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Double Bass Tone changes over time?

M

Martin Beer

Dec 4, 2004
904
826
#1
I have an old flatback carved German/Czech bass that I've owned since 2008 and had extensive setup work done on when I bought it. I feel like over the past year the tone has got noticeably darker and boomier, and I'm trying to figure out what might be going on. While I do play some arco, I'm primarily focused on pizz tone here. The bass is wearing S42 Spirocore Mittels, they're about six years old, but I keep them wiped down and I'm not gigging as regularly as I used to, so I would be surprised if I'd killed them already. The bridge is upright and centred on the F hole notches. Due to the lockdown here I'm only playing in one room at home, but it's even noticeable when recording close miced with a mic and position that used to work OK for me.
So I'm pondering what else might have changed - soundpost position or tightness, perhaps? The soundpost looks straight and in the ballpark of the right position, there's nothing obviously off there. Anything else I should check? It may just be that it's time for a fresh set of Spiros, but I'd like to have considered things before I go for that!
Unfortunately both of the local luthiers who would have been my go-to to check things over are now retired, and while there are some violin family luthiers around I don't know of any in my area who have a feel for jazz bass setup.
 
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#3
I'm thinking hearing loss is unlikely, since I haven't noticed a similar change in other instruments I play. The house tends to be on the humid side, but I've been in the same place five years and I don't think it's changed. I guess some movement of the bass top is possible - I haven't noticed any involuntary changes in the height of the strings from the fingerboard though, so it wouldn't have been a large change.
 
#5
bassmanbrent said:
Maybe try swapping out the strings to start... It might not change anything, but at least you can eliminate one possibility...
Click to expand...

True, it could very well be that. I get the impression they would last longer for most people with as light a playing schedule as mine (which is why I wonder if it could be other things) but I suppose skin chemistry varies.
 
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#7
unbrokenchain said:
De-tune the spiros for a few hours, then bring them back up. Not sure why that works, but they get bright again. It's actually an issue if you have a removable neck bass and enjoy dead spiros.. :rolleyes:
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I spent a little while this morning playing my bass and trying some things, and detuning, wiping down the strings with a little alcohol before tuning back up has got it back a lot closer to where I remember it. The other thing seems to be my living room where I practice. It's not a large place and has a low ceiling, and it turns out the spot I usually stand in out of convenience really brings out the boom in an ugly way. Moving a little and facing the other way tones that down somewhat.
So I'm thinking it may be those two factors combined with some lockdown cabin-fever overthinking, which is an easy thing to slip into right now!
 
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#8
Do you have an old set of strings to try. Experimenting with new ones is expensive. Another thought is that your LH and RH finger pads may have softened with less playing. Or have you moved your pizz point with your RH? These could dull the sound a little. I am just getting back into playing after Covid shut down my orchestras. My clarity of tone and articulation are recovering as my pads thicken and toughen again.
 
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#9
David Potts said:
Do you have an old set of strings to try. Experimenting with new ones is expensive. Another thought is that your LH and RH finger pads may have softened with less playing. Or have you moved your pizz point with your RH? These could dull the sound a little. I am just getting back into playing after Covid shut down my orchestras. My clarity of tone and articulation are recovering as my pads thicken and toughen again.
Click to expand...

The only spare strings I have around are another set of well played Spiros, which would likely be a sideways move. I have definitely put in less time and intensity of playing over the last few months, and when practicing alone at home I'm often conscious of neighbours being around so I tend to lay back a little. I've also been trying a little home recording in the past week or two so I may just be thinking about my sound more critically.
But it does seem to be getting back on track with the string detuning/cleaning and a little more playing time. I've also tried putting a wolf eliminator back on (I don't recall why I took it off), and aside from clearing up a wolf on the A note, that seems to even out the boomy resonance that I can hear when playing pizz.
 

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