Helicores to Belcantos

CT DB · #1 11-03-2010, 09:08 AM

Hey, I am upgrading my strings and thinking of going to Bel Cantos for better tone and orchestral volume. Are these the right strings for this? Any playability issues with this switch?
Thanks!

MIKMAN · #2 11-03-2010, 10:48 AM

Compared to Helicores the Belcantos are less stiff, with a faster and better arco response and with a E string which starts singing easily. Thomastic also has a much better quality control. They are strings which make the vast majority of double basses to perform in the best possible way under the bow. Strongly recommended.
Mike

MaxJohnson · #3 11-03-2010, 11:59 AM

Belcantos are much better than the Heliocores in almost every conceivable way... except price.

Rick Auvil · #4 11-03-2010, 12:17 PM

I have Helicore Orchestras on a four-string hybrid, and Belcantos on a carved five-string. Obviously, I can't compare the sound, but the feel and "bowability" are much different. The bow seems to grab the Belcantos better - better response in all registers. The Belcantos also seem to be a bit easier on the fingers. Helicores seem to have more sustain when playing pizzicato (if you like that). I'm considering putting my spare set of Belcantos on four-string. Thumbs up on the Belcantos.

tornadobass · #5 11-04-2010, 04:13 AM

I'm in the minority on this. I'd used Helicore hybrids on my big carved Romanian bass for several months and then tried Belcantos. The Belcantos were easier to bow, but took the life, volume and character out of my bass. The Helicores went back on after a few weeks. Maybe it's that the bass is already plenty dark, with more thump than sustain?

MIKMAN · #6 11-04-2010, 04:22 AM

Well. all the opinions have a relative value since the response depends on each particular bass. Generally speaking the Belcantos seem to be the default arco string.

**Francois Blais** · #7 11-04-2010, 07:00 AM

How about Flexocors?

trevastation · #8 11-04-2010, 07:30 AM

ive been through 'em all. had spirocores on my carved eastman for a while, but i love playing arco, even though most (90%) of my jobs are pizz. The spiros gave me too scratchy a tone even after a while. The bass has darkened considerably since then, but helicores still speak so muc more beautifully on it for pizz AND arco; and it's LOUD. all that being said, it is the best sound i've found on MY bass. I've still got the mittel E spiro on it due to its depth and definition.

by mistake and my lack of looking up the color charts and inheriting half a set of helicores from a buddy, i put a medium D helicore on it at G. the tension is a liiiittle funny and didnt think anything of it at first except it was a little thick (thought it was a heavy). boy does it sing and sound so full! got a medium D on both the G and D now, thinking of hittin up a heavy G that has 0.5lb less tension than a medium D...D'addario tension chart. hoping it feels a little smaller than the D on there now. anyone have any experience mixing gauges of strings like that? (ie two Ds of differing tensions?)

oh, yes helicores sound great for doubling, and cheap! pretty important these days and seems like theyre a great starting point to get a feel for which direction you want to take your string quest.

PS ive got an evah E and A that i didnt like that were on my bass for barely a week. anyone interested in a trade or $$?

CT DB · #9 11-30-2010, 01:47 PM

Just a follow up to my thread, I got the Bel Cantos, and they sounded nice right out of the box, but with a few weeks of playing on them, they keep sounding better and better. I guess everyone knew this already, but there is no comparison in my mind between the BCs and the helicores on the lower strings, the E and A are so strong on the fundamental, I can feel it in my bow hand. I am so happy I switched strings, totally worth the price!

sjd007 · #10 12-01-2010, 06:38 PM

I just love my Belcanto's

They are so soft, and strokable. Mmmmmm.

fergus currie · #11 12-09-2010, 09:43 AM

When I get my paycheck I'm switching to Belcantos too. I played a colleague's bass with these on and fell in love.... that's after 3 decades of Tomastik spiros

lucas vigor · #12 12-09-2010, 01:36 PM

I made the switch from spiros to belcantos, and aside from the fact that the bel cantos are not as good for pizz, they more then make up for it on arco! Louder, deeper, fuller, grabs the bow better...same as everyone else has experienced!

bassa · #13 12-18-2010, 08:27 PM

My last set of Helis orchestral were horrible! Total twang on the E string. Put Bel Cantos on my 1867 August Gemünder and couldn't be happier. Prior to the Helis I had used Flexocor. The Bel Cantos need no breaking in, play easily, and have a warm sound. They are acutely true to pitch, so I notice intonation errors more readily. They've made a better player of me. I've had them for about 6 months. Since they're prcey, I'm wondering how long they will last. I'm retired from playing, and put in 15-30 minutes a day on my beloved instrument. Think I can keep them for more than a year, anyone>