cello D string issue

[keltech]

Hi

I'm after some advice, I have a lovely looking German cello probably from around 1890's-1920s, but the D string sounds bad,  like it's muted, hard to explain.  all other strings sound great.

A minor issue that I will mention just incase it could be the cause,  the finger board projection is a little low so the bridge is not very tall 10mm shorter that usual.
 i've moved the soundpost about but unsure what directions could fix this?  I'm limited to how east/west  I can go because of the soundpost height, I'm pretty sure the ends of the soundpost are well fitted. after length of strings from bridge to top to tail is 12mm, total string length from nut to bridge is 68mm

  it has a set of Larson standard strings on it, they seem to work ok on most cello's I've tried, the bridge is French despiau 2 trees and feet look well fitted. 2.5mm-3mm thick at the top where the strings meet, plastic winter tail with fine tuners, gut is steel with a plastic coating
 

thanks for any advice

Edited December 5, 2023 by keltech

[GoPractice]

Could you record a sample?

[baroquecello]

Standard Larsen d strings are notoriously weak. Try a different brand.

[David Alex T.]

And G string in wolf area (E-F)works well?

[keltech]

13 hours ago, David Alex T. said:

And G string in wolf area (E-F)works well?

the wolf seems to be  close to F# ,i've just tried a krentz wolf emlimator on the cello and the D string does clear up a little but i find now all the strings sound different. it's certainly more playable, any suggestions if there is anything i can do with having to use a wolf eliminator? thanks

[GoPractice]

23 hours ago, baroquecello said:

Standard Larsen d strings are notoriously weak. Try a different brand.

Weaker? 80% of the upper Larsen string tend toward solo version, but some instruments might need to be "voiced" differently. I understand and have experienced what you describe, but the solo versions might require more physical activation? The way I coach, there are some blind spots.

I do think that the sound might sound squeezed, thin and break up earlier, when I play the normal d- string, but for many students they are fine for the short term. And what might be that other brand?

[GoPractice]

3 hours ago, keltech said:

the wolf seems to be  close to F# ,i've just tried a krentz wolf emlimator on the cello and the D string does clear up a little but i find now all the strings sound different. it's certainly more playable, any suggestions if there is anything i can do with having to use a wolf eliminator? thanks

Meeting up with a tech helps. Not just with the issues regarding a wolf eliminator, but overall.

Want to clarify that 80% of my d- a- installs on cellos, are Larsen Solos. But I do have non solos here, somewhere. 

[baroquecello]

49 minutes ago, GoPractice said:

Weaker? 80% of the upper Larsen string tend toward solo version, but some instruments might need to be "voiced" differently. I understand and have experienced what you describe, but the solo versions might require more physical activation? The way I coach, there are some blind spots.

I do think that the sound might sound squeezed, thin and break up earlier, when I play the normal d- string, but for many students they are fine for the short term. And what might be that other brand?

In my experience,  the combination of a larsen a and d string will result in a weaker d compared to the a string on many cellos. This is particularly the case for regular larsen strings,  but also their other lines have this problem, although I do not know about their Cannone line. Most cellists are used to it and to some extent even use it artistically for coloring the sound.

Regarding different brands, practically any other big brand string will be somewhat more balanced. The question is whether you like their sound or not. Try a set of rondo by thomastik, for instance. 

What balances the sound of strings somewhat on most cellos,  is a carbon fibre tail piece like those by ConCarbo or Tonal. Again trial is the only way to know if it works for you.

[keltech]

thanks for the replies , I don't string make has anything to do with the issue. it not a weak as volume issue it sounds like I have a mute on the bridge of the D string, I tried a dominant d string and its just a loud slightly strident version of the issue. I will move the soundpost about till I get a spot that works across all strings, thats the only thing I can think of.

[David Alex T.]

23 hours ago, keltech said:

the wolf seems to be  close to F# ,i've just tried a krentz wolf emlimator on the cello and the D string does clear up a little but i find now all the strings sound different. it's certainly more playable, any suggestions if there is anything i can do with having to use a wolf eliminator? thanks

Not sure I understand well this question.

It is sure that wolf eliminator will help. But there are so many other variables, it will be difficult to advice