Which 'E' to match set?

[Brian Gencarelli]

I think that Bel Cantos would be a much better "break-in" set. I always feel it is better to go with a lighter gauge string for the first year. Play it in and then start working to find the "sound". You need to get the plates moving as much and as freely as possible. I think Flex's might "shut down" the sound a little more on a new bass.

IMHO
Brian

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Brian Gencarelli

I think that Bel Cantos would be a much better "break-in" set. I always feel it is better to go with a lighter gauge string for the first year. Play it in and then start working to find the "sound". You need to get the plates moving as much and as freely as possible. I think Flex's might "shut down" the sound a little more on a new bass.

IMHO
Brian

I hate belcanto's. The man who made my bass suggested Original Flexocore's and they sound amazing.

[Brian Gencarelli]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

I hate belcanto's. The man who made my bass suggested Original Flexocore's and they sound amazing.

Then I suggest using that set of strings. Obviously, they don't all sound great or you wouldn't be looking for an E String...

[Joel Larsson]

I remember Paul Ellison saying on a master class that Bel Canto was the best thing ever to happen to the E-string... I am under the impression that a fairly large number of players share his view there. That said, I think Ken is right that Flatchrome might be the best match. But, I play Eudoxa down there and Flatchrome on the top strings, and I have to say you adapt quickly to different types of strings. And yes, the Perm could be a wise choice as well. If you want the E to ring a bit more, I think you won't be too unhappy. I had a similar problem with Flexocor (only this was the solo 92's) and once I switched to a Permanent solo set, the bass totally came alive; the volume produced was truly tinnitus-inducing and the tubbiness down low had gotten way better. There are mixed feelings on the Perms in the double bass community, though...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Joel Larsson

I remember Paul Ellison saying on a master class that Bel Canto was the best thing ever to happen to the E-string... I am under the impression that a fairly large number of players share his view there. That said, I think Ken is right that Flatchrome might be the best match. But, I play Eudoxa down there and Flatchrome on the top strings, and I have to say you adapt quickly to different types of strings. And yes, the Perm could be a wise choice as well. If you want the E to ring a bit more, I think you won't be too unhappy. I had a similar problem with Flexocor (only this was the solo 92's) and once I switched to a Permanent solo set, the bass totally came alive; the volume produced was truly tinnitus-inducing and the tubbiness down low had gotten way better. There are mixed feelings on the Perms in the double bass community, though...

But, I meant the 'Original' FlatChrome as it's now called, not the regular FlatChrome. The Origs. have the blue/white threads at the tail. The FCs have the red/white and are thinner gauged. The Orig. FCs by the way used to be called 'Eudoxa' FlatChromes aka then Eudoxa 'Steels' rather than the gut cored Eudoxa which is still made today.

My Gilkes is currently strung with the Orig.Flex G,D,A and an actual surviving Eudoxa FC Steel which I got from a TB member a few years ago. This is a C-Ext. string as well. It is probably not the exact same formula as the current Orig.FC but somewhat close I assume. This works fairly well and is the reason I suggested it.

For the reg.Flex 92 set I usually use a Stark E with or without an Ext. Pirastro no longer makes the E/C stark BUT, I have a bunch that I bought when I heard about them discontinuing the product. I have them listed for sale as well and this too could work with the Orig.G,D,A as well. At least as good as the Orig.FC or the Perm. depending on the tone you are shooting for and what works on your Bass.

How can you tell in advance what sting will work for whom and on which Bass? You can't and this is where trial and error becomes expensive. I had an English Hawkes pass thru my shop briefly for comparison which I helped a local friend obtain and that bass was strung with the Orig.Flexs all across with the E/C. These came on the Bass but were the same as he had had on his German Bass before switching to Stark Flexs across all the strings on my suggestion. He got a full new set of the Starks from me and put them on in the shop and the bass did seem darker and fuller sounding than it did with the Origs. On the other hand, I had used both Starks, reg.92s and reg. with Stark E/C on my Gilkes before putting this used set of Orig's on my Bass and I happen to like them, on that Bass I mean.

You never really know till you try it. I wonder if they have the same dilemmas with Violins thur Cellos? Probably not..

Oh, and on the Belcantos, I put a set on my Hart the other day and took off the Flex 92s and with the Extension Bel, I am quite impressed.

[Joel Larsson]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

But, I meant the 'Original' FlatChrome as it's now called, not the regular FlatChrome. The Origs. have the blue/white threads at the tail. The FCs have the red/white and are thinner gauged. The Orig. FCs by the way used to be called 'Eudoxa' FlatChromes aka then Eudoxa 'Steels' rather than the gut cored Eudoxa which is still made today.

Gah, darn Pirastro and their string names. I also meant Original Flatchrome. All this name confusion almost makes me buy a set of Bel Canto, for premiering their good sense of giving their strings an easily recognizable name...

Also switched from my Perm solos to the mentioned Orig. FC on D and G and Eudoxa (yes, the gut core) on A and E. And guess what, I was a bit disappointed, especially with the FC's! I know I come right from a solo set, but they didn't respond as I thought they did. More difficult to get going than perhaps they should, and not really responding to my attempts at playing loud. The Eudoxas were a bliss compared to the solo strings, though; they will always be a bit unresponsive but they're excused. Afte all they have gut core... and they make the bass rumble nicely, and make a beautiful sound, at least in the lowest three positions. But, maybe a set of Bel Canto would be just it...

Anyways, no, of course you can't know beforehand what will work. But considering the seeming fact that Calvin's E string problem probably comes from the high pressure (and that this is the most common Flex problem) we have to make our best guess. I believe he has got some food for thought now. Tell us where you end up, will you, Calvin?

[Calvin Marks]

Hey. Well, the problem kind of fixed it self. The fingerboard needed a bit of a planing and Don did it himself today. With an extra bit of clearance and the bridge height raised a bit the string really started to speak. It was a bit pre-mature of me to judge the string based solely off of a few days of playing it. Currently it sounds very warm and and it's matching the rest of the other strings, nice and dark...The G is however very bright, but that's a different story, and I kind of like the brighter G, it helps me cut through for solo playing.


Belcanto's....I hated these strings, they just felt kind of wimpy in comparison to Flexocores.

The bass is sounding fantastic now that it was a great set of strings on 'em!