Double Bass BSX Megathread

[ElMon]

Hi, Elmon, I had to come back to this comment about the garbos, did you have to wide the nut and the bridge of your BSX allegro when you put the garbos on it?

I never had to actually. The nut slots on my BSX were pretty wide when I got it in.

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

I never had to actually. The nut slots on my BSX were pretty wide when I got it in.

Thanks for your quick reply Elmon, I am about to purchase my first new string set for my BSX and I read somewhere that the gauge of the garbos is big, and some people had to modificate their basses , but I don't know what kind of basses they had , anyway I am between Garbos, Blues, Animas and Pirastro Eva Pirazzi. Can you advice which one would you pick from this group?

 

[walbassist]

Silver Slaps work really well on the Allegros if you want low tension, gut-like strings.

 

[ElMon]

Thanks for your quick reply Elmon, I am about to purchase my first new string set for my BSX and I read somewhere that the gauge of the garbos is big, and some people had to modificate their basses , but I don't know what kind of basses they had , anyway I am between Garbos, Blues, Animas and Pirastro Eva Pirazzi. Can you advice which one would you pick from this group?

For that bass I ended up using the Animas as they had a little extra hi-end snap that helped cut through the mix. On the other hand I did the opposite (from Animas back to Garbos) on my 5 string URB. Go figure.

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

This is good stuff, thanks for the advice ELmon and walbassist, it seems like the silver slaps has too low tension, good for slaping, but I am not interested in slaping the bass, I prefer pizzicato, that is why I will go for the Animas. I hope I am taking the right choice, it is expensive to experiment with Upright bass strings

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Super Silvers have more tension than Silver Slaps and if it is not enough tension for you, there are the Ultra Blacks. I think both sets together cost about the same as one set of Anima.

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Super Silvers have more tension than Silver Slaps and if it is not enough tension for you, there are the Ultra Blacks. I think both sets together cost about the same as one set of Anima.

Thanks for the advice doubleMIDI, but I don't get super silvers in my area, there is pirastro, d adario, and velvet. And I have heard only good things about the velvet strings.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

You can order innovation strings directly from the UK, i.e. from StringExpress without paying postage. (You need to pay VAT and customs extra, of course.)

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

You can order innovation strings directly from the UK, i.e. from StringExpress without paying postage. (You need to pay VAT and customs extra, of course.)

You are right, and I know I can save some money ordering the strings from another place, but I just like to support one of the few dedicated double bass store in my city. Invalid Link Removed

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If you want to buy something from bassanova.no, I would think the following strings might be used:

From higher to lower tension:

Thomastik Spirocore Medium 4/4 S42
Velvet Compas 180
Pirastro Obligato
---
D'Addario Zyex
Velvet Blue / Anima / Garbo
Pirastro Obligato Solo (downtuned to orchestra tuning)
Clef Gut

I'm not completely sure about the tension of the Zyex and Clef gut, but I think for your interest the first three have too much tension.

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

If you want to buy something from bassanova.no, I would think the following strings might be used:

From higher to lower tension:

Thomastik Spirocore Medium 4/4 S42
Velvet Compas 180
Pirastro Obligato
---
D'Addario Zyex
Velvet Blue / Anima / Garbo
Pirastro Obligato Solo (downtuned to orchestra tuning)
Clef Gut

I'm not completely sure about the tension of the Zyex and Clef gut, but I think for your interest the first three have too much tension.

Right on, I have D'adario Helicore Hybrid on my BSX now, and I believe that these are the strings the bass came with (I bought it used) and I feel they are a bit high tension + the G (is not D'adario, is another brand) is weak and metal sounding, so because of the good reviews and the low tension I am already sold to the Velvets Anima. I will pick them up in a couple of hours and after I have played with the them for 2 or 3 weeks I will report how they feel just in case there is another newbie like me with a BSX wondering about the Velvets Anima strings. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

For that bass I ended up using the Animas as they had a little extra hi-end snap that helped cut through the mix. On the other hand I did the opposite (from Animas back to Garbos) on my 5 string URB. Go figure.

Well I am replacing my old helicore strings with my brand new velvet animas and I see that the textile at the end of the strings goes forward the bridge, it doesn't seem right to me. I would appreciate any advice.
Elmon you once owned a BSX allegro with animas on it, is this the way it suppose to be?

 

[ElMon]

That looks right to me actually.

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Ohh the string was not tense at this point, which means that when I tune the bass the textile will go over the bridge, and it was ok with your BSX?

 

[ElMon]

Never had a problem

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Well, you seem like an experience bass player, so I will carry on with the animas, thanks for your advice ELmon .

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

I talked to Nuno at velvet strings and he told me to make a double loop at the tailpiece and it worked perfectly . Problem solved!

 

[ElMon]

Nuno's the man! He's went out of his way for me twice now. Can't say enough good things about him.

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

Nuno's the man! He's went out of his way for me twice now. Can't say enough good things about him.

Yes you are right Elmon, this is good customer service and I am really happy with the animas! Good punchy sound and very easy on the fingers .

 

[cuatro_cuerdas]

By the way ElMon, I am hearing buzzing on my E and A velvet anima string, did you experienced the same with your animas and your BSX?

I love the strings but the buzzines in the E and A is bothering me.