I haven't tried the Kolsteins, but if you want a lower tension string that bows easier than Spirocore, why not Spiro Weichs?
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Double Bass Kolstein Heritage
- Thread starter bejoyous
- Start date
I'm not a huge fan of the gauge. Im also looking to try a synthetic. I just want to know what I'm getting into with these strings.
Never seen the Heritage string gauges listed anywhere.
I tried a set 10 or 12 years ago....as far as I can remember they are not thin....or thick. Close to Zyex mediums I think.
Send an e mail to Kolsteins.
I tried a set 10 or 12 years ago....as far as I can remember they are not thin....or thick. Close to Zyex mediums I think.
Send an e mail to Kolsteins.
Funny, I had a set of these from years ago sitting in the string closet. Never put them on my Cleveland before. I didn't think about them til I finished reading the Scott Lafaro book "Jade Visions" where Barrie Kolstein put the strings on the restored Prescott. Just on a whim I tried them since I've been wanting a bowable string but had sustain and some similarities with black tapewounds.
It doesn't quite the twang that gut does but it's got a pretty good deep sound. Good volume, lowish-med-lowish tension. Arco is pretty easy and there's some sustain. I forgot how nice these were - kind of an underrated string. I know the "dead" feeling but the E&A are pretty good, even when newly strung up. Maybe more "dark" than dead - but not like Evah dark. It definitely doesn't have a spiro-like sound - that's not what I'm going for anyway. I want something like gut but lots of sustain. Gonna go with the mic on a gig this week and should be good.
It doesn't quite the twang that gut does but it's got a pretty good deep sound. Good volume, lowish-med-lowish tension. Arco is pretty easy and there's some sustain. I forgot how nice these were - kind of an underrated string. I know the "dead" feeling but the E&A are pretty good, even when newly strung up. Maybe more "dark" than dead - but not like Evah dark. It definitely doesn't have a spiro-like sound - that's not what I'm going for anyway. I want something like gut but lots of sustain. Gonna go with the mic on a gig this week and should be good.
I dig this strings a lot now. I keep raising them higher and higher, almost to the point where my pinky can slip between the E and the fingerboard pretty easily. They can get loud and still not feel too tense.
Makes me wonder if "mediocre" strings all sound good so long as you string 'em up high. Tempted to dig out the Ebolagatos and do the same thing to see what happens.
Makes me wonder if "mediocre" strings all sound good so long as you string 'em up high. Tempted to dig out the Ebolagatos and do the same thing to see what happens.
Has anyone measured the tension on Kolstein Heritage strings? I have checked the various threads on TB on string tension but not found any measurements. I have them on a bass of mine and would be interested to know how they compare to Spiro Weichs (on my bass they 'feel' slightly lower tension but thats very unscientific!)
No idea, but this string is a sleeper, til you find it's sweet spot.
I've done a gig with it and a few sessions with it. This is a killer string! Very live, med-darkish, and loud. It no longer feels dead and every time I hit the E it's like sitting in a bath of sound. The bass resonates like crazy.
It seems that the key is to raise it up high to where it's got room to vibrate freely with as much tension as you can handle. Subjectively, it's like you can feel the entire fundamental of the string - just like you would if you were playing it arco. Once you're past a certain height and tension it really opens up. Before that, it feels a bit dead and restrained.
With this type of setup they start to remind me of Animas, but without the "hollow" attack that Animas have. I dont' know how to describe that sound. I think it comes from the roundwound'ish wrap on the Animas.
I'm up for selling a bunch of strings now that I found what I can do with this one. Ironic thing is that it's been sitting in my string closet for 6-7 years til I rediscovered it. Yeah, better than Spiros, evahs, and all else I've owned. The sound is consistent and even across all strings and registers.
This also reinforces my belief that any particular string needs to right amount of tension to get the most out of it, as well as the bass.
I wouldn't recommend it for those looking for low string height and low tension, and probably low tensioned basses. Sorry if I'm inventing a new term. Example: I can't string up Spiros meds on my bass - even at a low string height it's very difficult to play due to the tension after having a new soundpost put in last year.
It seems more suited for those Noamp setup and want that psuedo-gut sound and basses where there is already intrinsically "more" tension. You want that loud acoustic volume and have some of the technique to get it out. Makes me think that any bass I own I'd like to have it set up where the bass is more tense itself so I can use strings like this more effectively.
I'll post a recording soon.
I've done a gig with it and a few sessions with it. This is a killer string! Very live, med-darkish, and loud. It no longer feels dead and every time I hit the E it's like sitting in a bath of sound. The bass resonates like crazy.
It seems that the key is to raise it up high to where it's got room to vibrate freely with as much tension as you can handle. Subjectively, it's like you can feel the entire fundamental of the string - just like you would if you were playing it arco. Once you're past a certain height and tension it really opens up. Before that, it feels a bit dead and restrained.
With this type of setup they start to remind me of Animas, but without the "hollow" attack that Animas have. I dont' know how to describe that sound. I think it comes from the roundwound'ish wrap on the Animas.
I'm up for selling a bunch of strings now that I found what I can do with this one. Ironic thing is that it's been sitting in my string closet for 6-7 years til I rediscovered it. Yeah, better than Spiros, evahs, and all else I've owned. The sound is consistent and even across all strings and registers.
This also reinforces my belief that any particular string needs to right amount of tension to get the most out of it, as well as the bass.
I wouldn't recommend it for those looking for low string height and low tension, and probably low tensioned basses. Sorry if I'm inventing a new term. Example: I can't string up Spiros meds on my bass - even at a low string height it's very difficult to play due to the tension after having a new soundpost put in last year.
It seems more suited for those Noamp setup and want that psuedo-gut sound and basses where there is already intrinsically "more" tension. You want that loud acoustic volume and have some of the technique to get it out. Makes me think that any bass I own I'd like to have it set up where the bass is more tense itself so I can use strings like this more effectively.
I'll post a recording soon.
Well, this old set seemed to be dying. And then the D was making this weird rattle. Switching back to another set (Jazzers) made the buzz go away so maybe the strings were really crapping out. Tempted to get another set but decided that I should try some 7720's first.
The Heritages get lukewarm reception but I like them. Very even throughout, nice fundamental. I think having enough tension and height is important.
The Heritages get lukewarm reception but I like them. Very even throughout, nice fundamental. I think having enough tension and height is important.
