Custode Marcucci, Ravenna (Anno 1897, #271)

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Ken, to most players' ear the BelCanto strings sound mellower and smoother than the Flexicores. (They also have less tonal dynamic range.) I'm curious why you would use Bels to try to brighten up a bass, when they are typically called upon to darken the sound of a bright instrument. Please write at least four paragraphs explaining this move.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Ken, to most players' ear the BelCanto strings sound mellower and smoother than the Flexicores. (They also have less tonal dynamic range.) I'm curious why you would use Bels to try to brighten up a bass, when they are typically called upon to darken the sound of a bright instrument. Please write at least four paragraphs explaining this move.

To my ear, the Flexs are smoother sounding under the Bow and the Bels have a metallic overtone to them. As strings get old, both kinds tend to be scratchy under the bow if the string has been over-warn from on and off basses. That is different than a string just aging on one single bass undisturbed by string changes. I hear more color in the sound as well with the Flexs and a flatter tonal pallet with Bels.

Some basses are more sensitive to various strings and my research comes from these types of basses. If a bass itself is duller and takes most any string the same way, then it is hard to tell what the string is doing.

I think walnut is brighter sounding than maple where most hear with their eyes based on color.

No Mushrooms or Bamboo shoots please!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Ken, to most players' ear the BelCanto strings sound mellower and smoother than the Flexicores. (They also have less tonal dynamic range.) I'm curious why you would use Bels to try to brighten up a bass, when they are typically called upon to darken the sound of a bright instrument. Please write at least four paragraphs explaining this move.

What I had been doing was moving strings around between several basses and by doing that, wearing the strings out way before their time. Unlike playing a string on a single bass till it breaks in and the sound darkens till it wears out, I was getting the opposite effect and that is why they were sounding brighter.

The new Bel's sound much smoother then the ones that came off that had been on and off no less than 4x between several basses over the last year or two. I think you can do a change or two with fairly new strings but 3, 4, or 5 changes, you are working with strings that no longer perform as intended.

Thanks Arnold, once again..

[Ken Smith]

Ok guys, the new Marcucci web page is now up. I can add information that is written in books and on-line sites but I can also just answer questions here or on FB about it. Enjoy..

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/marcucci/