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Double Bass Velvet strings megathread part II

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#801
jmmcc said:
I have become a fan of the Velvet low tension philosophy, it works great on my bass
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I like that too. There was some tongue-in-cheek humor about not being able to handle high tension strings here, and I appreciate the humor (been there), no flaming is needed!:D

But for my bass, the reality is that the lower tension strings really speak nicely, and lend an "open" quality to the bass. At the moment, that means gut strings for me. But the Velvets really did let my bass breathe nicely when they were on there.
 
#804
Gearhead43 said:
Seems to me like ALOT of basses out there respond better to lower tension strings. So why is it that high-tension steel strings like Spiros became "the norm"?
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Good question

Since you use guts, you certainly aren’t searching for an answer, but it’s too late for me to practice bass, and I can’t sleep right now so… I will practice my English.

I guess there are some historical reasons that can answer that.
When we start looking at anything from different angles, we discover allot of pros and cons everywhere.
Metal strings initially brought a lot of pros considering gut strings, but the great majority of basses today are copies or are the real ancient basses that were built to respond to gut tension. Some of them to only 3 gut strings.
We all have to search and decide what its best for any one of us.
If we can (I can’t unfortunately), we should have a proper setup made by a Luthier every time we change to a different kind of strings.
What I’m about to write it’s only my experience, not an unquestionable truth.
These are the best qualities (for me) I remember from higher tension strings.
Faster response on right hand articulation (allot)
You can have lower action = faster left hand
Cons
At first they all sounded usable, after 3 to 4 weeks they all become too stiff, they kind of dumped the sound of my bass, I notice a decrease of volume, forcing me to play harder with my right hand trying to fell my bass responding like it did when I first put them on, but it never does.
After this I obviously have to start increasing action, and that, progressively brings a problem to my left hand.
The uneven string to string tension doesn’t help either.
I always end up with a dead sound, hard playing bass that gives me no pleasure to play.
This only happen acoustically, if I always play and practice plugged to an amp probably would never had any problems with high tension strings.

But this is only my hands + my strings + my ears + my bass in search of my sound
Diferent hands + strings + ears + bass = completely different result

Always mind the setup

This becomes too long; I hope it ended useful to someone

Best Regards
 
#806
My Stentor Messina is coming back from the workshop this week, complete with new adjustable bridge, new endpin with tube spike (I'm tall), sorted soundpost and a set of Velvet Blues strings. I only got the bass a few weeks ago, so I'm looking forward to seeing what difference a decent set of strings makes (the ones the bass came with were horribly dull). Alas, it'll be a few weeks before I can do anything but practise open-string arco, as I've hurt my left wrist. But having lower-tension strings on it means I'll be able to start again sooner with the bass as part of my LH rehab.
 
#807
Still liking the velvet blues a lot. Lower tension, but not flubby. Fat sound, but not all thump. Some brightness, but less "twang" and less growl. They are lasting very well for me. They sound as good amped as un-amped. Harder to bow than spiros, but not un-bowable. They are not as fast on my bass as spiros. But they feel better and the strings are more even in response. I used to object to the E, but now the "E" and I are friends
 
#808
padmavyuha said:
My Stentor Messina is coming back from the workshop this week, complete with new adjustable bridge, new endpin with tube spike (I'm tall), sorted soundpost and a set of Velvet Blues strings. I only got the bass a few weeks ago, so I'm looking forward to seeing what difference a decent set of strings makes (the ones the bass came with were horribly dull). Alas, it'll be a few weeks before I can do anything but practise open-string arco, as I've hurt my left wrist. But having lower-tension strings on it means I'll be able to start again sooner with the bass as part of my LH rehab.
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I'm sorry about your injury, but definitely tune the strings to pitch at least once a day even if you're not playing. It will take a couple weeks befor the strings properly hold their pitch and sound as good as they can.
 
#809
I've had Blues on my Eminence EUB for six months now, and I have to say I really really like them, and they make the EUB sound much more natural than other Eminace basses that I've heard others play, and had local front of house sound technicians tell the other bass players they should use the kind of stings I use because they amplify so much better. That, to me, says a lot about how well the Blues translate, because in my experience most front of house sound techs don't usually give that much thought to bass in general, being more immediately concerned about taming drummers or flattering singers.

I've played Compas 180s for a few years on my 1860s German flatback, and tried them on the Eminence too, but they didn't have the clarity when amplified that the Blues do.

But I am somewhat frustrated by the arco feel, as I'm spoilt by the 180s, and the Blues are really kind of rough. I would never do a classical gig with them, although I do bow them sometimes and it's ok, just not very bel canto, more digeridoo.
 
#811
I've had a set of Blues on my Pollmann for almost ten months now. The A string is the best sounding string of the set, and does have a slightly rougher feel than the others, but not enough to bother me. I ordered a new set from Quinn about two months ago, but the old set is holding up really well. The G has not held up quite as well as the others, but I'll change the whole set at the same time, probably around New Years.

George
 
#812
I've been using Velvet Blues for about six months now.

Overall I like them, although I still can't make them to sound fine when bowing (that's probably just me), and I'm not 100% accustomed to the texture of these strings under my left hand fingers.

They feel quite more flexable than Spiros mittel (my string choice before Velvets) and this required some right hand adjustment as well.

But there's a certain warmth, a je ne sais quoi if you will, that is very appealing to me.

I realize this can vary quite a lot from one bass to another.

I've recorded an album with them (to be released next January): check Link Removed in case you want to listen to them.

My $0,02.-

Cheers,

F.M.
 
#813
FMartin said:
Overall I like them, although I still can't make them to sound fine when bowing (that's probably just me)
Click to expand...

I don't think it's just you. I've heard more than one person complain that the Blues are not great for bowing. One guy thought that Animas were better, while another opined that you don't want to be playing any Velvet strings with a bow.

I hope to find out in the coming year, when I take up the bow in earnest.
 
#815
Thank you very much! :)

The bass was recorded with an old Neumann condenser from the 70s and an AKG.

I had to drill a few holes to accomodate these strings' looped ends on my metal tailpiece, by the way. :hmm:
 

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#816
hello,
I' ve mounted Aquila gut D and G on my bass. E and A are Garbo.
the Aquila gauge is 2,00 G and 2,90 D (mm).
now I think that the G is good (maybe less volume that Grabo but better sound), but the D is to muddy. It depends from the big gauge? It is maybe better a 2,70/2,80 gauge? wich kind of brand do you suggest?
have you experience in this?
thanks for the help, is my first experience with gut, a choice I'm looking for since many years.
 
#817
Did you just put them on? Gut, particularly the D, will open up and get more defined over time (meaning: within a week or two). I did find that the thinner D sounds more defined than thicker ones though.

I'm using a Gamut Pistoy D (light) and it is almost as defined as the G string. In fact, it sounds a lot like a lower pitched gut G string. After installation, I was immediately able to play stuff on it that I had to previously run up and down the G string to do.

mark
 
#820
tito mangialajo said:
thanks Calivox,
yes I put it on this evening. maybe i have to wait a week. I've read on the Gamut site that the light D is only 0,1 mm thinner than mine Aquila
(2,80 against 2,90). is possible that such a little difference makes a so different sound?
Click to expand...

There is going to be a bigger difference between manufacturers (Gamut vs. Aquila vs. Pirastro etc.). There is also a huge difference between the type of gut string. Gamut has two: Lyon and Pistoy. I've found the Gamut Pistoy D to be much more defined than the Lyon. The Lyon has a bigger bloom and sounds fatter than the Pistoy. Both are good; it is a matter of preference. I don't know how those strings compare to Aquila though.

mark
 
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