Obligato strings megathread - Page 5

shwashwa · #81 02-05-2004, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAS

The G string is as thick as the regular set of obligatos' G string. That is...thicker than spirocore's weich G and reg. spiro's G too. It really isn't too thick though, it feels very nice. The thing that I have not liked about other solo strings even tuned down is that the G string sounds, feels, and is too thin. The solo obligatos' G is not like this at all.

i see you've already tried the solo obligatos tuned down. what did you think of the arco? how about the pizz?

precision61 · #82 02-06-2004, 02:31 AM

I used to mix Jazzer E,A with Obligatos D,G on my old 7/8 Hofner plywood bass.
That would be fine for Pizz but I did not like for Arco.

I'd rather come back to Original Flatchorm A, D, G and 92 Flexocore (Thick) E.---Good recommandation from Francois
That is sound good to my ear, IMO.

Pongsak
Bangkok, Thailand

olivier · #83 02-06-2004, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by precision61

snip... Original Flatchorm A, D, G and 92 Flexocore (Thick) E.---Good recommandation from Francois...snip

Prez61, could you please elaborate a bit on this string combination: pizz, arco, and comparison to Obli's ?

Thanks, have a good day.

Chasarms · #84 02-06-2004, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olivier

Prez61, could you please elaborate a bit on this string combination: pizz, arco, and comparison to Obli's ?

Thanks, have a good day.

This is the exact combination that my teacher uses. He is a symphony player, so obviously, most of the work he does is arco.

His bass is a ancient Italian that sounds amazing, but it is on the small side for a 3/4 bass.

This bass with these strings is LOUD!!!!!! Like flap your pants loud. It is also very brilliant without being piercing. Tons of color in the tone. The higher notes are so sweet you can almost get a tooth ache.

This all comes at no expense to the fundamental. It is very strong as well. The bottom is not super fat, but I expect this is due to the size of the bass's body. It is very nearly a 5/8 bass.

I personally really like the way the bass sounds pizzicato. Again, it is brilliant without being abrasive. He seems to have no problems at all walking jazz lines on it.

I don't know how much of this is the bass and how much is the strings, (nor how much is the player. He's an outstanding player) but the overall combination is about as sweet as I have heard.

Compared the Obligato, it is much more brilliant.

As much as I like it, I am hesitant to try this combination on my bass. It being a newer hybrid, it is certainly MUCH stiffer than his 100-year-old plus bass. I don't think I would get the bottom end that he gets and it would end up being too top heavy. His brilliant would be my bright.

I think I have just about settled on sticking with the Obligatos for at least six months to see where they stand when the bass and strings are played in a bit.

As of now, I am in love with the G, the D sounds very good, the A is acceptable and the E blows chunks.

I don't know if that will change at all. We'll see.

I also need to get a better bow. That may help more than anything.

Charles

MerryPrankster · #85 02-07-2004, 02:23 PM

Jargars would be nice , but the Corellis are a very pure cello-like sound...Go with either the 370F or the 380 series....

MerryPrankster · #86 02-07-2004, 02:42 PM

I also meant to say 1) the jargars are very gut-like in sound.
2)the corelli 370's are tungsten and that
allows them to be extremely thin and flexible.

MerryPrankster · #87 02-07-2004, 02:43 PM

and by the way , I tried an old set of obligatos ,after 2 years of use on a jazz-setup bass! I can only imagine the results from a new set!

MerryPrankster · #88 02-08-2004, 10:20 AM

I think the reason they work so well with your teachers bass , is because of his smaller bass. They work well with shorter scale lengths.

Chasarms · #89 02-08-2004, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MerryPrankster

I think the reason they work so well with your teachers bass , is because of his smaller bass. They work well with shorter scale lengths.

The string length on his is the same as my Shen, around 41.5" or so.

The body is much smaller.

MerryPrankster · #90 02-08-2004, 04:56 PM

Ohhh......shoots down my theory.....

JazznFunk · #91 02-23-2004, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

This bass with these strings is LOUD!!!!!! Like flap your pants loud.
Charles

wish my bass were THAT loud... usually the only time my pants flap on a gig is following the pre-gig dinner.

MerryPrankster · #92 02-25-2004, 03:24 PM

I have been doing two different local school shows...
tried to do guys and dolls with obligatos....didnt quite work.
Then , as a present my bass teacher gave me a set of varicors to try. When i first had them on they were horrible. The next night it blew my mind. They were the most amazing string i have ever heard. And i was starting to loose faith in the hybrid string idea.

(so i went with Ob. E+A , and Varicor G+D)

kwd · #93 03-11-2004, 10:25 AM

I finally got on the Obligato bandwagon. I'm not the least bit disappointed with these strings and there is a lot of hype to live up to. I've had my Christopher for 16 months and this is the first time I've heard what the instrument can do.

Tim Ludlam · #94 03-11-2004, 01:34 PM

You know, one's choice of strings is certainly a very personal thing. I tried the Obligatos a couple of years ago and loved them at first. After a very short time I thought the E and A became very dead when bowed. I also hated the way they "twisted" under my finger tips. Anybody else experience that? It was very annoying.

Anyway, I thought I would add a slight dissent to go along with all the kudos.

Chasarms · #95 03-11-2004, 02:02 PM

Unless the the character of my bass changes a great deal over the next few years, I can't imagine using Obligatos again.

I too liked them at first, but they were also on new bass with which I was quite enamored. Once I really started finding a sound on my bass, a new hybrid, I found them fairly thin and nasal in character when bowed. Pizz, they sound very, very good. All the midtone color of the spirocore with less abrasiveness.

Mike Goodbar · #96 03-11-2004, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ludlam

I also hated the way they "twisted" under my finger tips. Anybody else experience that? It was very annoying.

Yeah, that's one of my main gripes with Oblis. They're the only strings I've had on my 2-year-old bass, and I think its time to move on.

I'm leaning toward Kolstein Varicor Excels and I'll probably end up with those unless I hear a compelling argument to the contrary.

Monte · #97 03-11-2004, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ludlam

You know, one's choice of strings is certainly a very personal thing. I tried the Obligatos a couple of years ago and loved them at first. After a very short time I thought the E and A became very dead when bowed. I also hated the way they "twisted" under my finger tips. Anybody else experience that? It was very annoying.

Anyway, I thought I would add a slight dissent to go along with all the kudos.

Yep, I did. Shortest lasting strings I've ever used, quite a statement considering I'm a gut fan. Windings were fragile and they got really hard to start with the bow and harmonics were bad after a few months.

You're not alone. They aren't cheap if you need to buy 2-3 sets a year.

simandlhandle · #98 03-17-2004, 08:30 AM

I've been using Pirastro "Pizzicato" since the beginning of January on my little Dolling bass,which has a very high tension, and is the main bass I use. I play jazz and commercial(musicals etc) not straight classical at all, and have been working with mainly singers in trios and quartets recently. These gut strings sound fantastic, feel fantastic, bow well , but are really hard to keep in tune(I haven't much used gut before this) . I've been having to retune after every number, which pisses the singers off, but they are more pissed off if I am out of tune.Sometimes the strings go down in pitch sometines they go up, and one string will do one thing while anothere string does the other,all in the space of one number. I thought they would stretch out in a coulple of weeks but they haven't .
Anyway, I just had enough, and put a set of obligatos on. They sound really good, feel great , pizz is good ,bow is good, tension is lower than Spiros, AND THEY ARE IN TUNE.
Maybe I'll post on this again in a couple of months, to see how they last.

olivier · #99 03-17-2004, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simandlhandle

snip...Anyway, I just had enough, and put a set of obligatos on. They sound really good, feel great , pizz is good ,bow is good, tension is lower than Spiros, AND THEY ARE IN TUNE....snip.

That's exactly why I'm back with Obli's after trying an Oliv/Eudoxa mixed set: wonderful tone, never in tune.

**Francois Blais** · #**100** 03-17-2004, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Goodbar

Yeah, that's one of my main gripes with Oblis. They're the only strings I've had on my 2-year-old bass, and I think its time to move on.

I'm leaning toward Kolstein Varicor Excels and I'll probably end up with those unless I hear a compelling argument to the contrary.

I was just told by Barrie Kolstein that his new "Heritage" perlon core strings will be released very soon.
More info soon...