[Johnny Layton]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Johnny, thanks for filling in this blanks for me. Some of it I could have gotten from your 'Profile' but you haven't filled it in.

Oops sorry I filled some stuff in.

I don't know many or actually any Pros that use Corelli's. The main Strings I see used are Flexocor, Original Flexocor and the new Belcanto's from Thomastic which have a slightly larger diameter and lower tension. Many players replace the E or E/C Ext string with a Helicore or Permanant. I prefer the Flexocor Stark for a beefier E or E/C but they stopped making them. A good alternative might be the Original Flat Chrome for the E or E/C. I had a set of them once and liked all but the G. The G will tame down in time but at first it was a bit edgy.

Other than Paul Ellison, David Neubert, and Francois Rabbath, I haven't seen any pros use them either. Of course, these guys were using them in solo settings and not orchestra settings...so Patrick Neher's suggestion to use the bottom two for orchestra work intrigued me.

I don't play in an orchestra, but I played in a chamber group recently while experimenting with Patrick Neher's idea and I thought they worked out surprisingly well. To my mind, it definitely challenges the idea that strong, beefy low strings are needed to give the low end its due.

As you mention Permanents, they are not at all well liked on the G and D being too bright but some use the E or A and E combo with maybe Flexocor G and D. I found this combo accidentally once but some Basses just don't like the Perms at all.

I like Flexocores too...a lot! I didn't mind the permanents at the top, though.

For Gut-like sound and feel I have these new Eurosonics on one of my Basses now. I consulted with them on the design and now the regular gauge is in final design or finished if the company doesn't agree with me on the E string. They Bow in maybe 3rd place to Flexocor and Belcanto but first or second place for feel and First place for a metal string with both a fatter gut feel and olde gut style sound.

Yeah the belcantos are nice I agree, but I too prefer the flexocores. The belcantos are awesome for spiccato (or at least my version of the stroke)...super smooth.

All this String testing and Bow choosing can eat up a lot of ones time that otherwise could be used for practicing or playing the Bass. Even reading this long post can cut into ones routine..lol

Yeah I know what you mean lol
But what the hell