"Opening Up" - or what??

[Rick Auvil]

How long does it take a hybrid DB to "open up"? I have a Christopher hybrid and I seem to get a stuffy sound. Could it be the combination of the instrument and my strings (obligatos)? If you own a hybrid, which strings work best for you?

I've been playing with an orchestra for a season and a half and I'm just not satisfied with the sound I get. Thanks in advance for your ideas and advice!

[Samie]

Originally Posted by Bus

How long does it take a hybrid DB to "open up"? I have a Christopher hybrid and I seem to get a stuffy sound. Could it be the combination of the instrument and my strings (obligatos)? If you own a hybrid, which strings work best for you?

I've been playing with an orchestra for a season and a half and I'm just not satisfied with the sound I get. Thanks in advance for your ideas and advice!

Obligatos might not work on every bass, or player. Arent they more for pizz players that arco 50/50?

been trying some basses with a "maestro" he was getting incledible lows and punchi sound with the arco on E A spirocore and D G flexcore. Making them powerful arco effects Orchestral DB players like so much. He said that same bass with obligados sounded very muddy...Although they sounded fine amplified.

u might need a higher tension string to make your bass sing

[T-34]

I've heard the first ameliorations in the sound 3 months after the purchase (Strunal 35/5 hybrid). This bass is 7 months now, the sound still gets bigger and bigger. I play mostly arco now, started arco lessons September 2007. Using the set mixed "backwards": G and D Thomastik Superflexibles (pretty high tension), A and E Obligato Orchestra (lower tension than Superflex). The Superflex A and E were too stiff, killing my left 4th finger and I didn't want to lower the strings, 9 mm under the E is already pretty low for me.

[Silversorcerer]

I played on a great sounding very responsive Christopher hybrid. It was the 7/8 5 string model. I don't know how long it had been in that shop when I played it, but it didn't seem brand new, maybe just a few years old. It had Helicore Orchestral strings on it.

[Eli_Upright12]

I have a hybrid strung with Obligatos (though theyre starting to die) and its over two years old, and even now it still is changing, it gains and loses wolftones. The tone has also begun to change as a result of the change in my playing style, because I am now playing closer to the bridge which equals more tone and volume production.