Obligato strings megathread - Page 2

Don Higdon · #21 07-22-2001, 03:01 PM

Alex:
Just double checking -
When you restring, make sure to rub soft pencil lead in the grooves of the bridge and the nut. This especially neccessary with the Obligato. Since it stretches so much, you're pulling an unusual amount of string over the bridge at full tension. Look closely at the bridge groove to be sure it's big enough that the string doesn't wedge into groove. It''s a delicate balance; the groove shouldn't be too wide, either.
I still use the Obligato on my jazz bass. But I'm hearing more reports of the lack of durability of the Obligato. I keep an old set in the Jeep at all times for emergencies.

Pirastro has a web site and e-mail address. You should tell them what happened. Most string makers have e-mail; all bassists should e-mail their experiences and opinions. It's the only way the makers will learn what's needed.

AlexFeldman · #22 07-23-2001, 02:59 PM

Thanks to both of you! Don, I did use a lot of graphite after reading your posts on the subject. I guess the slot on the bridge wasn't quite wide enough for the D string.

I'll get in touch with Pirastro - maybe I'll try mixing strings. I'm going for the 'old school' upright sound (Blanton, PC, Mingus)... I think I'll tell them that when I email them.

Don Higdon · #23 07-23-2001, 04:12 PM

If you go to gut, you will have to widen the nut and bridge grooves.

AlexFeldman · #24 07-24-2001, 12:30 PM

P.S.

I temporarily solved the buzzing D by using wall putty (the stuff that you stick up posters with) to push the winding back up away from the bridge where it had come undone. It mutes the string a bit, but the way I usually play no one is able to tell the difference. Still haven't heard from Pirastro, but I'll give em at least a week before I start hunting for another set of strings.

powermans · #25 12-29-2002, 05:13 AM

Just had to come on board guys and sing the praises of "Obligatos".
I,ve had my first set on just 3 weeks now and, at first was not that greatly impressed with them infact, nearly put the old Corelli's back on ...
however, on the advice from these pages I was told by all that.... you have to give these suckers time to bed in ! and YES you're right. I've just got home from a gig and got to say ....THEY SOUNDED GREAT TONIGHT.

Sustain , Tone , Ease of playing... It's all there!

Hail "Pirastro"

anonymous0726 · #26 12-29-2002, 11:31 AM

I found that they sounded pretty much the way they sound right out of the package, although they did stretch like crazy for a couple of days. Your hands probably just figured out how to give your ears what they want with these wires

Bijoux · #27 01-02-2003, 04:21 PM

Yeah, I agree with Ray, they sounded great on my bass right out of the package, I spent a whole day tuning and playing these strings very hard 'cause I had a gig,I prefer to let them settle in more naturally but theyr sound didn't change. I my opinion they are a very good overall string, but I still have a bass with the helicores Orchestral 'cause after bowing for a while the Obligatos still make me a little nervous.
BTW a week ago I recorded a demo with a pianist friend of mine and the Obligatos sound absolute beautiful on recording, on my bass and my set up they definetely have that old school gut vibe, but if you lower the action they can also sound like modern steel core strings.

LM Bass · #28 01-02-2003, 05:28 PM

I have 'em on now too, but the "C" string (long E) needs to go. It really wobbles under my fingers and just won't stop growling (I sometimes like that for jazz, but not all the time.)

powermans · #29 01-03-2003, 12:15 AM

L M Bass,

I reckon the C string must be as about as thick as your arm.... Going by the E string in Ob's.
When I put it along side the E string Corelli I removed ...The "E" Corelli look like the "D" String on the OB's. It took a little adjusting to the thickness of the suckers! And I still have a little bit of a Growl from MY "E" Obligato. It's almost like Fret Rattle on a Guitar.... Maybe I'm right on the border of a height problem with the neck???? I can live with it anyway....Anyway don't they sound nice!

LM Bass · #30 01-03-2003, 12:17 AM

Sorry I didn't make that very clear. . .
Long "E" or C-string, meaning I have a fingered C extension.

powermans · #31 01-03-2003, 12:39 AM

Sorry, LM ...my mistake .The penny has dropped!
Yes ,I still say the "E" Ob is a thick Sucker!

Cheers,
Mick

heymrbassman · #32 01-22-2003, 04:34 PM

I have been using spiro weich for a few years now and am thinking about changing to obligatos. I have heard good things about them but wonder what they are like in direct comparison.

My bass sounds bright and the g string sound rather thin. Other than that I am happy with the weich strings. I just like the idea of a little more gut sound while maintaining a jazz type growl

Are the obligatos the right choice?

What about mixing G & D obligato and E & A spiro?

Michael Case · #33 01-22-2003, 06:21 PM

What type of bass do you have? All basses react differently with different strings. I had Obligatos on my Strunal Hybrid and went over to Spiro weichs I felt the Obli's just didn't have the punch on my bass that the weichs have. That's just me and my bass though.

precision61 · #34 01-22-2003, 07:24 PM

Hi heymrbassman
I just did the mixed Pirastro (Obligato G, D with Jazzer E, A).
It seemed to be a nice set for Jazz. For about 2 weeks later, I realized that the set did not have a well balance. I took them off. (Now, I have innovation 140h on my bass.)

How about Obligato G, D, A and Spirocore weich E? Someone , may be DON, in this forum mentioned that Micheal Moore has used this mixed set too.

Hope this help

heymrbassman · #35 01-25-2003, 11:44 AM

I just tried a few different basses today that all had helicore strings (yellow & blue at the tailpeice and different colours at the head) they sounded really good / thicker / deeper compared to the one bass in the shop that had spiros on it.

there are so many choices and it all costs so much. I tried a set of 140h strings and disliked them the more I played on them. They seemed to start well and get more tension as time went on.

I am going to buy a string at a time to see what suits my bass possibly an obligato G as my weich G is a little thin sounding.

My bass is about 50 years old, carved and has a sticker in it that says menges. Slovenija.

moped10 · #36 05-30-2003, 07:37 AM

My fingers were protesting against my combination of long sets unamplified, high action, and superflexibles- The superflexibles sounded great, but at high action were causing my pizz finger joint problems- Taping my index and middle finger into one big joint (a fatty

) helped, but who wants to be tape dependent? I ordered a D and G Obligato at this formum's suggestion for a jazz combo audition where I knew the higher tension strings would do me in- Anyway, they finally came in only 2 HOURS before the audition! So I'm here to say, YES YOU CAN break in synthetic guts with only 1 1/2 hours to work with! How? Get them on there, and even if it's not your style, SLAP them until your forearm freezes, put some tiger balm on your arm, then continue to slap/tune up until you stop going flat- I had to tune up again once I got to the audition, but they held their pitch, were kind to my fingers, sounded fabulous, and got me some good $ gigs!

Thanks for the string recommendation!!

Mike Goodbar · #37 05-30-2003, 07:42 AM

Wow! Trial by fire. Congrats on getting the gig, but I hope i NEVER have to do what you described!

Now that everything is "broke-in," how do you like the Obli/Flexo combination? Pretty even-sounding? I've been thinking of going that route myself.

moped10 · #38 05-30-2003, 07:53 AM

They do sound good together- The superflexible E is perfect- I've tried lower tension E's and can't get good response- The A is a little thumpy, but fine- I'll probably put an Obligato on the A as well- (with shipping I'll end up spending more on 3 strings than a whole set

)- I'd recommend buying a full Obligato set and if you don't love the E, order a single superflexible- Of course every bass responds differently...

Mike Goodbar · #39 05-30-2003, 08:15 AM

Yeah, I'm playing a full Obligato set right now, and the E is pretty dang flabby. How do the Superflexibles do the the bow?

moped10 · #40 05-30-2003, 08:50 AM

Better than the supernils! Ha ha- You'll miss the obligatos for bowing- The superflexibles are OK but a wee bit scratchy- Although, the superflex E string is easier to grab and hold with the bow than their G and D- Then again, my bow technique isn't that great... If you already have Obligatos, why not just get a single E superflexible to see if it's what you're looking for? Do you like your Obligato A?