Double Bass Weak E string on my SB80

[gkbass13]

Hey Tony,

There is a fantastic luthier about a half hour from you named Robby Macintosh. PM me if you want some help getting a hold of him.

-Grady

 

[Tony G]

If they have about 1" of gold silk immediately above the green / gold silk (between the bridge and the tailpiece), then those are Helicore Hybrid Lights. I'm pretty sure that's what Shen installs at the factory.

It very well may be, but I just found the color code chart at D'addario's website, and I'm not 100% sure. Apparently, they color code each string at the peg end depending on the tuned pitch, and then put a secondary color band at the peg end to specify light, medium, etc. There is no secondary color band on my peg end, and according to the charts that tells me they are possibly mediums. However, it appears as though the strings were cut, but I'm not positive on that. If they were cut, perhaps this secondary band was cut off?

Hey Tony,

There is a fantastic luthier about a half hour from you named Robby Macintosh. PM me if you want some help getting a hold of him.

-Grady

Pm sent.

 

[michaeln]

These are pics of Helicore Hybrid Lights that came on my Shen SB90. Believe what you want.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Ok, I took a look at my bass, and something isn't quite right. As I mentioned in a post above, the silk wrap at the tail piece is green and gold, where the gold spirals around the green. However, at the peg end, the colors are all different. They are as follows:

E - green
A - black (or very dark blue or purple?)
D - gold
G - red

Help please....

Hey Tony, those colours are D'Addario's string pitch coding system - you have Helicore Hybrid Mediums on there.

 

[Tony G]

These are pics of Helicore Hybrid Lights that came on my Shen SB90. Believe what you want.

Michaeln, please don't think I'm unappreciative of your help, as that is not the case. However, if you take a look at the color code chart on D'Addario's website, your peg end colors appear to show that those are hybrid mediums as well, as they have no contrasting color band. Now as I said, it is possible the contrasting color band was cut off when they were installed.

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[Tony G]

Hey Tony, those colours are D'Addario's string pitch coding system - you have Helicore Hybrid Mediums on there.

Thank you for chiming in. That is what I suspected.

 

[Matt Ides]

Just got home and I have gold wrap at the peg end as well, which I believe are the lights.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Just got home and I have gold wrap at the peg end as well, which I believe are the lights.

You've got it!

 

[Matt Ides]

Tony, I switched out the Helicore Hybrid Lights over a week ago to used Evahs regulars. I noticed that the bass was louder and I was getting more sustain. my string height is about 7mm G - 10mm E. Just a reference point for you.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Tony came by to borrow my Spiro E at lunchtime. It's 1:46 now, so with traffic, I'll give him three and a half hours before he comes back to tell us how blown away he is by the difference.

 

[Tony G]

Tony, I switched out the Helicore Hybrid Lights over a week ago to used Evahs regulars. I noticed that the bass was louder and I was getting more sustain. my string height is about 7mm G - 10mm E. Just a reference point for you.

Cool, thanks.


I just picked up the Spiro Mitt E from KUNGfuSHERIFF to try out. I'll string it up tonight or tomorrow and and report back. Thanks again, KUNGfuSHERIFF!

 

[Tony G]

Tony came by to borrow my Spiro E at lunchtime. It's 1:46 now, so with traffic, I'll give him three and a half hours before he comes back to tell us how blown away he is by the difference.

Haha, just beat me to the post by less than a minute. I'll try to put it on tonight when I get home from work. You really think it is going to be that big of a difference, huh?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I do. Can't speak for everybody, but the difference in volume, clarity and depth amazed me. And those were grungy, nasty-ass old Spiros, not a relatively fresh string like the one you have.

 

[Tony G]

Ok, I have the Spiro strung up. I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but I'm not sure I hear any difference. It is possible that it has a bit more depth to the note, but the volume is the same if not a little bit lower. Now, you can throw any BG string at me, I'll string it up and tell you all the tiny differences with no problem. Maybe my URB ears just aren't as developed yet?

 

[Matt Ides]

Is there a difference arco? How quickly does the sustain fade after you really dig in?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Interesting. A noticeable change in the depth of the note sounds right, but for me the Spiros were bolder and louder overall. Maybe my Hybrids were super dead.

 

[Tony G]

Is there a difference arco? How quickly does the sustain fade after you really dig in?

I've only been playing about 6 months, and my main goal has been to learn jazz pizz. I have a bow, but haven't really worked with it yet.

 

[Tony G]

Interesting. A noticeable change in the depth of the note sounds right, but for me the Spiros were bolder and louder overall. Maybe my Hybrids were super dead.

I played with the Sprio on for a little while longer, then changed back to my Helicore Hybrid Med E. From what I could tell, the Hybrid E had more definition and volume, but as I said the Sprio had a deeper fundamental to the notes. I'll play around with them a little more when I get some time this weekend.

 

[Matt Ides]

I've only been playing about 6 months, and my main goal has been to learn jazz pizz. I have a bow, but haven't really worked with it yet.

Hey Tony it could be numerous things. Have you listened from a distance when someone else plays your bass? It might sound weak from the players position, but is still projecting out. Since you got it from Upton I am assuming it is not a set-up issue.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

You bought it in August and now it's dry winter. Wood moves, even plywood to some extent. So, it's not the string. Now it's time to take it to a luthier. I second the R MacIntosh suggestion. FWIW, he builds beautiful basses.