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Double Bass Velvet strings megathread part II
- Thread starter PB+J
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The thing is, in my experience with these even-tension sets (I've used all of the Velvets and tried two of the sets made by Gerold Genssler, who used to work at Velvet and who now does his own thing), you have to us the whole set to get the effect (which is really quite magical). Velvet and Genssler will tell you as much, and I've found it to be true on my own basses.
I did put a Spiro E on with my Velvet Anima set once, and I noticed that the response of the whole set really suffered in quality. Can't say I understand the physics of it, but I don't think I was imagining things.
I did put a Spiro E on with my Velvet Anima set once, and I noticed that the response of the whole set really suffered in quality. Can't say I understand the physics of it, but I don't think I was imagining things.
I did it temporarily when my Anima E exploded on a gig (E only). It got the job done, but it wasn't something I'd do intentionally.
a glance at the tension charts would suggest with the Spiro Mittel E&A you'll have 75 lbs of pressure from each of the bottom strings but only 25 lbs each on the D&G side with the Animas. A bit of an imbalance, i would think...
Not so bad: 25 kg = ~ 55 lbs.
I tried out this exact setup recently - Anima G/D + Mittel E/A - and thought it was fine sonically. The difference in tension and response takes a little getting used to. Can't be much different from the various gut / steel combos in common use, both in terms of playability and tension on the instrument.
I've mix + matched Animas a few times with good results imho, but I have a problem with authority and a general tendency to do things that I'm not supposed to.
Does anybody feel that you get a better bow response from Animas or Spiro Mittels? Do you think its worth sacrificing arco for the growl of Velvets. Or do Spiro's just do it good enough on both spectrums for you?
Well, I've always thought that Spiros are growlier than Animas anyway. Animas on my bass were fuller, with great balance and immense gobs of gorgeous acoustic sound, but the Spiros always had a more midrange bark and sustain for days. I have had vastly better success with bowing Spiros than with Animas.
- Mar 1, 2002
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- Owner: Ken Smith Basses, Ltd.
I have had the new 180s on a Bass of mine a year ago and they bowed great. The actual tension of your Bass may or may not affect the Bow-ability. Spiro Reds to me don't bow as well unless you have a 200-300 Italian Bass that can bury the edge that the Reds put on most Basses. Many years ago I used the Reds on my 18th century Italian Bass. This was a kind of Bass that could not Bow poorly even with barbed wire so I was lucky.
For Bowing if you like Thomastik then the Superflexibles (Rope Cores) are slightly better than the Reds. The Bel Cantos are superb Bowing strings that rank in the top for Orchestra professionals.
For Bowing if you like Thomastik then the Superflexibles (Rope Cores) are slightly better than the Reds. The Bel Cantos are superb Bowing strings that rank in the top for Orchestra professionals.
How are the Belcanto's on Pizz?? Are the superflex's better as a set, more on the hybrid ground? I had to do a write up for the Blues so i have a brand new set. And I don't know if I should put them on or go for Belcanto GD or Superflex?
I've never (knowingly) played Spiros (probably rare around here), but I do play the Animas quite a bit.
Animas are a different beast than most other strings with the bow - I find them to be much like bowing gut. They are not very forgiving strings for the bow and have a scratchy quality to them.
I had a full set on my "swing" bass and I love the pizz tone. The bowing was workable for me and had that Slam Stewart sound that was appropriate for my frequent bow solos with my ensemble.
Then the G string started to come unwound and got buzzy. I remembered that I had a partial set of old Compass 180's that I used to have on my "classical" bass until the E broke, so I took the 180 D and G and put it on the "swing" bass.
This combo has worked out well for me. The 180's actually blend well with the Animas, and the top strings are now much more forgiving with the bow. I could even see using a full set of 180's for swing music, but I think I'll keep this set on for as long as I can - I'm also liking how these strings are aging.
So, +1 on the 180 suggestion.
Animas are a different beast than most other strings with the bow - I find them to be much like bowing gut. They are not very forgiving strings for the bow and have a scratchy quality to them.
I had a full set on my "swing" bass and I love the pizz tone. The bowing was workable for me and had that Slam Stewart sound that was appropriate for my frequent bow solos with my ensemble.
Then the G string started to come unwound and got buzzy. I remembered that I had a partial set of old Compass 180's that I used to have on my "classical" bass until the E broke, so I took the 180 D and G and put it on the "swing" bass.
This combo has worked out well for me. The 180's actually blend well with the Animas, and the top strings are now much more forgiving with the bow. I could even see using a full set of 180's for swing music, but I think I'll keep this set on for as long as I can - I'm also liking how these strings are aging.
So, +1 on the 180 suggestion.
Ben Street too. At least the last time I heard/saw him. Larry Grenadier also mixes the Anima G with Helicore Hybrids. I personaly have been using Animas on G and D and Weichs on E and A for the last year or more. I swapped out the mittels as the tension difference was noticeable...but still not weird. I sometimes swap them out the Anima's for wrapped gut (Oliv or Eudoxa-great strings) when I get restless but they have been my fallback desired sound and feel. I jack them up a bit and the tension across the board seems fairly even. I also don't have a problem with arco. Would change if I needed to work on anything really serious or demanding but for the typical Jazz arco requirements, they work great.
Wow... you're a better man than I am. I couldn't get behind blowing through arco solos on Animas, as much as I loved them for everything else. I abandoned them with regret. My current strings just made me a lot more confident when I decided to play arco. But that's probably my shortcomings more than the Animas.
I don't really ever solo with the bow. Not my thing. I do use it for written parts and for daily practice of scales and out of etude books etc. I will read through some old PC transcriptions and they sound great in that context. I used to do a lot more work in the classical world and the Anima's simply wouldn't cut it there. I think, as many of us know, that in the perfect world there are 2 basses one with great pizz strings and one with great arco strings. Right now, I am willing to let the arco sound slide a bit as I love the pizz so much. Along with the tension, gauge, and volume of anima's...I absolutely love the fact that they amplify so well.
On another note, I studied with Rufus for quite some time who as we all know is a gear maestro and an avid Anima lover. He hipped me to some rosin that I use and makes the strings work better with the bow. It is called Oak Bass Rosin form Gregorian Strings. I also find that French seems to allow them to speak easier as well. And one last note, once they are a little older (probably 2 months or so) they are much less scratchy with the bow, IMO. Again, I wouldn't sit in an orchestra section with these though.
This is making me wonder if I should try this combo. Damn Anima extension string is up to or more than twice the price of the other individual Anima strings, depending on who you are buying from. One of the things I've always enjoyed about using the Gamuts + Permanents is that the Perms are so much more cost-effective on the bottom.
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