Thomastik Bel Canto Strings

[Josh Holdridge]

Hello,

Can someone please explain what was said in an early post about 'string spin'?
I'm not familiar with this metric and I'm interested since I have a new bass.

To avoid appearance of taking this thread off topic, I'll put in my .02c about bel cantos. I have Flexo 92's on my bass (less than 1yr old) and was reasonably satisfied but not totally. I wanted something darker and warmer, bassically I'm impatient for it to sound old!

Put the BC's on there and immediately liked the deeper, thuddier sound of pizz. A little more gut-like sound, and lower tension than the Flexocors; buttery sound in some of the higher notes.
The jury is still out on the bowing. I'm going to try them in a few rehearsals and see how it goes. I have noticed that some notes seem easier to start but will have to see how they do on vigorous spicatto passages. The tone isn't too different from the 92's, my basses character seems to override the string difference a little bit, but they do have a bit less of an 'edge', which is ok with me.
I seemed to be getting a lot of scratchiness with the 92's though admittedly my technique has a long way to go. But if there is something about the BC's that is better for breaking in a new instrument, then I'd probably keep them on for a while.

[Bin Hire]

One thing I have noticed about strings is that the famous players seem to stick with one type. Apologies if I'm wrong with this statement. I know this was true of NHOP and, I think, Ray Brown. Gary Karr seems to stay with the same strings too? Have they found the perfect string for their purpose? I suppose they have. I have a friend who is a trumpet player and he seems to be constantly trying mouthpieces. I suspect that all these modern 'super strings' are very good. Maybe we just need to stick with one set for a few years and look at our technique. Apologies, I don't mean to be critical, but I think I have a tendency personally to blame the tools when it is the workman (in my case). Just a thought I had.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Josh Holdridge

Hello,

Can someone please explain what was said in an early post about 'string spin'?
I'm not familiar with this metric and I'm interested since I have a new bass.

To avoid appearance of taking this thread off topic, I'll put in my .02c about bel cantos. I have Flexo 92's on my bass (less than 1yr old) and was reasonably satisfied but not totally. I wanted something darker and warmer, bassically I'm impatient for it to sound old!

Put the BC's on there and immediately liked the deeper, thuddier sound of pizz. A little more gut-like sound, and lower tension than the Flexocors; buttery sound in some of the higher notes.
The jury is still out on the bowing. I'm going to try them in a few rehearsals and see how it goes. I have noticed that some notes seem easier to start but will have to see how they do on vigorous spicatto passages. The tone isn't too different from the 92's, my basses character seems to override the string difference a little bit, but they do have a bit less of an 'edge', which is ok with me.
I seemed to be getting a lot of scratchiness with the 92's though admittedly my technique has a long way to go. But if there is something about the BC's that is better for breaking in a new instrument, then I'd probably keep them on for a while.

What bass are you referring to? Your profile is kind of vague.

[Josh Holdridge]

Hi Ken,

The bass I'm referring to is a new Thomas & George Martin 4/4. I guess I was trying to be a little vague to keep certain info on the down low.

[Bunny Hoskins]

Originally Posted by Josh Holdridge

I guess I was trying to be a little vague to keep certain info on the down low.

Welcome to New Zealand buddy.

[Josh Holdridge]

Lol, thanks Bunny. I was hoping to avoid listing my name and then advertising that I have an expensive instrument at home. Oh well, too late for that. I guess it's need to know in relation to my question.

Hope I can find out about my inquiry anyway. . .

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Josh Holdridge

Hello,

Can someone please explain what was said in an early post about 'string spin'?
I'm not familiar with this metric and I'm interested since I have a new bass.

To avoid appearance of taking this thread off topic, I'll put in my .02c about bel cantos. I have Flexo 92's on my bass (less than 1yr old) and was reasonably satisfied but not totally. I wanted something darker and warmer, bassically I'm impatient for it to sound old!

Put the BC's on there and immediately liked the deeper, thuddier sound of pizz. A little more gut-like sound, and lower tension than the Flexocors; buttery sound in some of the higher notes.
The jury is still out on the bowing. I'm going to try them in a few rehearsals and see how it goes. I have noticed that some notes seem easier to start but will have to see how they do on vigorous spicatto passages. The tone isn't too different from the 92's, my basses character seems to override the string difference a little bit, but they do have a bit less of an 'edge', which is ok with me.
I seemed to be getting a lot of scratchiness with the 92's though admittedly my technique has a long way to go. But if there is something about the BC's that is better for breaking in a new instrument, then I'd probably keep them on for a while.

Hi Josh,
I think 'string spin' is referring to the string actually twisting under the bow - this, I guess, would happen with a lighter, more flexible string.
Hey, Ken will undoubtedly correct me if I am wrong here.
I used BCs for about two years and they are a very good string (if you read the old posts on this thread, you'll see that they were my favourite at one point).
I have two basses - a new (2003) fully carved and an old (1950?) plywood. I've mainly used Spiro Weichs, Corelli (I think they were 700s?), BC EP and EP Weichs over the last while. They're all good strings and all work fine on both my basses. I bow lots and pizz lots - obviously each string has advantages and disadvantages. I've got EP Weichs on my main bass at present.
I like what Bin said a few posts ago. I agree that we probably spend too much time changing strings (fun though!).
My humble advice, for what it is worth, is to leave the BCs on your bass and put in some serious time gigging and practising. I found the BCs a tiny little bit too flexible for pizz but, having said that, I used them for some jazz gigs and a lot of gypsy jazz gigs. Give those strings a good go - that's my advice.
Hope that helps a bit.

[Josh Holdridge]

Thanks Richard. It seems sensible what you are saying about string spin, though I'm not exactly sure how that translates into being optimal for breaking in a new bass. Perhaps some engineering genuises will scoff at my underpowered brain but like you say, I'm not worrying about it too much. Just going to play the heck out of the bass and practice a lot, that should go a long way to breaking it in.

I do like the strings though. They're better at spontaneous jazz jam duo sessions with possesed sax players than the Flexocors were, and they bow fairly well.