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Double Bass Velvet strings megathread part III

#401
I have been very happy with the service from Nuno as well. I play with Garbo lights. But a set of Lenzner (plain exept wound E) is on its way. I will start out with the G and see where it gets me. One thing I can't make my mind up about, is that I got a Velvet tail gut, that I can not decide whether I want to try out instead of my coated wire tail gut. It would be nice to try it with the Garbos, to see if I like the change. However if I don't, I have the trouble of putting a wire on again. Oh well.
 
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#403
Putting on some rosin directly on the bowed area of the string helps bowing synthetic wrapped strings. But it doesn't make them an Evah or Belcanto ...
But these Velvet strings are not made for bowing.
Even the Compas 180 and Classico that are announced to be bowable need a special way of bowing and probably a longer break-in time with the bow. Not everyones taste.
 
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#404
Anima E, A and D bows well imho and actually the E bows great, it`s really only about the G-string. Still, if the G doesn`t improve or / and I learn to live with it I`ll replace it with a gut G. It`s kinda stupid cause that G has some serious pizz tone and feel and I quess that only suitable replacement sound and feel-wise is gut. I have a bunch of strings in the drawer I could try, different Spirocores, Obligatos, Belcanto, Evah, Corelli, Labella but no-no, this is gut or nothing at all and the gut is only for bowability, nothing else. These Anima`s are fantastic strings.

Hey and thanks for the advice!
 
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#408
Kai Sanchez said:
Reiska how would you compare the Animas to Spirocore Weichs? The good and the bad?
Click to expand...

Hi kscbass, for me Spiro weichs have been the default bass strings from the beginning and I will keep a set of dead S42W`s in my bass bag as a backup. My Anima`s are not fully broken in yet and this is my first set. Anima`s do share some same, great qualities with Spiro weichs, the acoustic volume, projection and growl on the lower strings. On my bass Anima`s are louder than dead weichs, but darker and have lots of gut character, tone and feel ( reminds me of Scott Lafaro`s sound ). D and G are fairly different in tone and feel, they remind me of gut more than EA. Anima`s bring the instruments natural character beautifully like weichs do, there`s wood and air in the sound.

I really like dead weichs bowed sound and feel. The long break in -perioid of Spiro`s is a pain. Anima EAD bows fine straight out of the package but I find the G beeing really, really difficult to bow. I truly hope that it mellows with age and after the break in cause the pizz tone and feel is awesome! The Bowed sound is rough and powerful, which I like.

Anima`s are easier on both hands than weichs, since they have silk core and 25kg equal tension across the set. They are also thicker in gauge, the G is very similar to gut G. I have a hybrid bass with 104cm mensure and set both Anima`s and weichs at G 7mm - E 10mm height.

They do have some similarities but for my hands and ears they are completely different anim... no, Anima ls :)

I`ll propably replace Anima G with Garbo gut G sooner or later anyway.

Anima`s are marvellous strings, if you are after more old school than contemporary vibe. I highly recommend them!

edit: For my purposes both Animas and weichs amplify well, but Anima`s sound more natural DB. I like a lot. Both are great in the rehearsing room cause you`re able to hear yourself.
 
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#409
Thanks Reika, I've been on the fence about getting a set of animas, and I would like more low end from my bass. I've tried moving the sound post but the improvements haven't been too noticeable. On the other hand, the recordings I've heard of the animas sound good but not amazing, I think I have the spiro sound ingrained in my head.
I've tried the garbos on other basses and they felt good but sounded to dark for my taste.
 
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#410
I understand :) I`ve been after the gut-qualities in sound and feel for some time now and I quess Anima`s are pretty natural step in that rabbit hole... I choose Animas over Garbos for bowability.

Velvet Blues might be more something you`re after, haven`t tried them but what I have read here on TB?

Have you tried a Spiro mittel E with weich ADG? Kinda steroid weich set, works well.
 
#412
S42w EA Anima DG would have weird thickness-factor across the set as the higher Animas are fatter gauge. If this is something to worry about, people use plain gut with low weichs without any problem. On my bass Anima set is well balanced.

Still, if you`re more after something else than gut-vibe I`d recommend trying this the other way around, Spiros on top of Animas, better match in sound characteristics.

My 2 cents :)
 
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#414
I tried an anima G with EAD spiro weichs 4/4 s42W and it felt nice, the anima was obviously darker but I felt I could get used to it, I'm just not sure if I want to go for dry/short/less sustain sound of the anima G. With that said, I'd prefer the Anima G rather than a Evah Weich G on top of spiro weichs.
 
#417
We`ll see :blackeye:... If / when this is the case, any idea which gut D is a good match to Garbo gut G?

Have to praise the pizz sound and feel of Animas more here, they did a wonderful job yesterday on my all-amplified school band gig and today at rehearsals with three singers. I do the bass part of a doo-wop accapella number, gets too low for me to sing it. That acoustic oldie-school loud pizz sound and the singers match together very well.

Anyway, I have a feeling that the gut G will be a great match with Animas!
 
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