Double Bass D’addario helicore medium vs heavy for orchestra

[Freud_Chicken]

Hi all

My bass loves the helicore orchestra mediums but im finding for orchestra i’d like a bit more tension on the E/C and A.

Can anyone tell me if the heavy set is brighter or darker in tone compared to the mediums?

And how much darker/duller sounding are the kaplans? Is it close or are they much darker?

Thanks bassists

 

[stefaniw80401]

Did you try the heavy helicore orchs? I have lots of recent experience with kaplan light/med/heavy, and also helicore med/lights. The kaplans are in a class by themselves and not an evolution from helicore. That said, the kaplans are def darker and way more bow friendly than the helicore orchs. The kaplans heavies are canons on my bass, and a bit too hard to play for my 65 year old hands. The kaplan lights are nice for jazz pizz on my bass. I keep coming back to kaplan mediums but now that I have an adjustable bridge, I may try the lights again jacked up a skosh. Helicore orch lights were nice arco on my bass, but lacked volume on my bass.

 

[foilracer]

My bass and my "likes" for orchestra bass = I like Helicore Heavy guage, full set. I like Pirastro Original Flexicore with Spirocore S42 mittel E tuned down to D. I like AND USE Evah Pirazzi medium G, D, A with a Spirocore S42 mittel E tuned down to D... all year long. ✓

My advice is: buy and try strings for YOUR bass and discover which strings YOU like the best. Good luck with your search!

 

[PBandJazzBass]

Did you try the heavy helicore orchs? I have lots of recent experience with kaplan light/med/heavy, and also helicore med/lights. The kaplans are in a class by themselves and not an evolution from helicore. That said, the kaplans are def darker and way more bow friendly than the helicore orchs. The kaplans heavies are canons on my bass, and a bit too hard to play for my 65 year old hands. The kaplan lights are nice for jazz pizz on my bass. I keep coming back to kaplan mediums but now that I have an adjustable bridge, I may try the lights again jacked up a skosh. Helicore orch lights were nice arco on my bass, but lacked volume on my bass.

How are the mediums for jazz pizzicato on your bass compared to the lights? A friend of mine (who knows WAY more about this stuff than I do) actually recommended them to me.

 

[stefaniw80401]

How are the mediums for jazz pizzicato on your bass compared to the lights? A friend of mine (who knows WAY more about this stuff than I do) actually recommended them to me.

The funny thing about kaplans for jazz is that yes -- they are thumpy with little sustain and just a tad of growl depending on how flat your FB scoop is. Solo in my practice studio I would think no. But then you take Evahs or Spiros even out on a jazz gig, and you wonder where your bass has gone in the mix! Kaplans have that lovely punch of fundamental that i think serves the purpose in the jazz context. Plus they amplify well with most pickups -- you'll get lots of bottom to work with. When the band gets cranking your bass punches through. Will you get all that glorious Brian Bromberg tone -- not really.