Double Bass Velvet strings megathread part III

[Mark Gollihur]

Here's what I have been told/read between the lines.

• Nuno is still there, but Schertler is the parent company and holds the purse-strings.
  
• The string-winding machine used to make all Velvet Strings was a custom unit invented specifically for them, and apparently has some unique features that are not on conventional machines, and thus Velvets can only be made using that particular machine.
• The machine has broken before, and been repaired. However, the person who invented and maintained it, for whatever reason, is no longer available/willing to do so.
  
• As a result, the machine has been down for many months, and looking in from the outside, no one at Schertler seems particularly interested in doing anything about it, except for Nuno, who apparently does not have the authority.

I took the Velvet Strings off the site, for the foreseeable future, because I don't have any left, and it seems - at this writing - that they've done a "soft" dissolution of the Velvet brand; meaning, they seem content to let it die.

I could be wrong, but that's the assumption I'm moving forward with.

 

[vinnycolletti]

Thanks for the update Mark, lousy news though.
Just bought a used set of Evah Weich to try out but maybe I'll grab a set of Compas for the bass I'm building before they're totally gone.

Come on Schertler don't give up on Velvets.

 

[bassmanbrent]

it seems - at this writing - that they've done a "soft" dissolution of the Velvet brand; meaning, they seem content to let it die.

Yikes! That's really bad news for a lot of us :-(

 

[shwashwa]

wonder what strings rufus is going to go to?

 

[vinnycolletti]

wonder what strings rufus is going to go to?

Maybe he can be our point man, call them up and say " Hey Schertler, ***"

 

[Jeremy Allen]

wonder what strings rufus is going to go to?

I just sent him a new set of Animas because I had heard he was looking for them, and let him know about the store that seems to have some extended-E Anima sets still in stock. I'll let him know of this latest update, though, so that he can put his gravitas behind any efforts to get the strings back in production! As we all know, there's nothing really quite like the various Velvet string varieties...

 

[neal davis]

I just sent him a new set of Animas because I had heard he was looking for them, and let him know about the store that seems to have some extended-E Anima sets still in stock. I'll let him know of this latest update, though, so that he can put his gravitas behind any efforts to get the strings back in production! As we all know, there's nothing really quite like the various Velvet string varieties...

The only thing now in the genssler strings but they are big bucks, may have to go back to gamut’s

 

[vinnycolletti]

Just got a set of Compas 180 from String Emporium. Those will go on the carved bass I'm building. I put a used set, 5 mos old, of Evah Weich on the old plywood. They're clearer than the 2-1/2 yr old Velvets but um, Meh.

 

[vinnycolletti]

Any news? I was rooting around and Dictum says out of stock, more coming soon!?. Another site Carbondix shows a picture with Dictum underneath and says Article out of stock - Article late December 2019 available!!??
Evahs got done stretching, turned into bridge cables and killed my bass-and my hand.Put on Corelli 370F I bought shortly before Velvets. Nice feel but G string screetches like a P.O.ed Pterodactyl arco thumb position, OK I suck and they're new but...
Need Velvets

 

[Sam Dingle]

Any news? I was rooting around and Dictum says out of stock, more coming soon!?. Another site Carbondix shows a picture with Dictum underneath and says Article out of stock - Article late December 2019 available!!??
Evahs got done stretching, turned into bridge cables and killed my bass-and my hand.Put on Corelli 370F I bought shortly before Velvets. Nice feel but G string screetches like a P.O.ed Pterodactyl arco thumb position, OK I suck and they're new but...
Need Velvets

You might want to look at Genzler strings, might get you that feel you want.

I don’t use velvets and always thought this would come with the constant breaking, so I don’t have any love holding out hope, but my thoughts is that they will become a thing of the past. Sought after in 20 years the way we search for golden spirals today.

“That beautiful string Rufus and Larry used to play, I bet that’s what made them sound so good!”

 

[vinnycolletti]

You might want to look at Genzler strings, might get you that feel you want.”

Thanks Sam, looks like one of the Red Label flavors may be the ticket. Hopefully he will get his production up soon.

 

[Joe Basso]

Dang! I was really into the blue set, (only thing after real gut I've ever really enjoyed 100% and I've tried Zyex, Obligatos, and various Labellas) anyone have recommendations for a substitute? I played a loaner bass that had a tuned down solo set of strings, but the owner didn't remember what brand they were. It had a really great combo of attack and sustain, but of course who knows how much of that was setup and the character of the bass itself. If anyone has a favorite set of solo strings that sound nice and thumpy tuned down for pitch playing, let me know!

 

[Reiska]

I would try a set of Dominant solos. Not as powerful as Animas but they sound surprisingly close.

 

[HateyMcAmp]

I have been enjoying Superflexible Solo. They don’t have the punch of Velvets though

 

[martinc]

Pirastro Perpetuals.

 

[vinnycolletti]

Sam I see you sold the Pirastro Perpetuals you had on the Shen. How was the tension compared to Velvets?
If they're anything like the Evah Pirazzi weich, I'll pass

 

[martinc]

Sam I see you sold the Pirastro Perpetuals you had on the Shen. How was the tension compared to Velvets?
If they're anything like the Evah Pirazzi weich, I'll pass

vinny: if you don't mind me chiming in here.....Perpetuals are nothing like Evah Weichs. They are lower tension than the EP Weichs. Easy to play. I am now a converted Spiro Weich guy.

 

[vinnycolletti]

no, don't mind a bit, thanks. so how do these compare to say, Compas 180?

 

[martinc]

no, don't mind a bit, thanks. so how do these compare to say, Compas 180?

Never tried the Compass. Velvet Garbos and Animas for a year or so but the novelty wore off and I went back to Spiro Weichs with either a Zyex or Bel Canto (orch) G.

 

[Sam Dingle]

no, don't mind a bit, thanks. so how do these compare to say, Compas 180?

The set of velvet compass I'm selling came off a friends bass after he found out velvet went under. Didn't want to love strings that were out of production. Switched to Perpetuals and on his bass he says they feel similar.