Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I

[Marcus Johnson]

I broke my E Anima recently. Not fun, but it was the last tune, so no big thing. However, I do see it as the potential Achilles heel of the Velvets, which would be sad, because I love them so much otherwise. As you said, one more chance. I carry spares now (Animas and Spiros). Other folks, like Ed Fuqua, have had great luck with them over long periods of time.

You might have a quicker turnaround if you just contact Velvet directly. I've heard of them replacing strings in the past.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

guys, which end of the string did it break? At the pegbox? The way the windings/fabric stretches it looks a little scary to me. It seems as if it thins out the more they stretch. So far, no problems tho, and I don't gig often like you guys do.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Yup, up in the box. To be fair, the bass had been kicked pretty solidly in that area earlier in the night, by a d***head who decided to cut across the bandstand. So I don't know if that had anything to do with it. I'm hoping for a nice long life with the current set. But I agree, the windings do scare me a bit as well, though they wind up really nicely.

I'm also thinking that my occasional gig with the gypsy group probably takes its toll on them. Pretty aggro. And as you pointed out....that's a lot of nights for any string, except maybe Spiros, which seem to last forever. The Toyota Corolla of bass strings....

Strings.....ARGHHHH

 

[Pete G]

I had the same thing happen with two long C's. Although I know this can be the result of improper installation, Mike Shank installed both of mine, and I know he did it right.

One "blooey" and I'll give a string another chance. Two and I move on.

Very happy now with Permanent long C.

 

[stockbass]

played Garbos on two basses for years and never snapped one!

 

[Marcus Johnson]

played Garbos on two basses for years and never snapped one!

Now THAT's what I want to hear!

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Well like I always say, I had Animas on for 3 + years with no problems.

 

[brianrost]

I had some first-generation Garbos and the E broke about one minute after I put it on, same spot...at the end of the winding. You can bet I freaked after shelling out $250.

I returned the set and got one of the second-generation Garbos in return those have been on for 3-4 years (maybe more? I forget, this was when Lou out on Cape Cod was still the US distributor) with zero problems.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Well like I always say, I had Animas on for 3 + years with no problems.

Yeah baby.

 

[Anon2962]

So I heard back from the guy who sold me the strings, and it turns out it's velvet's policy not to replace strings that are as old as 10 months. Which I suppose is fair, but a bit disappointing.

but my seller (sounds like a drug dealer huh?) managed to convince them to send just the E string, which is alot cheaper than buying a whole set, of course. still €78 ($92)tho, which isn't exactly free.

Now i'm just waiting for the next one to pop.

But i decided to order one of those new tailpiece cords from velvet while i'm at it. should be interesting.

 

[Freddels]

Well I received the Animas in the mail today. Just put them on and tuned them up (and tuned them up, and tuned them up, and tuned them up, and tuned them up, and tuned them up, and tuned them up, and tuned them up, and tuned them up). Can't wait until they stay in tune.

 

[Don Higdon]

Keep checking your string length, and check to see that your bridge feet are keeping full contact with the top. The repeated tightening of the string can start to tilt the bridge upward.

 

[Freddels]

Thanks. I just checked and the feet were starting to come up a little. A few whacks with the sledge hammer seemed to do the trick.

 

[Aleph5]

Keep checking your string length, and check to see that your bridge feet are keeping full contact with the top. The repeated tightening of the string can start to tilt the bridge upward.

Yep, I didn't want to admit to it , but as I almost had my new Obligatos up to pitch last week, I didn't notice anythin amiss and thought I had done everything right, when WHAMM! --the loudest, scariest noise I'd ever heard in my life! I thought I broke a string, then when I saw the bridge feet lying on the floor, maybe that the bridge cracked. No real damage, though, except for a few marks on my Cleveland top. (I did pencil mark the slots.)

I probably didn't have the other strings (not being tuned) up enough to anchor the bridge better (they had SOME slack), but from now on I'll also always constantly monitor the bridge throughout the process. I kept re-straightening the bridge when I finally got the strings back on and tuning up. It makes me nervous to have to tune at all now. I almost never had to tune the Spiros!

 

[Don Higdon]

I've been successful with this:
1. Before installing Obligatos or Animas, measure the existing string length and write it down.
2. With a soft lead pencil and a ruler, mark the location of the bridge feet.
3. When you install each string, liberally lubricate the bridge groove with soft pencil lead.
4. When all four strings are on but not at pitch, push the groove end of the bridge downward, about 1/4 of an inch, even letting the top of the bridge feet separate from the top.
5. Now begin tightening to pitch, as many times as needed. The bridge will slowly come back up.
6. When the strings stop stretching, measure them. Check the feet for contact. If you need to reposition the bridge, take off some tension, move it, and retighten. The brief time they're loose won't be enough for them to get sloppy again.

 

[PB+J]

It's been a couple months now and the animas hold their tne as well as spriros ever did. it took a couple days, though, before they settled in

 

[Aleph5]

Great suggestions, Don. I wish I had measured the distance, because the bridge angle is the only thing I'm not sure is the same now as before. But it looks good/sounds good. The amazing thing was that I had the bass upright at this point and the sound post not only didn't fall, it didn't even move! I have it marked. I didn't mark around the bridge feet, but I didn't need to. I could see where they had been, at least within a mm. I think I'll be a little more generous next time with the soft pencil lead or even a tiny amount of graphite powder, unless that's not advised for some other reason. My pencil might have been a #2.:scowl:

 

[Don Higdon]

Not to alarm you, but if the sound post didn't fall, it may be too tight.

 

[Freddels]

I wish I had measured the distance, because the bridge angle is the only thing I'm not sure is the same now as before.

I'm not a luthier (and I don't play one on TV) and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night but . . . it would seem that if the feet of your bridge are in the correct place then the angle of the bridge would be determined by the proper length. If it's supposed to be 41.5" or 42" and that's what you have then the angle should be correct.

On mine, the bridge feet had lifted (on one side) just a little (enough to maybe slide a sheet of paper under. I pushed the bridge down so that the fee were seated and my string length is 42".

I'm sure more knowledgeable people can set you straight on this.

 

[Freddels]

The Animas are settling a bit. Now they're less than a half step out of tune every hour or so. But I now have a rattling coming from my tailpiece. I guess the only solution is to put a piece of foam in there. Currently, the piece of cloth that I use to wipe down the bass is stuck in there to get rid of the rattle.

Any other suggestions?