Are they stiffer than Spiro's? Can you dig into them without them feeling like rubber bands? I've been hearing alot about these lately.
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Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I
- Thread starter mic_j
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They definitely are not stiffer than Spiro orchestras, and are maybe even less stiff than Spiro weichs. But this is the thing about Animas: they are low-tension but they don't *play* like low tension strings--you can dig in and get a humongous sound from them.
It also definitely helps to crank the action up when you put them on (although it will rise naturally as the top becomes accustomed to the lower tension, or at least that's how it worked with my bass). If you have them too low, you miss out on all of the good qualities of the strings.
It took my last set about two weeks to stop stretching, and it's a freaky experience on my bass because, before the stretching occurs, the red wraps at the top of the string were hanging over the nut well into half-position. By now, they are well above the nut and everything is normal.
I must say that it may take longer to become accustomed to the strings as a player than it does for the strings to become accustomed to the bass, but the rewards are very great. I had my first set on for about two months and decided to switch back to spiros because I felt like the strings were just too "different" for me, but those spiros were only back on the bass for one day before I realized that I had entered a completely new and superior world of tone production with the Animas that the Spiros could not hope to match. The steel strings were flat and two-dimensional, the Animas were three-dimensional and round and blossoming. They went back on the bass and I haven't looked back.
As far as bowing goes, I worked hard at getting used to the Animas and thought I had made a lot of progress. Then I spent a month or so playing arco on a bass with steel orchestra strings, and when I went back to the Animas with the bow I could barely get a sound out of them...the technique required is rather different.
Lastly--anyone who puts Animas (or any Velvet strings) on their bass for an hour and then decides they don't like them (as we hear of on TB on occasion) is wasting their own time and money. These are not typical strings! It takes a long time to really evaluate them--in my case, about three months. Sure, the G string will feel ridiculously thick if you're coming from Spiro weichs, but this is not an impediment once you get used to it (in fact, from listening to recordings of myself on gigs I can say for certain that I play with much more agility and clarity on Animas than I did on Spiros, which is contrary to the first impression most of us have when trying Animas for the first time). Some people may feel like they don't have three months to give to an adjustment period (gigs and such), but this is a small amount of time compared with a lifetime as a bassist.
It also definitely helps to crank the action up when you put them on (although it will rise naturally as the top becomes accustomed to the lower tension, or at least that's how it worked with my bass). If you have them too low, you miss out on all of the good qualities of the strings.
It took my last set about two weeks to stop stretching, and it's a freaky experience on my bass because, before the stretching occurs, the red wraps at the top of the string were hanging over the nut well into half-position. By now, they are well above the nut and everything is normal.
I must say that it may take longer to become accustomed to the strings as a player than it does for the strings to become accustomed to the bass, but the rewards are very great. I had my first set on for about two months and decided to switch back to spiros because I felt like the strings were just too "different" for me, but those spiros were only back on the bass for one day before I realized that I had entered a completely new and superior world of tone production with the Animas that the Spiros could not hope to match. The steel strings were flat and two-dimensional, the Animas were three-dimensional and round and blossoming. They went back on the bass and I haven't looked back.
As far as bowing goes, I worked hard at getting used to the Animas and thought I had made a lot of progress. Then I spent a month or so playing arco on a bass with steel orchestra strings, and when I went back to the Animas with the bow I could barely get a sound out of them...the technique required is rather different.
Lastly--anyone who puts Animas (or any Velvet strings) on their bass for an hour and then decides they don't like them (as we hear of on TB on occasion) is wasting their own time and money. These are not typical strings! It takes a long time to really evaluate them--in my case, about three months. Sure, the G string will feel ridiculously thick if you're coming from Spiro weichs, but this is not an impediment once you get used to it (in fact, from listening to recordings of myself on gigs I can say for certain that I play with much more agility and clarity on Animas than I did on Spiros, which is contrary to the first impression most of us have when trying Animas for the first time). Some people may feel like they don't have three months to give to an adjustment period (gigs and such), but this is a small amount of time compared with a lifetime as a bassist.
thanks J-5..that was helpful. Next time I take my bass in I might have a set put on although I prefer a string with alot of tension. Maybe I'm just getting psyched out. I thought the Helicores I had on my bass were way too flabby and so I switched to the Spiro Orch's. Those are the only two strings I've ever played on so....
Say hey to Bloomington for me...it'll be real purdy down there in about a week or so. This is a good time of year.
Say hey to Bloomington for me...it'll be real purdy down there in about a week or so. This is a good time of year.
So far I'm finding the G, D, and A to play very well and easy. Low tension, but not floppy. The E on the other hand, seems reall flappy to me. I've jacked up the string height, but I'll try to go a little higher.
I'm not gigging that much right now, so I think I can sit tight with these and see where they go.
I'm not gigging that much right now, so I think I can sit tight with these and see where they go.
The E is definitely the weakest of the Anima strings. Mine is a bit floppy and has a weird kind of metallic overtone thing going on (and has some serious issues under the bow), but I find that these flaws tend to disappear in the midst of performance; I tend not to notice them at the time, and on review of recordings I don't hear any problems, so I've put it out of my mind.
Besides, I tried mixing the other three Animas with a Spiro E, and it just did not work...the Spirocore was so much lower in volume (output) than the other three strings that I had to take it off. That was a real surprise to me, because I had previously considered the Spiro E to be about the perfect E string.
Besides, I tried mixing the other three Animas with a Spiro E, and it just did not work...the Spirocore was so much lower in volume (output) than the other three strings that I had to take it off. That was a real surprise to me, because I had previously considered the Spiro E to be about the perfect E string.
Too floppy for me too. Put a Spiro Orch E on and it sounds fine as far as balance with the Anima's.
That's a good idea, and I guess LNR music sells individual Velvet strings (maybe the only place that does?). The Spiro E that I used was a weich, not a mittel, and it was a little dead (there have been some construction issues with Spirocores recently, and this particular string both looked different and felt a bit deader from the get-go than I was used to with Spirocores), so maybe a steel string could be a good match. I naturally resist the Velvet claim that one has to use a full set for tension-matching purposes, but perhaps mixing-and-matching from within the same manufacturer is a good idea.
I would love to know more about the Compas 180 set that many people have said is great for both arco and pizz purposes, but I'm too pleased with the Animas to experiment right now. (I was reflecting on this while practicing tonight--yeah, I know, it's Friday night and no gig--and Animas are just such a pleasure to play on that I almost feel guilty.)
I would love to know more about the Compas 180 set that many people have said is great for both arco and pizz purposes, but I'm too pleased with the Animas to experiment right now. (I was reflecting on this while practicing tonight--yeah, I know, it's Friday night and no gig--and Animas are just such a pleasure to play on that I almost feel guilty.)
A fellow bassist and friend showed up last nite and sat in. First comment was "how can you play with such high action?", but then at the the break, the conversation turned to "I've got to get a set of those", action not being a problem with low tension. The hippest thing was getting to hear my bass from out in the room where the focus comes together. There is none of that nasal mid range that I often hear with Spiro's.
I'm flip-flopping back and forth on putting in the investment with these while I'm sitting here waiting for them to stretch.
I can definately see how all of the strings take a little getting used to with the bow. If the E was passable, I'd be convinced. I play more pizz than arco, but I need to reverse that ratio for a while to focus on what I need to. I guess I'll give the Compas E a try and see if it fits with the Anima's, but I may still move on to the next test (Dominants) soon.
So, they may show up for sale soon, they may not.
They are great strings in many respects: most actually.
I can definately see how all of the strings take a little getting used to with the bow. If the E was passable, I'd be convinced. I play more pizz than arco, but I need to reverse that ratio for a while to focus on what I need to. I guess I'll give the Compas E a try and see if it fits with the Anima's, but I may still move on to the next test (Dominants) soon.
So, they may show up for sale soon, they may not.
They are great strings in many respects: most actually.
Velvet 360's don't seem to be mentioned much on this forum. Does anyone have direct experience with these? What strings would the 360's be comparable to?
I used the Velvet 360 set for about six months back in 2000. They really sounded great for jazz--very old school, fat, quite nice. The round windings drove me nuts, though, and I didn't think that they were that impressive under the bow.
After using regular steel strings for the next four years, I switched to Velvet Animas, and they are much better than the 360s. Or maybe I'm better now; I'm certainly a different player than I was five years ago, so I can't really make a good comparison. But the Animas seem to be a much better pizz string, and a worse arco string, than the 360 set.
After using regular steel strings for the next four years, I switched to Velvet Animas, and they are much better than the 360s. Or maybe I'm better now; I'm certainly a different player than I was five years ago, so I can't really make a good comparison. But the Animas seem to be a much better pizz string, and a worse arco string, than the 360 set.
I had the streching problems with the Animas when I first had them on, but after a week of practice, gigs, and a 4 hour session they broke in nice. As far as the metalic ring is concerned, I had that problem and I took the E and A off and restrung them and they sounded better. Try to get the string as tight as possible then start wraping the winding around, keep the string tight then start turning the peg. I know this doesn't sound so clear, but you should try re stringing, it'll help.
Before a rehearsal last night, I peeked through the window of the adjacent studio to see/hear the jazz group there. The bass player's sound was warm, fat and very gut-like, and immediately trigggered a GAS attack. Because he was angled with his back toward the door, I was unable to get an extended look at the windings on the strings. I did catch a quick glimpse, though, of the G-string winding, which was yellow and looked less like fabric than shiny tape. The other three strings, however, appeared to have red or red-spiral windings, though not of the Spiro or Obligato type I'm familiar with. The G string also appeared to be round wound--I couldn't say about the others. I asked the guy at the desk to ask the player what strings he was using.
I learned later that he said only they were Velvets. Given that he was playing jazz, I'm willing to bet the they were Animas or Garbos. Based on the albeit sketchy information, would anyone venture to guess whether they were Animas of Garbos?
Thanks in advance.
I learned later that he said only they were Velvets. Given that he was playing jazz, I'm willing to bet the they were Animas or Garbos. Based on the albeit sketchy information, would anyone venture to guess whether they were Animas of Garbos?
Thanks in advance.
They weren't Animas, which are all copper roundish wound. Sounds like Garbos, which have that tape-looking G that you described.
Both are fantastic strings.
Both are fantastic strings.
I finally had some time between gigs and gave the Anima set a second try. Last time I tried them was 3 days before a gig and they certainly need more time than that. So does the bass and the bassist. Coming from spirocore you should consider 1-2 weeks for the string/bass/player to adjust. I am very pleased with the sound of my bass right now. I didn't have to raise the bridge, the lower tension in these strings fixed that themselves. I dont think I will change back to spiros. The real acid test will off course be the first gig.
As others have pointed out before, give the Animas some time before you decide, I finally did and am very happy
oystein
As others have pointed out before, give the Animas some time before you decide, I finally did and am very happy
oystein
I just recieved a set of anima strings without the case. Does anyone know what the colors of each string are suppose to be? Please help. Thanks.
For example:
green for E, etc....
For example:
green for E, etc....
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