replacing Kolstein strings, need help!!

[arbelmeister]

i really need to get an entire new set and i would like to get some advise

i own a germen bass (~9000$) which is new (about 4 years old) i feel it has a bright loud and a bit metalic sound (not sure if its the strings or the bass). i play mainly classical music about 50% orch 50% solo

my impression from my kolstien strings was something like that:
bright sound and very clear pitch
G string too metalic
big string tension (but i had corelli before so... )
short sustien
horrible horrible pizz!!!

my first question is did anyone had a similer impression about these strings?

and the second -what strings should i get?

-what im looking for is a fat,resonate very loud sound
-strings should be somewhere in the middle in terms of brightness
- string tension should be medium - big
- pizz is less importend to me then then arco but i still dont want it to be anything like the kolstien...

would love to hear your opinion and im glad to join the forum

[GriffithLea]

If money is not a problem, try a set of Eudoxa's .

[sibass89]

In my mind, for classical playing, you can't beat the original flexocore strings by pirastro. Right now my set up is Helicore Orchestra E, Spirocore Stark A, and Original Flexocore D and G.

[Uncletoad]

The new Thomastic Belcanto should be considered in addition to the Pirastro Flexocor and Eudoxa. All are fantastic strings. I suggest reading through the string threads until you are crosseyed. Lots of experiences in there.

[Steve Swan]

If the tailwraps are pale purple, the strings are the brighter sounding jazz-orchestra combination strings marketed as "Heritage". If the tailwraps are yellowish, the more damped, darker sounding "Varicore" strings are the culprit. Both are reasonably light tension. If your bass tends toward a sturdier build, the light tension Heritage strings probably are going to sound harsh and thin under a bow. There are a lot of great choices, but Flexocores sound like they could be as good a place to start as any. Good luck and have fun with your search!

Steve Swan

[arbelmeister]

ok thx guys so i have few more questions

-dose orig flexcore works good for solo playing?? cause they suppose to have a very dark sound right?

-ive read the post about belcanto, they do sound like very good string but didn't you say they have smaller sound then the strings you had before??
the thing is i really need a big sound casue i play mainly with only 1 or 2 more basses in small orchestras and sometimes i requierd to produce a lot sound...

-can you plz explain what so good about Eudoxa? do they really worth the money?

-ok so the strings i have are the Heritage. dose anyone have a link to a tension chart that shows their tension so i cound have an idea about other strings?

[Francois Blais]

Arbelmeister: it'd be great that you fill out your profile: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/profil...do=editprofile
That way, other members can check your gear, experience, etc.
It helps us to help you!

Best regards,
François

[Jake]

Well, I've posted before saying that I don't like Kolstein Varicores, but it sounds like you've got the Heritage set which I've never tried. Original Flexocores work well for solo's and orchestra, IMHO. I am going back to Orig's after trying Pirastro Flatchromesteels and regular Flexocore Stark gauge. The next string experiment for me will be the orchestra gauge Pirastro Original FlatChrome set. I absolutely love the OFC solo set and have seen no other solos that can match them. I have heard that the E and A lack power. I would probably sub them out for a DAddario Helicore Orch Med E and an Original Flex A. IMO, the Orig Flex A cannot be beat for arco. Anyway, keep us posted on what you get and how they work.

[Francois Blais]

FWIW, the Original Flexocors and Original FlatChromes are about 99%* the same, and the OFC are selected with a closer tolerance range. They sound almost the same.

* The outer swap's steel tape width is a tad different between the two...

[arbelmeister]

ok i'll edit my profile as soon as i'll have some time...

can someone plz explain whats the diffrence between gut and steel strings soundwise?

dose anyone know anything about the oliv strings? they sound sound like what im looking for at least for the lower strings...

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by arbelmeister

ok i'll edit my profile as soon as i'll have some time..

Then we will give detailed answers to your specific questions when WE have time.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by francois

FWIW, the Original Flexocors and Original FlatChromes are about 99%* the same, and the OFC are selected with a closer tolerance range. They sound almost the same.

* The outer swap's steel tape width is a tad different between the two...

That was the belief by many including a person claiming to see them made with a slight difference in the dampening between the tow sets. I had tested a set of each and they sounded completly different using my Gilkes and Martini Basses to do the test. these are two 'super' sounding Basses especiall the Gilkes which is a Master Bass and changes so easily in tone by the slightest difference between strings. THEN, I measured the gauges only to find out they are COMPLETELY different gauges. SO, regardless of the rumors going around or hearing them on plywood or EUBs, they are two different but 'slightly' similar sets of strings. OrigFltChr's are sweeter and more complex sounding and OrigFlxCors are heavier orchestral sounding strings.

If not for the scratchy G on both sets, I would probably use either depending on the Bass or music. Then I settled on Flex Starks which was the only set with a smooth G for my ear.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by arbelmeister

ok i'll edit my profile as soon as i'll have some time...

can someone plz explain whats the diffrence between gut and steel strings soundwise?

dose anyone know anything about the oliv strings? they sound sound like what im looking for at least for the lower strings...

Gut tastes like Chicken and Steel tastes like Meat!

[arbelmeister]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Then we will give detailed answers to your specific questions when WE have time.

okok relax man i've edit it, though i must say i dont know much about my gear...

now can someone plz explain to me what are the upsides of gut strings like oliv or audoxa??

[GriffithLea]

Originally Posted by arbelmeister

now can someone plz explain to me what are the upsides of gut strings like oliv or audoxa??

I've used Eudoxas in the past, and probably will again (but see below). See, I've recently come off hiatus from double bass, and since I'm currently using a borrowed instrument while my Solano bass is being constructed I don't feel inclined to go out and spend the money on gut strings just yet.

Actually, once Rumano completes my bass, I will probably try Olivs - from what I read they're more suited for bow work than the Eudoxa strings, which seem to lean more toward non-orch pizz, and since arco and orch pizz is 99.9% of the playing I do...

The upside to guts is the sound. Very warm and rich. The downside is the price, longevity (i.e. the lack of it), and the sensitivity to temperature and humidity, though this is mitigated somewhat by the winding on wound gut strings like Eudoxas and Olivs.

[arbelmeister]

i see.... so i think i should go for the olivs too

do you think gut strings like olivs will bland good with non gut strings (on the same bass i mean) cause the oliv suppuse to have a dark sound and solo is very importend to me too, so i tought maby i should try something like
E,A olivs
D,G obligato

what do you think??

[KSB - Ken Smith]

I tried them on my Martini Bass and did one concert with them, La Boheme. The G and D bowed very smoothly and easily but the E and A required some added bow pressure. The Pizz on the G and D were fine, A was ok but on my deep sounding Italian Bass, I could feel the E but barely hear it. I was told the audience could hear it though. I have heard that the Eudoxa E and A are more clear sounding so they might be a choice as well depending on your budget for experimenting.

If I need flatwound over Gut strings again I would give that combo a shot. Olivs on top and Eudoxas on the bottom..

[GriffithLea]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

I tried them on my Martini Bass and did one concert with them, La Boheme.

Just to clarify, you had Olivs on EADG?

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

The G and D bowed very smoothly and easily but the E and A required some added bow pressure.

Added bow pressure was required for more volume, or to prevent a wolfy attack (or something else)?

Ah, choosing strings - it never ends.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by GriffithLea

Just to clarify, you had Olivs on EADG?


Added bow pressure was required for more volume, or to prevent a wolfy attack (or something else)?

Ah, choosing strings - it never ends.

Yes, I had a full set of Olivs. I needed some bow pressure to play the Bass period. This was in a Symphony Orchestra doing the entire Puccini Opera 'La Boheme' with full chorus and Operas singers acting including a screen with subtitles in english. I was playing and do play Principal Bass (1st bass) in the Orchestra so I need to lead the section. When you play alot of faster passages in the lower register, some strings require pressure and some don't. Having a good or great Bow also helps. I believe I used my heavier Eibert Bow that concert as I did not yet have the Bultitude (sold now) or Lipkins Bow.

I took the Olivs off shortly after the concert as I was only doing a test for Pirastro with them. They are not my personal string of choice. I did love the full fat sound they had but I prefer the easier bowing Flexocor strings in the stark gauge or regular gauge. Some times I use the regular gauge with the stark E.

[arbelmeister]

I took the Olivs off shortly after the concert as I was only doing a test for Pirastro with them. They are not my personal string of choice. I did love the full fat sound they had but I prefer the easier bowing Flexocor strings in the stark gauge or regular gauge. Some times I use the regular gauge with the stark E.

in the tension chart i noticed the olivs has a realativly low tension, is that mean that strings with lower tension require more bow pressure?? or is it just the olivs?

you say these strings require lots of pressure, is it harder to play fast spicatto parts cause the string wont be activated quickly enough??

i just try to understend what things i may have to overcome casue the gut full fat sound you've mention really dose sound awsome