Max volume, Max Thump and "some" Growl

[guillermo]

All;
I presently have 2 Ply basses:

-A) Strunal (ebony fb et al.) properly setup by a luthier using
some (2+ year old) Thomasitik Superfelxibles Mediums, strng action is "not too low" as I like volume and thump to be the biggest posible (no adjusters on this bass)

- B) Samuel Shen ebony fb also, strung with Spirpchores weich (light), lower string action (although adjustable via bridge adjusters) with an adjuster integrated pickup.

I like both sounds , I like the growl and sustain of the spiros, but I'm now convinced that I prefer a louder and thumpier bass, so here goes my question:

What would be the ideal set of strings I should be using on my main Bass ( bass A above the Strunal) considering that my prefrerences are:
1)- Maximum volume
2)- Maximum Thump
3)- "Some" Growl (not an issue if I get less growl then a Spiro, but would like a bit more than the Superflex)
4)- "Some" Sustain (I do not want it to be as long as when
using Spiros, but I want a bit more than a Superflex)

I know there's a lot other (than the string) factors that come into play when sound is ultimately produced by the instrument but please give me some string advise...

I've been assuming that the harder (medium and forte) a string is, the more volume and thump it produces, and the ligther a string is more growl and longer sustain is achivied ?

Please advise about; string types, gauges, brands, string action that I could use to best achieve my desired sound.

Thanks
Guillermo

[AndreasH]

Sounds to me like you should try a set of Velvet Animas. There's a bunch of threads about them here.

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by AndreasH

Sounds to me like you should try a set of Velvet Animas. There's a bunch of threads about them here.

+1... almost a perfect description of the Anima sound, in my experience.

They're not "hard" at all...... they're quite low tension.

[Steve Killingsworth]

When I saw the thread title I immediately thought Animas. Looks like I was not alone.

[Carl Johnson]

I’m a big animas fan, my favorite pizz string. But I find them hard to bow, Spirocore Orchestral’s are loud, growly strings with great sustain, and better for arco then animas, although not as easy to bow as the weichs.

[guillermo]

All
Thanks for the prompt replies, since I want to try something new and the Animas seem to be the best fit to my needs I will try them. BTW I had Spiro orchestrals on a previous bass some time ago and they were loud and close to what I want, in fact one of the reasons I posted here is that I was almost sure to buy orchestra Spiros, but then asked myself, is there something else I could use?

Coming back to the Animas, aside from Lemur Music in CA, do you guys know where I could get them, I'm in Quebec, Canada, is there anything closer to where I am even it is an online store, the thing is that I do not want to wait weeks for the strings to arrive

Thanks again
Guillermo

[Francois Blais]

http://www.violins.ca/strings/bass_strings_velvet.html

[davpal]

Try http://lnrmusic.net/velvet.html I got some Velvet Blues from them - quick response, great price and they are in NH which is pretty close to Quebec.

[Bobby King]

That's funny because I also have a Strunal and a Shen. I use assorted Velvets on the Strunal and they sound great on it. I think you'll like Animas. The Shen currently has Helicore Orchestras for bowing practice but it also sounded very good with Spirocore Weichs