Which 'E' to match set?

[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!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by 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!

Now you see why I tweak every bass of mine that I personally play. The strings can only do so much.

As far as your Bel' hatred, I was not much of a fan either BUT the Ext. Bel E/C is not the same as the reg/ E. It's way better, maybe too good. My Hart plays fine tension-wise with regular 92s Flex with the E normal as well. The Bass just rings all over and the wood sounds even a bit after the note is stopped. Most basses need a beefier E but this one is fine. On the Hart, the Bel' E/C actually feels a bit on the heavy side but that's probably because for the last 18 months of so it was string with reg.92s.

Now after putting the Bel's on the Hart, I am re-thinking this string all over again. A bass needs what it needs, personal taste on brand and gauge aside.

As your bass breaks in and/or as seasons change, you might like then what you didn't now. Also, after a year or two when the strings are less than they were, almost anything will sound better.. lol

[Joel Larsson]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

As your bass breaks in and/or as seasons change, you might like then what you didn't now. Also, after a year or two when the strings are less than they were, almost anything will sound better.. lol

Too true... that's why I follow http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=433047 so closely; he doesn't let the strings wear out before he switches to another set. It's good to see somebody do that with an arco perspective, too... I love that http://www.hervejeanne.de/saitenmatrix.php page, it's just that I don't play anything else than orchestral pizz these days!
(Apart from my unexpectedly regular attempts at getting better at the good ol' slapping, that is.)
I hope the former guy will be able to upload his audio clips somewhere.

Good to hear that you bass is working now, Calvin! And it's just great you have such a good relationship with the maker, and that he doesn't consider his work done until your bass has reached its full potential.

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Joel Larsson

Too true... that's why I follow http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=433047 so closely; he doesn't let the strings wear out before he switches to another set. It's good to see somebody do that with an arco perspective, too... I love that http://www.hervejeanne.de/saitenmatrix.php page, it's just that I don't play anything else than orchestral pizz these days!
(Apart from my unexpectedly regular attempts at getting better at the good ol' slapping, that is.)
I hope the former guy will be able to upload his audio clips somewhere.

Good to hear that you bass is working now, Calvin! And it's just great you have such a good relationship with the maker, and that he doesn't consider his work done until your bass has reached its full potential.

If you're still living in Ontario, Quebec or the East Coast of Canada/U.S he includes a set-up done by him twice a year...and he comes to you, free of charge. His instruments are also massively underpriced. Gary Karr likes his instruments more than Hamm, but they have an advertising contract together. Ed Barker just bought a solo bass from Don, and it sounds fantastic.

Don and I will be at the ISB convention together with my bass, if anyone wants to try or find out more about his work.

[Brenton Carter]

w/ Permanent E: it brightens it up significantly, but the balance of tensions didn't seem to match. your bow arm probably could adapt to it and make it a bit smoother, but i still didn't want that bright of a sound. i just adapted my bow arm weight with the Flexocore E and it really has opened the string up: without getting too technical i generally think about pulling or coaxing the sound out of the strings, but with that stubborn E i put a little more shoulder and mid back weight into it as well as flatten my wrist (toward the pinky) out on the stick and pull from the outside of my right arm. (hmm i think i got technical whoops!)... it's important to stay relaxed and use natural weight. then again, i'm a player not a luthier. so, if no product recommendations work for you, try this. it may not work for you either, but anyway i'd put my recommendation behind the Perm' E.