Double Bass Underwhelming E string on a dumpy 50's Kay

[mambo4]

So I've been poorly plucking around on my old kay, by no means a high quality instrument,
I have noticed stopped notes plucked on the E string are less loud, resonant, or sustained, have less pleasing overtones
VS higher notes on the A, D,G strings. (unplugged of course - have not run it through a preamp - amp - cab in years)
Is this just par for the course on 3/4 plywood instrument?
I'm wondering if a setup or new strings may help.

 

[bass player 53]

Get an experienced luthier to adjust the sound post.

 

[Ed S]

You might wish to search around a bit. ISTR there may have been 1 or 2 threads about strings...

Just kidding (mostly.) Welcome. If you search, you'll find many folk find their Es underwhelming, and search out various alternatives. I've got an old spiro weich under my EP Pirastros on my hybrid, but am not in love with it.

You don't say what strings are on your bass, or how old they are. Some (most) strings other than spiros and guts wear out and need to be replaced. But - yeah - a setup, possibly including new strings, is always a good idea for a new-to-you old bass with issues.

 

[Lo-E]

Older Kays can sound quite good with a good setup. Find an experienced bass luthier to help you out.

 

[Don Hergert]

I'm wondering if a setup or new strings may help.

What kind of strings are you using?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Assuming we are talking about plucking rather than bowing, I've found that most string sets have an underwhelming E, so I'll always bump up the E to a heavier gauge from the next set up. Plucking the E is also more difficult, since rest strokes are more logical on the other strings because they come to rest on the next string down. When there is no next string to come to rest against, the player has to decide on a strategy to overcome that, of which there are several.

 

[Francois Blais]

So I've been poorly plucking around on my old kay, by no means a high quality instrument,
I have noticed stopped notes plucked on the E string are less loud, resonant, or sustained, have less pleasing overtones
VS higher notes on the A, D,G strings. (unplugged of course - have not run it through a preamp - amp - cab in years)
Is this just par for the course on 3/4 plywood instrument?
I'm wondering if a setup or new strings may help.

How long have you played a DB?
It takes some technique to get that string to speak more clearly, in comparison to the other strings.

 

[mambo4]

It takes some technique to get that string to speak more clearly, in comparison to the other strings.

It could be a technique issue for sure
How long ? I've had my Kay since the late 90's but it spent years getting dusty and have never been regularly ridden.

 

[mambo4]

Assuming we are talking about plucking rather than bowing

absolutely plucking. the fiberglass bow a was destroyed by a cat in 2005

 

[mambo4]

What kind of strings are you using?

I want to say they were set up with Spiro cores? Steel strings with red silk wrappings.
Been 20 years now since I bought it and had it set up at Hammond & Ashly in Seattle.
Now I'm in Texas so who knows what has shifted in climate change.

 

[Francois Blais]

Red silk may also be Super-Sensitive Red Labels, one of the worst bass string.
A picture of the ball-ends will show what they are.
But I'm inclined to think it's more of a technique issue.

 

[Don Hergert]

I want to say they were set up with Spiro cores?

But I'm inclined to think it's more of a technique issue.

... Or possibly sound post adjustment??

Like the bridge, the sound post tends to shift over the years with moving the instrument around and bouncing it on the endpin.

While Spirocores tend to last a huge time, 20 years may be a bit extreme.

 

[coyote1]

How old are the strings? My limited experience says plywood tops very much want new strings that are designed for pizzicato in order to sound good. About two years ago I put new D’addario Helicore pizzicato strings on my 1974 Mathias Thoma bass, and doing so made a huuuge difference in the projection and tone of the instrument. It can actually be heard without amplification when playing with a drummer and amplified guitarist.

 

[Steven Ayres]

Kay basses, built when guts were king, typically need setup attention to support the lower frequencies, and higher-tension strings can choke the sound table. A pro setup by a Kay-aware luthier can make a world of difference, you may be looking at string changes as well.

 

[mambo4]

Thanks all for the input. possible culprits:

• me
• 20 year old strings
• sound post
• setup

 

[mambo4]

Does pizzicato E string really take a significantly different plucking technique than the other strings?

When there is no next string to come to rest against, the player has to decide on a strategy to overcome that, of which there are several.

I have never thought of lack of a lower string to rest on , post-pluck, as some kind of draw back, that is interesting.
Does this have to do with the " plane of plucking " implied by an adjacent string? Keeping it vibrating in a certain axis to the bridge?
What are some of the strategies for overcoming the drawback?

 

[Don Kasper]

possible culprits:

• me
• 20 year old strings
• sound post
• setup

* The "cat'
(fixed it for ya'...)

 

[JBarz]

I submit that the culprit may also be, in part, the stock rigid wire tail gut…

 

[August West]

I concur with above thoughts re strings and setup. The Spiro E on my ‘53 Kay is deep, clear, and powerful with lots of projection and sustain. String choice and setup are everything. (I guess I consider proper sound post position part of a thorough setup.) Kays can be great basses when set up well with the right strings. Good luck in your quest!

 

[james condino]

It'll probsbly never work right; you should get another bass...so you have a "tone" backup.

Well, if we're being honest, maybe an additonal two more so your backup was good. Four would be better becuase then you won't to have transport one all of the time when you leave it at your favorite place to play. Ok, OK...five would be perfect, plus an extra $6k per bass for the string game, since every string seems to sound different on every bass made by every manufacturer every time you play it.... or just stick with Spiro mitts and play the gig for the next ten years.

Now lets talk about amps...