Double Bass Question for New Standard Owners

[Steve Swan]

My experience agrees with Arnold's. The Paesold basses have been coming with Wittner tailpieces for 4 years. Jazz players generally love the Wittners and arco customers most often prefer the sound and response of the ebony tailpieces. I'm a pizz gut string player and usually prefer the Wittner tailpiece on a responsive bass.

 

[Jim Henderson]

Patrick,
You may want to give Dr. Mike (Pecanic) a call. Especially since you are talking about aesthetics rather than acoustic properties. He has a line of adjustable and compensated tailpieces made from woods than vary in type, density and weight. Keep in mind that Professor Arnold, as usual, is correct. It has been my experience also that tonal differences have been nominal even though you may consider the wood to be more attractive on your bass. Good luck with whatever you choose.
Jim

 

[bonaventura]

I had never seen a tailpiece made of anything but wood and was admittedly a little surprised when I first noticed it. My problem with it is purely aesthetic, so I'll likely leave it, unless I hear from someone who has compared it with wood and prefers the latter or finds them equal.

Thanks all for your comments and Randy, if I do decide to switch it out, I'll certainly post my findings here.

Patrick

Just wondering what you decided to do... am curious as to how a different tailpiece in fact might have changed your sound. am not familiar with the La Scala ply at all, but I put a wittner composite "ultra" on my carved DB last summer and it immediately resulted in more volume, response, resonance. it was like the instrument just opened up. previously there had been an ebony tailpiece weighing some 12.5 oz on it, and the sound had been considerably darker and deeper. I like the sound of the bass with the lighter (5 oz) wittner tailpiece, better sound and easier to play, esp. for pizz.

Bill

 

[PatrickC]

Patrick

Just wondering what you decided to do... am curious as to how a different tailpiece in fact might have changed your sound. am not familiar with the La Scala ply at all, but I put a wittner composite "ultra" on my carved DB last summer and it immediately resulted in more volume, response, resonance. it was like the instrument just opened up. previously there had been an ebony tailpiece weighing some 12.5 oz on it, and the sound had been considerably darker and deeper. I like the sound of the bass with the lighter (5 oz) wittner tailpiece, better sound and easier to play, esp. for pizz.

Bill

I stuck with the Wittner. I'm mostly a pizz guy and, from the comments here, it seems that a light tailpiece is the way to go. Thanks to all who posted.