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Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I

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#481
I popped into a small guitar shop this week that usually has a few basses. I played a 50's Kay with some velvets on it, but the owner didn't know which ones.

The silks were yellow at both ends.
The tail piece had those loops.
They were all wound.
They weren't really round, but weren't really flat wound.
There were some different materials, but since they weren't new, it wasn't really all that distinct to me which were copper vs something else.
They were loose and thumpy. I didn't get to try them with a bow.

Animas? 180's? 360?

He had a set of Garbos in a bag, so we're sure that they are not them.

-tk
 
#483
Which ones don't have the loops? I liked whatever these were. It was tough to tell because this bass and mine sounded so different, but they felt good, had a good gauge and to the degree that I could tell, had a big sound.

I was under the impression that Animas were more roundwound than these were, which makes me think they might have been 360's or 180's.

These were sort of ground wound, to make a BG parallel.

-tk
 
#484
The new Compas 180's don't have the loops. They use a tie method to attach with the tailpiece. The 360's, and the Animas are ground flat. Both have similar windings although the Compas 360 are all copper(now anyway).
 
#485
Well, it was one or the other then. "Ground flat" sounds right. They looked roundwound, but felt flatwound. I liked them. I wish I remembered if they were all copper. I sort of think the lower ones were and the upper one's were not, but I'm not sure. Maybe I'll get a chance to go back and check and take my bow with me.

Thanks for the 411

Troy
 
#486
I am surrently using Oliv G and D on my mid-50's Pollman bass. I switched via Rufus' suggestion many years ago. I just put a new set (2 strings) on a few weeks ago. I love the strings but recently I have had to do some "louder" gigs and when they are amplified they tend to lose definition that I get when unamplified or when partially amplified. I am interested in the Anima's again because of Rufus and with the idea that they are similiar feel and guage. Is this correct? Can anyone who has used/tried both strings fill me in on their experience? thanks.
 
#487
The gauge may be similiar, but they don't feel the same IMO. They are really interesting strings. You should definitely try them out. They sound very clear with a strong attack. I am using the Compas 360's which are very similar but use a slightly different core. I have never had so many compliments on my tone before. The musicians I play with absolutely love the sound. Awesome strings.
 
#488
Thanks Adrian,
What are the differences between the compas and the animas? Coming from the oliv's...which would you reccomend that I try first? I tend to play hard, possibly too hard. One of the reasons i came back to the Oliv's was because i was breaking Obligatos all the time (checked with luthier...nothing wrong with bass or bridge slots). Do you think I would have the same problem with either the animas or compas? The oliv's take a lickin (or pluckin) and keep on tickin.
 
#489
I doubt you would have any problems at all with the Animas. They are silk cored and have a really long life. The Compas have a synthetic core and are likely more prone to breakage. I decided to go with them because I figured the break in period would only be a week(I was right), as I am going into the Studio tomorrow. I will be going to the Animas when the Compas 360's are dead.
 
#491
I have had the Compas 360's before...the only reason I have them on right now was the break in period. I haven't had Velvets on this bass before. The 360's sound great on this bass, but I know that their life is short in comparison to the Animas. I don' think that there is a big difference in sound between the 2.
 
#492
I have had dominants on my bass with favorable retunrs before but the tension got to me and I didn't want to lower the action (lose the digging in factor). I am curious about Dominant solos tuned down. Has anyone tried these? How is the tension compared to gut? What about the guage?
 
#493
Adrian Juras said:
I have had the Compas 360's before...the only reason I have them on right now was the break in period. I haven't had Velvets on this bass before. The 360's sound great on this bass, but I know that their life is short in comparison to the Animas. I don' think that there is a big difference in sound between the 2.
Click to expand...

Hey Adrian,

Do the 360s still make your hands black? I used to use them, loved the sound but not the stained hands so I stopped. I would go back if the new formulation eliminated that.
 
#494
gp_bass said:
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?
Click to expand...

I just revisited this thread, and yes--I get this sound all the time with my Anima G string. It's driving me insane (although admittedly I don't have far to go). It's not a question of string height, either--I lifted the strings absurdly high to try to eliminate the sound (like, an inch) and it was still there. bZZZZZZ bZZZZZZZ bZZZZZZZ Ugh.
The windings on the D string are also separating, and the fundamental of that string is now all wobbly and gross. I hope these are just defective--I love Animas, and I want them to last longer than four months. (Please don't console me with stories of how YOU have used yours for two years without a problem--it has the opposite effect.)
 
#495
how high do you guys have your strings with these strings.
i'm thinking my g is a little low (5.5 or 6mm and my E is 9.5 or 10mm) and i might try some animas.......i might just have to have some adjusters installed.

are animas less bright than pizzicato's, i find those bright, and i even find the Eudoxa g to be alittle bright.......mayeb the compas 180's would be better for my tastes.

P.S. i almost put the word action in that first sentence....i don't know why, i haven't even touched my pbass since i got my shen :D
 
#496
Johono5 said:
I just revisited this thread, and yes--I get this sound all the time with my Anima G string. It's driving me insane (although admittedly I don't have far to go). It's not a question of string height, either--I lifted the strings absurdly high to try to eliminate the sound (like, an inch) and it was still there. bZZZZZZ bZZZZZZZ bZZZZZZZ Ugh.
The windings on the D string are also separating, and the fundamental of that string is now all wobbly and gross. I hope these are just defective--I love Animas, and I want them to last longer than four months. (Please don't console me with stories of how YOU have used yours for two years without a problem--it has the opposite effect.)
Click to expand...



4 months !! It's certainly a defective set. I had a similar problem way back with two Compas360 G. Try to contact Velvet and explain the situation. If I remember well they sent me a new 360 G for free.
 
#497
Are there any know durability issues with Animas, 180s or 360s? I didn't want to corrupt another thread, but it seems like every string on the market that wraps metal around either gut or some type of synthetic has some type of issue. But I haven't heard this about the Velvet strings and was just wondering.

Troy
 
#498
I don't think there's a durability issue with Velvets at all; many people around here have reported using them for a very long time without trouble.

I do, however, think it's not entirely uncommon to get a defective string once in awhile; I've got a bad Anima D right now, and a friend of mine had an Anima G crap out on him unexpectedly last year. Part of it may be that the company is newish still and the strings are a new and still in-progress work. But they certainly seem to be more reliable and long-lasting than, say, Olivs or Obligatos. (Cue response from Oliv and Obligato users who have had no durability issues right here.)
 
#499
I'm in the users of Obligatos who have had trouble. As a matter of fact, I don't think there are Obligato users who haven't had trouble, but just some that don't mind. I also know that some Innovations and Dominants have broken, not for everyone, but more than certainly you hear about Spirocores (for example). I've had an OLIV G String for well over a year that I took on trade and have never put on, because I don't want to love it and then have my heart broken.

I've never tried Velvets on my bass, but have heard them and even played them a little on other basses. I know that they eventually go dead, but so do most steel strings, it's just a matter of when.

I've never heard or read anything about a Velvet breaking or the windings coming loose, though. On the defective strings, is the company good about replacing?

Thanks for your response.

Troy
 
#500
I had an anima G develop a nasty buzz. They did replace it, but it took a couple of months. Now the D is seperating a little in the winding. This is a a nuisance since you can feel the little rough spot under your fingers. These string aren't all that old.

phil
 
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