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Double Bass Velvet strings megathread part III

#804
Bisounourse said:
Damn... for once I found a stringset I loved (Compas 180 Orch.) and that sounded great with my bass.
Hope I can get some more mileage out of mine, otherwise anyone has suggestions for when I have to restring my bass?
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My friend found perpetuals to be a good sub on his bass after testing labella tape, Evah weich and Spiro medium. Said innovation braided were fun but died too soon for him
 
#805
Hello. I have used a lot of different strings in my life. However, I just sort of settled into using the animas and for some time now the blues—probably a total of around eight years. It just happened that I really like their tone, response and feel more than any other, including gut (aside from the pain dealing with those). I have dealt with the bowing issue due to the above. In that light, I can remember the sense and time of other strings, synthetic and all metal but it’s not immediately in my head.

The Zyex and Perpetual strings seem to be good ones to try...synthetic and then metal. How do the two compare feel and flexibility-wise comparing them to the blues? How about concerning the light and medium versions of the Zyex? Tonal comparisons to the blues and amongst themselves? How about the tonal lifespan of the two models? Arco playability thoughts would be great to.

Thanks!
 
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#806
*Sigh*...only yesterday, I discovered what went down with VS when I thought only by happenstance to check the current pricing on Velvet Strings Blues (that, overall for multiple reasons have worked out the best for me, for both basses; an 1800s Saxony flatback and a newer laminate Hauser).
My simple question posed here, to any that might offer valuable insight in your humble opinion from experience: which manufacture & model string set best matches up with everything saliently beneficial the Blues provided, i.e., the lower aggregate or total string tension and pressure on the soundboard ergo the suppleness that VS was world renowned for; overall decent versatility (at least for me) for pizz jazz through arco orchestral applications; a relatively great bang/buck price? Yes, I'm indeed quite late to this "party"...both string sets have been holding up fine for 3+ years now. It's not that these are in desperate need of replacement, but sometime in the nearer future, sooner than later. Thanks, :cool:, =dg=
 
#807
jazzwalk said:
*Sigh*...only yesterday, I discovered what went down with VS when I thought only by happenstance to check the current pricing on Velvet Strings Blues (that, overall for multiple reasons have worked out the best for me, for both basses; an 1800s Saxony flatback and a newer laminate Hauser).
My simple question posed here, to any that might offer valuable insight in your humble opinion from experience: which manufacture & model string set best matches up with everything saliently beneficial the Blues provided, i.e., the lower aggregate or total string tension and pressure on the soundboard ergo the suppleness that VS was world renowned for; overall decent versatility (at least for me) for pizz jazz through arco orchestral applications; a relatively great bang/buck price? Yes, I'm indeed quite late to this "party"...both string sets have been holding up fine for 3+ years now. It's not that these are in desperate need of replacement, but sometime in the nearer future, sooner than later. Thanks, :cool:, =dg=
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Only used velvet blues for a summer on a rental bass, but (and I’m bias here 100%) the perpetual Strings May have the low tension and flexibility that I remember from the blues. I thought of the the blues as a low tension flexible sting with a steel sound and that’s what’s the perpetuals are.

I think we’ve basically confirmed velvet won’t be coming back?
 
#808
Sam Dingle said:
Only used velvet blues for a summer on a rental bass, but (and I’m bias here 100%) the perpetual Strings May have the low tension and flexibility that I remember from the blues. I thought of the the blues as a low tension flexible sting with a steel sound and that’s what’s the perpetuals are.

I think we’ve basically confirmed velvet won’t be coming back?
Click to expand...
Thanks, Sam; it's hard to say whether VS will make a comeback, from what I've been reading so far. Thanks very much for your input re: Pirastro's Perpetuals; a lower aggregate string tension is something I can't afford to forgo, both for the sake of my Saxony's gut string legacy and my left arm's prehensile endurance/overall health. How would you describe how the Perpetuals compare with the Blues, for arco btw?
 
#810
jazzwalk said:
which manufacture & model string set best matches up with everything saliently beneficial the Blues provided
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It's been a while since I've used either, but Zyex light gauge might put you in a similar ballpark to Blues in terms of sound and price. The Zyex are a little higher in tension and smaller in diameter though. They also feel a little different because they are flat wound but the bonus is they won't make your fingers turn a funny colour :-) I'm going purely on memory so someone correct me if I've remembered this wrong.
 
#811
jazzwalk said:
Thanks, Sam; it's hard to say whether VS will make a comeback, from what I've been reading so far. Thanks very much for your input re: Pirastro's Perpetuals; a lower aggregate string tension is something I can't afford to forgo, both for the sake of my Saxony's gut string legacy and my left arm's prehensile endurance/overall health. How would you describe how the Perpetuals compare with the Blues, for arco btw?
Click to expand...

The perpetuals are a steel string so they will bow more like that. You can look at the perpetual thread and find my videos i've posted showing sound samples. Like a low tension spirocore with more balls than the spiro lights and a cool ping to the note.
 
#812
Thanks; did just that, the sound seems agreeable to me (tho' obviously each and every bass is unique one way or another, so certain variances here have to be expected, accordingly;-). The main thing for me is the 'souplesse' factor, effected by the lower overall tension of the aggregate strings tuned to pitch, which really helps older instruments like my flatback resonate more fully, besides helping me avoid any more serious repetitive stress injury. May I ask; can you describe this aspect between the Perpetuals and the Blues, in terms of similarities or differences, or both..?
 
#813
jazzwalk said:
Thanks; did just that, the sound seems agreeable to me (tho' obviously each and every bass is unique one way or another, so certain variances here have to be expected, accordingly;-). The main thing for me is the 'souplesse' factor, effected by the lower overall tension of the aggregate strings tuned to pitch, which really helps older instruments like my flatback resonate more fully, besides helping me avoid any more serious repetitive stress injury. May I ask; can you describe this aspect between the Perpetuals and the Blues, in terms of similarities or differences, or both..?
Click to expand...

not sure what you mean sorry. I can't really comment more on the two
 
#814
Sam Dingle said:
not sure what you mean sorry. I can't really comment more on the two
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OK...just driving at your impressions of differences in playability, as affected by the total string tension, which implies you have enough playing experience with the Blues..? If you don't, no worries; I'm kinda taking a blunderbuss approach with finding out as much as I can, before spending a cent. Thanks, Sam! :cool:
 
#815
I´ve had both, Blues and Perpetuals. IMO @Sam Dingle is right. Perpetuals could be a nice replacement for the blues. Perps are a steel string but the tension is only a bit higher than on the Blues. Pizzicato sounds and feels quite similar. And while the Blues were hard to bow, Perps are surprisingly easy to bow with a nice darkish yet clear sound. Also Perps don´t come sticky under the fingers like the Blues did. So I´d surely would try the Perps.
I think some resellers still have Velvets in stock. At least I saw them just yesterday in Quinnviolins site.
 
#820
I've spent considerable time with Blues and Perps. Perps are closer to Spiros in terms of sound and feel than Blues. Perps are in a whole different ballpark as far as Arco; much better. They are skinnier and feel quite different under the hand. Of the strings I've spent time with I think some sort of combination with Obbligato on top and Perps or Spiros on bottom might give you what you're seeking. I have never used the very expensive alternatives; Gennsler, Eudoxa, Olive
 

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