• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Seeking alternative hybrid string choices

#21
You've gotten some great suggestions but this seems a bit premature as you don't yet have the new bass. When your new bass arrives spend some time with it and adjust as needed. I really like the EP weichs, finding them to have plenty of clarity. I'd recommend you stick with those on the new bass because you know how they are on your current bass.
Moving from a ply to a nice carved bass may just give you what you want.
 
#22
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
You've gotten some great suggestions but this seems a bit premature as you don't yet have the new bass. When your new bass arrives spend some time with it and adjust as needed. I really like the EP weichs, finding them to have plenty of clarity. I'd recommend you stick with those on the new bass because you know how they are on your current bass.
Moving from a ply to a nice carved bass may just give you what you want.
Click to expand...

That's a good suggestion Greg. I'm getting a hybrid Upton Bescian. Flatback. I have a rough idea of what the Evahs will sound like on the Bescian. I want to resolve this situation now with my ply cause I'll be playing it for another 4 months potentially before I get the new bass. I like the Evahs but I know that both I and my bandmates are hearing my bass less clearly with the Evahs.
 
#23
dperrott said:
I would say the Thomastik rope core/superflexibles. I love spiracores and will never play anything else, but if I had to play anything else it would be these. The bow great, they were designed for orchestra, but have nice sustain to them. I was impressed with a friends bass that had them. I think the are a great hybrid string.
Click to expand...

I second that. ALthough i don't love the SF E string. I swap that out for a Spiro Mit E and I use SF A,D and G. This is a great all around set for Jazz and arco playing on my Prescott plus the SF' s are cheaper than Spiros and Animas etc.
 
#24
Based on what I'm hearing from people here and personal emails, I'm leaning towards Obligatos or Superflexibles first then Dominants second because of breakability. The Velvet Compas 180 looked interesting from all I read but I got some conflicting remarks about their bowability.
I'm going to try a couple different amp set ups for my gigs and see if swapping a couple things around (heads and cabs) might work to get me a brighter sound with the Evahs which I acoustically do like.
I tried the bass through a brighter amp and they seemed to be fine at home. I'll have to wait for the next gig. I'll definitely report back on what worked better with my Upton ply.
 
#28
nicechuck said:
You mentioned Helicores, and that you had mixed results with them, was that before they changed the formula? I have them on my bass and love them, but I don't have much experience with alot of other strings
Click to expand...

I haven't used Helicores on my current bass. My first experience with them was on a mid 60's Roth hybrid. They sounded very good but the E string instantly broke WHILE at the shop. John at World of Strings instantly replaced it and I never had any problems with those strings.
My next experience was with a 70's hybrid Wilfer bass. The bass was a quiet bass without much bottom. The Helicores sounded horrible on that bass and so did my Evahs. I threw some old Spiro Mittels on there and the bass came back to life.
My gut tells me that the Helicores would sound fine on my current bass. It's a large 3/4, small 7/8th ply and pretty much everything sounds at least "fine" on the instrument.
To answer your question, I'm not sure when the formula was changed. Please help me out with that. The first set with good acoustic results was about 10 years ago. The bad acoustic result was last year. It's all about the bass.
 
#32
Yeah, take your EPs and put them on your new bass. It'll be like a free trial. Like maybe there's an 80% chance you won't like it. It's not going to ruin the honeymoon period. Better than spending like $200 on some new strings and then getting a new bass and blah-blah-blah.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back