Obligatos a hybrid solution?

[yordison]

Originally Posted by bdengler

Sorry to beat this to the ground, but I have a dilemma. I've had Spirocores (Weich) on my bass that I use to play in church. Wonderful sustain, great for pizz. But when I bow (about 30 to 40% of the mass) yikes! Very strident in the D and G and I really have trouble making the D string speak properly with the bow. Obviously, I'd like some strings that are less strident than Spriocores but still have some of the sustain in a jazz string. I'm wonder if Obligatos would be the solution? Or Corelli's? I've tried Obligatos for arco...I didn't like them as much as Helicores but I could use them if I had to. Thanks!

Hello!
I´ve been using spiros orchestra for 3 years more or less and This afternoon I´ve just put a set of Obligatos and I´m so impressed by the way they bow... so much better than spiros. I was also looking for more "organic" or warm sound. I think they have it but maybe is too early to say it. I will tell you how it goes...

[drurb]

Originally Posted by yordison

Hello!
I´ve been using spiros orchestra for 3 years more or less and This afternoon I´ve just put a set of Obligatos and I´m so impressed by the way they bow... so much better than spiros. I was also looking for more "organic" or warm sound. I think they have it but maybe is too early to say it. I will tell you how it goes...

I also went from Spiros to Oblis and really liked them. Then I switched to the Dominants. To my hands and ear and on my bass they blew the Oblis away. They have a bolder pizz sound with fine growl and the arco is much better than the Oblis.

[DaveAceofBass]

Originally Posted by ;84891

And which type/gauge would be closest in character to the Obligatos, just for comparison? Or are these very far apart?

Here's the rundown:

The Corellis are very different from Obligatos. If you like one, you probably won't love the other. The Obligatos are more warm and robust, but they have a bit of a rubbery-band feel. The Corellis are brighter overall, but much easier to pull a sweet tone from the bow (if you're using proper technique). They are definitely thinner and are easier to play, but they don't have a super loud sound for jazz, but they still work well for jazz. The 380s are more like Thomastiks, they are thicker and made of nickel. The 370s are thin tungsten steel, and they are very flexible without feeling "rubber bandy". The guage of the 380 strings will be more similar to the Obligatos while the 370s will be significantly thinner. The 370s are the definitive Corelli string. The tension is lower than the Obligatos, but with a more focused sound.

If you are looking for more of a gut-type sound, the Kolstein Heritage are similar to the Obligatos, but IMO much better. They will not "roll" in your fingers like the Obligatos. They have a great jazz and bowing tone. Superflexibles are a good string too, much heavier than these others I've mentioned, but not too tight. These work great for jazz and crossover playing. They are pretty good with the bow, but not as good as the Corellis or the Kolstein strings.

I hope that helps.

[rdwhit]

flatchrome steel

[klocwerk]

Originally Posted by ;93600

When I put them on my turn of the century factory French bass I had the feeling to hear the wood of my instrument for the first time, especially when bowed, but the pizz tone was also nice and warm. I am wondering if the same happens with plywood instruments. Any Kay, Englehardt, Musima etc has tried Obligato ? Is it important to have good body resonnance for this string to function ?

I just put them on my Kay, they sound fantastic. I've heard the same from other Kay players.
I don't play much Bowed, but they work perfectly well with my cheapo fiberglass bow.

(Used to play orchestral, but got rid of my nice bow years ago. heh.)