New orchestral strings from Pirastro & Daddario

[Ken Smith]

Took out the Hart out this evening for a rehearsal (Thursday, Orchestra Society or Philadelphia) and I think this is the loudest and deepest this bass has ever sounded. We were playing the Mozart Posthorn which has some smooth bowing, some fast parts and a bit of pizz, just a bit. The principal sitting on my left taps my should and motions his hand downwards, 'not so loud'! I was bowing on the fingerboard so I motioned to play over the fingerboard above the neck heel and he laughed out loud. People looked over and had no idea what he was laughing about. I had to try real hard to play softly for this scaled down sized group we had tonight.

The brightness I mentioned before with these new Flex, Dlx. strings sounded more like clarity but the smooth loud depth was the best I remember having with this bass.

I had a real good and smooth bow as well, my one of my old English Bryant's. The Lipkins is actually louder on this bass but I chose the Bryant for the Mozart.