Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I

[Mike Goodbar]

I don't know how responsive the Garbo A & E are, but I don't know if I would replace them with Obligatos. I'm using a full set of Oblis right now and am also looking to replace the flabby lower strings. I've decided to try a rope core, Thomastik Superflexibles specifically, for the A & E and stick with the warm, punchy Obligatos for the G & D.

Hope you find the sound you're after. Grenadier is a great player.

 

[sean p]

to my ear, his strings on the mehldau 'trio volume...' series sound like spiro mediums.

if you really wanted to know i'm sure you could hunt down an email contact for him and drop a line.

sean p

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

I set Larry's soundpost for him shortly after he started playing the Velvets. He previously used three Spirocore Orchestra gauge, with an Oliv G string. Larry's bass has a long (about 42 1/2") string length, so the Spiros I'm sure had a soft feel. I haven't seen him in a while--does anyone know if he's stayed with the Velvets? I personally can't stand the "floppiness" of their E strings. To me there's just way too little tension and the low end responds poorly.

 

[Marty Forrer]

I guess it depends on the bass, because I use a full set of Garbos, and have no problem with them.

 

[Jeff Bollbach]

I broke a Garbo G today on a customers bass. Snapped up at the peg. Is this common? and does anyone know if anyplace will sell single velvet strings?
thanksinadvance,
jeff

 

[Monte]

Jeff,

I've never broke one, but if you contact Ellen Tait @ Schertler she can probably get you one. She has been very helpful to me. Her e-mail is [email protected] and her number is 866-724-3785.

Monte

 

[brianrost]

I had the same thing happen on a brand new E string about two years ago...broke at the peg as I tuned it to pitch.

How old is the set?

Mine was of the "older" formulation, the dealer sent me a set of the "newer" formulation when he got one in and those have been fine.

 

[kwd]

After reading the threads, feelings about the Compass (180,360) strings seem to be lukewarm. The Lemur catalog states that these strings have a lot of character when used in amplified settings thru pickups/transducers. Does anyone have experience with that?

 

[godoze]

I have a set of 360's on my bass at the moment and I really love them ! I had a hard time getting a good arco tone from them at first but now I'm getting a good arco tone and I look forward to my next set.

 

[JAS]

Has any one recently tried the new series of the compass 180s or 360s? What is the difference between the two of these? Also, if I have obligatos on now and they fit fine in the grooves of the nut and bridge, do I need to widen those for the compass strings?

 

[olivier]

Last time I tried the compass was in '98, haven't try the newer series. 180 = flatwound, 360 = roundwound. Mine were 360, thick string (a little filing of nut + bridge needed), low tension. Opinion: lack of fundamental, difficult to bow, I prefer by far Obligato.

 

[jason L]

For those of you who use the velvet garbo strings what do you usually pay? I found a set for 209 w/shipping at http://www.lnrmusic.com/. This seems to be a good deal.

 

[rake]

Hello,
A few questions for you kind folks today.
First off, I have gone through the newbie links several times, and they have been a big help.
However, I saw nothing on Velvet Anima strings. I was wondering if any of you had experience with these strings. How is the tension, projection, pizz and arco sound? Any response is greatly appreciated.

Secondly, I was wondering if you could help me decide what to do first. I have an Engelhardt ES-9, with all the stock parts (bridge, soundpost, strings [Thomastik Dominant]), and my bass sounds like its really choked up. What do you think should be replaced first?

Thanks for the help,
Ryan

 

[Adrian Cho]

I used them a while back but I am not sure if they have been reformulated since then. The reason is that at the time I thought the cores were gut but I have since found out they are silk. I do believe that the Velvets (at least the Animas and the Garbos) did use gut for a time - I think.

Anyway, I liked them for a while but found the Pirastro guts - Olivs, Eudoxas, Chordas, even the Pizzicatos, to be much better. I found three problems with the Animas:

a) They made my fingers turn black. No big deal but annoying. I think it was either the copper or aluminum windings.

b) The windings are supposed to be round but machined flat on the outside. I found them quite found them to be quite round and they chewed up my fingerboard and fingertips.

c) I found them hard to bow (the windings had a lot to do with them I'm sure).

The Pirastro guts on the other hand are much smoother under the fingers and the bow and the pizz is better. However I really do like the idea of the Velvet even tension and I have just ordered a set of the Velvet Compas 180 to try. Apparently the pizz is pretty nice and they bow extremely well too. I'm really sold on gut at this stage but I'm anxious to check them out.

Lower tension strings may well help your situation but then again you may also be in need of a) some serious setup work on your bass and b) some serious playing to open it up. I would take it to someone good to get it setup properly first.

 

[rake]

thanks for the help, i do indeed need some serious setup work, but, with my limited funds, I have to upgrade one thing at a time. i think i'm going to get a set of corelli's, maybe. something that sounds good for pizz and arco...
time to go look at the newbie links again

take it easy,
ryan

 

[Chasarms]

Secondly, I was wondering if you could help me decide what to do first. I have an Engelhardt ES-9, with all the stock parts (bridge, soundpost, strings [Thomastik Dominant]), and my bass sounds like its really choked up. What do you think should be replaced first?

Thanks for the help,
Ryan

Having been exactly where you are, my heart goes out to you.

But, Dominants are pretty good strings. I wouldn't replace them just yet. I'd probably have a good quality bridge installed with adjusters. While it's at the shop, have the luthier look at the post. It may fit fairly well, but likely a better fitted seasoned post would be in order. He may give you a better deal since he'll have the strings down anyway.

As far as the sound being choked, no amount of set up help the bass open up. You just have to play it. ALOT!!!

One suggestion I offer because it worked really well for me is to get a cheap bow and wait for the family to be out of the house. After a few days of learning how to get a sound with a bow, just spend 15-20 minutes a day cranking long bow strokes into the bass. You can even just use the open strings. Using the bow, you can move more vibration energy through that top in 20 minutes than you can playing pizz only for several hours. It will certainly accelerate the process. Shoot, you may decide you like it. I did.

PM me if this idea interests you.

 

[CB3000]

I dig the anima strings-i had them on my hybrid for a month or two. i just got a different bass so iam going to try them on there as well. ii like the tension-it's low and even across the strings- i found that i could bow them fairly well - they seemed very loud and really made my bass roar. the only thing i wasn't nuts about was the slap sound- a bit harsh- but when i had someone play my bass it sounded better out front than it did to me- which makes sense- my ear is right next to the fingerboard. i liked that the G was not weak and tinny like I have run into with steel strings. but you know- for $225 i would wait...

 

[rake]

i'll have to try that. i have a cheap bow(sadly), and those strings sound really scratchy played arco(maybe its the bow) i do play a lot, about 2-3 hours everyday, but i will certainly add your suggestion into my routine.

 

[Adrian Cho]

thanks for the help, i do indeed need some serious setup work, but, with my limited funds, I have to upgrade one thing at a time. i think i'm going to get a set of corelli's, maybe. something that sounds good for pizz and arco...
time to go look at the newbie links again

The thing is that when you have a bass that's badly setup, doing anything else to it such as changing the strings is IMHO a waste of time and money. A good setup makes a huge difference.

 

[mponthier]

I just ordered a set from the same location and they were $194.25 for the strings plus $5.50 for shipping. Total was $199.75. I did a lot of searching for the lowest price on these strings and they were lower than everyone else.