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Double Bass Velvet strings megathread part III

#82
Have had the same set of Animas on my bass for over
two years, I think i clean them every once in a while but
not really that often, they just look dull after a while, who
cares, its how they SOUND that matters, and that has
been great. Oh, and yes, they do turn my fingers a kinda
grey-green after a couple hours of hard playing (big band),
always freaks people out, but it comes right off, never
found it to be some traumatic thing :) Also have Garbos
on my Eminence, they have not gotten as much play time,
but they are the saving grace in the sound of that instrument
as well. Am thinking of putting the new Garbo/Gut set on
the acoustic sometime soon.

Velvet's are great, thank you guys!!
 
#84
As my Anima adventure continues-

The G string is really something awesome. I was super scared the nylon that makes up about half the wrap would make it plastic-y. Not the case. Nice and fat for my strait-ahead bluegrass stuff, but plenty clear and manageable for when it gets "progressive" (think Crooked Still / Nickel Creek.) These sets are really well thought out and the steady upgrading and improvements show. I've actually gone days without thinking about my beloved Gamut Lyons :eek:

I feel like I'm getting some of my favorite aspects of my broken in spiro weich (quick response, consistent, clear pitch) and some of my favorite aspects of my Gamuts (that fat, bouncy tone, easy on the hands.) Maybe its just the honeymoon, or maybe its just my bass likes these, but I'm really loving practicing these days :smug:
 
#85
I haven't been here for a while but thought I would pop in to say that I've had a set of Animas/Garbos on my bass for three years and only finally yesterday, one of the strings, the A Anima, finally broke. It actually broke where the string connects to the plastic inside the thread at the loop end. The other strings (Anima G, Garbo D and Anima C extension) still sound fantastic. I replaced the broken string with a Garbo A that I had lying around and it also sounds great. In my opinion these strings are amongst the best around at least for pizz playing. It will be a sad day if they ever stop making these strings.
 
#87
After from switching from a year old set of Spiro M's with an Oliv G, I really like the tone and feel of my new Animas. I just hear more of the wood and the Anima's seem to have a more natural sound (pizz only for me). I've had them on since last Sunday....Can't wait til they are thru stretching. I'm happy with my decision.

But like UncleToad wisely sez: Never toss out those still playable Spiros! :D
 
#88
Have loved my Animas also, had a set on for over 2 years,
but Fedex just delivered a full set of Gamut gut yesterday
afternoon, and the D and G have gone on my bass... and
OH MY, its SO different. The E and A copper wound will
go on after work this afternoon.

Its a bit too soon to really report, but the G string is
already wooing me :) One thing I can say for sure,
there is nothing else that feels like these things :cool:

Regardless, for metal strings, I love Velvet the most!
 
#89
Having used Gamuts on G and D and Permanents on A and E for years before going to the Animas, I'd say the gut setup is equally compelling. If I had two basses I would have gut on one of them but I only have one and for me the Velvets are more versatile and also a bit easier on my hands. There is a very specific tone with the guts that the Animas can't replicate. However they have their own sound which is just as good but different.
 
#90
I've been running with Anima E/A, Gamut Pistoy D/G and loving it. I tried using an Anima D with a Gamut Pistoy G but I couldn't get used to the tension difference between the G and D. I also tried a full set of Animas but the loss of the Gamut G was too much. I also tried a Garbo light D with the Gamut G and it was a very close decision but went back to the Gamut Pistoy D.

mark
 
#91
Mark Perna said:
I've been running with Anima E/A, Gamut Pistoy D/G and loving it ....
Click to expand...
Me too Mark. I love those Pistoy G and D strings. I have had my Animas on for almost 2.5 years. I just installed a new Anima A last night and will put a new E on later in the week. They seemed like they had lost some note definition and complexity (but still had big poofy punch). The used ones will become spares now.

I have 6 paying gigs (one at a "naturist resort" but that's another story ;) ) coming up in late June and early July and I want to get those new Animas stretched out and sounding good before the time comes.

Luthier Jake deVilliers is working over a '49 American Standard that I recently acquired and it will get Pistoy G and D and Garbo A and E. Needless to say, I am a big fan of Pistoys and Velvets :D .
 
#95
I recently put on a new set of Animas i bought from Nuno, but the G is not really sounding as i've heard it from others and as i can remember, it didn't look like this when i see it from others.
Is the G string supposed to look like this?
bild.jpg
 
#98
jfv said:
Ya, that Anima G looks normal, what were you expecting?
Are you confusing it with Garbo perhaps, which does look
different?
Click to expand...

maybe i did. Just wanted to know that everything is what it should ;) Well these strings aren't for me i think. It's loss of clarity in comparison to my previous Obligato is too big. I think i'll sell these and buy a new set of Obligatos!
 

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