Thomastik "Belcanto" Strings megathread - Page 11

Uncletoad · #**201** 11-07-2006, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I may end up back with dead spiros before you know it too.
...When I'm done with mine I'll start loaning them.

Ok. I gave up. To much work. I may come back to them.

Especially the G and D. It's winter and all my gigs are inside again. I'm going to spend some time with Guts.

Maaaven · #**202** 11-09-2006, 03:23 PM

It is not clear if there is anything more to say about these,
but here goes, talk is cheap.

I snagged the set off bassgear.com for a paltry $135, and the
seller was very good, they are almost like new. They are on
a early 20th centry carved german bass that was a student
axe of a top LA classical player. Very light, loud bass.

I had some very light Corelli 360M strings on it periously.
This extreme choice was to give my left hand a break.
I wondered what 63# tension of oranges would feel like.
The oranges feel much more compliant than spirocore mittels.
Compliant is what most people are calling "loose feeling".
That looseness almost gives them a feel in the left hand
between the wimpy 360M and mittels. The amount of
fingerboard noise off the E string is less than with thin strings.

Under the bow, oranges are noticably different. They are
easy to start, and generaly less picky about things like
position, speed, and pressure. They have influenced my
bow choice. My favorite bow has very fine violin style hair
on it. I found that a cheaper bow with coarser hair was a
better match. Black hair was OK as well, but I think silver
or salt and pepper would be about right for these strings.

With that cheap bow and coarse white hair they are almost
nearly foolproof. I have to be a bit more careful with that
light bow and fine hair combo, but I am finding some
interesting dynamics in that combo. A little less hair tension
seems like a good thing too, but I used a lot with the Corellis.

The sound of the string seems very transparent to me under
the bow. I feel like I hear the bass, not the strings. 360Ms
can sound like a cello, and spiros mittels sometimes honk.

Lastly, with these strings I don't have to retune in between
pizz and acro. They are in-tune either way, and I really hope
it stays that way as they play in. A cellist co-worker said it
was one sign of strings going off when tunings diverge.

Opps, one more note. I like the sound and feel pizz, so far.
I am not fast enough or play hard enough to need a faster
set of strings. The E string is OK for my limited chops, but
a more agressive player might tend to overdrive it. My left
hand can live with it, however, and for me that makes a big
difference.

LouisF · #**203** 11-11-2006, 05:11 PM

I just replaced my Corelli 370TX's with Bel Cantos and I'm a believer -- everything is true - big, warm sound, fairly fast response, improved intonation, and very easy on the left hand. Really opened up the bass (hybrid Argentine bass made in 2003), giving more of a carved, warm sound!

Louis

Pete G · #**204** 11-15-2006, 02:45 AM

Is it still the case that there is no Bel Canto long C (extension) string, nor a low B for a five-string bass?

If so, do any of you Bel Canto converts have suggestions for a long C or low B that would blend with Bel Cantos on the A, D, and G strings?

Maybe Pirastro Permanents?

Istar · #**205** 11-15-2006, 03:22 AM

Is it just me, or is there no one who would love to read a really good comparison between the BC and the flexos ?
As far as I can tell these should be the benchmark strings , yet I read surprisingly little about how they compare.

Is there no one available yet who can commend ??

Continuing to wait peacefully......

Chasarms · #**206** 11-15-2006, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Istar

Is it just me, or is there no one who would love to read a really good comparison between the BC and the flexos ?
As far as I can tell these should be the benchmark strings , yet I read surprisingly little about how they compare.

Is there no one available yet who can commend ??

Continuing to wait peacefully......

I have played the new Flexocors on my bass and currently am using the Belcantos.

The two sound very similar bowed. Lots of depth and power. I think the Belcantos start easier.

The Belcanto feels much softer under the left hand and the pizz tone has less thud and more sustain.

I think the Belcanto is a better pizz string, and rivals the Flexocor arco.

Marcus Johnson · #**207** 11-15-2006, 11:56 AM

It'll be interesting to see if the Belcantos share the legendary TI longevity with the Spirocores.

Chas... how would you rate the BCs as a "jazz pizz" string after your experience with them?

JoeyNaeger · #**208** 11-15-2006, 04:22 PM

Chasarms, for the sake of clarity, what type of flexocor are you comparing to(92 or original)?

Chasarms · #**209** 11-15-2006, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

It'll be interesting to see if the Belcantos share the legendary TI longevity with the Spirocores.

Chas... how would you rate the BCs as a "jazz pizz" string after your experience with them?

They better last, they were $180!

My experience with straight jazz is limited in practice and probably even more so in execution, but I do play a lot of "jazz-ish" stuff these days with a singer-songwriter friend. It is mostly pizz with just enough arco to humble myself.

That said, I like it. It has more "puff" than a Spiro for sure, but I don't really hear the "thud" that was spoken of earlier. FAR less mid tone, less growl for sure and not at all stringy.

I think the reason I like them so much is that my bass has a lot more bottom end than it did with anything else I have tried. I guess you could attribute it to the the bass opening up or the Belcanto's tension is just right for my bass, but the extra bottom was the first thing I noticed.

Please note, FWIW, that I am transitioning from FCS, which is pretty bright string. Before that Obligato with a short flirtation with some SS Supremes. I have also played new Flexocor and Spirocore on the bass.

The decay is not at all quick like a traditional orch string, say a Flexocor. It isn't spirocore, but maybe equated to Obligato?

The best thing that I can say about them is that I haven't enjoyed playing my bass this much in a long time. I have loved the Shen since I bought it, but I always thought it was a little bright and very "new" sounding. These strings seem to have tamed a little of both of those.

Anyone in the St. Louis area interested in hearing them can PM me. We have a bunch of little venue dates coming up doing jazzed up Holiday stuff as a little trio. It'll be a ton of fun.

Chasarms · #**210** 11-15-2006, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyNaeger

Chasarms, for the sake of clarity, what type of flexocor are you comparing to(92 or original)?

The ones now labeled simply "Flexocor". I think that is the 92s.

Rovic · #**211** 12-04-2006, 06:58 AM

Hi,

Does anyone have the new Belcanto strings ? Experience for classical playing ?

greetzz

bdengler · #**212** 12-04-2006, 08:11 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I recently posted my comments on another thread asking whether I should use Helicores, Permanents or Obligatos. I ended up installing Belcantos on my bass! Without a doubt, the best arco strings I've ever used for my purposes. The best E string I ever used on my Bryant bass. Easy on the left hand, and the strings speak with the bow very, very well. There's a lot of fundamental and the strings really opened the sound on my bass. Before the Belcantos, the Jagars sounded the best on my bass. But the Jagars seemed like higher tension strings. On the other hand, I did not find the Belcantos as suitable for pizzicato work (folk or jazz style) as other orchestral strings like the Helicores (orchestral medium) or Permanents. But my first desire is to have a good orchestralstring, and the Belcantos do the job.

Brian

Jeff Moote · #**213** 12-11-2006, 03:04 PM

Any more thoughts on these as an orchestra string? Comparisons with Flex92, OrigFlex, etc.?

I noticed there were a few thoughts on this issue, but perhaps some of you would like to revisit after having played them some more, and maybe some more folks have tried these.

Just trying to see how these fit in for someone who doesn't really do any jazz/pizz only playing.

Thanks

LouisF · #**214** 12-11-2006, 03:26 PM

the bass seems to get warmer and richer the more I play the strings, so I have no complaints

LF

**Basschair** · #**215** 12-11-2006, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

Any more thoughts on these as an orchestra string? Comparisons with Flex92, OrigFlex, etc.?

I noticed there were a few thoughts on this issue, but perhaps some of you would like to revisit after having played them some more, and maybe some more folks have tried these.

Just trying to see how these fit in for someone who doesn't really do any jazz/pizz only playing.

Thanks

I tried a flexocore (ruby bottom...92?) E with the Belcanto a,d,g, and although the flexocore was a nice, beefy bottom end, it added some wolftones and subtracted the even tone of the E in thumb position.

Overall, the Belcantos have been a great bowed string for me after almost a month. The E has been well-balanced for me, all the way up the neck, and is acceptably strong-yet-subtle when played open. They really are fantastic strings.

PaulCannon · #**216** 12-11-2006, 04:37 PM

Still use them, still love them.

NotACello · #**217** 12-11-2006, 05:56 PM

Not a fan. Going back to my old strings as soon as I can find someone to buy these off of me.
If anyone's looking for a barely used set of these PM me and we can work something out!

Johnny L · #**218** 12-11-2006, 08:08 PM

I put my 5ths tuning project on hold and restrung back in 4ths with the Belcanto's on the G and D.

Right out of the package, they sound super under the bow, and to my ears no more of a handicap pizz-wise than, say, flexocores.

I'm very happy with them, but that bright orange color thread is just the last choice I'd ever make with which to premier a new string...makes them easy to identify for sure...but still...

PaulCannon · #**219** 12-11-2006, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotACello

Not a fan. Going back to my old strings as soon as I can find someone to buy these off of me.
If anyone's looking for a barely used set of these PM me and we can work something out!

Are you a jazz or orchestral player? And also, why are so many of the jazzers on here buying these orchestral strings and then wondering why they're no good for jazz?

NotACello · #**220** 12-12-2006, 01:09 AM

Paul,
I am an orchestral player, and I totally agree with you about the jazz comment. I also found it strange that all the jazzers were buying the orchestral strings and then being disappointed with them.

They're not horrible strings, they are easy to play and have a nice sound, I was just happier with my previous setup and wasn't originally looking for a change, but everyone kept talking about how fantastic the strings are, so I couldn't help myself.