hpc364

Thanks a lot !

Well, maybe some will say I'm wrong but a fretted instrument is more visual than others. When I'm sight-reading while I play the bass guitar I make some mistakes because when I go up on the instrument my fingers basically are on the frets, imagine what's happening. The double bass is less visual, it's adapted to your body and your height. When you're not watching (or not so much) it sounds better. Every method is good.

Again and again...

It's ridiculous the way I used to stretch, now I don't stretch anymore.

What difference does it make ?

I'm pretty proud of how the bass became more comfortable. End of the fingerboard... G 7 mm D 8 mm A 9 mm E 10 mm It's what I guess I measured with multiple methods. It's worth to become a totally blind inexperienced silly luthier than leaving a fortune for a real "set-up"... Every time a professional touches one of my instruments I'm disappointed, when I do it on my own I claim it's a piece of art, even if it's ugly, it works the way I want. This is the other way of what oneself tolerance means.

Thanks a lot !!!

Since people like playing with low action, I wonder if double bassists want to sound like electric fretless basses. I modified the bridge, the action was very high about 13 mm on the G string, now it's 9 mm. I was sure it was around 8-9 mm but I didn't read very well when I was measuring. Having known such an action, your double basses are not so different from electric basses for me. That's bigger, that's sure. It's not sarcasm because if I weren't there I wouldn't have modified my bridge. So I thank you, now it's more comfortable, I'm not satisfied about the sound I get, maybe it comes from the strings, I modified the bridge after changing the strings. Now I can play bad in thumb position, before that I was barely able to play a note. Before After the first modification There I'm a bit out of rhythm and had a strange tone because I was surprised when I was in thumb position. The sustain surprised me too when I was playing... I felt strange... That was the first modification.

What do I risk if I let it like this ? I modified it again.

Those

LOL !!!

I also modified the bridge, I can bow the strings, they love harmonics when they are full of rosin it sounds "Baroque".

OK, I did it, I put a new set then I did it.

I received the strings, my bass is more comfortable now. It's a set of Pyramid Black Nylon. It still sounds fresh so the sound is still a bit harsh. Can they be bowed ? I tried, yes I did but I didn't find any kind of interes in that, if it can be done it's better to use them with in a free jazz ensemble.

I don't play the saxophone anymore but sometimes I try...

I also play both hands.

Ah ! I do like my sound ! I measured again my string height... At the octave about 8-9 mm on G string and maybe 10 mm on E string. I can put my pinky under a string. It doesn't change a lot along the end of the fingerboard, maybe 10 mm ! It's difficult to define because the fingerboard is not flat. Visually it's huge but when I press down I won't say it's a torture but crossing strings on block and thumb positions is kind of dangerous or disturbing. I can do it like cutting wood on my leg. At the nut the action is more than correct. New strings are coming tomorrow (tapewound strings), I wonder what it's going to happen.

Hi ! Another weird question, is it a bag idea to sand bridge feet in order to lower the string action ?

A last question... String height, is it the same than steel or something between steel and gut ?

I thought I was in C but no...

When I took my first guitar lesson (classical guitar) 32 years ago, my teacher put a velcro, my thumb was between 2nd and 3rd fingers. Why ? Because when your thumb is not at the right place your pinky is useless, you've got a very weak grip and a lack of flexibility.

Thanks, about @Beedster that sounds sexy ! Just a useless question : can you bow them ?

Double bass strings are really expensive, the bass I've got came with Artino strings with high action, I detuned one string and played it, it was kind of easy. I don't want to put a lot of money for an instrument that will probably have a lot of problems with a lower action. So I chose to buy a set of strings, they say it's quite the same diameter than steel strings, maybe a bad choice... I don't know. A synthetic set like gut-a-like, why not but there are some works to do on the instrument I guess. I can do it on electric guitars and basses but a double bass, I wouldn't dare.