Thomastik "Belcanto" Strings megathread - Page 33

Ben Mitchell · #**641** 06-27-2011, 07:12 PM

Well, I cant really tell you about how they are when first put on, the guy I bought my bass from said the perms had been on since he bought it about 9 years ago, and who knows how long before that (the bass is 20 years old). So they were pretty dead when I first got them, but I can tell you that they are lower tension than other strings I have tried, and that doesn't really appeal to me. They are no where near as loud as belcantos, but they were so old, who knows. They had a little more clear, not as complex kind of sound, if that makes sense.

Any more specific questions?

Ben

ldekoning · #**642** 06-29-2011, 08:28 AM

Thanks for the info. Yeah, it sounds like they were a bit too old to give a true comparison, but like you said I have heard they are on the bright side.

**Francois Blais** · #**643** 06-29-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldekoning

Thanks for the info. Yeah, it sounds like they were a bit too old to give a true comparison, but like you said I have heard they are on the bright side.

The top strings yes, but the bottom ones are rather dark.
That set is odd-balanced, IMHO.

Ben Mitchell · #**644** 06-29-2011, 09:01 PM

I agree. I really didn't like the sound or feel of the A and E of the permanents. The belcantos are really refreshing.

engedi1 · #**645** 06-30-2011, 06:11 PM

Just got my new bass back from the setup man where I also had him put a set of Bel Cantos on it. My first impression is: I love 'em!
Of course they get a wonderful arco tone. They have a deep, complex tone that I really like. The high register really sings, and it is easier to play in thumb position than probably any other string I have ever used (Flexocoro, Spiroco, Obligato)
Other have asked about their volume and playability on Bach. They sound wonderful on Bach, much better than I do in fact!

Regarding volume, they are not Spiros, that is for sure. THe tone is warmer, rounder, and deeper maybe, but not as loud, arco or pizz.
I LOVE the tension. For me, they are the perfect left hand tension that I have been looking for. Yet they don't roll under the string like Obligatos.
The flipside is the right hand tension is a just a tad less than I would prefer. If the right hand could feel like Spiros, and the left hand like BC's, that would be the ultimate string for me.
The pizz tone is actually quite nice. It doesn't have the projection of Spiros, but it also doesn't have the sustain or buzz of spiros which I don't want anymore. It has some sustain, and nice warm tone. They amplify really well with a nice warm tone that I like, especially the G string. The E string is well balance, but I may experiment with the Spiro E. It is a tough call because I love the BC E string under the bow. Also, I am thinking that mostly Americana gigs I foresee myself working will appreciate the shorter sustain and warmer tone.
I am going to give these strings a good month as they and my new bass break in.

fergus currie · #**646** 07-02-2011, 03:25 AM

I've now had my Belcantos on for 4 months and they only began to really settle in about 3 weeks ago. I think they are the best strings I've used ever. They have a rich even sound all over the nsrument and it's the first time that I haven't had to fiddle with soundposts and bridges to get the D string sounding close to the G. I got the Romanza Patetica down and the Allegretto Capriccio just flies past with these strings on. I can't imagine what the solo set would be like.
I'm going to try to get the whole section (Greek National Opera) to get them on. I think they'll sound even better in a section because they fell like they blend so well.

My verdict: I'm not going to change to anything else for a long time!
FC

tobibass · #**647** 07-19-2011, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassalova

I tried to get some answers from the Bel Canto thread, but no response yet.

I need a better E-string for my Bel Canto set, because the Bel Canto E is only useable for bowing. The BC E-string suchs for pizz.
People talk about the Spiro mittel and weich. I have played the mittel set, but think these strings sound too much "fretlessy". When it comes down to tension I believe the Weich E would be the better choice.

Any one got experience with BC and the Spiro Weich E?
Does the Weich have a more organic sound than the Mittel?
I think this is one of the good aspects of the BC: they sound organic.
The Spiro´s sound has got more steel to it.

You've probably made your choice a while ago... but I can really recommend the weich "e". It fits really nicely tension-wise and once it's broken in it blends well sound-wise as well. It obviously has a bit more "mhwaaaa" than the BC, but it really is a good match.
I found the mittel "e" to have to much tension but again, it depends on your bass.

engedi1 · #**648** 07-20-2011, 02:09 PM

I ended up using a mittle E String which I found complimented the BC ADG very nicely. The BC E was quiter than the rest of the set for pizz (balanced for arco though) and the mittle E brings the E string balance back. The flip side is the Mittle E ROARS under the bow and is louder than the A string so you have to hit the E a little less hard. Also, on my new Hybrid, the bowed E is a tad harsh under the ear, but on a gig I just played, it sounded fantastic through the amp, nice and warm and punchy.

engedi1 · #**649** 07-25-2011, 09:45 PM

FYI, after giving the Belcantos a month, I realized that as much as I love them for arco, where they are the best I have ever played, the pizz tone is just not working for me, or the amount of effort it takes on the right hand to get a good tone. I am going the Velvet route. I am posting my BC's in the classifieds...

Fran Diaz · #**650** 07-25-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engedi1

FYI, after giving the Belcantos a month, I realized that as much as I love them for arco, where they are the best I have ever played, the pizz tone is just not working for me, or the amount of effort it takes on the right hand to get a good tone. I am going the Velvet route. I am posting my BC's in the classifieds...

It has taken 2-3 moths for the BelCantos to grow on me. WHen I first put them on my bass I wasn't impressed at all but my teacher told me that it was a big improvement in tone and I trust him so they stayed. The arco tone and feel did it for me after a couple of weeks. Pizz wasn't my fav so I tried the Evahs and found them louder, darker under the hair (just a different tone, IMO not better or worse) and growlier for pizz, but also harder to bow and this is my primary use so that the Belcantos came back and now I'm loving everything about them.

steve_n_his_urb · #**651** 11-08-2011, 03:40 PM

After 6 years on a set of Spirocore Mittels, plus 2 years on the set before which were sold with my 'beginner' bass, I finally took the leap and changed to Belcantos.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to this (mega)thread, which I worked through before making my decision - what a great resource!

Initial impressions of the new strings held no surprises, the BCs
- feel a bit lighter
- bow very easily/smoothly (I play 50% arco)
- were ready to play from day one (no twangy tones, very stable tuning)
- have 'more fundamental', less harmonic content, esp. E,A,D
- are slightly quieter
- may be slightly harder to hear intonation

thanks also to Bob G. I was very confident in my ability to fit the strings but I read his tip sheet anyway. Now my A tuner gears are running smoothly for the first time since I bought the bass, and the others are really slick.

:-) Steve

aens_wife · #**652** 11-08-2011, 08:18 PM

I just put BCs on my bass today and I love the arco sound. Really warm and smooth and easy to start.

But the pizz is just awful on my bass. It is not much more than a thump. There is not nearly enough tension to get the nice percussive growl that I love so much.

I had the helicore hybrids on before this and the arco sound was really awful, but the pizz sound was AMAZING. Sigh. So it goes, no perfect answer (except maybe the Spirocores....)

engedi1 · #**653** 11-08-2011, 08:42 PM

I went from Bel Cantos, to OLD spiros, and have ended up with Velvet Compas 180's. The best strings for both arco and Pizz that I have ever found. The pizz tone is not spiro like, but is kinda gut like, but with growl and sustain. Just sublime. The arco tone is actually similar to the BelCanto, but it has more color to it. They are a tad scratchy until they break until, but I am afraid I have been converted!

geoffbassist · #**654** 11-09-2011, 04:00 AM

I love belcantos and think the arco is amazing. They have to be amongst the easiest strings to play. Perhaps a tiny bit lacking in character.

The pizz is ok, I actually like it a lot for jazz. However I found them impossible to amplify. Sounded really dead.
Great acoustic string though.

bassa · #**655** 11-09-2011, 08:39 PM

All of a sudden, I'm sick of my BCs. They are less than 2 years old and just feel mushy. I play with a very low action, mostly arco and need something a little stiffer I suspect. Suggestions?

Ben Mitchell · #**656** 11-10-2011, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassa

All of a sudden, I'm sick of my BCs. They are less than 2 years old and just feel mushy. I play with a very low action, mostly arco and need something a little stiffer I suspect. Suggestions?

They are probably more than dead, these strings usually only last 6 months, a year if you're lucky.

peterpalmieri · #**657** 11-10-2011, 06:28 AM

Mine are almost two years old and i really like how they feel and sound. I don't plays hours consistently everyday so that may have something to do with it.

iiipopes · #**658** 04-02-2012, 09:58 PM

I just got a set. Here's the deal: whatever the pizz opinions may be, I need to really refine my arco. So I got the set which, by this thread and others, has the reputation of the easiest and most precise arco. No sense banging the head against the wall until and if I can get good arco with these. Then I'll be in a position to play whatever fits the situation, and if after a year I decide the progress on arco is not sufficient to warrant going further, in spite of best efforts, then it's on to something else, so be it: Doms, Spiros 3885W, (not S42), Jazzers, or whatever.

OK, while I'm woodshedding arco, I still have jazz/dance band gigs. So that still has to carry the band. To me the Bel tone has just as much sustain, albeit not the growl of Spiros. My opinion is that those who don't think the pizz to this set has character have been conditioned to Spiros. The bands I lay down the foundation to play mostly standards, so the more subdued tone, call it rounder, darker, less growl, etc., as you will, will actually be a better match for the repertoire.

For me, the bottom line, to quote or flame as you will: Spiros growl, but these Bel Cantos purr.

petesenkowski · #**659** 04-02-2012, 10:36 PM

I posted earlier in the thread, but I just want to reinforce iiipopes's point. When I got my Shen hybrid, it came with Spiro mittels; I loved its sound in my living room, but hated it the first time I played it with a string band. I switched to Bel Cantos and preferred their warmer pizz sound, with their ease of arco use a welcome bonus. For the string band tunes and standards I play, they've worked quite well.

Thanks,
Pete

engedi1 · #**660** 04-02-2012, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iiipopes

I just got a set. Here's the deal: whatever the pizz opinions may be, I need to really refine my arco. So I got the set which, by this thread and others, has the reputation of the easiest and most precise arco. No sense banging the head against the wall until and if I can get good arco with these. Then I'll be in a position to play whatever fits the situation, and if after a year I decide the progress on arco is not sufficient to warrant going further, in spite of best efforts, then it's on to something else, so be it: Doms, Spiros 3885W, (not S42), Jazzers, or whatever.

OK, while I'm woodshedding arco, I still have jazz/dance band gigs. So that still has to carry the band. To me the Bel tone has just as much sustain, albeit not the growl of Spiros. My opinion is that those who don't think the pizz to this set has character have been conditioned to Spiros. The bands I lay down the foundation to play mostly standards, so the more subdued tone, call it rounder, darker, less growl, etc., as you will, will actually be a better match for the repertoire.

For me, the bottom line, to quote or flame as you will: Spiros growl, but these Bel Cantos purr.

Bel Canto's were without a doubt the best arco strings I have ever used, and I liked their pizz tone at first, but found they got a little thuddy. I had to kill my right hand to get the projection I was looking for. Was much happier with spiros back on, and am happier now still with Velvets. On YOUR bass however, they may rock. They were quiet on my bass....