Double Bass Prevent string creak

[Poboydancin]

I am recently noticing a lot of creaking from my strings, particularly when playing fairly fast at the bottom of the neck (first and second position ). It seems to happen as i am taking my finger off the string. Can changing strings or changing bridge height help reduce this noise? I don't think my technique has changed and I did not used to get this noise.

Thanks

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Maybe your nut grooves are not wide enough?

 

[Poboydancin]

Maybe your nut grooves are not wide enough?

Thanks for this idea, but I have had the bass for 12 years and this is a new thing.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

These are your regular strings?

 

[Poboydancin]

These are your regular strings?

Yes, but they are due for replacement. They are innovation honey strings.

 

[Ortsom]

I'm guessing it is a sound you hear when you're lifting your finger of the string, so the moment the string looses firm contact with the FB & starts to move a bit (the string still vibrates). Could it be caused by stick-slip? Did you maybe put wax on the FB? Do you see a discolouration from the strings on the FB?

I'd start by a firm polish/rub of both strings & FB, with a dry cloth & focussing at the contact area between the 2. If you did put wax, that needs to be removed, but maybe it's something else that apparently built-up over the years (like from the strings). If that fails, loosen strings, pull them out of the nut & place sideways of the nut (with the bass lying on its back on a bed or so), and then clean/polish the FB with BLO. It the string's outer wrap noticably worn in that area (calliper / µmeter)? Then rotate them 180°. Or maybe a new set, that would qualify as 'worn out'.

 

[SRL]

Watch out with the firmness of you polishing of the strings, I did this with the innovation honey set and the windings separated.

 

[Poboydancin]

I'm guessing it is a sound you hear when you're lifting your finger of the string, so the moment the string looses firm contact with the FB & starts to move a bit (the string still vibrates). Could it be caused by stick-slip? Did you maybe put wax on the FB? Do you see a discolouration from the strings on the FB?

I'd start by a firm polish/rub of both strings & FB, with a dry cloth & focussing at the contact area between the 2. If you did put wax, that needs to be removed, but maybe it's something else that apparently built-up over the years (like from the strings). If that fails, loosen strings, pull them out of the nut & place sideways of the nut (with the bass lying on its back on a bed or so), and then clean/polish the FB with BLO. It the string's outer wrap noticably worn in that area (calliper / µmeter)? Then rotate them 180°. Or maybe a new set, that would qualify as 'worn out'.

Thanks for this. I think from what you are saying that I just need to change my strings! I have not used these before and was just waiting for my Luthier to fit me in for some other work. BTW I use bass brites to clean the strings and wipe the fingerboard, but don't wax it.

 

[Poboydancin]

Watch out with the firmness of you polishing of the strings, I did this with the innovation honey set and the windings separated.

Thanks. Will do, but I have not had a problem before.

 

[Ortsom]

Yes, if they're old, new strings might be the first thing to try.

Not being familiar with BassBrites, I looked it up, and to me it sounds more like something for the slab side: "They brighten up old strings" & "BassBrites work amazingly well on any instrument with metal strings" (though they do also mention violin & upright bass). But mind you: your Honeys do not have a metal core. Your issue might possibly be due to the BassBrites being incompatible with the synthetic core.

Is there other experience with BassBrites on a DB, particularly w/ synthetic core strings?

I have Honeys too on 1 of my instruments, and I like the combination particularly for arco. The strings are cleaned with a dry cloth, and the FB gets some BLO when he has earned it (but not on the strings). If you're looking for a brighter tone, Honeys are not my first choice (Spiro?).

 

[Poboydancin]

Yes, if they're old, new strings might be the first thing to try.

Not being familiar with BassBrites, I looked it up, and to me it sounds more like something for the slab side: "They brighten up old strings" & "BassBrites work amazingly well on any instrument with metal strings" (though they do also mention violin & upright bass). But mind you: your Honeys do not have a metal core. Your issue might possibly be due to the BassBrites being incompatible with the synthetic core.

Is there other experience with BassBrites on a DB, particularly w/ synthetic core strings?

I have Honeys too on 1 of my instruments, and I like the combination particularly for arco. The strings are cleaned with a dry cloth, and the FB gets some BLO when he has earned it (but not on the strings). If you're looking for a brighter tone, Honeys are not my first choice (Spiro?).

Had spiros and about 3 or 4 others. I like te feel of tge honeys and the softer tone. The bass brites are really only a surface cleaner. Just get rid of excessive finger grease ( yuk - but I have issues!) I really think the answer is new strings, which are in the post now. Thanks for all the input people.

Cheers

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Had spiros and about 3 or 4 others. I like te feel of tge honeys and the softer tone. The bass brites are really only a surface cleaner. Just get rid of excessive finger grease ( yuk - but I have issues!) I really think the answer is new strings, which are in the post now. Thanks for all the input people.

Cheers

Honeys are dark on D, A and E. Less on the G.
The Innovation Braided are more open and soft, a bit less tension than the Honeys but not much with a stronger E in comparison to the other strings of the same set than the Honeys. I think the Braided are a bit better and a tiny bit brighter than Evah Pirazzi Weich. They also respond better to heavy pizz than the Evah Weich. Also two bass colleagues of mine preferred the Braided over the Evah Weich (I borrowed them both of my used sets), one of them an arco player, the other one a pizz player.
Pizz a bit closer to the string than you are used to pizz with Spiros and you get a nice round attack.

Using chemicals on a synthetic core string is not a good idea, it might damage or change the core. A mild soap might be better for them.