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Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I
- Thread starter mic_j
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Cool, Jim! Looking forward to hearing how they pan out on the Cleveland. I think if I had a big band gig (is there such a thing anymore?), a Cleveland with Garbos might be my weapon of choice.
Excellent, nice when you can just put them on and not modify the bass. How do you like the E and A Garbos?
Freddels, I assume that there must be a break in period from what everyone has told me and that they seem to be getting louder across the board and I'm adjusting them less. Abaquer, The E and A are huge, like Mike said, more volume than the spiros. I think the spiros still rule in the growl department but no contest in terms of volume. Marcus, "weapon of choice" absolutely. Id like to have your permission to use that for an avatar signature.
Jim
Jim
I'd love to hear the Garbos on the Cleveland. If you get a chance could you post or send a recording of those strings on that bass?
Freddels,
We are suppoed to be putting down a few tracks for a CD during the last two weeks of March and first two weeks of April. If I can just figure how to get them onto TB I'd be glad to do it.
Jim
We are suppoed to be putting down a few tracks for a CD during the last two weeks of March and first two weeks of April. If I can just figure how to get them onto TB I'd be glad to do it.
Jim
- May 6, 2003
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- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
I got a lightly used set of Animas from another TBer today. Going to do the trial between Animas and Dominants on my Cleveland.
Do you all think I should wait and put them on when I have a gap in my gig schedule or just throw them on and run out to tonight's gig? I've got 3 sets tonight, another 3 sets tomorrow. Then I've got gigs Wed, Thurs, Fri next week and then off until Saturday after that.
Don't know if I should wait for the gap between Sunday and Weds or the gap of the following week or just jump in and see what happens.
Do you all think I should wait and put them on when I have a gap in my gig schedule or just throw them on and run out to tonight's gig? I've got 3 sets tonight, another 3 sets tomorrow. Then I've got gigs Wed, Thurs, Fri next week and then off until Saturday after that.
Don't know if I should wait for the gap between Sunday and Weds or the gap of the following week or just jump in and see what happens.
I don't know your tolerance for change. The Animas will feel different. My feeling is that even when you put them on at home, it doesn't replicate how they feel in gig circumstances. I had to raise my string height a bit. I think halfway into the set you will have adapted. Unless it's a high visibility gig, I say go for it. Just let your neck be free.
I had Anima's for less than six months and then started to get a nasty buzz. I brought my bass to my man Jeff Bollbach and he had to plane the fingerboard. I think the copper winding is pretty brutal to the fingerboard. It's much rougher than a steel string. My teacher also uses the Animas and he's had the same problem. He says he needs to dress the fingerboard every now and then but it's worth it for him since he digs the sound.Marcus Johnson said:
So anyway, the g and d strings started to unravel so I sent them back to Velvet and they sent me two new strings. I haven't decided if I want to put them back on because I also wanted to give Dominants a try. I have the Helicore Hybrids on for now and I'm not crazy about them. The e is pretty dead and the others are okay, but not great IMO, but they bow much better than the Animas.
It just doesn't end. Just when I think I'm happy with a set of strings... or an amp... or pickup... or my bass....
I've been pretty watchful when it comes to fingerboard wear; so far I haven't noticed any. I have to be careful, since the nearest DB luthier is on another island.
One thing's for sure; it really never does end.
I just played a friend's bass with Oblis on it, and man, they felt and sounded just great. I remember when they were on my bass, and I was thinking, "I really don't mind replacing these two times/year...they're really nice". Oy...........
One thing's for sure; it really never does end.
I just played a friend's bass with Oblis on it, and man, they felt and sounded just great. I remember when they were on my bass, and I was thinking, "I really don't mind replacing these two times/year...they're really nice". Oy...........
- May 6, 2003
- 5,272
- 160
- 64
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
The only thing high visibility about my gigs is the distance between the bar and my face.Dono said:
Ah. Makes sense. My usual rant is I choose strings for how they sound and what they do for me as a player. Maintenance is the continuing cost of doing business with the materials I choose. When I start making decisions about my tools based on their durability rather than their usefulness to me I've got a priority problem.Pocodude said:
6 months is a drag though...
Yea. ...so it goes...paco said:
Thanks for showing me the plus side of not getting gigs. I've never had that problem. It could also be the layer of Formica Arnold Schnitzer put on my fingerboard.Pcocobass said:
Just kidding, Arnold
No question. I'd gladly accept more maintenance for the right sound any day (especially since Jeff lives 20 minutes awayUncletoad said:
) but I still feel like doing a little searching...
- May 6, 2003
- 5,272
- 160
- 64
- Disclosures
- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
I'm thinking that the issue might not be the copper but the roundness of the winding. But honestly, they aren't THAT round; if they were, I wouldn't have any fingertips left.
Pcocobass said:
I hear you! I've been looking for something as big as the Dominant's, but bows just a little better. I've tried Anima's and couldn't bow the E. I want to try the Compas, but I'm not sure which set. The Dominant's are back on after wasting a few bucks on other trials.
I haven't seen these things - are you saying they are round in the same manner as round wound bg strings are? Such strings chew up fretless boards like nothing else but they are the only ones that give that essential sound - until the boards had it of course - despite what people say about faltwounds - IMHO of course.Marcus Johnson said:
If so, it's a wonder they bow at all.
Wow, Timo...great pics. Those should really help to clarify things for folks who haven't seen Animas up close.
So you see, Mike, they aren't really round...in BG terms, they're probably closest to the "ground round wound"
strings (Sounds like something in a butcher shop). They aren't flat to someone who is used to ubersmooth finishes like that of Spiros or Obligatos.
I really don't see the fuss about bowing them; they aren't the easiest, but they are manageable.
So you see, Mike, they aren't really round...in BG terms, they're probably closest to the "ground round wound"
strings (Sounds like something in a butcher shop). They aren't flat to someone who is used to ubersmooth finishes like that of Spiros or Obligatos.I really don't see the fuss about bowing them; they aren't the easiest, but they are manageable.
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