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Double Bass Setup in relation to tension

Sam Dingle

Sam Dingle

Aug 16, 2011
6,786
5,562
Nashville TN
#1
Just got a new hybrid bass that has a very light string tension. Same string hight (near bridge) as my carved and Spiro mediums on both basses. Is this a setup thing or just a case of 2 basses being different. My hybrid with mediums feels like playing spiro lights on my carved. The sound is loud though, I just over play and theres buzzing.

Because the E was a little lower tension I threw a Stark E on and it feels much better and much more like my carved bass. I can play that string with the same power as carved bass and it sounds great. Anything I can do to the setup or just throw starks on the rest and move on?
 
#5
Sam Dingle said:
Just got a new hybrid bass that has a very light string tension. Same string hight (near bridge) as my carved and Spiro mediums on both basses. Is this a setup thing or just a case of 2 basses being different? My hybrid with mediums feels like playing spiro lights on my carved.
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Could be setup, but could be "built in" differences between basses. I had to sell a bass that was perfect for me in every way, except that it had too much string tension for pizz playing. I tried adjusting my playing style to fit the bass, and tried every trick in the book to lessen its tight feel, but in the end, nothing made it play as comfortably as my other bass.
 
#6
Eric Hochberg said:
Could be setup, but could be "built in" differences between basses. I had to sell a bass that was perfect for me in every way, except that it had too much string tension for pizz playing. I tried adjusting my playing style to fit the bass, and tried every trick in the book to lessen its tight feel, but in the end, nothing made it play as comfortably as my other bass.
Click to expand...

Thats what I'm wondering. Jacking the action up another turn helped though so I'll mess with it. The heavy E string evens out the weak feeling medium E. This bass came with guts so I don't know HOW that would have felt to me.
 
#8
Sam Dingle said:
Because the E was a little lower tension I threw a Stark E on and it feels much better and much more like my carved bass. I can play that string with the same power as carved bass and it sounds great. Anything I can do to the setup or just throw starks on the rest and move on?
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're looking for higher tension, so yes, higher tension strings and/or raising the bridge will accomplish that.
 
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#12
Oy vey! "Scoop" is described as "relief" on fretted instruments. It is the curvature of the fingerboard along the length of the string. If you lay a long straight edge over the FB you will see that it is not flat, but slightly "scooped". This is necessary to keep the strings from buzzing. To be brief, more scoop means higher action in the lower positions. Preferred for lower tension strings, and perhaps gives a more "meaty" sound. Less scoop gives you lower action in the bottom octave, and makes the bass easier to play. The trade off is that lower scoop will make the action higher in the upper register. The amount of scoop has a huge effect on the character of the bass, and most good modern setups lean toward low scoop.
 
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#13
robobass said:
Oy vey! "Scoop" is described as "relief" on fretted instruments. It is the curvature of the fingerboard along the length of the string. If you lay a long straight edge over the FB you will see that it is not flat, but slightly "scooped". This is necessary to keep the strings from buzzing. To be brief, more scoop means higher action in the lower positions. Preferred for lower tension strings, and perhaps gives a more "meaty" sound. Less scoop gives you lower action in the bottom octave, and makes the bass easier to play. The trade off is that lower scoop will make the action higher in the upper register. The amount of scoop has a huge effect on the character of the bass, and most good modern setups lean toward low scoop.
Click to expand...
Suppose I adjust the neck into a slight back bow, then level the frets with a file. Thereafter, can I adjust the fretboard flat, and have relief as result of the ‘scooped’ frets?
 
#14
Eric Hochberg said:
Could be setup, but could be "built in" differences between basses. I had to sell a bass that was perfect for me in every way, except that it had too much string tension for pizz playing. I tried adjusting my playing style to fit the bass, and tried every trick in the book to lessen its tight feel, but in the end, nothing made it play as comfortably as my other bass.
Click to expand...

I just did the same thing. I had a bass that was "THE" sound for me. It also recorded really well. The problem was the string tension. Even with the low string height, I was just working too hard. We did a tail piece extension and more. I don't think my new bass sounds as good as that bass, (yet) but I'm still breaking it in. It's certainly easier to play than my previous bass.
 
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#17
B String said:
...The problem was the string tension. Even with the low string height, I was just working too hard. We did a tail piece extension and more....
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You realize that the tension is a function of string mass and length only. If a bass feels tight it is not because of higher string tension (unless it has a longer mensure), but other setup and construction issues. I think very often it's a poorly scooped FB and maybe too high a nut. From there you can look at top tension (basically bridge and saddle height). Table thickness is important, but you can't do much about that. The tailpiece isn't really at play here.
 
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#19
robobass said:
You realize that the tension is a function of string mass and length only. If a bass feels tight it is not because of higher string tension (unless it has a longer mensure), but other setup and construction issues. I think very often it's a poorly scooped FB and maybe too high a nut. From there you can look at top tension (basically bridge and saddle height). Table thickness is important, but you can't do much about that. The tailpiece isn't really at play here.
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The tailpiece extension was my luthiers idea. I've seen it used on uprights many times. What would you have suggested to alleviate the problem, without spending a bankroll? I know its not the string length, scoop, or nut. I've experimented with different steel strings and gauges. What's next?
 
#20
B String said:
The tailpiece extension was my luthiers idea. I've seen it used on uprights many times. What would you have suggested to alleviate the problem, without spending a bankroll? I know its not the string length, scoop, or nut. I've experimented with different steel strings and gauges. What's next?
Click to expand...

I did a raised saddle on my too-tight bass, and it had no effect on tightness. The Marvin wire tailpiece also did not help. We raised the tailpiece up a bit and that didn't do the trick either. I brought the bass to at least 4 renowned luthiers to no avail, although a new, little scooped, fingerboard did help playability, but not tightness... I tried all kinds of strings including Velvet and Spiro and Evah solos tuned down. Plain gut D and G did feel looser, but I didn't want to go that route. I gave up on the bass.
 
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