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Double Bass New Kolstein strings
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I finally had a chance to try a newish set of these, although they are the old formula. They are loud, bright, and have a nice soft feel for kind of a medium tension string. But they’re not good for my bass, which is very bright. I’m pretty sure I’m stuck with Evahs until something even darker comes along that I like. So I’ll be selling the set of Kolsteins I just bought from another forum member.
I replaced a set of Zyex lights with a set of the new Kolstein Heritage Strings. In many ways, these strings are very similar. They both have a horrible tin-can sound when they are new, the Zyex take a couple weeks to smooth out, the Kolsteins took at least 3 weeks. The Heritage set feels softer than the Zyex, maybe even too soft. They also lack the very heavy fundamental that I am used to with the Zyex. I am not particularly thrilled with these strings. However, I did not change sound posts for the winter so my post may be too tight. I'm going to wait a few months to see if these strings get any better as the seasons change. The sound isn't bad, it is just disappointing.
BobDeRosa
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- May 16, 2012
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You change your sound post seasonally? Is this a common practice? I've never changed mine in more than 25 years.
I like my Heritage strings, but they took a very long time to de-banjo - about 2 months. The longest break in period I've ever had. Worth the wait? I'm not sure, but I do like them. If I don't get a year+ I'll try something else.
I don’t, but my luthier mentioned that may be the problem. I’m just looking for an excuse not to change strings again.
This is exactly what I wanted to hear comparison versus zyex. Thanks moose.
I just installed a used set of Heritage strings that I got in the classifieds here. They are quite boingy at the moment, but they feel great and are holding their tuning better than I expected. I'm optimistic that these will work quite well with the bass I've put them on. Will report back after they break in a little. It's been a while since I played on Zyex lights, but these seem better to me so far...
I just replaced Zyex mediums on my bass. I bought these Kolstein used - apparently they were on the previous owner’s bass about a month.
I agree these are fairly similar but I like the Kolsteins better, especially arco. I never was pleased with the Zyex G; I would usually get a scratchy start- mostly due to my lack of skill but it’s not such a problem on the Kolstein G. Also the Zyex had what I would call a nasally sound in the first octave of the G; the Kolstein is much nicer. Maybe more like a cello sound on my bass than many would like but definitely an improvement.
Pizz I don’t notice a big difference between these and the Zyex on my bass.
As moose mentioned, they’re even softer and easier to play,which is a plus to me. I initially tried Zyex looking for a friendly string for arthritic and tendinitis-prone hands; either fits the bill. They are much thinner compared to the medium Zyex but I don’t know about the Zyex lights. I enjoyed the thicker tactile feel of the Zyex but I don’t think it provided a fuller sound- if anything these sound more complex. Then again my Zyex were several years old.
Both are fairly loud strings; these may be louder than the Zyex.
I would guess someone who likes Zyex might like these even better; if they hate Zyex they probably won’t like these either.
Zyex light set on my bass are pretty good pizz and arco except for the A string which is an unbowable wolf parade. I'm really struggling with this bass and it's wide wolf region F#-Bb. Best experience so far has been Kaplan mediums. It's a loud and resonant fully carved bass.
Interesting you say that - my bass has a wolf that is worst at the octave of the a string but is bad from g to a flat. It was bad with the Zyex but is worse with the Kolstein. Well, except that the C sharp on the a string was bad with the Zyex but fine now.
I dropped the bass off with a luthier today to have the Endpin hole shimmed and while they have it they are going to try a couple things that may improve the wolf- or may make it worse!
I’ll let you know if something helps that might be worth trying for you
I dropped the bass off with a luthier today to have the Endpin hole shimmed and while they have it they are going to try a couple things that may improve the wolf- or may make it worse!
I’ll let you know if something helps that might be worth trying for you
Off topic...stefani and other folks...have you tried the "Wolf Terminator" product? I tried several wolf devices and other wolf bass adjustments = no joy. When I finally got the "Wolf Terminator" properly adjusted for MY bass, I was completely satisfied with the results. My advice is that you should research the "Wolf Terminator" and maybe give it a try.
I have tried the WT, but I cannot seem to find the right spot on my bass. I even sent it back to Hideo to get it retuned to Ab after I had adjusted it far and away on either side of the original Ab.
I'll give it another try after seeing the videos on how the Krentz modulator works. I'm currently using a Lupex weight with minimal success.
When sitting on my stool I can place the heel of my right foot on the top near the bottom of the bass bar and that kills the wolf. That's basically the area in which I've tried to stick the WT.
I discovered that my error on my bass with the WT was to "think" that "tightening" the set screw would give me more wolf reduction. When I "loosened" and tested I found the correct adjustment for my bass. The location of the WT on my bass was less important than the WT "tension". My location for the WT is under tailpiece under the string ball end. My wolf is second string ~~ Ab. Good luck!
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- While my bass was in the shop I asked if they “believe in” tuning the afterlengths (after reading some of the threads here with proponents and skeptics). I was told that they do, preferring a fourth (plus 2 octaves) above the open string. I had them install an adjustable tailgut cable and asked them to time the after lengths.
I was told over the phone that only the d string was tuned to the proper interval; since the bridge was warped not all strings were the the same. I let them keep it another few days to try to straighten the bridge. When I got it home the wolf was the same- and the after lengths were about a quarter tone shy of being a fifth above the open string. I guess they didn’t go back to the after lengths after reinstalling the straighter bridge.
I tried putting in a bit of an old E string (with the silk) where the strings enter the tailpiece and now they are a fifth above the open strings. I got the idea from Troy K on an old thread.
Some comments said that having one of the afterlengths tuned to your wolf will calm down the wolf. Since mine was worst on A I figured the E string after- length would be A in fourths, or the D String in fifths.
- It definitely made a difference. The wolf is still there but maybe 50 percent reduced, which is manageable. I’m thinking if it were the E string afterlength tuned to A rather than the D, the effect would be more pronounced. Maybe I’ll try that but it’s a bit more work to adjust the tailgut than to simply insert a piece of string as I did.
- Here's a pic:
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stefaniw80401 said:
Back on topic, I’m still liking the sound of these strings bowed much better than the Zyex.
However, after my ears had a break while the bass was having work done, I’m not so sure about the pizz sound. I don’t mind it, but I’m not sure I’d say it’s better than Zyex, maybe the other way around. Both sound a bit too much like a fretless bass guitar with roundwound strings to me, and the Kolstein maybe more so than the Zyex. Not a bad sound but not what I would prefer.
Still, these Kolstein are my favorite out of all I’ve tried so far in terms of bowing well + having a decent but bright pizz sound + very easy on the left hand.
However, after my ears had a break while the bass was having work done, I’m not so sure about the pizz sound. I don’t mind it, but I’m not sure I’d say it’s better than Zyex, maybe the other way around. Both sound a bit too much like a fretless bass guitar with roundwound strings to me, and the Kolstein maybe more so than the Zyex. Not a bad sound but not what I would prefer.
Still, these Kolstein are my favorite out of all I’ve tried so far in terms of bowing well + having a decent but bright pizz sound + very easy on the left hand.
Have you tried Tempera Hybrids? I have them on my Kolstein Guarneri now. I am still adjusting to them but they are excellent.
