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Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I

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#301
Got mine there three months ago.
I don't know about these strings. I really want to like them. In a duo they're great but they don't like to be amplified at all.
They're really driving me crazy.
my wife does that already, I don't need it from my strings as well.
 
#303
Blaine said:
Got mine there three months ago.
I don't know about these strings. I really want to like them. In a duo they're great but they don't like to be amplified at all.
They're really driving me crazy.
my wife does that already, I don't need it from my strings as well.
Click to expand...

Hehehee......I really liked the way the Animas sound amplified. What pickup system are you using? I liked them a little better with my Realist than my Full Circle, but they both sounded nice IMO. I am about to order a set and go back to Animas after my short return to Spiros.
 
#305
Maybe I jumped the gun, the anima are real DARK. It takes a lot of concentration to determine whether they’re in tune or not. Playing's enough of a challenge without having to ask your drummer if he think your in tune or not :(

I played amplified Friday and Saturday I kept having to change fingering cause the strings would sound out, but between songs I checked them and they were in, ***. I had to lower the bass down pretty much and boost the high-end; the EQ looks like a smirk.

It's my own fault for not playing them amplified before taking them out, never do that again (hand on heart).

But I still like the way they sound acoustically, played a small cocktail party Sunday and they worked just fine. I'm torn whether to slap the spiros back on or not. I'll give them another week since I dropped over $200 on these things.

They sound rich bowed, I bet you orchestral guys like them.
 
#308
FredH said:
Maybe I jumped the gun, the anima are real DARK. It takes a lot of concentration to determine whether they’re in tune or not. Playing's enough of a challenge without having to ask your drummer if he think your in tune or not :(

I played amplified Friday and Saturday I kept having to change fingering cause the strings would sound out, but between songs I checked them and they were in, ***. I had to lower the bass down pretty much and boost the high-end; the EQ looks like a smirk.

It's my own fault for not playing them amplified before taking them out, never do that again (hand on heart).

But I still like the way they sound acoustically, played a small cocktail party Sunday and they worked just fine. I'm torn whether to slap the spiros back on or not. I'll give them another week since I dropped over $200 on these things.

They sound rich bowed, I bet you orchestral guys like them.
Click to expand...

Give them a chance. It does take a little bit of time to get to your intonnation together on the Animas, but I think it is worth it. I made the mistake of putting them on just before a recording session were I was supposed to over-dub some bowing. Man that was a humbling experience. I guess I should of spent more time warming up on them. I had a hell of time with tuning.
 
#310
All right I’ve changed my mind, there’s nothing wrong with the anima. In fact I dig them.

Once I had more time on these strings and figured out how they worked things were fine. Also they seem to be done settling which helps.

The strings are very easy on my fingers once I got used to the gaps in the wrapping. I found it easy to hold octaves and tenths where in the past my fingers would get tired. Position changes and playing in thumb was is of a stress than with past strings. The warmth of these strings makes getting lost in a solo and coming back a pleasure journey. All in all I’m happy I got these strings.

The only down side I see is that they take more right hand pluck to load the string which can slow me down at times. But this problem can be overcome with practice (I hope).

PS My drummer likes them ;)
 
#311
I'm well on my way to becoming an Anima enthusiast. I put them on the La Scala one week ago yesterday. I was a little disappointed at the very beginning, particularly with the E string, which sounded somewhat diffused and low in volume. But it's since opened up and now sounds fantastic, as do all the other strings. Oh yeah...I raised the adjusters 1mm, and the strings started speakin'.

They feel wonderful. The tension is low but not flabby; you can dig into them. The sound, to my ears, is very balanced and organic, with a nice little velvety :hmm: "halo" around each note. Kinda like switching from yellow mustard to the grainy French stuff...very satisfying. One of the best things for me is, when venturing up the G string during a walking line or a solo, the extra thickness keeps the sound nice and FAT...it still sounds like a bass, rather than thinning out into cello-land. I also like the absence of the exaggerated "mwah" growl that sometimes can become strident over time. Nothing against that sound, I was just looking for a more balanced, natural warmth, and the Animas really do that well on my bass. I am getting to the point where I can venture into fast upper register soloing as well as I could on Oblis and Spiros; it just took a couple of days to adjust. Thumb position is fine. Arco is nice in a jazz sense, orchestra players might look elsewhere, but they are at least as nice as the Obligatos they replaced. Everyone who hears them comments on the warmth and focus.

Yeah, they're pricey. If they last for awhile, who cares? I really like them. Probably not for everyone, but I think I'm a convert. I'd buy them again.
 
#312
Has anyone else experienced a slight buzz on any of the strings in an Anima set? I have a whisper buzz on the G string that's not too noticeable in the lower positions, but really starts to get loud in thumb position... enough that it picks up when amplified and drives me crazy when i'm practicing. It's like somebody's whispering "sssss.... sssss...." with every note. There's still a strong fundamental and good tone, but man is it annoying.

I'm wondering if the string might be defective... can't see any loose windings and it doesn't have any loose winding symptoms i've seen on other strings in the past. Any thoughts?
 
#314
Hi guys...

I bought a set of Animas a while ago and wanted to install the yesterday. Then the trouble came :spit: The red windings at the peg end don't come over the nut at any of the strings...

I've played the Garbos for a little more than a year and they suited my bass fine lenghtwise and soundwise. My bass is a "normal" 3/4 size carved bass, not big and not small...

I ordered the set at Quinnviolins.com as being 3/4 sized...

What is wrong?

-Jeppe
 
#315
Hi guys...

I've posted this before, but started my own thread so I wouldn't hijack the other.

I bought a set of Animas a while ago and wanted to install the yesterday. Then the trouble came :spit: The red windings at the peg end don't come over the nut at any of the strings...

I've played the Garbos for a little more than a year and they suited my bass fine lenghtwise and soundwise. My bass is a "normal" 3/4 size carved bass, not big and not small...

I ordered the set at Quinnviolins.com as being 3/4 sized...

What is wrong?

-Jeppe
 
#318
I doubt they're actually too short. Measure the length of the playable part of the string against the mensure of your instrument. Your problem may be that the winding section is too long..?

If not send them back!
 
#319
Ed: Is any of your recordings submitted in the Double Bass Sampler done with Anima strings?

General question: How long will it take for the Animas to "break-in"? I installed them monday night but took them off 3 hours later because they felt too strange to me. I've been a spirocore user for years so there will be need for time to adjust both for me and my bass. The reason I took them off was a rehearsal tuesday night and a gig tomorrow. I guess I will put them back on to give them a second chance and at least a week before I decide to keep them or not.

oystein
 
#320
I put mine on May 29 and I would consider them fully broken in and talkin'. They need more stretching time than the Obligatos they replaced on my bass, you'll be busy retuning for a couple of weeks. I would also expect a period of personal adjustment if you're coming from Spiros. Oranges and Apples, y'know.

Arco is turning out very nice indeed. Yummy. Pizz is sublime. Here's me on the Animas; :D
 
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