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Double Bass The Alsatian Queen Rises from the Dead

#141
In addition to my mike not sounding right and the pickup sounding really good I've noticed something else.

The Stark E is now somewhat of a hindrance. It's slower to speak and the fact that it needs more effort pizz and arco to get it moving is starting to trump the subterranean power I get from it. It's got a subwoofer effect to it, and in fact the whole bass does when it's on there. That effect isn't there with a mitt E.

I've had a regular Spiro Mittle E on it (in fact a regular Spiro red set on it) for 2 weeks and it has more balance across the strings, and more punch, especially on the low E. I don't get that teeth rattle or huge box shaking low end, and I can overdrive a Spiro Mitt pretty easy, however I do get a bit more upper mid cut through with the Mitt. The bass is a whole lot easier to play and even with the string height up a tad 7-11mm it's not fatiguing at all. Arco is way easier across all the strings.

Jury's still out because it's hard for me to give up that low end. It's addicting. That low end is really only there on low E through G, then it's just a tough string to manage above that. The mitt is clear and has plenty of booty down there, just a bit cleaner and less over the top.

Both strings sound great. On the recordings I don't notice much difference at all. The fellas in the shop whom I bore with these trivialities, don't notice the subterranean thing with the Stark as much as they do the low mid clarity with the Mittel. It comes through the pickup real well and up against my body the Stark E really feels great on the bass. I'm just not sure that's right in the overall picture though.

Funny little things I'm left with. Really small stuff now.

What a bass!
 
#143
Uncletoad said:
Oh and now it's tied 2 games up.

We got us a world series!
Click to expand...

Damn right! Two really good games too.
I loved Lee's nonchalance on the mound yesterday - no histrionics or macho intensity, even when Rollins airmailed that throw to first - he just looked like a kid having a great time playing his favourite game.

Perfect! :)
 
#145
Here's an update.

The bass is opening up in a good way. Funny how it's changing as it settles in. I was told to expect that for a year or so but I guess I didn't realize how profound the changes would be. All good too.

It's really roaring now. The Stark E is back on again and really sounds amazing. after all my string trials I ended up back with the Spiro Stark E and Mittel A/D/G as I have used most of the time with this bass. It sounds huge. Loud, clear and singing like a cello in the upper register while roaring on the bottom.

A friend with heavy orchestral chops came by today with a huge bass. Almost 4/4 bass with 9" ribs, 28" lower and 22" wide upper bout, 44" body, 43" string length and a scroll that was as big as the neck. Huge sounding bass. Just filled the room with warm fat bass. Arco it was a rich classic orchestral bass.

I thought the Queen wouldn't keep up. I was wrong, it was even more amazing. When he picked up my bass and played it with his fine arco hand I was amazed at how it sounded completely French with a focus and projection and richness his orchestral bass didn't have. I was struck at how balanced everything sounded from top to bottom. Although the spiros don't let you cheat for a second they deliver clarity and power that other strings on that bass wouldn't without ever being strident or brash.

On tonight's gig I noticed the same thing. Amplified it's a joy. Focused and solid. Everything is banging on all cylinders right now.

Now I must practice and become worthy of such a beast.
 
#147
Uncletoad said:
On tonight's gig I noticed the same thing. Amplified it's a joy. Focused and solid. Everything is banging on all cylinders right now.

Now I must practice and become worthy of such a beast.
Click to expand...

I know for me that sometimes when I take my Prescott into certain situations I'm thinkin' I must be crazy to have such a good bass for gigs like this", but when you get that constant inspiration as you stated above
you know it was worth every penny. You indeed chose wisely my friend. Mazel Tov!
 
#148
A minor derail.

I unpacked a box of VHS tapes I had in storage a few days ago. There was a Jim Hall (my favorite living musician) video clinic kind of tape in there with Larry Goldings, Bill Stewart and Steve LaSpina playing The Queen.
You might check with Steve to make sure.
Stuff from "Something Special" of Jim's. (I got that too, if you don't). Jim tears each of his comps apart and explains everything with demonstrations by each player.
I'll try to get it to a disc or at least get a cop for you.
I was gonna call you on this but I thought the other posters would dig it.
 
#149
Uncletoad said:
Here's an update.

The bass is opening up in a good way. Funny how it's changing as it settles in. I was told to expect that for a year or so but I guess I didn't realize how profound the changes would be. All good too.

It's really roaring now. The Stark E is back on again and really sounds amazing. after all my string trials I ended up back with the Spiro Stark E and Mittel A/D/G as I have used most of the time with this bass. It sounds huge. Loud, clear and singing like a cello in the upper register while roaring on the bottom.

A friend with heavy orchestral chops came by today with a huge bass. Almost 4/4 bass with 9" ribs, 28" lower and 22" wide upper bout, 44" body, 43" string length and a scroll that was as big as the neck. Huge sounding bass. Just filled the room with warm fat bass. Arco it was a rich classic orchestral bass.

I thought the Queen wouldn't keep up. I was wrong, it was even more amazing. When he picked up my bass and played it with his fine arco hand I was amazed at how it sounded completely French with a focus and projection and richness his orchestral bass didn't have. I was struck at how balanced everything sounded from top to bottom. Although the spiros don't let you cheat for a second they deliver clarity and power that other strings on that bass wouldn't without ever being strident or brash.

On tonight's gig I noticed the same thing. Amplified it's a joy. Focused and solid. Everything is banging on all cylinders right now.

Now I must practice and become worthy of such a beast.
Click to expand...

Wow, thats great! That string set is intriguing... Frankly the Stark E scares me. I always thought it put way too much pressure on the top, but if you have a thick top I guess it doesn't matter at all. Glad that everything is working out for you!

By the way, when you were looking for a bass(or this bass), did you take into consideration how it would respond through an amp? Its sometimes hard to tell, but it seems the more focussed sounding basses tend to work better, rather than a bass with just a big bottom end.
 
#150
Adrian Juras said:
By the way, when you were looking for a bass(or this bass), did you take into consideration how it would respond through an amp? Its sometimes hard to tell, but it seems the more focussed sounding basses tend to work better, rather than a bass with just a big bottom end.
Click to expand...
I did. In fact there were many basses that had a huge bottom acoustic sound that I knew wouldn't amplify well so I passed on them. I tend to gravitate to that kind of sound so it was kind of hard to do that. Thankfully Brian Glassman and Nick Lloyd were there to talk me down.

When I played the orchestral bass yesterday I started feeling that way again...like "what did I do, that's the sound I wanted" kind of thing until I heard the Queen and that bass side by side in front of them several feet and realized that what I have is a far better tool for me, and really a better sounding bass. That wide sound spread from that huge orchestral bass is seductive but more useful in a section than for what I do...which is very far away from that.
 
#154
Uncletoad said:
I shouldn't have said anything. I'll probably bust it tomorrow night.
Click to expand...
Son of a Bitch.

I went to leave for the gig Sat night and the damn tailpiece was busted up. The wire tore right out of it...again. I've busted three of these pieces of crap on this bass since I bought it. No more. Somebody has got to have something made out of proper wood that holds up under high tension better than these prefab hunks of trash.

So I grabbed the Cleveland. Mind you it's got Evah Wiechs on it and set up low for me to bow and do easy practice. I've never heard it through an amp that way so I just figured I'd jump in and swim. Turns out it sounds great that way. Way different than the regular Evahs. Still dark compared to spiros but nice and fat. Way better than I though.

But that's another thread.


Gotta find me a TP now. Thankfully the soundpost hasn't moved so I just need to leave the bass where it is until I bring a new TP home and get it all back together again.

What a pain in the ass.
 
#155
Uncletoad said:
Son of a Bitch.

The wire tore right out of it...again. I've busted three of these pieces of crap on this bass since I bought it.
What a pain in the ass.
Click to expand...

Ya know, I think I heard something about somebody making these things outta this knda black wood it's called, uh..................EBONY yeah, that's it.......EBONY. If memory serves, it's called EBONY.
Real hard black kinda wood....... yes Sireee, that there EBONY.
 
#156
Paul Warburton said:
Ya know, I think I heard something about somebody making these things outta this knda black wood it's called, uh..................EBONY yeah, that's it.......EBONY. If memory serves, it's called EBONY.
Real hard black kinda wood....... yes Sireee, that there EBONY.
Click to expand...
Thats what these pieces of **** were supposed to be....
 
#157
Try to relax.
How was your gig other than your, uh........issues?
Mine was right nice and fun, even. A real concert....just me and my Lady friend, Julia on violin. I got to play some great stuff. Made good $$$'s too.
My EBONY TP dint even break. It's been on my bass since ........uh, oh.......18 uh, 88.
Yep, it is good stuff, alright.
Try to relax, though.

EBONY.
 
#158
Gig was fine. Not as nice as yours I'm sure. I can find something musical in a paper bag so even though I didn't bring my A bass I still felt like we did something. My B bass doesn't suck either.

I think I'm gonna call Kenny or somebody and get some real wood. Carve it myself with a stick and a butterknife. I'm sure I can do a better job.
 

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