Double Bass Gut versus Anima

[Bobby King]

What is the real structural difference between Animas and Garbos? Are they silk-core and have copper windings? Never seen an Anima and still know zippo about them. How come you aren't using the Anima A? How do you think the Anima sound and feel would compare with the Garbo A? .

Hey Bob, you Montana wiseguy you!

I can't accurately tell you the structural difference but I'll give you my impressions:

They are similar strings in appearance, feel and sound to a certain degree. The Garbos are more in the gut direction, but Animas have some of that quality too. Garbos have a thicker diameter in general, the Anima D and G are a good bit thinner, but still thicker than most steels. The Animas have a little variation in the windings on the G string, but over all the windings are similar string to string. The Garbo D&G are different from the A&E and from each other too. The Animas have perhaps a little more tension and a little less springiness. Soundwise, the Animas have more sustain and definition. They are perhaps "jazzier". But relative to Spirocores they still sound much more in the gut direction. But the Anima G will definitely "mwah", the D a little as well.

As for the Anima A, that would work fine too, and I'm sure an Anima E&A would go fine with plain guts (some folks use guts and Spiros for god's sake!)

I often find that the A string is a little weaker in volume and bottom, at least on my bass. This is particularly true on the lower notes like B, C, C#. So, the Garbo seems to put out a lot of volume and bottom without getting tubby, and that balances nicely with the Anima E, whereas the Garbo E is tubby sounding, the notes getting less distinct.

I made an observation that many who mix and match strings tend to go from guttier on top to steelier on the bottom. This current setup I've got on is consistant with that, no steel in there, but going for more definition moving to the lower strings.

Here's a plug: I've got new Pirastro Pizzicatos for sale for $120 in the classifieds. New they'd be around $280! These are great with plain gut uppers. This is the setup that the great Dennis Crouch currently uses - Gamuts and Pizzicatos. The Pizzicatos are real gut core and may give you a little more edge than the Garbos.

 

[MT Spaces]

....The Animas have perhaps a little more tension and a little less springiness. Soundwise, the Animas have more sustain and definition .....

.....Pirastro Pizzicatos .....These are great with plain gut uppers. This is the setup that the great Dennis Crouch currently uses - Gamuts and Pizzicatos. The Pizzicatos are real gut core and may give you a little more edge than the Garbos.

Thanks abunch Bobby ..... There's some real good fat to chew on in your considered reply. Thanks for taking the time to educate a rookie . Sustain, definition, and edge are things I've been lookin' for lately in the A & E so I may have to raid the coffee can buried in the backyard. I'm real curious to hear and feel the Animas. Even though I am totally enthralled with the playing and sound of Dennis Crouch, I'm spooked of the wound gut Pizzicatos in my dry climate.

Smarter yet .... I could just save my money and pull the Garbos and put them lonely Spiro Weich A & E strings back on that have been camped out on the end table for the past year (but what's the GAS fun in that ).

 

[AndreasH]

The structural difference between Anima and Garbo:

Garbo
polished polyamid wound on silk (G), polished polyamid/copper round wire wound on silk (D), polished copper round wire (A+E) wound on silk

Anima
polished polyamid/copper round wire wound on silk (G), polished round wire wound on silk (E+A and D)

I think this would be right. I play Garbos, I've never played Animas.

I wonder if someone around has played both Garbos and Chordas? I'd like hear your report on the differences/similarities between those two.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Its too bad that Nuno's on vacation just when we need him the most!

 

[P.Waite]

Even though I am totally enthralled with the playing and sound of Dennis Crouch, I'm spooked of the wound gut Pizzicatos in my dry climate.

I'm not too far away from you geographic-wise, Bob-- I've had the Pizzicatos on my carved bass for awhile, as well as Olivs on my ply bass, and no problems with either (the Olivs have even been on and off a couple times).

 

[labravajazz]

I have tried both. Garbos were as I recall lighter and very loose tension though quite thick. Gut like maybe a little in mellowness but I really didn't like the tone much and found no where near the strong attack or complexity and real gut tone of the Chordas, which have great meaty tone for jazz pizz and deep lively arco tone. Chordas are very thick especially the lower strings and the E in particular takes some work to hold down, the D is thick and for some reason the open string can be bit dead for pizz but strong tone arco.

I had Chordas on old English bass for nearly a year and still in condition and sound terrific.

Garbos would not be a substitute for real gut IMHO but offers less harsh alternative to metal and lower tension feel than metal or gut, yet lacks the life of either metal or gut (which to me has the best of highs and lows)

 

[MT Spaces]

Its too bad that Nuno's on vacation just when we need him the most!

Hey Jake ..... Have you installed them Animas yet that you beat me to in The Classies awhile back ?? Did you try'em out on yer Missus's Kay? I'd be real interested to know your take on them if you install them.

 

[MT Spaces]

I'm not too far away from you geographic-wise, Bob-- I've had the Pizzicatos on my carved bass for awhile, as well as Olivs on my ply bass, and no problems with either (the Olivs have even been on and off a couple times).

Thanks PW .... Yep, Boise Idaho is hot'n'cold and plenty-dry like Montana. Now I have something else to ponder for my A & E strings . Like I needed yet more options .

A question to all involved here ..... Doesn't Pirastro make both Chordas and Pizzicatos ? I think they are both wound guts. What's the deal with the A & E strings? What are the differences?

 

[P.Waite]

Doesn't Pirastro make both Chordas and Pizzicatos ? I think they are both wound guts. What's the deal with the A & E strings? What are the differences?

Yes, Pirastro makes both of those strings-- I have no experience with Chordas, but I know they're an old school type of gut string, large in diameter with steel-wrapped E and A and plain gut D and G. Pizzicatos are wound guts, thinner gauged (comparable to Spiros, Evahs) with the D and G strings available in the steel wrap or a nylon coating (similar to the old Golden Spirals).

 

[AndreasH]

I have tried both. Garbos were as I recall lighter and very loose tension though quite thick. Gut like maybe a little in mellowness but I really didn't like the tone much and found no where near the strong attack or complexity and real gut tone of the Chordas, which have great meaty tone for jazz pizz and deep lively arco tone. Chordas are very thick especially the lower strings and the E in particular takes some work to hold down, the D is thick and for some reason the open string can be bit dead for pizz but strong tone arco.

What about the volume? Which one is the loudest?

And the overall arco of Chorda? Is it possible to get good tone in the higher registers (Thumb position)?

 

[bonaventura]

... I'm not willin' to give up on my Gamut Pistoy G & D strings yet but ...

and what A string have you got on now? did the Pistoy retire already?

 

[labravajazz]

What about the volume? Which one is the loudest?

And the overall arco of Chorda? Is it possible to get good tone in the higher registers (Thumb position)?

Chorda louder better tone by far than Garbo. Possible to get good arco tone all the way up. Depending on the ability of the player of course

 

[MT Spaces]

and what A string have you got on now? did the Pistoy retire already?

Howdy BV ...... Nope, the Gamut Pistoy Plain A Beast still lives on my '40 Kay along with the Gamut G & D and a Garbo E. I love the sound of that A, acoustic but especially ampped up loud for the alt-country stuff I got hi-jacked into doing with some local misfits ... But that's another story.

My questions about the Anima A & E strings have more to do with matching up with the Gamut Pistoy G & D strings on my newest acquisition ..... a 1960-ish Gibson-Epiphone B-5. I tried the Garbo A on it and it was just a bit too muddy .... Hence my fishing around for info on the Animas.

 

[Bobby King]

Howdy BV
My questions about the Anima A & E strings have more to do with matching up with the Gamut Pistoy G & D strings on my newest acquisition ..... a 1960-ish Gibson-Epiphone B-5. I tried the Garbo A on it and it was just a bit too muddy .... Hence my fishing around for info on the Animas.

Bob,

You might like the Anima A&E. They are definitely a step less muddy than Garbos, but they share some similar qualities. They sustain a little more, they are less boomy, and have more definition to their note, but also perhaps a little less bottom. Definitely not metallic like a steel string though. The tension of either Anima or Garbo matches well with gut, but they don't have a lot of those stability issues associated with real gut.

 

[MT Spaces]

..... You might like the Anima A&E ....

OK OK Bobby ..... Ya sold me ..... Single Anima A on its way from Quinn. I'm gonna hold off for awhile on the E since lately a Spiro Weich E has been sounding pretty-dang good on the Epiphone and seems to fit with the Gamut guts decently. I'll let you know how the Anima works out. How long does it take for Animas to break in & start sounding good?

I'll keep the Garbo A to swap out for the plain gut A on the Kay if I ever get tired of rasslin' with that hulk of innards . The Garbo A & E on the Kay are real good but just don't seem to work on the Epiphone for some reason .

 

[Marcus Johnson]

I'll be interested to hear your impressions of the Anima A with the Spiro E. I did that for awhile out of necessity when my Anima E broke, and I found the combination to be a little... hmm.... schizo, maybe? Not terrible, but I was happy to change 'em as I recall. Long time ago.

Regarding break-in.... the Animas take a little while to settle in, and they can sound kind of unfocused at first. They are really worth hanging in there for.... they kind of snap in after a couple of weeks, and they sound really nice after that.

 

[MT Spaces]

I'll be interested to hear your impressions of the Anima A with the Spiro E ....I found the combination to be a little... hmm.... schizo, maybe?

.... the Animas take a little while to settle in, and they can sound kind of unfocused at first. They are really worth hanging in there for.... they kind of snap in after a couple of weeks, and they sound really nice after that.

Thanks Marcus ... Yea, I suspect the Anima E will replace the Spiro more sooner than later if I like the Anima A. But who knows .... since "schizo" pretty-well describes my playing (such as it is) "style" .... it might all be just hunky-dory . I'll give the A a few weeks and hope that the Epiphone is finally happy (at least with the A).

 

[Gearhead43]

Has anyone here tried the Garbo Lights? I was wondering how they would sound for slap playing specifically. The lights should be pretty low tension I imagine.

I know one slap player who is trying them on his Kay, but he has been dissapointed so far, that they are not really loosing their "new" brightness. Slapping tends to emphasize any "twang" a string may have, so the darker the better usually.

I am used to plain guts for slap, which are THE sound, but I have the usual love/hate relationship forming. I would like a string that has better pizz response, (on the bottom strings) as I switch back and forth between pizz and slap often. I am trying some Innovation RABs now, which are great for pizz, but sound too twangy for slap. I have tried the Silver Slaps, which may be the best compromise so far, but still not quite "it".

There just doesn't seem to be any "perfect" string for both pizz and slap.

 

[Bobby King]

I am used to plain guts for slap, which are THE sound, but I have the usual love/hate relationship forming. I would like a string that has better pizz response, (on the bottom strings) as I switch back and forth between pizz and slap often. I am trying some Innovation RABs now, which are great for pizz, but sound too twangy for slap. I have tried the Silver Slaps, which may be the best compromise so far, but still not quite "it".

There just doesn't seem to be any "perfect" string for both pizz and slap.

I don't do a ton of slapping but a little bit. Plain gut is very good for slapping. It's harder to find the right E&A. Those plain gut As and Es are great to slap but pretty much useless for anything else. Even roundwound gut can sound too "clanky" at times. I mentioned earlier that I'm currently strung with a plain gut G, Garbo D&A, and Anima E. The Garbo A actually slaps very well, the D can be a little "sproingy" but passable. The Anima E is "clanky", but I slap on the E the least, the plain gut G is great of course. But I'm loving this setup for general pizz. A plain D would be better for slap, but plain gut Ds always wind up giving me a pain. Also the Garbo E would slap better than the Anima, but it's pizz gets a little muddy for me. So yes, slap and pizz don't always call for the same string.

Do you know what's funny? My other bass, the Shen, has Helicore Orchestra Mediums on it (I practice arco on that bass), and it sounds great to slap on those strings! I notice that many slappers like dark-sounding, orchestral steel strings for slapping; things like Jargar and so forth, and I can see why. But I couldn't use those for regular pizz!

 

[abaguer]

I've been pretty happy with Anima A and D with Goldentone G. I used to have Goldentone A and D but the D, while very full, was kind of unfocused and fuzzy. The Anima D feels pretty similar but is much more focused. I like these two strings because they're clear and comfortable.