Double Bass String geekery

[SAlcott]

Well, after 40+ years, 5 double basses, and more different strings than I can remember, I think I'm done. Bel Cantos on AES#34, and black Eurosonics on the Vertical Bass. #34 is sounding deeper and richer than ever before, both from the player's perspective and out front, and the Eurosonics work great on the VBass for when I plug in. I'll get a backup set of each, and then I'll be set for the duration. Looking forward to a summer of lessons to clean up some bad habits, and hopefully a few more years of making music.

 

[HateyMcAmp]

Well, after 40+ years, 5 double basses, and more different strings than I can remember, I think I'm done. Bel Cantos on AES#34, and black Eurosonics on the Vertical Bass. #34 is sounding deeper and richer than ever before, both from the player's perspective and out front, and the Eurosonics work great on the VBass for when I plug in. I'll get a backup set of each, and then I'll be set for the duration. Looking forward to a summer of lessons to clean up some bad habits, and hopefully a few more years of making music.

Always supirsed the black eurosonics don't get more love. Using them now and digging them both acoustically and through my Krivo pickup, which is not a small feat. Nice price, too.

 

[Cheez]

Please educate me. How are black eurosonics different than white? (besides being a different color)

 

[Cheez]

And, while I’m here...what’s an AES#34?

 

[SAlcott]

Arnold Schnitzer #34. Re Eurosonics, the black ones are a different formula, and a bit thinner.

 

[unbrokenchain]

Are you happy with the Belcantos for pizz as well, or are you mostly arco on the Schnitzer?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I know one guy who was OK with Bels as a pizz string.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

I had an important classical gig with a nice acoustic jazz trio gig in the same ‘hood just after. I dreaded using my bass with BelCantos. Found that the bass really sound nice in this acoustic jazz concert setting. My first choice is Spiro’s for jazz, always. But it worked out way better than anticipated in this setting. Deep, warm and a match to gypsy guitar and clarinet on the gig.

I keep an open mind about strings for classical bass. I must have tried 8 different sets, maybe more. I have quite a collection. What I’m using now is good but there are still others I have not tried.

BelCantos are easy to bow, but there are very good sounding strings out there that are harder to bow. If your bow chops are weak these stiffer strings make you feel like you are fighting the bass.

Tough decision, play easy to bow strings that sound good or hard to bow strings that sound deeper and punchier? Hmmm.

 

[unbrokenchain]

Haven't tried the belcantos but my flex deluxe solos have surprised me with a good pizz sound. Hard for me to imagine an easier-to-bow string than these but I expected a dull thud from them pizz. Not so, I dig it!

 

[elmer]

Salcott, I remember you liked Passione starks. How would you compare them vs. Bel Cantos on your bass?
On my bass I found Passiones richer in tone and timbre while BCs sounded one dimensional and duller.
On the moment I have EP weichs on my classical bass because Passione starks were too tight for longer mensur. EP weich are also easy to bow and have a deep and dark arco sound. Plus they are a great hybrid string with a nice jazz bounce and sustain.
Mr CaseyVancouver, have you tried Evah Pirazzi weichs on your bass? I believe they might be able to handle both jobs well...

 

[SAlcott]

I did indeed like Passione stark and Flexocor Deluxe in the past year. The Bel Cantos just seem to be what the bass likes, and they come as close to the sound I hear in my head as any strings I've tried. I could probably pull off an acoustic pizz gig on them if the situation arose, but so far, that hasn't happened. The pizz gigs I do these days are all amplified (house amps), and the VBass does fine in those situations.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Arnold Schnitzer #34. Re Eurosonics, the black ones are a different formula, and a bit thinner.

I'm not familiar with the US naming of the Eurosonic, but since the white/clear ones are Presto Nylonwound, it might be that the black ones are Presto Jazzicato or Presto Jazzicato Tungsten (thinner A and E). The only difference is the lower two strings, the upper of the two Jazzicato sets are identical.