Looking for a Cannon

[tskaggs]

Ok, at the risk of covering old ground for the umpteenth time, I have to ask this question. Drum me off the board if necessary.

I've been playing Piastro Obligotos for about two years on my Englehardt EM1. I just purchased a Knilling Bucharest (Romanian) solid top that came with the evil Super Sensitive red label strings. I immediately put some Spirocore Weichs on the bass and was disappointed in the tone. I put the Oblis on the bass and was pleased with the "boom", but three of the four strings broke the winding at the bridge contact point. I'm back to the Spiros, but I lost mucho volume and "fullness" compared to the Oblis. I don't want to spend $$ for the Obligotos if I continue to break windings, so I'm on the hunt for something more durable with a similar full tone and boom.

Please suggest a filler for the blank below.

Knilling Bucharest solid top
Spiro Weichs - weak / thin
Piastro Obligatos - full, some additional volume over Spiros, but no durability

____________ = Cannon tone

[jlilley]

I really like the way Animas sound on my bass. They are loud and the low tension feels great.
John

[jfv]

Originally Posted by tskaggs

Please suggest a filler for the blank below.

Knilling Bucharest solid top
Spiro Weichs - weak / thin
Piastro Obligatos - full, some additional volume over Spiros, but no durability

____________ = Cannon tone

Hmmm, I bet a couple sticks of dynamite would
give ya a nice big BOOM if thats your tonal
concept....

[hdiddy]

higher string heights. Go as high as you can handle with the weichs.

[mje]

From my experience, and what I've heard, the Obligatos only have a breakage problem if you remove them from the bass. I suspect it's becasue the core stretches a bit.

You might find that Mittel gauge Spiracores give you what you want, or perhaps the Superflexibles.

[TimoMetzemakers]

I'd recommend Garbos or Animas, depending on your arco needs. Loudest strings I ever heard.

[Marcus Johnson]

Same here. Velvet strings = cannon. IME.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by tskaggs

... I put the Oblis on the bass and was pleased with the "boom", but three of the four strings broke the winding at the bridge contact point.

Assuming that you didn't remove and replace the Oblis and that they were new, I think this is very odd. I never had any breakage problems with my Oblis. I wonder if what you need to do is modify the notches at the bridge. Did you lubricate the notches before the install? I strongly suspect that something is amiss with the setup if three out of four broke!

After years with the Oblis, I switched to the Dominants last Saturday because I, too, wanted more "punch." Although the strings are still settling in, it seems I got it!

If any strings are prone to breakage, however, it seems to be the Doms. I wouldn't suggest using them unless you have a professional evaluate their interaction with your bridge and nut notches.

[tskaggs]

Assuming that you didn't remove and replace the Oblis and that they were new, I think this is very odd. I never had any breakage problems with my Oblis. I wonder if what you need to do is modify the notches at the bridge. Did you lubricate the notches before the install? I strongly suspect that something is amiss with the setup if three out of four broke!

It seems my problem with the Oblis was partly because they had been on my old bass for a while and partly due to the steep neck angle on my new bass. I did lubricate the heck out of the bridge slots. The strings didn't break, but the windings did and became loose on the business side of the bridge.

Hmmm, I bet a couple sticks of dynamite would
give ya a nice big BOOM if thats your tonal
concept....

I tried that with my old bass, but only once; sounded great for about 1/3 of a second...

higher string heights. Go as high as you can handle with the weichs.

I can throw a frisbee under the strings on my bass now!

Thanks to everyone for input; I think it's time I tried some Animas. Some time ago I saw a post that said "You are not a bass player until you have about $1k worth of strings in a drawer" I'm getting closer....

[jfv]

Originally Posted by tskaggs

I can throw a frisbee under the strings on my bass now!

Yes, but can your dog run thru after it?