I use Pop Rosin, and I bow with minimum pressure. The higher I play on the string, I bow closer to the bridge.
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Double Bass Velvet strings megathread part II
- Thread starter PB+J
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If you are serious about bowing then this is the wrong string for you. I know some people have had some success bowing with these strings but they are really not suitable for bowing and are more likely to cause more bad habits than good. I had them on for 6 months and loved their rich pizz but when I decided to give the bow some serious use I had to change. I currently use Evahs but I am sure other types of hybrids will be suitable. At this stage of my playing I want to get a good arco tone and still be able to play jazz which is my mainstay.
I just put a set on today for exactly this sort of issue. I had Garbos on it before and they were awful with a bow. The Animas, on the other hand, have quite a rich sound with the bow and about double the volume of pizz on my bass...and that was clean strings with minimal rosen on the bow.
I disagree with Marven. I think for most sorts of music (excepting serious classical when you'd want pirastros or similar anyway) I think Animas would do the trick.
I was actually more taken by the Arco sound than the pizz sound. The string tension is definitely different than full on metal orchestral strings, but that's the feature of synthentic strings, lower string tension so the string is a little eaiser to the play and the belly of the instrument is unloaded to work a bit more.
BTW, I use Nymans rosen and as little pressure as possible.
I disagree with Marven. I think for most sorts of music (excepting serious classical when you'd want pirastros or similar anyway) I think Animas would do the trick.
I was actually more taken by the Arco sound than the pizz sound. The string tension is definitely different than full on metal orchestral strings, but that's the feature of synthentic strings, lower string tension so the string is a little eaiser to the play and the belly of the instrument is unloaded to work a bit more.
BTW, I use Nymans rosen and as little pressure as possible.
I think they're bowable, they take some finesse compared to other strings. The sound is actually cool under the bow. At my level of arco chops, I had to switch to Evah Pirazzis, because I just couldn't seem to get a handle on the Animas up in thumb position, and I couldn't get them to speak quickly enough for my needs. Given more time to work with them (and an arco teacher), I might have gotten somewhere. I prefer the sound of the Evahs, but the Animas have a character that's nice too.
Thanks for the responses. Keep 'em coming!
Just as a point of reference, I have no trouble bowing Spiros. I've played DB for about 30 years and for the first 15 I used Spiro Mittels exclusively, even in orchestral situations. Currently I've got Weichs (with a Mittel E) on my bass and they bow like a dream. I'm finding that I really like the lower tension Weichs and a slighly higher string height (9-12 mm), but that I'm looking for something with a little more "body" to the sound. I'm also wanting a fairly loud string. My new bass is much louder than the one I had before, and I'd really like to be able to do more gigs without an amp - something that wasn't really possible with my previous instrument. From what I've heard and experienced, the Animas may give me just what I'm looking for. The only question is the arco.....
I should probably leave everything alone and just hit the practice room. There's not a lot that a little time in the woodshed won't cure.
Jim
P.S. I tried the Evahs and liked them quite a bit, but I didn't care for the amplified sound. I'm using a different pick-up now, though, so I may have to try them again if the Animas don't work out.
Just as a point of reference, I have no trouble bowing Spiros. I've played DB for about 30 years and for the first 15 I used Spiro Mittels exclusively, even in orchestral situations. Currently I've got Weichs (with a Mittel E) on my bass and they bow like a dream. I'm finding that I really like the lower tension Weichs and a slighly higher string height (9-12 mm), but that I'm looking for something with a little more "body" to the sound. I'm also wanting a fairly loud string. My new bass is much louder than the one I had before, and I'd really like to be able to do more gigs without an amp - something that wasn't really possible with my previous instrument. From what I've heard and experienced, the Animas may give me just what I'm looking for. The only question is the arco.....
I should probably leave everything alone and just hit the practice room. There's not a lot that a little time in the woodshed won't cure.
Jim
P.S. I tried the Evahs and liked them quite a bit, but I didn't care for the amplified sound. I'm using a different pick-up now, though, so I may have to try them again if the Animas don't work out.
i amplify the evahs on my new standard with an AI focus into a an ea cab or in smaller gigs an Acoustic Image Contra . I set the EQ to practically no bass, crank up the treble and brite ...I have no problems whatsoever. If you can get the Animas to work for you then fair play to you. Obviously there are so many variables in bass set ups that different strings will work differently with different basses. It all boils down to what you want to do with your bass. As I have already said I want to get a good bowed sound that will allow me to play in a variety of situations. I intend to do a few grade exams to improve my overall technique. I started with Jazzers then animas to dominants and now evahs. The dominants and evahs are both relatively easy to bow. The others are not.At present there is always going to be a trade off. Of all the strings I have used I preferred the animas pizz best. The jazzers have a very growly sustained modern sound but near impossible to bow. The dominants are a really good all rounder and may be the string for you. At present I like the rich bow sound of the Evahs even if it's not my favourite pizz sound. It is still a good sound though. Good luck in your search.
As the thread title suggests, I'm wondering if there is a string out there that feels like a velvet (garbo for instance), or any gutty/softer string but has the resonant growl of spirocore?
I'm primarily a jazz musician but also studying classical and bowing. It would be nice if said strings (assuming they even exist) work semi-decent with a bow. I don't expect them to work equally in a pizz and arco setting.
[also, forgive me if this exact question has been addressed, but i didn't find it in my brief overview of threads
]
I'm primarily a jazz musician but also studying classical and bowing. It would be nice if said strings (assuming they even exist) work semi-decent with a bow. I don't expect them to work equally in a pizz and arco setting.
[also, forgive me if this exact question has been addressed, but i didn't find it in my brief overview of threads
]
Evah Pirazzi by Pirastro are the closest I've heard so far. Once you start getting into Oliv and Eudoxas by Pirastro as well you're on to something good. However, I wouldn't say they "growl" per se.
Maybe those black LaBellas? I'm not crazy about them, but you might research that.
The other option is the Kolstein Heritage - touted as pretty much exactly as you described.
Being a gut player myself (and coming from Spirocores, Olivs, Eudoxas and many others) - unfortunately there is nothing at all like real gut. Period. Truly. Nothing.
Not saying that as a judgement - just that the manufacturers haven't come close yet.
Good luck
Matt Rybicki
Maybe those black LaBellas? I'm not crazy about them, but you might research that.
The other option is the Kolstein Heritage - touted as pretty much exactly as you described.
Being a gut player myself (and coming from Spirocores, Olivs, Eudoxas and many others) - unfortunately there is nothing at all like real gut. Period. Truly. Nothing.
Not saying that as a judgement - just that the manufacturers haven't come close yet.
Good luck
Matt Rybicki
i heard from my old luthier (who is now a touring jazz bassist) that the heritages (that i was getting REALLY excited about when i first read the description) are over-priced pieces of garbage that are not put together well, just smacked with the kolstein name. i was kind of shocked that he was so passionate about it. and i've heard very mixed reviews from people/read mixed reviews online.
i will agree, the gut strings have this really genuine feel to them, but unfortunately i don't really dig that sound. i'm going for more of a dave holland, pattitucci, gomez kinda sound.
several people i know have suggested olivs to me and that might be something i experiment with on the G-string, but doesn't it sound more on the gutty-sounding side?
i will agree, the gut strings have this really genuine feel to them, but unfortunately i don't really dig that sound. i'm going for more of a dave holland, pattitucci, gomez kinda sound.
several people i know have suggested olivs to me and that might be something i experiment with on the G-string, but doesn't it sound more on the gutty-sounding side?
i didn't have any quality issues with my heritages, but they are very soft to the touch ... too floppy for my tastes.
What gauge of Spirocores are you using? If you're using Mittels you might want to try Weichs.
I'm not a big fan of the Kolstein Heritages. To me they lack the impact that Spirocores or guts give you. But that's just my experience on my bass.
You mention Garbos--have you thought about Animas? They don't sound like Spirocores but they lean a little more in that direction.
They're not my favorite strings, but Obligatos might work for you as well.
I'm not a big fan of the Kolstein Heritages. To me they lack the impact that Spirocores or guts give you. But that's just my experience on my bass.
You mention Garbos--have you thought about Animas? They don't sound like Spirocores but they lean a little more in that direction.
They're not my favorite strings, but Obligatos might work for you as well.
How would the Compas 180's (suit or orch) sound in terms of growl? Anyone have experience with those?
I've used Flatchromsteels (not Originals) and found that they were pretty low tension, which resulted in some good growl. The only catch was that there was some low end missing. I switched from those to Varicore E and A and OFC D and G, which gave me back some good low end. Right now I have a full set of Evah's on and I'm fairly happy (though I'm starting to consider a different G and maybe D). (This is just my experience using these strings on a Benedikt Lang hybrid bass.)
Ah, it just never ends, does it?
I've used Flatchromsteels (not Originals) and found that they were pretty low tension, which resulted in some good growl. The only catch was that there was some low end missing. I switched from those to Varicore E and A and OFC D and G, which gave me back some good low end. Right now I have a full set of Evah's on and I'm fairly happy (though I'm starting to consider a different G and maybe D). (This is just my experience using these strings on a Benedikt Lang hybrid bass.)
Ah, it just never ends, does it?
Jim, I bowed Animas all year last year. My take on it was they sound best with a stickier rosin, low pressure, slow speed. Sometimes they were a bit scratchy, but it's always a compromise and Animas put out a wonderfully huge pizz sound.
Marvin, you didn't say whether you use a pickup or a mic with the Evahs. Which is it? I've read in the Evah thread that they don't amplify so well with a pickup but they might mic well. What do you think?
Bill
Marvin, you didn't say whether you use a pickup or a mic with the Evahs. Which is it? I've read in the Evah thread that they don't amplify so well with a pickup but they might mic well. What do you think?
Bill[/QUOTE]
I use a full circle pick up in to a focus or contra with the bass rolled all the way off. No amp issues.
Bill[/QUOTE]
I use a full circle pick up in to a focus or contra with the bass rolled all the way off. No amp issues.
Here are some options along those lines that I have tried:
Kolstein Heritage - Quite low tension and fairly bright/growly. I had no quality issues with them.
Obligatos - Never had these on my bass, but they seemed kind of similar to the Heritage when I've played them on other basses. Low tension, fairly bright.
Spirocore solos, tuned down - feel less "gutty" than the synthetic strings, but sound more like Spiros. Quite low tension.
Evah Pirazzi - A little tighter feeling than the others, a little less growly, but great strings. Probably a little too far towards the "gut" sound if you are looking for the spiro sound.
All of these strings bow fairly easily compared to spiro mittels.
Kolstein Heritage - Quite low tension and fairly bright/growly. I had no quality issues with them.
Obligatos - Never had these on my bass, but they seemed kind of similar to the Heritage when I've played them on other basses. Low tension, fairly bright.
Spirocore solos, tuned down - feel less "gutty" than the synthetic strings, but sound more like Spiros. Quite low tension.
Evah Pirazzi - A little tighter feeling than the others, a little less growly, but great strings. Probably a little too far towards the "gut" sound if you are looking for the spiro sound.
All of these strings bow fairly easily compared to spiro mittels.
yah i got mittels on my bass and i'm happy to kind of fall back on them, but i do feel like with the millions of strings out there (just might not be an exaggeration haha) that there is something that can fit what i'm looking for - an easier feel to play with that growly sound.
i'm intrigued by obligatos, probably going to take someone's recommendation and use the lower tension weichs, probably going to try an oliv g-string at some point, and i'm wondering if anyone knows about the innovation super silvers? my bowing instructor said that'd be a nice thing to try but by his description, it doesn't seem like this is going to deliver the sound i've been describing...
i'm intrigued by obligatos, probably going to take someone's recommendation and use the lower tension weichs, probably going to try an oliv g-string at some point, and i'm wondering if anyone knows about the innovation super silvers? my bowing instructor said that'd be a nice thing to try but by his description, it doesn't seem like this is going to deliver the sound i've been describing...
The growliest strings I've used were Pirastro Pizzicato's. They cost a lot, and they're not arco friendly, but boy do they growl.
- Mar 1, 2002
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I had some 180s (orch) on a Bass of mine last year and they were fairly nice. I used them for Orchestra mainly but the Pizz was good as well. When I sold that Bass, the strings went with it. That might be a good mix between Spiros and Guts but it is not my type of string so my research was limited. Many people swear by these 180s and the person who bought that Bass they were on loved them. I did one or two concerts with them and they held up nicely for all dynamics of playing, bow or pizz.
Did their low tension ever cause any problems at all w/ bowing? I'm curious about someday trying the G and D 180's (or even just the G to get my feet wet), but I want to make sure they're not too low tension. Are there any strings you can think of that are the same/close tension-wise?
Great under a bow. WEAK pizz. Growly... maybe but there are no guts.
They are not really growly per se but what about Dominants? They bow nice and they have a very strong pizz tone. There is some growl but more attack. That's one of the things I don't like about new Spiros. All growl no attack. I love them used though. I just keep an eye in the classifieds. People tend to get rid of them right at the point that I like 'em. I use the Mittel gauge but I used Weichs a while back and the same is true of them.
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