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Double Bass String articulation? (D & G)

DoghouseKyle

DoghouseKyle

Mar 1, 2019
88
27
#1
I see a lot of guys who combine different sets of strings, so i’m wondering...

‘02 Christopher laminate bass D & G do not respond as well to glissando, vibrato, growl, etc as E & A (very responsive). Action is set low/jazz/pizz

Same results w D’Addario Preludes, & then Helicore Hybrids. Wondering if a set of more ‘flex’ strings like Corellis may help, or if i should look elsewhere (bridge/nut/tailpiece/post/bass bar seem fine & i just had it set up)

The D & G just sound more dull, ‘stiff’, & less articulate. Possibly nature of Christopher bass? Hoping its a string solution.. feedback appreciated
 
#3
This ^^^

Mine is a different kind of beast, but after agonizing about strings for about 9 months with my Alcoa, soundpost adjustment is what really woke up my bass. I'm still liking my mixed set of strings a lot, but strings alone didn't provide the complete solution I needed.
 
#4
So if soundpost sits just south of treble foot of bridge, as i understand it is supposed to (& where mine is), where might it be moved to? Or where, in your case? Was it not located there prior to adjustment?
 
#6
Because of somewhat diminished hand/wrist strength, i went from Preludes to Helicore Hybrids for less tension. Are ‘Spirocores’ & ‘Mittel’ one & the same string by Thomastik? A search did not clarify..
 
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#7
DoghouseKyle said:
Because of somewhat diminished hand/wrist strength, i went from Preludes to Helicore Hybrids for less tension. Are ‘Spirocores’ & ‘Mittel’ one & the same string by Thomastik? A search did not clarify..
Click to expand...
Spirocore Mittel are the medium gauge version of Spirocores. I would try the sound post adjustment too first, but if you decide to try Spirocores I’d recommend getting the light (also called weich) or solo gauge (tuned down to standard tuning) set.
 
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#10
DoghouseKyle said:
So if soundpost sits just south of treble foot of bridge, as i understand it is supposed to (& where mine is), where might it be moved to? Or where, in your case? Was it not located there prior to adjustment?
Click to expand...

In my case for the dramatic volume and clarity improvement, the position didn't change. The length did. I have a custom adjustable soundpost, and increased its length by about 2mm.

DoubleMIDI said:
I guess the soundpost is too close to the bridge and/or too long. I had that issue with my bass too and my soundpost was shortened a bit and repositioned a bit more south.
Click to expand...

And yes, there are generalized "standards" that we discuss for soundpost length and location, but optimal adjustments to soundpost position and length often will be different for different basses. This may also differ based on the strings used and the action settings.

There are just too many variables involved to have one soundpost setting that works for every bass.
 
#12
DoghouseKyle said:
And how did this change your string response? Did anything along the lines of my issue improve?
Click to expand...
The stiffness of the string was not nice. Also very direct, nasal compared to the lower strings.
My instrument is a 4/4 5-string with a high C, so that was mostly with the high C, but also a bit with the G on my carved instrument. Bowing the higher strings never sounded pleasant.

Also the higher strings were underrepresented in pickup sound when using a single element on the bass bar side of the bridge. Too less bass on the soundpost side of the bridge. After repositioning and shortening the soundpost (by my luthier) single element pickups worked well.
 
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#14
Ok, appreciate feedback.. i’m going to haul my bass back to my guy, & check soundpost length/position. This gives me some hope we may be able to dial it in, as i do like the Helicores. I have been wanting to try Corellis, too, but soundpost notion is making some good sense to me. Any further feedback/confirmation re: similar experience still welcome.. thx!
 
#15
wathaet said:
2mm? That is rather extreme. You have the Anima N.?
Click to expand...

I do appreciate your thoughts on this...

No, this is a custom adjustable multi-footed soundpost assembly that I built specifically for my Alcoa... And I agree, 2mm is a lot; I wouldn't have thought so much added length would be helpful, except perhaps that my sound post assembly had settled in a bit since I had originally installed it.

As you have suggested, I would expect normal basses to not need so much length adjustment to get better clarity and volume.
 
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#18
Don Hergert said:
I do appreciate your thoughts on this...

No, this is a custom adjustable multi-footed soundpost assembly that I built specifically for my Alcoa... And I agree, 2mm is a lot; I wouldn't have thought so much added length would be helpful, except perhaps that my sound post assembly had settled in a bit since I had originally installed it.

As you have suggested, I would expect normal basses to not need so much length adjustment to get better clarity and volume.
Click to expand...
Was the post already loose? Just tale care not to crack your top.
 
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#19
Thank you, it wasn't tight, and in fact even now it's still loose enough to move from side to side... But I probably wouldn't lengthen it any further unless it is loose again when I change strings. That said, this Alcoa is sounding so good now I really don't want to change anything.
 
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#20
I think sound post position is somewhat of a dark art. I don't think anyone truly understands it and that the master luthiers who excell at it use their instincts quite a bit. I spent some time in Chuck Treager's Christopher St shop years ago and watched him tweak the post of a bass a top NYC chamber bassist broght in. He kept moving the post south, and eventually moved the bridge a cm or so south, and the bass kept sounding better and better to everyone's surprise. Ended up with a slightly longer string length and the post about 3" below the bridge foot.
 
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