup'! :)
Jon
ps please keep the wisdom flowin'..!
 

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