Double Bass String Advice & Changing Strings Question

[johnvic]

I have recently started double bass. My bass was originally set up with Spirocore lights with the bridge set low with flatter arch. I am playing arco since I am studying classical. This was tough for bowing and I was triple stopping. I had my teacher look at it in case it was just bad technique. So I went to my Gage and they raised the bridge and made adjusted the arch so it is better for bowing. One thing they suggested was using a higher tension string for bowing. I'd also like a deeper sound. The Spirocores are nice but not enough bottom for me.

Any advice for a string for arco playing that would have a more full bottom as compared to a Spirocore? I'm assuming that I would need a thicker string as compared to lights. I'd rather get used to a thicker string sooner rather than later.

Any advice or guides on changing double bass strings? I know with electric I have to adjust the truss rod when changing tension. Obviously there's no truss rod on a double bass but do I have to adjust the bridge when going to a higher gauge? Maybe I just have Gage do the string change.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If the bottom is not full enough with Soiros, there might be a problem with the bass (sound post position, small body, weak low freqency resonance in the body). I would go to a luthier and let him check that and maybe let him try to reposition the sound post.

For strings, if your bass responds well to high tension strings: Evah Pirazzi regular.
But your bass will sound much darker then.

 

[johnvic]

I know on my electric bass lighter gauge strings don't have as much bottom as regular gauge strings. I would assume that is also true with double bass strings.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

No. Sometimes that's the case, but it's not a hard and fast rule. Some basses don't like higher tension and "choke" under higher-tension strings.

The player's technique, how the string is constructed, how the bass is constructed, how healthy the bass is, how it is set up (especially soundpost location) and about 14,000,000 other factors will have more influence on sound production than will string tension.

 

[Reiska]

I`m no expert by any means but the bass itself and how high the strings are set up are major variables here, with the gauge / tension of the strings. I`ve used Corelli M380`s, which are propably the easiest to play strings on the market, on a bass that had poor fingerboard and bad setup and thus was hard to play. The bass had a great, loud sound even with those strings. Now I have medium gauge Spirocore Red Mitchell`s on a new bass, at 5mm-8mm height. Easier to play than my ex-bass and not that loud, and we are talking about seriously more tensioned strings here.

Generally, hybrid type of strings are better for arco than all-steel, like Spirocores.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

If you're concentrating specifically on bowing, there are lots of arco-specific strings available. If you also want to play other styles but need good arco response, there are some hybrid options, which are a purposeful compromise between an arco and pizz string.

For the Arco-friendly strings, D'Addario makes their Kaplans, which are a bit cheaper than Pirastro's similar offering, the Passione. There are plenty of other options that bow well; Pirastro makes a lot of them. I'd suggest calling a reputable bass shop and speaking to one of the people there who can chat knowledgeably about the various options, and help you narrow it down to a few that suit your specific needs, wants, and budget.

As for some tips for stringing a bass, check here: String Changing Tips - Free FAQ