I played a gig last night that was the first time I felt I was really pushing the Hybrids. I am pretty used to the adaptation of a lighter touch now, so it was a good test of how they perform: some arco, some pizz, pretty intense energy. I was able to keep the lighter touch and still feel like the sound was there. I hope they last for a long time because they seem to be doing the job.
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Double Bass Tempera Hybrid Strings
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Having put the Tem. Hybrids on two of my Basses, I am very impressed, they seem to check all the boxes and then some! I enjoy the way they feel, as well as sound. You do have to back off a bitten the right hand, which I am still learning to do.
Each Bass is different and will respond differently. After a couple of months they seem to get better, well worth the investment!
Each Bass is different and will respond differently. After a couple of months they seem to get better, well worth the investment!
The biggest adaptation I had to make as far as touch was on the E string, which on my bass is an extension E that they made for me. It's not common in Europe as far as I know but they did it and it's good. The difference in the amount of force used for the string is quite small between choking it and getting a good tone and volume. Once I figured that out it made a huge difference and opened up the whole concept even more.
Hi Bruce. Did you play amplified? Was there a drummer in your group setting?
I ask because I had difficulties hearing myself on a gig with a drummer in the group. But that was on the Tempera Basso set and it could have also been because of my new bass which perhaps is a bit quieter instrument. Bassos sounded quite soft with Full Circle through the amp.
It was bass and real piano at a house party. The piano player and I work together quite a bit and tend to push each other musically so it can get intense but fun. I started playing acoustically, which was fine until the place got crowded and noisy when I went to the amp in order to hear myself better. We did a mix of jazz and other stuff, even a little classical material, when I did some arco. A student of mine who was there said it was all audible even though the room got pretty loud. The thing about the strings that was particularly nice was that I was comfortable playing and hearing them through all the various situations: unamped when quiet and amped when noisy. They all sounded good to me. I did have to remind myself to keep the touch lighter and trust the instrument, especially when the background noise got louder. That was the main distraction.
I'm not quite sure, but is there a difference between the latest Hybrids and former ones? I know, that there are two generations of Basso, but just one of the Hybrids.. I believe...
I do. I did liked them very much but ended up going back to Spiro solos for now as I liked their 'center' more. Perhaps I didn't give them enough time, I will try them again at some point. They are great strings. This came out in Nov. and I heard there were improvements to the e and a strings being 'quicker'.
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I’ve had a set of these on my carved Shen Willow Flatback for several months now. I love the feel and tone of these strings until I amplify them. There is just too much midrange growl (or mwah) in these strings, especially the D and G strings. When I cut the midrange on the amp, they sound better but then they get a bit buried in the mix, even in just a guitar duo if the room is noisy. Any one else have this experience?
Signal chain is Yamahiko > RedEye > Acoustic Image Focus 2R (Series 3) > Audiokinesis TC-112.
The TC-112 has a tweeter, so it can be a bit bright up close, but it does a great job of filling a room.
This version of the amp only has a single midrange control. I wish it had hi and low midrange, as it would be easier to cut the offending upper mids.
Edit: I said midrange growl (or mwah). This is not accurate. The strings just have a high midrange characteristic that can be too much for me when amplified.
Signal chain is Yamahiko > RedEye > Acoustic Image Focus 2R (Series 3) > Audiokinesis TC-112.
The TC-112 has a tweeter, so it can be a bit bright up close, but it does a great job of filling a room.
This version of the amp only has a single midrange control. I wish it had hi and low midrange, as it would be easier to cut the offending upper mids.
Edit: I said midrange growl (or mwah). This is not accurate. The strings just have a high midrange characteristic that can be too much for me when amplified.
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I've been happy with them so far. Acoustically and amped, arco and pizz. The one thing I haven't done yet is orchestra bass section, which I'm doing next week. The adaptation of the lighter touch and emphasis on resonance will be a test since it is harder to hear in that context and the temptation can be to push and dig in more. It will be interesting.
I play my "Tempera bass" only for arco practice and orchestra. It did not take me long to develop a feel for the Temperas in the orchestral setting. I suspect that'll be the case for you as well.
After 4 months or so with the T hybrids I’m just now beginning to understand that a lighter touch lets the strings do the work.
They don’t mind if you play them hard, they sound good to me that way also. But it seems a more relaxed nuanced approach gets the most out of them.
They don’t mind if you play them hard, they sound good to me that way also. But it seems a more relaxed nuanced approach gets the most out of them.
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in addition to a lighter touch, experiment with either muting or really keeping your fingers out of the way (playing less, longer ) and really let them sound out for the full length of the note. They are incredible in their ability to allow the player to play lyrical, legato phrasing, pizz. IMO.
I'm not quite sure, but is there a difference between the latest Hybrids and former ones? I know, that there are two generations of Basso, but just one of the Hybrids.. I believe...
i'd also be curious to hear if there is a difference between the prototype and production hybrids.
i bought a used prototype set that sold me on them for good. i just switched back to evah pirazzi for better bowing (today is monday, i switched sat. evening) and i'm already about to switch back later today i think.
the only weakness is the lowest notes on the E and A have the slightest issue with fast arco playing. i've had them on my bass quite a while and only had an issue recently - an issue i likely could've solved with stickier rosin, and perhaps new hair on my bow.
i still think i'll buy a new set... put the used set on my laminate bass and be done for a while on the topic of stings.
I think I know what you mean. Of course, "fast arco" is hardest on lower strings, any strings, especially open or close to the nut. I have taken to playing more notes closed and in higher positions with the Tempera E and A; they respond well and sound good doing that.
You were right. They worked very well. I'm glad I did some practicing on orchestra material beforehand so it wasn't too much of an adjustment but they were as good in that situation as all the others I've used them in.
Anybody have the "newly weds, wait who is in my bed and how did I get here, yuk" response with these strings? Me NUTHER. I frikin love these strings. They keep delivering this fantastic punchy pizz and crazy good arco sound, easy on my hands totally intuitive control, wide harmonic response and they sound great whereever you play them on the board...Above the E harmonic on the E? sounds great. G wiry and nasal up above the harmonic? Nope/ Fall off between G and D? Nope. Tension differences? Nope. Perfect strings I have been waiting a life time for? So far, 8 months in sound as good and feel as good as the day I got them.
I'm also very happy with them after several months. Both pizz and arco sound great and are very comfortable. Another thing I've noticed is that I seem to hear myself better in orchestra settings when things get loud, which helps with the tendency to over play in those situations. I've seen the claim that they can last seven years. I really hope that's true.
Reporting in with about 5 months on these hybrid temperas (past the honeymoon period) and they are giving me everything I love about Spiro weichs 4/4 (the string I gladly pledged allegiance to and probably would have left on the bass till the end of time, if these temperas hadn’t come along) and much more. When I’m playing on these, I don’t ever wish they did something that some other string does, like I used to do.
They are musical and playable right out of the package, tuning stabilized in a week, and settled after another week or two — and have stayed that way.
They are a total solution with no compromises for a player with only one bass. And if they last for years? Icing on the cake!
They are musical and playable right out of the package, tuning stabilized in a week, and settled after another week or two — and have stayed that way.
They are a total solution with no compromises for a player with only one bass. And if they last for years? Icing on the cake!