Double Bass Weak A string

[Calvin Marks]

Hey all,

Been playing on a small 38" mensure bass lately with a killer E D and G string but the A sounds very weak and lacks a lot of air. Understandable that given it is a very small bass it won't have the same volume as a big one but do you have any idea what could cause a weak A string? Is it the bass bar? Bridge placement?

The strings are flex deluxe in orchestral Tuning.

Thx

 

[notabene]

I have the same issue. I have not found the solution yet, but... I tightened the A to Bb and it came to life. So...I think a string with more tension would do the same thing. I presented this to the forum, but didn't find advice on what (in my case) my Spiro weich should be replaced with.

 

[bassmanbrent]

Maybe experiment with sound post placement?

 

[1st Bass]

Could you tell us how far "south" the soundpost is, below the bridge? My first guess would be that it should be moved slightly north, but that is just a guess. Otherwise, possibly a higher-tension string. (I have never worked on a bass that small, so perhaps there are special issues of which I am not aware...)

 

[RSBBass]

In addition to the above advice, I would check the string installation, how it rides in the nut slot and how the bridge slot is cut. You could also play with the after-length.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Or you could run the A through the top side of the tailpiece, change up string orientation in the pegbox and about a million other free, easy tweaks.

 

[Calvin Marks]

Or you could run the A through the top side of the tailpiece, change up string orientation in the pegbox and about a million other free, easy tweaks.

Interesting. The bass has a C extension so the A needs to run through the E peg. Part of the issue is the mensure being so short and not a lot of half sized strings available so it's not the easiest bass to get a clean string install on. Also, it has these el cheapo rubber tuners which take forever to tune - sorry, I'm complaining.

I always thought going "balls out" at the tailpiece was more of a myth as to providing any benefit?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Depends on the bass.

 

[AGCurry]

... it has these el cheapo rubber tuners

Rubber tuners?

 

[Calvin Marks]

Rubber tuners?

Rubner

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Try running the A string from under the tailpiece to the bridge (ball end on top of tailpiece). That gives more pressure on the bridge from the A string and a bit less from the other three (mainly the E string).

Otherwise have a look at my Excel file in my Dropbox for tension data. Also has data for some fractional strings. Link in signature and string sticky.

 

[Brilee]

Hey all,

Been playing on a small 38" mensure bass lately with a killer E D and G string but the A sounds very weak and lacks a lot of air. Understandable that given it is a very small bass it won't have the same volume as a big one but do you have any idea what could cause a weak A string? Is it the bass bar? Bridge placement?

The strings are flex deluxe in orchestral Tuning.

Thx

D'Addario gives 38" as 1/2 size. Have you tried 1/2 size strings?

 

[Calvin Marks]

D'Addario gives 38" as 1/2 size. Have you tried 1/2 size strings?

Nope but I'm going to have to start doing so.

 

[garrett2]

Maybe you need a cosmic bass bar! "Cosmique" bass bar

BTW, and unrelated, has anyone played the Italian bass on his website?

 

[1st Bass]

Having the correct size strings would make a huge difference! Good call!

 

[Calvin Marks]

Problem solved.

Spoke with the man who did the overhaul/repair on the bass and it looks like the previous owner pushed the bridge 2/3" south to increase the length. It was hard to tell since the notches aren't clear given the age of the instrument. I moved it back into the location the luthier recommended and the sound did open up.

To improve it further I put on a Spirocore weich A and it really made the bass speak.

Now has Spirocore weich E and A, Flex Deluxe D and G. The regular E works with the extension

 

[LouisF]

Lovely bass!

 

[David Potts]

Such an interesting bass. Could we have some history?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Did your luthier move the soundpost with the bridge?

 

[Calvin Marks]

Did your luthier move the soundpost with the bridge?

No. The sound post placement was okay, the bridge was originally almost on top of it.