Double Bass Solution to a Bright Bass?

[Levith]

I just purchased a Solano bass, it's about 10 years old, so the sound has already opened up, and the wood is Spruce and I can't remember the rest right now (sorry), but I currently have Belcantos on it and the sound is pretty bright.

On my other plywood bass, I had Belcantos on it, yet the sound remained pretty dark. Also, the tension on the plywood bass is a lot less than that of the Solano bass with the same set of strings, is there a reason for this that can be addressed? A little softer wouldn't hurt.

I mainly play Jazz, but I also do orchestral stuff, but I can live with this bass just being a Jazz bass. Just wondering if anyone could suggest a string that may perhaps give my bass a darker sound (although I like the sound of the D and A, it lacks some low end to it).

Ps. I'm bringing the bass to a luthier to get a new soundpost and repositioned in hopes of a darker tone as well.

Thanks for your responses =)

 

[Francois Blais]

Darker than BCs?
I think of Jargar strings (first idea), and also Flexocors ('92).
The new Prelude bass strings by D'Addario are also quite dark, and quite cheap, as they're student grade. (but good quality nonetheless)

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Also, the tension on the plywood bass is a lot less than that of the Solano bass with the same set of strings, is there a reason for this that can be addressed? A little softer wouldn't hurt.

A raised saddle should loosen up the feel of the strings/bass. I think Solano uses these on his Klotz model. He may have something that your luthier could install, or your luthier could make one up for you.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Garbos?

 

[Jeremy Allen]

I think Evah Pirazzis are lovely and dark. Of course, the ultimate dark jazz + orchestra string, for me, is the Pirastro Oliv; you can pair a D and G with Pirazzi E and A for what seems to be a nice dark sound on my bass.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Pirazzis darken up my bass quite a bit. But darker than Belcantos? I dunno.

 

[ctxbass]

Darker than BCs?
I think of Jargar strings (first idea), and also Flexocors ('92).
The new Prelude bass strings by D'Addario are also quite dark, and quite cheap, as they're student grade. (but good quality nonetheless)

+1 on the Flexocors.
The pizz is warm and still articulate on a bright bass, and the E will respond well with a bit higher tension.
Not a modern sounding pizz string though.

As a plus,even my arco was less than excruciating on those strings.

 

[BassinCT]

How do the string lengths compare between the Solano and the plywood?
I agree that a raised saddle may help in some ways- I found that it allowed my bass to speak more easily by lessening the downward force to the top.

The Flexocors would give you a robust, dark sound, but the tension is quite high. The Belcantos made my nasal-sounding 1940's Juzek sound more mellow in the midrange and softened the treble- It filtered like a vinyl record. In your situation, had I not known you were already using the belcantos, I would have suggested these strings, a soundpost check and perhaps a raised saddle. peace!
R

 

[Levith]

Thank you for all your replies and suggestions!


Once I take it to get a new soundpost and readjusted I'll see how the belcantos sound and then I'll look into some of the strings listed.

I was actually playing the bass today through a guitar amp >.> (had to do what I had to do) with a guitarist, trumpeter and drums and it actually sounded pretty good. The tone was really clean and since we weren't playing all that loud, (rehearsal in someone's house), the sound quality sounded pretty good, although I'm still a little use to that somewhat muddy lowend from the other bass =P


The string lengths are the same on both basses. When I was playing today, some reason the tension didn't feel too bad, I didn't feel like I had to apply more force than normal.