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Double Bass Velvet Garbos double bass strings megathread part I

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#141
I put on Animas as an experiment. Even though they don't sound especially great to me, the pianist I work with in a duo setting adores them, and other listeners like the sound.

I had a loud gig coming up, and put on my custom K & K pickup and went to an AI Contra. The sound of amplified Animas was bloody awful. I used another bass with Spiros for the gig.

Again, last night the Animas got raves in a no-amp situation.

Is it me, the strings, the pickup, the amp, or all the above?
 
#142
Hmmm.

When I switched from Oblis to Anims the first two things I had to do when I plugged in was turn down and take a bunch of bass out of the sound. You've heard my bass, with the Realist AND Animas I get a pretty dark, warm sound. It's a real punchy fundamental...
 
#146
Ed Fuqua said:
Hmmm.

When I switched from Oblis to Anims the first two things I had to do when I plugged in was turn down and take a bunch of bass out of the sound. You've heard my bass, with the Realist AND Animas I get a pretty dark, warm sound. It's a real punchy fundamental...
Click to expand...

That's the type of sound I was getting with the Animas. Warm, round sound. I liked it, but I never really got used to the low tension for the style I play.
 
#147
I'm trying to get a nice, smooth, easy to bow, warm string for my bass, arco. I started playing again in community orchestras. Helicores are too bright; Permanents are too bright; Flexocor 92's seem somewhat dull. Are the Compas 180's worth the price to try for orchestral use? Thanks! :help:
 
#149
DenglerABD said:
I'm trying to get a nice, smooth, easy to bow, warm string for my bass, arco. I started playing again in community orchestras. Helicores are too bright; Permanents are too bright; Flexocor 92's seem somewhat dull. Are the Compas 180's worth the price to try for orchestral use? Thanks! :help:
Click to expand...

If there is a better orchestral string, I haven't found it, and I've tried just about everything.....

Love them after 10+ months.

Monte
 
#150
I got a set to try from a friend that bought two. I took some old Flexicores off my 200 year old English Gilkes Bass and hated them so much, I wanted to SELL the Bass. After coming to my sences, I took them off the Gilkes and swapped them with some Obligatos already on my newer 7/8th Shen. I put the Compas 180s on the Shen. They do sound good and a bit like Gut but the are a little too scratchy. I had D'addarios on the Shen before putting the Obligatos on and the 180s. I just recently put a used set of "Kolstein Orchestras" on the 7/8th Shen and gave the 180s away. I took the Kolsteins off my 3/4 Shen and before that they were on my Batchelder. Then I put new Obligatos on the 7/8 Shen. With two sons Playing Bass and me keeping at least two Basses set-up for my playing, I need to have the right string for each Bass. All of our Basses are set-up for Bowing first and Pizz second.

Yes, the 180s had less tension, BUT I gave them a two Bass try and I prefer the Obligatos as a synthetic, 1/2 the price crossover string. The Obligatos bow fairly well but not as good as flexicores but close enough for me. I currently play in two local Orchestras and they do the job just fine. If I do a Jazz gig, I'm set as well as they are a close second to Spricores for pizz.
 
#151
Ken..I don't want to derail this thread, but how do you keep track of all of these combinations of basses and strings? I guess you probably remember the great combinations? Or do you write your impressions down so that you can recall them later?

It sure sounds like fun wringing out all of these bass recipes. I'm really pleased with my La Scala/Obligato thing, but I'm always happy to hear everyone's take on what else is out there.
 
#152
It's all from memory...... I never write these things down. I just remember what and how I like things. If it's really good or really bad, I can remember it for years. If it's just so-so, it fades away with time. String companies also change some of their formulas from timie to time as well. I have also had different Basses over the years too. Each Bass has it's own best too......
 
#153
KSB - Ken Smith said:
I put the Compas 180s on the Shen. They do sound good and a bit like Gut but the are a little too scratchy. I had
Click to expand...

This is the part that really puzzles me. I can't find away to make my 180's scratchy. Even if my bow is almost devoid of rosin it speaks quickly, deeply, and clearly.

Interesting to have such a disparity, especially considering you are much better with the stick o' pain than myself.

Monte
 
#154
I also noticed no scratchiness at all with the 180's. They sounded very gut like on my bass, but smoother. The tension was just a bit too low for me. I don't use the bow often enough to warrant them. They don't have the same volume/power as Obligatos IMO.
 
#156
To me, all guts have a little scratchyness to them. Good bowing metal strings sound much smoother to my ear. Maybe the sound is a bit different 20 feet away but my arms are not that long! I just have to go by what I hear.

My 180s were 3 copper colored and one silver 'G' string. My hands seemed to get filthy from the copper after only 20 minutes of playing. I'm sure this is not great for the bow hair either.
 
#157
KSB - Ken Smith said:
To me, all guts have a little scratchyness to them. Good bowing metal strings sound much smoother to my ear. Maybe the sound is a bit different 20 feet away but my arms are not that long! I just have to go by what I hear.

My 180s were 3 copper colored and one silver 'G' string. My hands seemed to get filthy from the copper after only 20 minutes of playing. I'm sure this is not great for the bow hair either.
Click to expand...

That explains it!! Either this were mislabeled, or you had the old formulation. The 180's I have are not copper, but the old ones (and the rest of the velvets) were. The new ones are silver colored on all four strings, and there are no loop ends like the old ones. Both ends are straight black and must be tied at the tailpiece and pegbox.

Those were extremely scratchy on the bow. A number of people complained about them being billed as suitable for orchestral use, so they reformulated them.

Velvet's marketing of this has been awful. The strings are so different, why didn't they just rename them? It has caused no end of confusion, and the fact that they still make the old ones and call them SUIT (or something like that) makes it even more confusing.
:help:

Monte
 
#158
Oh Well........ I even e-mailed them and got a ZERO Response. They have lost my business until they give me free strings that are as good or better than the best available OR till they are the ONLY string in the world left on the planet.......

Judging by their previous lack of response and product failure, I would venture to say.. Velvet and Ken Smith are DONE.....
 
#159
Ken, I would seriously check out the new 180's if you can. They are not at all like the old ones. The windings are incredibly smooth like Pirastros, and they are ridiculously easy to bow. They are one of the best strings I have ever played.
 
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