Thomastik "Belcanto" Strings megathread

[PB+J]

will the 3/4 scale fit on a 42 inch scale bass? I have a 7/8 shen flatback and maybe they wont' fit?

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Mike, I don't understand the ball-end color on your graph. I played a bass yesterday, that I think had the Bel Cantos on....It had Thomastik type balls and the bottom silks were black or a very dark blue. The peg ends were 2" of orange and 4" of black.

Maybe Corelli 370M?
The colors at the peg end don't fit though!

[JoeyNaeger]

I talked to atleast two bass players who got beta samples of these strings(or a some string from thomastik) and they had black bottoms...

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by JoeyNaeger

I talked to atleast two bass players who got beta samples of these strings(or a some string from thomastik) and they had black bottoms...

Did they have anything to say about them?

[JoeyNaeger]

The general consesus was that they are very good strings but I didn't get much beyond that from either of them. I wouldn't mind getting a set myself, but I just put on new strings.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Mike, I don't understand the ball-end color on your graph. I played a bass yesterday, that I think had the Bel Cantos on....It had Thomastik type balls and the bottom silks were black or a very dark blue. The peg ends were 2" of orange and 4" of black.Were these them? Were them these? are they the ones you're calling Bel Cantos?
If they were, I like a bit more tension on my strings. I felt like I couldn't really dig in on these, if these were them...I'll stick with the Orchestras. They are smooth with the stick though!

Francois...are you out there? Does this sound like anything you're familiar with?

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Francois...are you out there? Does this sound like anything you're familiar with?

See post #44 for my reply!

[Blurtbass]

Just got hold of a set of Belcantos to go on my Eminence bass from the designer at Thomastik in Vienna. I have a show to play tonight but will post my impressions soon. My initial impressions are that it is a darker string than the Spiros that were on before, less growly but with a balanced sound. very easy to bow obviously, and kept pitch very quickly. As far as tension, the E and A seemed a little lighter and the D and G a little stiffer, but that could be because i just put them on. Apparently the A and D Sprio have the same core, the D on the Belcanto has a different core to the A string.

I was looking to get a string with some of the darker sound of the Dominant but with the strength and reliability of Spiro, especially as i have to de-tune a lot when travelling with the RN Eminence. I hope that Belcantos will do the trick and give less of a 'hard' sound than Spiro (which work very well by the way on the Eminence, i just wanted a change). Something more organic with full fundimental tone.

I will be passing feedback to Thomastik so will let people know what the results of the strings are for me. Apparently, they have very different character when put on a regular upright bass, but on my Eminece the change from Spiros was not that pronounced which surprised the designer a bit. They seem a bit darker and certainly bow much more easily! I think they could be a good string for Electric upright as they tame the hardness and seem slightly warmer sounding. But early days, they could change in the next few days while i break them in. I have 2 more weeks of shows so will have a chance to see how they change during that time.

[ThomastikMike]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Mike, I don't understand the ball-end color on your graph. I played a bass yesterday, that I think had the Bel Cantos on....It had Thomastik type balls and the bottom silks were black or a very dark blue. The peg ends were 2" of orange and 4" of black.Were these them? Were them these? are they the ones you're calling Bel Cantos?
If they were, I like a bit more tension on my strings. I felt like I couldn't really dig in on these, if these were them...I'll stick with the Orchestras. They are smooth with the stick though!

Update: Those may be some EARLY alpha samples of the strings with some random silk colors. It is not at all representative of the final product (or even the beta sets for that matter).

[jfv]

Whew, pricey lil buggers, I wonder what they will
really cost at a dealer? They sound interesting, will
be interesting to hear from the first brave souls to
go try a set

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by jfv

Whew, pricey lil buggers, I wonder what they will
really cost at a dealer? They sound interesting, will
be interesting to hear from the first brave souls to
go try a set

From Post #26

Originally Posted by francostringguy

http://shop1.mailordercentral.com/le...p?number=S1250

From Post #27

Originally Posted by uncleturd

See what I mean? $184. Just a bit above the Dominant's $155 and below Velvets $225.

[Uncletoad]

Ok fine. None of you have the stones...

I'll do it.

Should be here in a day or two. I will begin the written crucifixion shortly thereafter.

If I hate them I'm going to make every one of you use them for at least 4 weeks straight as punishment.

[hanzwurzt]

hello thomastikmike,

du you know when the belcantos are going to be introduced in germany?

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Ok fine. None of you have the stones...

I'll do it.

Should be here in a day or two. I will begin the written crucifixion shortly thereafter.

If I hate them I'm going to make every one of you use them for at least 4 weeks straight as punishment.

[Marcus Johnson]

I'm pretty close, Phil... I'm itchin' to pull my arco s**t together a little bit, and I don't know if I'll ever get it done with the Animas. So maybe soon.

[fcleff]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

If I hate them I'm going to make every one of you use them for at least 4 weeks straight as punishment.

I've had worse.

Looking forward to hearing you assessment.

[Uncletoad]

Got them today. Put them on in place of a deadish set of Dominants that have been on a few days after tossing the dead Animas that had been on since Feb.

Nice construction as you'd expect from TI. They feel quite a bit like flexocores just loose out of the package. Really small gages.

G= .50" 62.2 lbs
D= .62" 63.3 lbs
A= .78" 64.4 lbs
E= .104" 63.3 lbs

I've got little time right now to mess around, but right out of the box pitz they sound a like original flex with more sustain. The dark thunk with a round diffuse note. Very old school. Way better E than original flex.

Nowhere near as bright as Dominants or Animas. Not a gut dark either. Very flexocore...

My bow is at home.

Very comfortable to play. Feel like Weichs or Animas in tension.

Got to go to a gig tonight right after I get done working in the shop so it's trial by fire.

More later...

[bribass]

Originally Posted by Uncletool

Got them today. Put them on in place of a deadish set of Dominants that have been on a few days after tossing the dead Animas that had been on since Feb.

Nice construction as you'd expect from TI. They feel quite a bit like flexocores just loose out of the package. Really small gages.

G= .50" 62.2 lbs
D= .62" 63.3 lbs
A= .78" 64.4 lbs
E= .104" 63.3 lbs

I've got little time right now to mess around, but right out of the box pitz they sound a like original flex with more sustain. The dark thunk with a round diffuse note. Very old school. Way better E than original flex.

Nowhere near as bright as Dominants or Animas. Not a gut dark either. Very flexocore...

My bow is at home.

Very comfortable to play. Feel like Weichs or Animas in tension.

Got to go to a gig tonight right after I get done working in the shop so it's trial by fire.

More later...

Thanks for the post.
Gee.. how'd you get them so fast? I geuss you repair shop boys have your resources.

Sounds like they'd be too dark for my Prescott. Possibly good for the German and/or Eminence. I've been looking for a low tension, less whinny alternative (G) than Spiros or Corellis for those axes.

BG

[Blurtbass]

I have had the Belcantos on me Eminence for 2 shows now. They are working out very well for me, darker than the spiros, a nice clear attack and tone and a more old school sound. They play well, i had to raise the action a bit and am getting a much more accoustic sound out of the Eminence which is exactly what i wanted. The soundman is happy, he says it sounds much more like a full size bass now. They have plenty of punch and enough sustain for me.

They didn't seem to take very long to get in tune and they hold pitch extreamly well. Bowing is also much easier. On the whole i can't find much wrong with them, they seem to suit the Eminence well, i have tried Corelli (too thin and didn't last long enough for me as well as being a bit too much like a Chello when amplified ), Helicores ( warm, a bit artificial, but not bad for the price) and Spiros (good strong tone, build and playability but not so great to bow and a little bright for my taste). The Belcantos seem to be warm, not too stiff and built to last. I was told that Dominants would not be strong enough for my RN bass. I am still interested in Velvet Garbos, but they are too expensive to try on a whim for me.

I can recomend them. I would be interested if any else has any experience of them on the Eminence.

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by bribass

Thanks for the post.
Gee.. how'd you get them so fast? I geuss you repair shop boys have your resources.

Lemur Music has them, for your information. (around $180 a set)