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Double Bass Velvet strings megathread part II
- Thread starter PB+J
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Hello all
I am putting a Velvet Garbo G back on my bass after a couple months of not using it. I was just wondering if anyone knew if it was important that the actual string not be wound up by the tuner, and if only the green fabric on the top of the string should be wound up.
Thanks in advance,
Ian
I am putting a Velvet Garbo G back on my bass after a couple months of not using it. I was just wondering if anyone knew if it was important that the actual string not be wound up by the tuner, and if only the green fabric on the top of the string should be wound up.
Thanks in advance,
Ian
Theres no problem at all if the Garbo G will go on the tuner, in fact its almost impossible to mount it without doing so.
Garbo, Anima and Blue can go on the tuning machines without problems, only on the compas 180 family its necessary to avoid that because the strings have a much thinner and much more delicate core and also a thin inox winding.
regards
Nuno
Garbo, Anima and Blue can go on the tuning machines without problems, only on the compas 180 family its necessary to avoid that because the strings have a much thinner and much more delicate core and also a thin inox winding.
regards
Nuno
That was an acoustic gig yes
I've done a bunch since and I['m sticking with the blues--except for the E. It's too floppy on my bass and tends to rattle too much. I put the E from a set of weichs back on. Otherwise I really like the velvet blues a lot
I've done a bunch since and I['m sticking with the blues--except for the E. It's too floppy on my bass and tends to rattle too much. I put the E from a set of weichs back on. Otherwise I really like the velvet blues a lot
Hello all,
I've been through several string sets and heights. I currently use spriocore weich strings because I hurt my left wrist last semester and had to take a break from the high tension evah pirazzi strings.
The weich set is old and well used. They are brightish, but not very loud. They are set up very very low, just because I've been weening my body back into shape.
My teacher now says it's time for me to go back to regular strings.
My problem with these strings that I've experienced:
They are too quiet acoustically. They are too thin sounding and not at all similar to the round full Jimmy Garrison sound that I love.
I'm a huge fan of Larry Grenadier's tone and also Matt Penmann who I recently had the pleasure to meet.
Through the amp these strings just don't have enough attack. A nice clear thud. They are a very old used set that I got from my teacher for free, but I just can't decide what I need to do!
I have a clarus and a bergantino HT110. I'm pretty damn sure that it's not the amp.
SO
I'm like a 99% jazz player.
It seems like with all my research that I've done that I should either get animas or garbos. Which ones? and why? which are louder? which amplify better? which last longer?
I'm so tired of worrying about gear... bleh
one other thing
I really like that I can get all around the bass with the low action low tension strings. It seemed to me like on matt penman's bass that med-high action plus super low tension string allowed a similar access to the upper register, which was surprising to me.
I don't like soloing and can't really rip thumb position yet anyways. I want a beautiful walking bass player string, specific for jazz that will work well amplified at up to high (modern jazz) volumes.
sigh
I've been through several string sets and heights. I currently use spriocore weich strings because I hurt my left wrist last semester and had to take a break from the high tension evah pirazzi strings.
The weich set is old and well used. They are brightish, but not very loud. They are set up very very low, just because I've been weening my body back into shape.
My teacher now says it's time for me to go back to regular strings.
My problem with these strings that I've experienced:
They are too quiet acoustically. They are too thin sounding and not at all similar to the round full Jimmy Garrison sound that I love.
I'm a huge fan of Larry Grenadier's tone and also Matt Penmann who I recently had the pleasure to meet.
Through the amp these strings just don't have enough attack. A nice clear thud. They are a very old used set that I got from my teacher for free, but I just can't decide what I need to do!
I have a clarus and a bergantino HT110. I'm pretty damn sure that it's not the amp.
SO
I'm like a 99% jazz player.
It seems like with all my research that I've done that I should either get animas or garbos. Which ones? and why? which are louder? which amplify better? which last longer?
I'm so tired of worrying about gear... bleh
one other thing
I really like that I can get all around the bass with the low action low tension strings. It seemed to me like on matt penman's bass that med-high action plus super low tension string allowed a similar access to the upper register, which was surprising to me.
I don't like soloing and can't really rip thumb position yet anyways. I want a beautiful walking bass player string, specific for jazz that will work well amplified at up to high (modern jazz) volumes.
sigh
I just put a set of Animas on my bass, and it is the best thing I've ever done. They arent the easiest string to bow, but with the right approach they work. For piz, they are incredible. Tonnes of kick on the front end of the note, they amplify wonderfully. Also, they are really easy on the hands. You can jack the action up for volume and they are still really easy to get around on. I hear good things about Garbos, too, though my teacher tells me the Animas are a little easier to keep in tune, though I do not have first hand experience. Animas are amazing for piz, thats all I can say for sure.
I've used both and in the end I like Animas best. The Garbos can get a little muddy. Also, the Animas have a little more tension and are not as floppy. (they're still relatively low tension) In some ways you actually have to work harder with lower tension strings to control them, especially with your right hand. I also like that the Animas have a consistant winding. The Garbo D&G are different from the E&A (and from each other), and the G is very thick. I also agree that Animas amplify well.
TheSneakyJesus: Before you spend up on strings, try jacking up the Spiros.
A lot of good players use Weiches, and as far as I can see they (or Spiro Mittels) ARE the 'regular' string your teacher wants. They bow good and can sound like whoever you want.
My second suggestion would be to get a reasonably priced plain gut G and D (ie the Lenzners), and pair that with the Weich E and A. That would get you closer to a jimmy garrison gut thing than the Velvets. PLUS you'd have the experience of playing on gut and hearing real gut- not silk or plastic.
Once you've played gut for a while, you can take that way of playing and put it onto any other string.
A lot of good players use Weiches, and as far as I can see they (or Spiro Mittels) ARE the 'regular' string your teacher wants. They bow good and can sound like whoever you want.
My second suggestion would be to get a reasonably priced plain gut G and D (ie the Lenzners), and pair that with the Weich E and A. That would get you closer to a jimmy garrison gut thing than the Velvets. PLUS you'd have the experience of playing on gut and hearing real gut- not silk or plastic.
Once you've played gut for a while, you can take that way of playing and put it onto any other string.
thanks for all the comments.
My teacher is very anti gear oriented.
He plays on obligatos, but can basically play the hell out of anything. I have learned that the lower tension strings with higher action have a real volume and poom to the top of the note, which is all anyone cares about anyways in the band.
I really want to try the animas myself and think I will take a dive. I know that adrian cho uses a mixed set of garbo and anima. Seemed pretty bizarre to me. But who knows.
My teacher is very anti gear oriented.
He plays on obligatos, but can basically play the hell out of anything. I have learned that the lower tension strings with higher action have a real volume and poom to the top of the note, which is all anyone cares about anyways in the band.
I really want to try the animas myself and think I will take a dive. I know that adrian cho uses a mixed set of garbo and anima. Seemed pretty bizarre to me. But who knows.
I should clarify...
I have played gut for a while.
I had a combination of Oliv D and G and Dominant A and E for about two years.
I loved the string. But by the time I got done with them they were just dead and gone. I have been all over the place since then, from the evahs, to the spiro mittles.
Never have the sets been brand new. And never have they really sounded GREAT through an amp. Always just okay. And acoustically my sound has just shattered with the thin spiros. It's not awful, but just so quiet.
http://www.jazzdoublebass.com/interviews/interview.php?id=MQ==
In this video rufus has one of the best acoutic sounds I've ever heard.
I have played gut for a while.
I had a combination of Oliv D and G and Dominant A and E for about two years.
I loved the string. But by the time I got done with them they were just dead and gone. I have been all over the place since then, from the evahs, to the spiro mittles.
Never have the sets been brand new. And never have they really sounded GREAT through an amp. Always just okay. And acoustically my sound has just shattered with the thin spiros. It's not awful, but just so quiet.
http://www.jazzdoublebass.com/interviews/interview.php?id=MQ==
In this video rufus has one of the best acoutic sounds I've ever heard.
Just to clarify that both Animas and Garbos have the same tension, 25 kgs per string, the Garbo lights have 23 kgs per string, the Animas have a little more articulation while the Garbo have a fatter sound... everything is very subjective and each player has his sound in mind, so i dont really want to give an opinion, in fact i dont even know if im allowed by the forum rules
Good luck on your search
Nuno
Just to clarify that both Animas and Garbos have the same tension, 25 kgs per string, the Garbo lights have 23 kgs per string, the Animas have a little more articulation while the Garbo have a fatter sound... everything is very subjective and each player has his sound in mind, so i dont really want to give an opinion, in fact i dont even know if im allowed by the forum rules
Good luck on your search
Nuno
That's interesting that they are the same tension. Garbos seem to have a floppier feel, might just be my perception. Plenty of people like Garbos, and strings perform differently depending on the bass, still my preference is Anima.
A few things I like about Garbo: My favorite string is the D. This is the best alternative to a gut D IMO. It has a lot of punch, but it is clearer and has better intonation as you go up the neck. I also like the A.
If I was using plain guts on top and didn't want to mess with gut lower strings, I'd use a Garbo A and Anima E. I also used a setup for a while of Anima E, Garbo A&D and plain gut G. This was very nice, but I found that when playing amplified, the sound benefited from the extra clarity of the Animas.
These are all just IMO, and I'll add that Velvet's customer service is first rate!
yes my soundpost has been placed recently by mike shank. I have a fishman full circle pickup that I use with the bass.
hmm..
what to do.
hmm..
what to do.
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