Double Bass What does a "choked" bass sound like?

[bodgiebass]

Hi DB folks,

Quick background:
A couple of months ago I got myself a DB. It was a bit of spur of the moment compulsion. I didn't do as all the tips here recommend such as taking an experienced DB friend with me. Anyway, knowing nothing I bought the first thing I saw. Don't have a teacher and haven't seen a luthier yet.

I have been reading the db forums like a hungry monkey in bananaland and learned much thanks to the great community here. Reading makes me feel as if I'm still being db constructive when my hands/fingers are too tired to practice.

So onto the question in the title, what does it sound like to go from normal to choked? I understand the tension based causation and the top being under the correct loading. Are there any sound clips to demonstrate this? I guess it'll help me in assessing stringing options.

 

[Feral Feline]

Uhm...

Choked bass sounds kinda like...

"mmmgahghuff... gggharrrgah gaklguphle"

On a more serious note, it might be muffled, or sound fundamentally wrong. On a less serious note it might bow a little screechy.

I'd take the bass to a luthier and express your concerns and let the luthier assess whether the bass sounds choked, but a teacher will be best able to tell you if you're choking the bass.

I know of no sound clips of someone under-tensioning a top so it doesn't drive, nor of clips of a top over-tensioned so the top cannot resonate freely.


More experienced players, teachers and luthiers may chime in soon after the bump.

Bump.

 

[robobass]

One thing you could try is tuning your bass down a whole step (or put on a set of light gauge strings) and then compare the feel and response. If it becomes warmer and more resonant, then maybe it was being choked. If it gets flabby and unfocused, then it was was probably set up properly in the first place. As Feral Feline said, it would be very good to have it looked at by an experienced player or teacher, and a luthier. They will also notice other issues you may have with the bass.

 

[bodgiebass]

Thanks, I maybe could have asked the same question as what does 'open' sound like, or focused/unfocused, flabby/tight? The question wasn't really specifically referring to my bass.
I will get to a luthier some day, but if anyone knows any clips that have any negative qualities, let me know. I've watched a lot of youtube lessons/tutorials in which I imagine the basses demonstrate many of the positive qualities.

 

[mpdd]

i think you can have choked notes, not sure if you can have a choked bass