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Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I

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With regards to cheap unchokers, change the tailpeice wire with cable. You can buy the necessary parts from a good hardware store or Invalid Link Removed sells a kit (cable and clamp) for about $11. I had my ES-9 professionally setup with excellent results then changed the wire with cable myself. You will notice a definite change in tone. If you do change the cable be careful that the soundpost doesn't fall while the the strings are off.
 
I had some Velvet Garbo strings and the Velvet tailpiece cord installed on my bass 4-5 days ago and my bass is still about a 1/2 step flat after letting the bass sit overnight. Does anyone have any idea how long it is going to take until the strings and tailpiece cord settle down for the long haul?
 
I had gut strings on my bass for a few years (golden spirals and olivs) and when you first put them on they will go flat for a while. They usually start to settle down after a few days, be patient. Somtimes when there is a drastic weather change they will go sharp or flat accordingly. Basically don't worry.

DW
 
I put the new Velvet Compas 180s on my other bass about a week and a half ago and they are still stretching. I believe the tailpiece cord was done stretching within the first day but the strings are still definitely stretching. On my other bass I have all gut and they usually take a good while to stretch out.
 
Good to know. Lucky I myself have almost no need to bow at the moment. My Animas sound more scratchy with the bow, but blend into a full sound after the initial attack. But anyway, mostly I play jazz pizz stuff and am pretty happy with animas. They seem to have much more depth than the compass 360 set I had years back. I get a very old school percussive sound with maybe a bit more spiro like sound added for sustain. JUst looking for more upper mid growl and sustain. The animas have a great bottom end on my bass. If I could chose, I am looking for a string that is 60% spirocore sound and 40% gut. Make sense? Will Garbos do this?
 
Has anyone had any luck in bowing garbos? I am getting ready to get rid of mine even though I love the pizz tone. Any particular rosin or ?? I am not looking to play the Dragonetti, but being able to play etudes and sit in the local orchestra would be nice.
 
i have the same issue with Garbos.. i bow only for practice, otherwise i play only swing and just love theses strings for pizz.. i don't think th eG string to be bowable, maybe due to it composite structure... as Brianrost i can't control the squeaks on this string, otherwise, the 3 others are ok..
i use "Royal Oak" rosin..btw...
 
It's been said a few times here that Garbos are "unbowable" or at least close to it. I put some on about a month ago after using helicore orchestras for about eight months, and I'm certainly not disappointed. While I will admit that the E is a little thin in the middle range of the bass and the G doesn't project very well at all, they're definitely bowable and they seem to work fine for practicing. If you're like me (not doing any performing with the bow, but practicing with it quite a bit) and you're interested, I wouldn't let bowability concerns stop you. I just wanted to clear that up or, at least, offer a contrasting opinion.
 
That is good to hear. I have just purchased a set of Velvet Garbos. I don't do to much arco during gigs(if at all), so it shouldn't pose a problem. I am picking up my 7/8 German tomorrow, so I'll report back with how they bow on this bass.
 
A quick question....Are the windings on your Garbos(at least the E & A) flat? Mine are pretty much completely flat. The reason I ask is I had a set of Compas 360's a while ago, and the windings especially on the lower 2 strings were practically round. I wonder if they changed the windings?
 
Ok. I put them on for a few days and ended up taking them off. They probably needed more time to settle, but I have too many gigs right now to wait. The tension is too low, and I have lost volume. Maybe in a couple months...
 
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