Hi!
I just bought a used Yamaha SLB 200 bass fitted with D'Addario Helicore Pizzicatos after a twenty year break from upright bass almost only playing electric. I also got a new bow and rosin a week ago and am having trouble getting a decent sound when playing arco. When playing the G, D and most of the time A strings I get an ok sound but when playing the E string I'm getting a really harsh octave-ish harmonic instead.
I've narrowed it down to three possible causes:
1. Technique. I haven't played for 20 years.
2. New bow and rosin. I've tried different amounts of rosin and different tensions on the bow but to no avail.
3. Strings. Maybe the Helicore Pizzicatos aren't the best strings for bowing. Could perhaps changing to a set of strings made for arco playing solve most of the problem? I'm thinking Evah Pirazzi for instance.
I'm also considering lower tension strings since my weak programmer/electric bass playing fingers aren't used to the increased effort. How do lower tension strings affect the sound, playability and ease of bowing?
I'm mostly playing in a setting with a piano, a couple of vocalists, two acoustic guitars and violin, for your reference.
Thanks in advance!