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Double Bass D'Addario Helicore Megathread

#121
So you're saying spiro weichs are more bowable than the heli hybrids?
I had the perpetuals and and liked them, especially arco, but would like a bit more pizz pop when I play jazz. Wondering if the hybrids will be more bowable than spiros but have more pop than perps.
 
#122
Yeah, the Spiro Weichs are much more bow friendly than the Helicore Hybrids. The Helicore Hybrids are decent strings but, as much as I like D'Addario, using the word hybrid in their name is a bit deceptive in my opinion. They're definitely more of a jazz pizz string in my mind.

Another string worth looking into is Pirastro Evah Pirazzi. Excellent sound both pizz and arco. I've seen players across a wide musical spectrum use them.
 
#124
On D’Addario’s website, they provide tension charts, but I didn’t find gauges.
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#130
Pro classical player here: just installed helicore hybrid C/E and holy crap, why is nobody using these? It beats out all the classic choices (spiro, permanent, belcanto, helicore orch, flex deluxe) - on my bass at least - by a mile. Loud, bright and very easy to play. Whoever says these have poor bow response either got a dodgy string or has no idea what they're talking about.

Got an A string on the way already. I would highly recommend one of these for anyone wanting a bright, powerful and very playable lower string.
 
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#131
Freud_Chicken said:
Pro classical player here: just installed helicore hybrid C/E and holy crap, why is nobody using these? It beats out all the classic choices (spiro, permanent, belcanto, helicore orch, flex deluxe) - on my bass at least - by a mile. Loud, bright and very easy to play. Whoever says these have poor bow response either got a dodgy string or has no idea what they're talking about.

Got an A string on the way already. I would highly recommend one of these for anyone wanting a bright, powerful and very playable lower string.
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Pro orchestral player here also. Indeed, I have similar experience as you. I ran HH medium E/C & A strings with Zyex med D&G on top for two seasons. I've strayed to pirastro Evah P weich since, but will be coming back to D'Addario soon. I think 2+2 combo of hybrid med E&A under kaplan med D&G would be good?

In fact, a full set of medium helicore orchestra is pretty good, but I play some jazz, so the 2+2 combo of hybrids on bottom with orchestras on top could be good.

I think the helicore hybrid and orchestra lines, in their three gauges of light, medium and heavy, are very mixable. Not sure I'd include the pizzicatos in this mix.
 
#133
PBandJazzBass said:
I believe Xavier Foley uses a Helicore Hybrid E string and maybe an Orchestra A.

Then again, he could probably play a cardboard box with surgical tubing and make it sound good.
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Correct. HH E-string and orch A&D, with what looks to be flex dlx G? All of which are prolly solo gauges. However, Edgar run an orch tuned E/C string under solo gauges on the top 3. Xavier may be doing same thing.
 
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#134
Freud_Chicken said:
Pro classical player here: just installed helicore hybrid C/E and holy crap, why is nobody using these? It beats out all the classic choices (spiro, permanent, belcanto, helicore orch, flex deluxe) - on my bass at least - by a mile. Loud, bright and very easy to play. Whoever says these have poor bow response either got a dodgy string or has no idea what they're talking about.

Got an A string on the way already. I would highly recommend one of these for anyone wanting a bright, powerful and very playable lower string.
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You'll love the A string when you get it. The boldness and clarity on those lower Helicores is great. My bass came with medium hybrids, but after trying Zyex and a set of LaBellas, I'm back on a full set of medium Helicore Pizz since I'm a bluegrasser and only bow occasionally. I was surprised at how well the Pizz version will bow if needed. In my opinion they were just as good as the hybrids arco.

D'Addarrio did an amazing job designing the upper strings to be a little darker and I find the whole set to be well balanced on my bass.
 
#139
Reason I posted my earlier comment is because I have a student who just got a new bass (Shen hybrid) that came with Helicore Orchestras. I was completely expecting to tell her she was going to need a new set of strings because she does about 80% jazz pizzicato….but the Helicores sound surprisingly good for jazz on that bass. Enough so that I’m tempted to try them on my Juzek.
 
#140
Interestingly, my recent foray into helicore orchestra strings took an unexpected turn

What I expected in order of pizz-> arco:

Pizzicato -> hybrids -> orchs -> kaplans

What it felt like: orchs were closer to spiros than kaplans.

Yeah -- that's right. IMO orchs are NOT on the road towards kaplans, nor did I feel like the orchs bow any better than the hybrids.
 

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