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Double Bass What Strings do the GODS use?

#41
Hey Francois..
You seem to be very acurate with
your info and opinions. I just wanted
to set you straight on one item.
Brian Bromberg has had the same set
of Thomastic weichs on his bass for
about 3 or 4 years. Same on the electric
upright bass. La Bella slappers on the
electric basses.
Please keep giving us the benefit of your
wisdom and experience.
 
#42
I am currently adding a large selection of "Michel Camilo" to my ever growing libary of selected Jazz.And my newest entry is another GREAT! CD by Camilo titled "On Fire".
I note TWO Bass players on the session, the first :- the ever popular Marc Johnson and the second player a certain "MICHAEL BOWIE" I don't know anything of this gentleman???
He certainly can get around the box and at the same time has a real nice sound coming out the his strings!
TWO enquiries :- Who's Michael Bowie and what's his fencing wire???? ( francois ? on the second question I presume)!
Cheers;)
 
#43
Originally posted by powermans
TWO enquiries :- Who's Michael Bowie and what's his fencing wire???? ( francois ? on the second question I presume)!
Cheers;)
Click to expand...
Never heard of him, sorry!
Anyway, the most important point, methinks, is that even if you used the same strings, you wouldn't get the same tone.
So my conclusion is: try a few brands, and find the one set, or mix, that suits you and your style best.
No need to look further.
 
#49
Thanks a lot for the kind words, guys! ;)
As a matter of fact, there's only one string giving me some trouble right now: the G.
My favorite, sound- and feeling-wise, is the Oliv, but this thing is kind of expensive!
I threw one in the waste-basket recently. The windings were separating.
That's why I started a thread about the Chorda strings. (there were a few threads about it in the archives, but nothing interesting was found)
The comments I got here and from my favorite supplier are not very convincing so far.
I emailed Pirastro, but they do not respond most of the time. (and when they do, it can take weeks...)
I'll probably put back the Innovation 140H (solid core) G back on too see how it's going.
For those wondering, I don't like the Obligato...
I used the Jargar for some time, but found it too muddy. (tone lacks definition and focus)

For those interested, Barrie Kolstein is going to launch a new string, with synthetic core, in the following weeks/months! :D
 
#50
Yes Marcus I would like to second your comment in regard to our OWN String God! Francois, (I hope he's not reading this)!!!!! He certainly gave me a truckload of info on strings that I would NEVER have found out in YEARS of reading!

It was through him that I recently purchased my FIRST set of Obligatos and, his advice on La Bella Nylons was great INFO ! CRICKY!!! (as our local Crocodile Man says) next time Francois comes on line his HEAD SHOT will take up the whole page!

Anyway, just to disagree with francois.....YES, I LOVE my obligatos and further to your Pirastro problem ... Let me tell what I experienced! I had my new strings on only about a week and began to notice a BUZZ on my G string. I searched high and low for the offending buzz and, finally narrowed it down to the G string. Just to make sure I took of the Obligato and replaced it my old Corelli. Problem Solved.

I thought of contacting "Quinn's" however, thought I would head straight for the Jugular. I e-mailed Pirastro direct and stated my problem and within 24 hours received a reply from the Manager of Pirastro who requested my address. I did so and,wait for it!
4 yes FOUR days later I had a replacement G String ALL boxed up and on my doorstep. That's from Offenbach Germany to Brisbane Australia...... 4 Days. I was VERY impressed and let them know the same.

So Francois...."HAVE A LITTLE FAITH BABY" as Donald Sutherland would say and e-mail Pirastro for the SAME service.

And Marcus Yes , I e-mailed Michael Bowie and made myself known to him.... will report back to this forum if he replies to my enquiry.

Mick:hmm:
 
#51
Originally posted by powermans
I e-mailed Pirastro direct and stated my problem and within 24 hours received a reply from the Manager of Pirastro who requested my address.
[snip]
So Francois...."HAVE A LITTLE FAITH BABY" as Donald Sutherland would say and e-mail Pirastro for the SAME service.
Click to expand...
Yes, when you have a problem with a string, Pirastro responds very quickly, however for general questions, they often don't answer at all. (take my word, I've had dozens of email exchanges with them over the years...)
I queried them about the Chorda strings, not submitted a problem, that's why I'm still waiting for an answer that may never come...
About the Obligato: I don't have a problem with it, I just don't like the tone.
 
#52
I was reading the thread and happened to see Mike's name. I study with him and he is a great player based in Washington D.C. who's played with Betty Carter, Abby Lincoln, The Harper Brothers, and Curtis Fuller just to name a few. He uses Obligatos and actually was the one who got me to switch from helicore hybrids to obligatos.
 
#53
Thanks for the news on Michael Bowie, YES, I noted his fine touch on the Camilo CD that I recently purchased "ON FIRE" and, was curious to find out more on this gentleman!
Nice to know that he... AS I use Obligatos, I think they are a GREAT sounding string. The only string I have yet to experiment with are La Bella Black Nylons....They are my next challenge.

I note that Michael had an influence on you changing from helicore hybrids to Obligatos...however, you did not comment on YOUR opinion of Obligatos???? are they better than the hybrids? Would be interested in your comments!

Regards,

Mick:)
 
#54
I'm very happy with the Obligatos. Not only are they great for jaz playing but feel great under the bow. The Obligatos helped me to get that gut sound that I was looking for but in a string that doesn't have all the drawbacks of gut strings. I must say that on my Kay the Obligatos sound similar to the Helicores but their characteristics really came out on my carved bass.
 
#59
Originally posted by Chris Fitzgerald



I thought the Jaco recording was a plank record. Is he covering Jaco's stuff on DB?
Click to expand...

From the article (and I didn't buy the mag) it seems a large chunk of it is on the doghouse. I know "The Chicken" is, and a few of the other tracks he talked about upright.....
 

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