Double Bass Strings announcement

[kurt muroki]

Just wanted to announce that the new D'Addario classical bass strings are now for sale they are similar to belcantos in playability. I helped develop the strings to have a greater range of sound and dynamics without distortion in the sound or "bottoming out". I enjoyed working with DAddario and suggest that interested parties should take a tour of their factory! Their employees are treated with such respect and it is one big happy family there. I also enjoy the fact that the strings are made in NY!

Aloha bassists!

Kurt

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I got a chance to try these on your Ergo bass at the ISB, Kurt. Seemed very nice and I love your bass!

 

[JKincaid]

It's great to hear about a new choice in strings. Do they have the same character (color, brightness, etc.) as the helicore but with better response? Or do they sound a little thicker and darker like bel cantos? How's the pizz? Is there a long E? If so, how does it compare to the rest of the set?

Having recently bought my first set of helicores in probably 14 yrs, I'm finding myself being drawn back to their sound. I would love to have the helicore sound with better response.

 

[JoeyNaeger]

I enjoyed playing those strings on your bass at ISB. Let's hope they sound as nice on my bass...

 

[kurt muroki]

Cool eric!

 

[ldekoning]

For 289 per set, are these made to compete with flexocor originals and original flatchromes?

 

[kurt muroki]

They are $80 cheaper at david Gage's shop. Where did you see them for that price?

 

[Phil Rowan]

The $289 price tag is from the D'Addario site, which doesn't necessarily reflect the price they'll go for on sites like Quinn Violins, Lemur or Bob G (for example, D'Addario's site also lists Helicores for $162/set).

 

[Mike Goodbar]

I mentioned to a section-mate that his Arvi was sounding particularly great at a rehearsal the other night. He began to rave about these new D'Addario Kaplan strings that he had picked up at MidWest Clinic.

He referred to them as "Kaplans." Is that the branding on this set, Kurt?

 

[ispider6]

He referred to them as "Kaplans." Is that the branding on this set, Kurt?

Yep.

 

[Phil Rowan]

David Gage String Instruments

I have 'em on my bass (except for my old faithful Spiro Stark E) and they sound/feel damn good.

 

[Cody Sisk]

I played on the prototypes briefly when the D'addario rep was down here visiting Jeff Bradetich. I remember liking them too. I might have to call her up and get some tryout sets..

 

[ldekoning]

that's more like it! i wonder if this is the set that is being developed for fifths tuning?

 

[kurt muroki]

Hey! Kaplan was the name of an old time string company that was bought by DAddario a while back. Anyway they always sell for more on the company website because they want to give a fair shot to their distributors.

 

[kurt muroki]

5ths tuning will probably not be developed until they have enough people on board. Not cost effective for them. Probably cost effective of they charge a ton of $$.

 

[geoffbassist]

I just found Kurt Muroki's YouTube video on the development of Kaplan bass strings. Strings sound great, as does Kurt's superb playing.

Behind the Scenes: Development of the Kaplan Double Bass Set - YouTube

 

[Phil Rowan]

Nice video (and I've heard the low C on Kurt's bass just about causes earthquakes). I have a full set of the Kaplan mediums on my hybrid bass and I concur that they're really great strings (I had to put the Spiro Stark E back on though, cuz.. well, you know). Silky smooth under the bow, nice and dark even right out of the box, and as Kurt says in the video they have a fast response (they remind me a little of the immediate response of Spirocores, which I had on my bass for some time.. mostly used for arco work too). They also feel nice and loose (but no overly so).

 

[404usernamenotfound]

I've heard a lot about this strings, and can't wait to try some of these out in the near future.

 

[geoffbassist]

Here's another great review from youtubes basscausality

 

[John Crosley]

Thanks Geoff.