Going Grenadier...anyone using Spiros and Animas in combo?

[Jason Sypher]

Everyone knows Larry uses steels and a anima G. Anyone else have any success with this combo?

[svenbass]

Hey Jason,

My teacher used Spiros + Gut LaBella G for at least 10years. I gave him my Anima G and he loved that combo until the G broke after a couple of years and he went back to the LaBella.

I played a lot on that bass, but personally didn't jive with it mainly from a feel standpoint. The Anima was certainly more appealing to me than a Spiro G, both in terms of sound and feel. On that bass it worked very well in terms of a complimentary sound. I wouldn't say the sound was balanced.

Just to clarify my inherent bias...

1. I dislike Spirocores on my bass .. it is far too bright for those strings. I've also stayed away from steels for the past 7 or 8 years.

2. I used mixed sets for a while and could always make 2+2 work. Having one one oddball always messed with my head. I did the Golden Spiral D & G with many varieties of E & A including Spiros. I loved that config, but got serious about the bow and the Golden's had to go.

It's only one opinion, but hope this helps!

[Jason Sypher]

So you eventually settled on Spiro E and A and Anima D and G?

[JayB]

Jason- One thing to keep in mind is that the Anima G has some nylon wrap on it. I'm not sure how the arco would be next to a spiro D...

[svenbass]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

So you eventually settled on Spiro E and A and Anima D and G?

I did that for a few months, but still struggled with the bow on the Animas. 'Twas a nice setup otherwise.

Evah's came along and I haven't looked back. I also made a conscious decision to stop messing with strings, amps, and pickups.

[Jason Sypher]

Oh really? I just purchased an E and an A that were copper wound and bowed very well. The D and G are different you say?

[svenbass]

It's been a while, but if I'm not mistaken, the E & A have the same wrap while the D and G having their own unique wraps. They were all copper based, but the textures were not the same.

I'll bet Francois could be much more specific.

[JayB]

The G has a different wrap from the lower three (copper wrapping), and includes some nylon coating on top of the copper. Its not a weedwacker or anything like that, but its not a strictly metal wrap either.

[Jeremy Allen]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

Everyone knows Larry uses steels and a anima G.

I don't know that!
Actually, all I mean is that he's used different combinations at different times. Like the Helicore + Garbo G thing, the all-spiro thing (early on--my favorite tone of his, actually), and evidently spiros and Animas now.

I've gotta say that I am not a huge fan of Velvet strings mixed and matched in this kind of way (like, three steels and one Velvet). There is something breathtaking in the way a full set of Velvets open up your bass, and when I used Animas I did not miss any quality of spirocores (sustain, clarity, etc.) save for the smoothness of the wrap.

So, how about a full set of Animas? Or, if you want to swap out the G on a Spiro set, put an Oliv in there! (Someone should sell this as the Ultimate String Set.) Actually, since my last Oliv G died I've got an Evah Pirazzi on the G, and it's cool too.

I take it you're finding the right set of strings for your new bass? It's amazing how different basses behave with the same set of strings. I had a bass on which Spiro mittels were dark, huge, easy to bow, and fooled at least one bassist into thinking they might be gut. And now I'm back on a bass on which the same strings are thin, tight, and pointless.

[Jason Sypher]

I missed the Spiros on the E and A when I tried the Anima's with the guts so I don't get the feeling that a whole set would really rock my world. My bass is plenty open, if anything, it needs to darken and mellow. I'm very accustomed to the Spiros on the low strings. I'm back to all Spiros on this bass. The guts sounded unbelievably great and were so damn easy to pizz but I felt a significant loss of, not power exactly, but balls, if that makes any sense. I like to dig in, I like to play hard sometimes. I couldn't get used to backing off so much with the guts. In order for me to be a real gut player I'd have those strings jacked and that would be awful for bowing etc. I dig the Spiros in the mix, they just kick ass on my bass. I just don't care for them so much in the practice room or in the cans when I'm recording....just too much metal for me. But, they are new Spiros and they will mellow and I'll adjust my playing. I have to remember that I was playing a very fine old instrument and now I'm playing a nice, newer instrument. They're just different. I think I'll be cool after a few months.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I used Animas with an Olive G and liked that too. The Anima G is probably my least favorite in the set because the wrap feels rough.
If you're committed to steel, I would go with the Olive. That is a beautiful combination.
It is true that you have to find the strings that work best on a particular bass. These string threads can get ridiculous with people looking for the 'best' when it's impossible to know until they go on the bass and stay there for a few days.

[Scott McC]

Animas aren't super fun to bow, but you seem pretty handy with with the bow, probably won't slow you down none. It's an awesome combo to my ears. I always like a total anima set, but the combo is good. Doug Weiss uses the same thing, steels and an Anima G. On Peter Bernstein's "Monk" record you can really here it shine. On "Lets Cool One" he takes the most perfect solo and you can appreciate that combo of strings.

[aaronallen]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

Everyone knows Larry uses steels and a anima G.

I dont think hes using the anima G anymore based on a recent recording, its a full set of helicore hybrids or maybe the new zyex strings. I prefer his old sound personally, that anima G was an important part of the Larry vibe. Maybe he got tired of people copying him...?