Rattles and adjustments

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Greg Clinkingbeard

I understand what you're saying, but that's where you live. In KC it's a bit more specialized, not that the 'Symphony' shop doesn't do very nice work. From what I've seen here and from local reputation, the other place is a bit better for the jazz guys. KC may be the exception.

I have seen quite a varied preference of height, width and arch from both Orchestral and Jazz players. I will venture to say that there is no such thing as a Jazz or Classical set-up at all but rather just preferred set-up Specs.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I have seen quite a varied preference of height, width and arch from both Orchestral and Jazz players. I will venture to say that there is no such thing as a Jazz or Classical set-up at all but rather just preferred set-up Specs.

It looks to me like we are back into semantics again.

[Ken Smith]

On the Rattles, would that be 'one Snake or two'?

[stan haskins]

I was doing some recording last night with the Shen. The rattle has gotten incredibly irritating, so after about an hour I put a folded up washcloth between the tailpiece and the top. No more rattle! I guess that means the rattle is coming from my TP cable . . .

While there is a certain "muting " effect from the cloth, I found that in some ways, it evened out the tone (the A string is less wolfy, the open G not as abrasive). I did lose a little bit of volume, but the sound was better on the video, and it seemed like I was playing easier, too, by not needing to avoid rough-sounding notes.

Any thoughts? Does anybody intentionally mute their tailpiece?

[Jeff Tranauskas]

Originally Posted by stan haskins

I was doing some recording last night with the Shen. The rattle has gotten incredibly irritating, so after about an hour I put a folded up washcloth between the tailpiece and the top. No more rattle! I guess that means the rattle is coming from my TP cable . . .

While there is a certain "muting " effect from the cloth, I found that in some ways, it evened out the tone (the A string is less wolfy, the open G not as abrasive). I did lose a little bit of volume, but the sound was better on the video, and it seemed like I was playing easier, too, by not needing to avoid rough-sounding notes.

Any thoughts? Does anybody intentionally mute their tailpiece?

Stan,
I had a Shen 3/4 Willow that did the same thing. I muted the tailpiece with an old Tshirt. That worked well. On my Bulgarian bass I do the same thing. The rattle in my current tailpiece is due to my use of an electrical terminal block to anchor the cable. It was an adhoc repair that I made that never was properly addressed. So for now I just use the rolled up cotton cloth to quite the rattle. I have seen Edgar Meyer do the same thing.

[stan haskins]

Yeah, that's cool, but I found out soon afterward that I was losing ALOT of volume. I mean, ALOT. When palying in a small room, recording with a handy-cam, I didn't notice how much power adn volume i lost with that simple fix. Later, I went to play in a black box theater (big dead room - solo, for fun) and found out I was basically inaudible with the tailpiece mute. Same setting next night, took out the washcloth, and I could fill the room again. I can live with the rattle - I'm too proud of loud and aggressive sound. But it's certainly a good trick to remember for small rooms, or with amplification . . .

From what I understand, Edgar always plays closely mic'd and heavily amplified. His recorded tone is incredible, I've yet to see him live. But that might explain how he gets away with that muted tailpiece.

I've seen lots of bassists and cellists with a rag stuffed in their tailpiece lately - I think their instruments might be louder than mine though.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by stan haskins

I've seen lots of bassists and cellists with a rag stuffed in their tailpiece lately - I think their instruments might be louder than mine though.

I know several players who sweat a lot who keep a cloth there for wiping the sweat off the neck and maybe off themselves. I agree with Stan about the volume loss. I've yet to see a rattle that couldn't be cured without stuffing rags or other objects between the tailpiece and the top.