proper strings?

Obligatos
Kolstein Heritage
Dominants

I'm sure others will chime in...

 

OK, I am aware that no one here seems to have anything nice to say about Heliocore Orchestra strings. I also admit that I have played only these strings on my bass since I bought it a little over 2 years ago. (Though on the carved bass I played for about a year before that, I had one of the old Flexocore sets with an old Euduxa E (before Euduxa was a gut string).

That said, I play mostly orchestra (arco) and a little jazz (mostly the standards). I my opinion, the Helicore Orchestras, are easy to bow, have a decently warm and smooth sound on the D and G (though they seem a bit rough or gravely on the A and E). Most important, at least on my bass they have resonable sustain and some growl for jazz pizz.

My teacher even commented on how nice these strings sounded on my bass for jazz pizz. (I play on a Shen hybrid). One of the reasons I have been hesitent to change to a purely arco string like the Flexocores, is that I am afraid of lossing that {"Pizzability").

My strings broke in gradually, but have lasted more than two years of about 12 to 14 hours of playing per week.

 

Sounds like Helicore Orchestral... if my memory serves me correctly.

The differences between their Orchestral and Hybrid strings are subtle. Over time I came to prefer the Orchestral version slightly. It is a fine string.

At the moment I am loving Dominants, mine are really in their prime now (I think I bought them in June). As a bowed string they are... so good once they age a bit. It's such a nice sounding string after the first month or so. Obligatos die too soon. End of story! Don't use them unless you are rich.

 

For your usage, Helicore Orchestras look good. I used them as an all-around string for years (60/40 classical arco / jazz pizz). Very easy playing string, IMHO a better hybrid string than the 'official' Helicore Hybrids.

You might want to look into Pirastro Permanents, which is what I switched to from the Helicores. They're slightly brighter than the Helicore Orchestras, more definition and volume. They're also slightly higher tension and stiffer-feeling. Great bowed sound and quick response, and a very woody, thumpy pizz tone. The E is quite dark for jazz pizz though.

I kept a set on my bass for a little over two years, only changed because eventually they were pretty dead, especially the E. That's better longevity than I ever got out of Helicores - I'd wear a set out in about a year, but that's not so bad either. Helicores are definitely a little easier to bow and a generally very forgiving string, both of the player and the instrument.

 

+1 regarding the Permanents! I love these strings. I now use a full Permanents set tuned in fifths (a set which I had to make up myself, since Pirastro does not offer strings in fifths tuning). I was a little afraid the low C might sound dull when pizzed, but none of that. It sounds very clear, and they bow very easily.

Cheers,

Vincent