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Double Bass Velvet strings megathread part III

#581
Bass Baron said:
hey can i ask how Blues, animas and Garbos differ from Evahs?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

I haven`t tried Blues, but Animas and Garbos are copper, copper / polyester wound on silk. They have even 25kg / string tension across the set. They are dark like EP`s, but the copper winding makes the sound kind of " sparkle ". They sound a lot more like guts than Evahs and are a lot easier for the hands. They can be crancked up high and when you do so they become very loud, but are still comfortable to play, unlike Evah req or weichs. Garbos are insanely loud and very close to guts, Animas are kinda missing link between gut and steel sonically and they can be growly as hell. These qualities vary with the string height, lower they`re closer to steels than higher.

Edit: Animas bow, Garbos somewhat bow, seasoned players write that Blues bow very poorly. Nyman`s rosin works well with Animas and Garbos.
 
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#582
Reiska said:
I haven`t tried Blues, but Animas and Garbos are copper, copper / polyester wound on silk. They have even 25kg / string tension across the set. They are dark like EP`s, but the copper winding makes the sound kind of " sparkle ". They sound a lot more like guts than Evahs and are a lot easier for the hands. They can be crancked up high and when you do so they become very loud, but are still comfortable to play, unlike Evah req or weichs. Garbos are insanely loud and very close to guts, Animas are kinda missing link between gut and steel sonically and they can be growly as hell. These qualities vary with the string height, lower they`re closer to steels than higher.

Edit: Animas bow, Garbos somewhat bow, seasoned players write that Blues bow very poorly. Nyman`s rosin works well with Animas and Garbos.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Thanks! Gonna try Garbos or Animas after years of EP:s and Olivs.

Suomi hyvin kartalla! Kiitos! :D
 
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#585
I've been using Velvet Blue for my E and A for about 9 months now, and while I didn't like the upper stings I must say the bottoms match gut pretty darn well. At gut height (little under 1.0mm) they project well enough to keep up with plain gut and have a nice dark sound with note definition. Kind of like dead Spiros jacked up, but with a much more comfortable tension at that height. Something to consider if you are currently running broken in Blues and want to try plain gut!
 
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#587
My opinion is just the opposite...Garbos always sound dry and colorless to me, where Animas are more brilliant, loud and colorful.

I briefly tried the Blues last year but took them off after a week or two. They're kindasorta similar to EPs, Oblis, Kolstein Heritage et al due to the braided perlon core but they still have the Velvet flavor and most of the color you'd expect if you've tried other Velvet strings.
 
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#588
I've used Garbo lights and Anima with gut in the past as well. The silk core really does pair well with gut, and they are probably a more consistent tension and tone match than the Blues. That said, the broken-in Blues work a lot better than I expected for this application!
 
#591
Just slammed a set of Garbos on My Chadwick folding Bass. Have some gigs this week so I'll put them to a real test.

Interesting first impression, a lot of Air in the sound. Haven't had a full set on before, just the G and a brief test of the E and A.
Been playing guts so I might want a bit less sustain but we'll see.
 
#592
I have about a year on blues in various configurations on two basses (a thomann 111E and a Shen SB80) after many years of Anima usage. These have been my findings-

1- The Blues indeed feel and sound markedly more "steel" than the Animas, but they aren't quite a fresh set of spirocore mittels, either. The Blues are pretty close to Spiros in gauge but much softer under than hands, and they start bright but got progressively darker as time went on. In the beginning, they are quite bright. The Animas are thicker, softer, and sound more organic from day one. Dark but not thuddy, with only a little zing/growl.

2- The Animas actually bow a good bit better, IMO. The Anima G is hard to bow in thumb position, but doable. They get a very "gut" sound under the bow. The Blues have a consistent wrap, but are very false-y. After about 6 months, they improved but still aren't good arco strings.

3- Both sets sound great with a gut G, although the Animas are a closer tension match. When combining a Gamut Lyon Medium with the Blue lowers, I found a distracting tension skip on my Thomann, but it felt nice and balanced on my Shen. Go figure. I never felt a noticeable tension skip on any bass going from Anima to a gut G string.

4- The Blues would apprear to have considerably stronger windings than the Animas, and can handle more on-offs. The durability is partially what has me sticking with them.

5- The Blues are loud. The Animas are brutally, floor shakingly loud.

Honestly, they are both really good sets. If price is no problem and you want a guttier sound, go Animas. If you want another spin on steel strings, Blues are a set that has the projection and fullness a medium gauge set but feel like downtuned solo strings. Good luck on the string quest!
 
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#593
For grins, I used my brazilwood violin bow to see how the Garbos I have would sound under the bow. No real difficulty in starting them, and the sound, regardless of my poor technique, wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Used Magic Rosin, not sure that makes a ton of difference.
Now I'm considering purchasing a decent bow … lol
 
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#594
Hey all! Has anyone heard about Schertler discontinuing Velvets? The link on their website has zero info on strings. Only tailgut. And Steve from the String Emporium says this on his website...

Recent news about Velvet: First, we're running low and it is not without trying really hard to always order ahead and keep everything fully up to stock as we do for all the brands. First, they started to get slow on orders, then certain strings were not in stock. Now, we are learning there is a good chance that they might discontinue manufacturing these strings.

I'm really hoping this isn't true... Anybody know differently?
 
#595
bassmanbrent said:
Hey all! Has anyone heard about Schertler discontinuing Velvets? The link on their website has zero info on strings. Only tailgut. And Steve from the String Emporium says this on his website...

I'm really hoping this isn't true... Anybody know differently?
Click to expand...

I've received two complete orders directly from Velvet Strings just in the last couple of weeks. I've had no problems sourcing Blues, Animas, or Garbos. I've reached out to them and made them aware of Steve's "statement" and this thread, perhaps he will respond here or pass some information on to me.
 
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#598
I've been scared to death of my Garbos breaking mid-gig, so I bought a used set so I wouldn't be out too much money if they did. They still haven't broken. Used set of Blues on the Juzy. No breakage there (and they sound really good). Might have to order a brand new set just to see what is what …
 
#600
Sam Dingle said:
Has anyone confirmed if they discontinued?
Click to expand...

Not yet. I've spoken to them, and they report that they are having production difficulties due to wear and tear on their custom-made proprietary winding machine(s). They are trying to resolve this issue, but in the meantime, production is temporarily halted. More to come.
 

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