Percieved Difference in the Low end on the E string

[Jeff Gellis]

Ken, I can't thank you enough for your knowledge and willingness to share and teach!

I guess it's not fair for me to expect that my $2600 bass will be exempt from problems that effect basses costing many times that. But hey, that's why I asked the question.

Knowing this is fairly typical for inexpensive instruments is the answer I was looking for. I'm gonna try a heavier guage E. Thanks for that suggestion.

The bass sounds quite nice and from 6 to 8 feet away, there's plenty of bottom coming from the E string. FYI it's an Upton Hybrid and for a student instrument, very fairly priced I think.

I'll wait until my playing ability dictates that I start looking for a better bass. I know this bass will not be an impediment to my progress as a player.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by Jeff Gellis

it's an Upton Hybrid and for a student instrument, very fairly priced I think.

Is your bass a Hawkes or one of their other hybrids? I bought a Hawkes last fall and am in love with it. Of course, every bass is different.
FWIW, I wasn't happy with the E when the bass wore Spiro Weich. With Obligatos the E is much stronger. Don't be afraid to put a heavier E on your bass; people do it all the time.
And no, the bass won't be holding you back from what I've been hearing about Upton.

End of commercial.

[Bob Rowlette]

Jeff,

I have an Upton Hawkes hybrid, and it's a great bass all things considered. It is strung with a set of Spirocore mittel (medium tension) strings on the A, D, and G. However I am using a Spirocore stark (heavy tension) E string, which I would recommend highly on that bass. The Spiro stark is very strong and powerful (stark literally means strong).

-bob

[Jeff Gellis]

Thanks Bob,
I ordered the Stark E today. I'll let you know what color smoke comes out when I string it up.

[Jeff Gellis]

I installed that Stark E today and what a difference. The E string moves the entire bass front and back. I now get the real feeling of some fundamental on the E string when I am playing acoustically.

Thanks you that advice. Great!

[Bob Rowlette]

Originally Posted by Jeff Gellis

I installed that Stark E today and what a difference. The E string moves the entire bass front and back. I now get the real feeling of some fundamental on the E string when I am playing acoustically.

Thanks you that advice. Great!

Thank you Jeff. I think I got that idea from Sam Sherry originally. Anyway, I am so glad you like the Stark E.

[David Powell]

I just wanted to echo what has been said about perception from the playing position vs. what the bass sounds like further away. I had no idea how my bass sounded until someone else plucked it while I was a good distance away. I was actually kind of startled because I realized I was probably over playing frequently in acoustic situations. I think practicing within about 4 ft of a wall with the wall to my back gives me a better idea because I get the reflection off the wall.

And yes, your bass is very young and you should be noticing changes in its' response for several months as it settles in.