My New Calin Wultur 3/4 Carcassi

[Ironwood318]

Hello Everyone. This is my first post. Sorry for the lack of photos - they are coming up soon.

I am a newbie to double bass with a great teacher and plenty of enthusiasm. I hope to be jamming with my jazz pals in about a year.

I guess my teachers approach is fairly formal - all the basics, reading bass clef, bowing from the outset. I really just wanted to learn pizz but I am deferring to her wisdom and approach.

I have been using a rented Shen sb-80 thats working out fine. I came across an amazing carved Calin Wultur 3/4 flatback that has an amazing voice! It will be going into the shop shortly for reshaping of the fingerboard, bridge and nut adjustments, and reboring of the tuning machine shaft seats to improve what is now pretty squeaky and jerky movement.

It is strung with Helicore Pizzicatos and I want to change to a more arco friendly string in hopes of improved playability and sound particularly when bowing.

My teacher strongly recommends Bel Canto's. Meaning her no disrespect, I was hoping to hear some of your thoughts as well.

Thanks in advance.

[Steve Swan]

Congratulations on your new bass. I used a few different Calin Wultur Carcassi model basses for my own pizz-only performances for about 3 years. I liked them very much. They are a good arco bass as well. The Bel Canto strings will work okay for pizz for a year. You can switch them when your current series of arco-based lessons are over. Many teachers are quite particular about what string brand their students should use. I would stay in her good graces by using what she suggests.

[drurb]

Welcome! Where do you live? As we say around here, no pictures, no bass!

[Ironwood318]

Steve, thanks for the comments on the strings. Here are some more photos.

[SLivinghouse]

I have the Panormo model and have found that Evah Pirazzi's have worked best for me on that bass. I play Jazz and in a community orchestra so pizz and arco are both important to me. Read throught the string megathreads of both. I also tried Corellis and Helicores as well. The Corellis were pretty good hybrids as well, but brighter. Tons of info here.