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Double Bass solo type bowed strings

M

MerryPrankster

Feb 20, 2003
174
0
38
Toms River , New Jersey
#1
I have a all state audition coming up and i dont want to do a solo with Thomastik Dominants (while theyre great for heavy orchestra stuff , too heavy and sometimes scratchy (tension). anyone have a good recommendation . I'm thinking about
*pirastro--obligatos or permanents
*d'addario--helicore orch. med , lite *or corellis

Help...
 
#2
I might stay away from the Obligatos, because on another post it was mentioned they take a long time to break in, like 4 weeks. I'm not a big fan of the Helicore Hybrids, because the A and E just don't respond for me either arco or pizz. But the Helicore Orchestras are suposed to arco like a dream and the Helicores in general stay in tune very well. Currently I am playing on Eudoxas and LOVE THEM!
 
#3
Having used both Eudoxas and Obligatos, I would disagree that Obligatos take a long time to break in. I found they took less than a week before tuning was very stable and the harshness had worn off. To hurry it along, take a cloth and build up heat by using friction by rubbing down the strings fast. Seems to help with brighter strings, but I never had to do that with those (Used to do it with Spiros).

The Eudoxas are the superior string, IMHO. I borrowed my old Juzek this week while my Solano is getting the tailpiece raiser removed, and the Eudoxas that are about 2 years old still sound terrific. I'm having my luthier replace the 6 month old Obligatos. They are starting to roll really band and the winding is pulling apart, despite being under humidity. The G string is starting to get a little strident as well.

Monte
 
#4
MP, it all depends where you're at, arco-wise.
First is it really SOLO (ie: A E B F#) or ORCHESTRAL (ie: regular tuning) strings that you want ?

Second, Obligato are nice sounding all around strings that settle-in fast (coupla days) and stay tuned even if you leave the window open. They are very (too much ?) forgiving re bow placement, and never scratchy.

Third, Eudoxa are wonderfuly sounding gut core strings with the usual caveat of this type of string: precise bow placement is required to get a good tone and they get out off tune with the slighter change of humidity in the room, so easily that this could become a nitemare in an audition...

IMHO Eudoxa are very interesting but need some setup adjustment are too unstable to be a safe choice for auditioning. Obligato is a smarter choice for that purpose.
 
#5
MerryPrankster said:
I have a all state audition coming up and i dont want to do a solo with Thomastik Dominants (while theyre great for heavy orchestra stuff , too heavy and sometimes scratchy (tension). anyone have a good recommendation . I'm thinking about
*pirastro--obligatos or permanents
*d'addario--helicore orch. med , lite *or corellis

Help...
Click to expand...
i know of a serious classical dude who was using the solo tuning obligatos tuned down to orchestral pitch. he loved them and loved the bow response... you may want to try the same thing with the dominants. i hear they're kind of soft that way.
 

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