Different strings on Eminence EUB's

[ric426]

I'm thinking of trying different strings on my Eminence EUB and would like to hear about other's experiences with different strings.
I'm hoping for better arco response with less scratchiness, and a more open pizz sound without getting too metallic sounding. I also wouldn't mind going to a slightly higher gauge/tension string if needed. I don't really want any less tension than the stock Helicore Hybrid lights (Orch. light on the G).

Thanks,
Ric

[Mike Carr]

I just put a brand new set of Obligatos on my Eminence this evening. I've never tried them before, always played Spirocores before on my basses, and lately Heliocore hybrids so I've been very interested in something a little different sounding, so here is my two cents worth. The tension of the Obligatos feels very similar to the Heliocores that come installed with the bass.
The strings need to settle in but my first impression is good. They are darker sounding the the Helicores, I like what they do to the low end very much. Not metalic sounding to me. The bowed sound is great, and very easy to start a note, the bow just sits on the string thruout the stroke, like riding on a rail compared to the old strings!
Looking forward to hearing them after they settle, they stretch a lot at first, manufacture claims they will become stable in two days time.

[olivier]

Boy, am I glad to read what Mike says. I always thought that Helicore Hybrid were not hybrid at all, given their low arco performance. When I tried an Eminence at Musicora two years ago, I told the guy I was very surprised by their choice of string and that Obigato would bring more fondamental out of the dulcimer shapped body. I guess that's what you're experiencing now. Enjoy.

[Monte]

Mark Rubin at Violins Etc. strings his with Velvet Garbos. The one I played through an Acoustic Image Clarus and a 12" Bag End was so nice that if blindfolded I probably would have been hard pressed to tell the difference between that and any other laminated realbass amplified.

Monte

[Mike Carr]

I took my Eminence with two day old Obligatos to a big band rehearsal which included a very well known and respected piano player/ arranger, don't like to name drop, but many of you out there have probably played some of his charts. He made some nice comments regarding the sound I was getting, that was nice, since the he's worked with every good player in town since the 50's.
However, thruout the entire rehearsal I found myself feeling uncomfortable with the strings, they just were not "feeling right" under my fingers, mostly on my left hand, they kind of felt like they rolled around under the fingers, they also felt much stiffer as I played in the middle positions of the bass, I have not experianced this before with this instument, my action is set on the low side, the bass is brand new and the neck and fingerboard are perfect, the tensions going up and down the range of the bass have allways felt fine when using steel strings so dealing with this was a real drag.
So they are now off the bass, put a set of not very old, but broken in Spirocore Orchestra Gauge strings on and left for a quintet gig this evening, and had a ball playing, the bass sounded and felt great, I've played Spirocores more than any other brand, they were the first strings I ever used and I guess that's just what I'm most used to. Even took an arco solo and found it "not too awful sounding" and much to my surprise, the crowd in attendance was delighted, got a big round of applause after that solo! I might try the Obligatos out again later, maybe on one of my other basses, or you might just see them show up in the "for sale" section. A lot of you guys seem to like them awful lot, I can't fault their sound, big fat sound, they sure do bow nice, but I just can't get past the way they feel.
A fellow I know here in town has an Eminence stung up with Garbos and I'm hoping to get a chance to try his bass soon, meanwhile, I'd like to hear from anyone else that uses Garbos, tell me how they are working out for you.

[ric426]

Just bought a set of Corelli 370F's for my Eminence, from Bob Gollihur. Based on his recommendations, I chose 'em over the Obligatos because I wanted to get close to the sound and feel of the Spirocore Weichs on my upright, and the Corellis do that pretty well. They don't feel quite as smooth, but I don't notice while playing. I'd tried a used set of Spiros that my teacher lent me, but they didn't do it for me on the Eminence.
I tried the 370's on my upright before I put 'em on the Eminence, but they seemed to sound a little thin compared to the Spirocores, especially the E string. Not so on the Eminence though. They're nicely balanced and make the bass sound more alive and responsive than the stock Helicore Hybrids. They seem do bow a little better too, but my arco technique is still pretty bad, so I don't know if I can blame or credit the strings for any changes.

Ric

[pierre]

I'm in search for strings too.
The helicore orchestral wich was on my eminence when sold sounded very boxy and nasal even after a month of playing. So I took Corelli's 370F and the result was much more dark and woodier. Now I install a very old set of spiro orch and the result was a bigger sound even acoustically (that's for me very interesting because a use the eminence more often without amplification during holiday) but a little hard on left hand (and i can make the setup more low witout having noise on the fingerboard)
someone have tried the jargar strings on this bass ?

[bribass]

Originally Posted by ric426

Just bought a set of Corelli 370F's for my Eminence, from Bob Gollihur. Based on his recommendations, I chose 'em over the Obligatos because I wanted to get close to the sound and feel of the Spirocore Weichs on my upright, and the Corellis do that pretty well. They don't feel quite as smooth, but I don't notice while playing. I'd tried a used set of Spiros that my teacher lent me, but they didn't do it for me on the Eminence.
I tried the 370's on my upright before I put 'em on the Eminence, but they seemed to sound a little thin compared to the Spirocores, especially the E string. Not so on the Eminence though. They're nicely balanced and make the bass sound more alive and responsive than the stock Helicore Hybrids. They seem do bow a little better too, but my arco technique is still pretty bad, so I don't know if I can blame or credit the strings for any changes.

Ric

I bought a set of Corelli meds for my DB. Didn't like them on that,but they worked great on the Eminence, except the G was a bit too whiny and pingy. The E string finally dissintegrated after like 3 years. So now I've been experimenting. Perhaps the 370's would work. I always thought the lower tension of the Coreli's worked on that bass. Right now I have Spiro Weichs w/ a Bel Canto G. Not bad, but I think the Corelli's were less stiff feeling and bowed a bit better.

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by pierre

I'm in search for strings too.
The helicore orchestral wich was on my eminence when sold sounded very boxy and nasal even after a month of playing. So I took Corelli's 370F and the result was much more dark and woodier. Now I install a very old set of spiro orch and the result was a bigger sound even acoustically (that's for me very interesting because a use the eminence more often without amplification during holiday) but a little hard on left hand (and i can make the setup more low witout having noise on the fingerboard)
someone have tried the jargar strings on this bass ?

Hi Pierre.
I have no direct experience with the Eminence, but what kind of tone are you looking for?
The Jargars will sound quite dark, and don't expect sustain with pizz.

Regards,
François