Double Bass Stagg EUB megathread

[randulo]

I found this forum by looking up the topic as I had this problem. I don't understand why Stagg doesn't design it out of the finished product, but here's what I did:

1. Remove the black plastic cover by unscrewing the 7 small screws.
   
2. Put the pin all the way up inside the bass body.
   
3. Take a roll of strong, wide tape. I used a roll I had left over from the US Post Office. Great tape, by the way!
   
4. Align the roll of tape in parallel with the pin, attach the end of the tape to the pin.
   
5. Roll the pin to roll up some tape. A few times around should be good. Do this at the top end of the pin, and then again further down.

This definitely worked for me, and I wish it had been mentioned in the main thread here, but since it wasn't, I took the time to register here and post. I hope it's in the right place.

 

[AG42]

Hi,

Well I finally caved and put in an order for a Stagg EDB after spending months reading all the posts over and over. I've got great ideas on doing the various mods your guys recommend such as shielding and the end pin, but the one question I do have is over strings (don't all groan at once!). I'm going to go for the Thomastik Spirocores, but given the number of neck breaks I've seen here, does anyone have an opinion over whether the light strings have less tension than the mediums? Given I'm a complete newbie to the double bass I've heard recommendations to go light first, but I'd rather have the better tone of the mediums and take the time to build up my fingers than shell out on two sets of strings when I upgrade later, unless the difference in tone is minimal and the light strings really do put less strain on the neck.

Any advice?

 

[AG42]

Also, what size of Thomastik's work best, the 3/4 or the 4/4?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The 3/4 should be long enough, I think.

To hold the tension low, you can get solo strings tuned down to orchestral tuning.
The S42 (4/4) tuned to the same pitch at the same scale have even lower tension than the 3885.0 (3/4). But it might be a bit too less.

I would start with either 3885.0 (3/4) solo strings or S42W (4/4) Weich strings. They should have about the same tension. The S42W have a bit more tension on the lower strings than the 3/4 solos and may bow a bit better.

But I must say that I still have the stock strings on my Stagg, since I have a better EUB now, using 3885.0 Weich on this one.

 

[AG42]

Great! Thanks for the advice DoubleMIDI!

I'll give the stock strings a go, but I got the feeling most people replace the strings to prevent buzzing. Always good to put new strings on I guess (or maybe an excuse to spend more money on bass gear... )

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If you get buzzes, either your strings are too low or your fingerboard is not plan.
I have two Staggs, one with a good fingerboard where I can put the action rather low and one with a less good fingerboard where I need at least average double bass action height to avoid buzzes. But this also depends on the kind of strings.

Anyone getting a new Stagg should check a low string action soon, if it buzzes bring the instrument back and get another one until you are satisfied. Planing the fingerboard is not a DIY job and can get almost as expensive as the instrument itself (at least together with better strings). Since the fingerboard is painted black, it might even look bad after the planing. (Painting it black again might destroy the planing made before.)

 

[bobsax]

The sound was like a fretless bass guitar but that's okay I want it mainly to practice on.

I'm a DB (no bow) player so I had to raise the action which worked okay but some of the tuners were really hard to tune. I thought I was going to break the tuner. (I loosened them to raise the action.)
Do you know what the problem is? Were the strings put on wrong or is it bum tuners? They look pretty cheap.

Also when you look straight at it the strings seemed off center with the fingerboard and maybe a little close together. There's a lot more fingerboard real-estate by the G string then the E. My Shen DB is the opposite.
I found I was tripping up on the G string too.

The regular model seemed pretty good after I raised the action. G and D sounded clean when I slid up the neck. A and E did buzz a little but I don't think it came out the amp.
What I also noticed was strange harmonics going on. Is that the strings? These strings seem a little small like BG strings.

The rosewood fingerboard model seemed nicer but I wasn't able to play it because the E tuner broke. What's with these tuners?

 

[pjmuck]

Hi,

Well I finally caved and put in an order for a Stagg EDB after spending months reading all the posts over and over. I've got great ideas on doing the various mods your guys recommend such as shielding and the end pin, but the one question I do have is over strings (don't all groan at once!). I'm going to go for the Thomastik Spirocores, but given the number of neck breaks I've seen here, does anyone have an opinion over whether the light strings have less tension than the mediums? Given I'm a complete newbie to the double bass I've heard recommendations to go light first, but I'd rather have the better tone of the mediums and take the time to build up my fingers than shell out on two sets of strings when I upgrade later, unless the difference in tone is minimal and the light strings really do put less strain on the neck.

Any advice?

It's my understanding the Spirocore mediums are lighter/lower tension than other brands. I think you'll be fine with mediums.

 

[bobsax]

Hi,

Well I finally caved and put in an order for a Stagg EDB after spending months reading all the posts over and over. I've got great ideas on doing the various mods your guys recommend such as shielding and the end pin, but the one question I do have is over strings (don't all groan at once!). I'm going to go for the Thomastik Spirocores, but given the number of neck breaks I've seen here, does anyone have an opinion over whether the light strings have less tension than the mediums? Given I'm a complete newbie to the double bass I've heard recommendations to go light first, but I'd rather have the better tone of the mediums and take the time to build up my fingers than shell out on two sets of strings when I upgrade later, unless the difference in tone is minimal and the light strings really do put less strain on the neck.

Any advice?

After playing one today I think you would like the strings it comes with. I'm a DB player (no BG experience) and the strings felt smaller and lighter with more play (or pull) then my DB.

 

[bobsax]

So any comments on tuners?
__The salesman said that Stagg has new and improved tuners.
Stagg Owners __How are your tuners?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Spiro Mittel have MORE tension than most other strings. I would not recommend them for a Stagg. Downtuned Spiro Solos or 4/4 Weich (S42W) might be OK.
If you want to try synthetic core strings I would rather try Innovation than Pirastro Evah Pirazzi or Obligato (too much tension).

 

[bobsax]

The other thing is rattling tuners. Is that something that can be solved easily, or should I change the tuners, and if so, what kind of tuners would fit?

Advice and shared experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Hi PBruce
Did you change the tuners?
I tried out one the other day and the tuners were so bad I can't believe that they are the same as everybody else's.
They felt like the ones on my daughters first toy guitar, really flimsy and so hard to tighten I thought the key would snap.

 

[bluebird28]

Since I last posted “Help I have a bump in the neck” on 5/29/12,in the Setup /Repair sectin, I’ve had some complications. At the end of June I was bitten, on the right hand thumb area, by a neighborhood cat and spent 4 days in the Hospital on IV antibiotics. On August 4th I was bitten by someone else’s German Shepard/Rotwiler mix on the same hand only on the pinky side. I could see 3 tendons. Twelve days later I started in on the Stagg EUB. I used to work on snow skis and did a lot of racing tune-ups. I have also made custom hand grips for hand guns as well as custom stocks for rifles. I was very apprehensive about scraping the paint off the finger board and under the paint is some sort of resin. The paint came off fairly easily but the resin underneath was another scraping altogether. The resin comes off in chunks flying up and hitting my eye protection. The wood in my neck is white maple and after sanding to 400 grit progressively from 150 girt and then 0000 steel wool and lots of lemon oil, I think it looks better than the painted original. From my experience, I would not hesitate to do this again if I had to. I do have pics but I have to resize them to get to upload. By the way, all this took about 4.5 hrs. from setup of the table to the finished fingerboard.

 

[bluebird28]

1 st pic is the start of scraping the finger board with a cabinet makers scraper.

2nd pic is the fully scraped and sanded finger board.

 

[bluebird28]

Yes I did use a plane on the E string side of the neck to get just a 32nd of an in of relief, my first try. Then I used a 2 x 3 x 13 in aluminum rectangle to sand the neck. One stroke nut to bridge, feel the FB over and over and over but it plays just like it should. I've not tried it with a bow yet as my hand isn't ready yet. More pics.

 

[bluebird28]

And the finished product looks like this. I like the maple finger board but then I have to now don't I. That is a bout I made for this EUB out of oak and oiled with mineral oil. I really do not like the metal pieces that came with the bass.

 

[jasonplaysbass]

Sorry if this has been answered before. I searched the threads with zero luck.

I'd like to change out the strings and tune to BEAD like my Fender Jazz. I know this will require filing the nut. Any recommendations on reasonably-priced strings that will do the job? Thanks!!!

 

[bluebird28]

Hello Jason, here is the information directly off the box the strings from Stagg came in.
" 3/4 & 4/4 Acoustic & Electric Double Bass Strings-Medium
Playable Length 135 cm / 53 inches
Total Length 164 cm / 64.5 inches

Thy are Nickel Flat Wound Medium Guage 55 G, 67 D, 87 A, 110 E

Ref. DB-55110-ST"

I hope this helps in finding what you need.

 

[jasonplaysbass]

Hello Jason, here is the information directly off the box the strings from Stagg came in.
" 3/4 & 4/4 Acoustic & Electric Double Bass Strings-Medium
Playable Length 135 cm / 53 inches
Total Length 164 cm / 64.5 inches

Thy are Nickel Flat Wound Medium Guage 55 G, 67 D, 87 A, 110 E

Ref. DB-55110-ST"

I hope this helps in finding what you need.

Thanks, it does.

 

[Jeromeski]

Hi all,

I'm to this forum but have recently bought a Stagg EDB. However, I've been really disappointed to find that the headphone output - which, for praciticing quietly, is the main reason I bought the instrument - has a really bad hiss/buzz noise. The noise is nearly as loud as the bass itself when I'm playing through the headphones. Has anyone else had this problem or is this an issue with the electronics in the one I have?

Many thanks for your thoughts/help/advice.

Jeromeski