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Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I

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#222
Well, sounds like I'll have to get the fingerboard checked, then.
I guess I have been pushing that thought away, since I had it done when I bought the bass a couple of years ago, and it cost me a great deal. Of course the job would probably be smaller this time - back then the board was banana-shaped.
Thanks for the advise.
 
#223
I need some help from a 180 user. I had my SUIT on for a while and loved them, but I felt like I needed to use my String Charger to blend with my full circle for a tour I was doing. So I replaced them with Corellis. It turns out I didn't need the string charger. Now I want to put them back on, but I can't find the installation instructions and I want to make sure I correctly tie the knot on the tailpiece. I could guess, but I don't want to risk it slipping or worse :eek:. Does anyone have access to a scanner and their instruction sheet? I would love a copy if someone could email it to me at John (at) johnthomasson (dot) com. Velvet doesn't have it on their site. My luthier put them on the first time. I think won't be that hard since I can see where the string crossed the bridge on my last installation, but it will be nice to have the instructions just in case. Also the G and the D are so similar in diameter. Which is which as far as the color tag goes. I have a red and a greenish color? Thanks in advance!

I am more worried about getting the G and D sussed out, the knot should be easy because of the sticky material on the ends.
 
#225
Is Larry Grenadier still using the Garbos? What other bass players are using them?

I recently put my Eurosonics back on after trying out the Velvet Animas and I am thinking about trying the Garbos now. The Eurosonics sound very good with my magnetic pickup, but with my full circle they sound very muddy in certain rooms or with drummers. I like that I can have the action pretty low and they still sound very good.

Can the Garbos be setup with low action or will they be ridiculously floppy. I know they do not bow that well, but I actually tried someones bass with them on a few months back and they bowed much better than the Eurosonics - even the G string.
 
#227
Hi There...

My first reply here on TB. I'm from Denmark on the other side of the pond. I hope you all understand me despite of my lousy grammar and spelling :)

I play the Garbos on my german built bass and they're adjusted VERY low. I'm going to a luthier this week to get a new bridge installed since I don't feel that I get enough volume out of my bass...

The Garbos is actually very comfortable to play adjusted this low, allthough they are very low-tension. I tried my teachers bass with garbos last week, his bass is adjusted a lot higher than mine and what a tone, volume and definition he gets out of it. I want that to!!! We both play a carved german bass, and both have the Realist intalled, but the basses sound very different due to the difference in string height.

In short: I think it would be a shame to install the Garbos to low, you don't get the full advantage of them!! It is an option, but i'm shure there are better alternatives out there...

Regards Mr. Engberg, Denmark
 
#233
Adrian Cho said:
What's low? I'm playing on gut and my G is at 7 mm and my E is at 9 mm. That's not that high but I get plenty of volume out of the strings.
Click to expand...



Hi Again...

Just got back from the luthier, it feels like I've got a new bass with me home :D :D

I haven't measured what my string height was before but my guess is about 4 mm for the g-string and about 7 mm on the E. This is low for Garbos, right? The height got raised about 3 mm and it feels great!!!

Well gotta get back practicing, it even makes me smile these days :)

By the way... What amp are you using for a Carved Bass/Garbo/Realist setup?

Mr. Engberg, Denmark...

P.S.: The language is Danish, not Denmarkish ;)
 
#235
Who has tried both? Pros? Cons?
Are the Garbos *considerably* louder than the Animas?
How about bowing? And how comfortable are they for fast thumb position playing?

Any hints will be appreciated. I feel it's finally time to check them out and see what the raving is all about.

Marco
 
#236
I had Garbo strings on my bass for awhile. Low tension. Easy to play in TB. Nice thump but the g-string is hard to bow, scratchy. The E- and A-string had too low tension for my taste. Just my experience.

I think there is a new version of the Garbos out now. Really don't know the difference. Mine where those who colored your fingers green.
 
#237
I've tried both. They are both very similar in tension (low). The garbos are a bit larger in diameter and have that nylon wrapped g. The garbos windings are smoother as well, they are both roundwound copper or something but the garbos are smoother to the touch. I never tried to bow either set. They both sounded nice. Kind of a combination between a gut like string and a steel string.

Kevinlee
 
#238
Thanks for the heads up guys. Any additional comments on how those strings bow will be appreciated. I wouldn't mind going back to a gut sound, but I still want to be able to get a decent bowed sound, especially on the G string. I have a feeling that the Animas won't be as loud or thumpy as the Garbos, but they will be more bowable. Is that right?

Marco
 
#239
I thought the Animas bowed great. They had a very nice sound. Pizzicato was similar to Eudoxas on the G and D strings. Nice fundamental and pleanty of thump with pleanty of sustain. The E and A were a bit too floppy on my bass - but I like to keep my action very low so I'm sure if you raised the action up they would be O.K. These were very loud stings. The E and A had way more sustain than Spirocores on my bass.
 
#240
jazzbass72 said:
Thanks for the heads up guys. Any additional comments on how those strings bow will be appreciated. I wouldn't mind going back to a gut sound, but I still want to be able to get a decent bowed sound, especially on the G string. I have a feeling that the Animas won't be as loud or thumpy as the Garbos, but they will be more bowable. Is that right?

Marco
Click to expand...

The only real problem with bowing the Garbos is the G. The other strings are fine. However, I think if you want to get more of a gut sound and still have great arco you should go for the new Compas 180's. They have a really dark thumpy sound and are some of the easiest to bow strings available. One thing to remember though.....a big component of the "gut sound" is higher action. You will find that even steel strings get that "bounce" when you increase the string height.
 
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