Double Bass Zyex Light>Helicore Hybrid Light

[BassiklyAC]

Haven’t posted anything of substance in a while (not sure this qualifies) but it was time for my annual string change and it seemed appropriate.

I’ve been a strong supporter of the Zyex strings - particularly the light gauge - as I’ve had such a great experience with them. I was going to put on another set but decided to take a different route and go with Helicore Hybrid lights.

Having been spending a lot more time on my arco playing, I wanted a set that would be more responsive to the bow without sacrificing the wonderful pizzicato sound and playability I enjoyed with the Zyex. I discovered with the Zyex lights, when played with the bow, it was sometimes challenging to get the string started. The A string in particular was giving me all sorts of difficulty with getting the note started cleanly without overtones, scratchiness, etc. There was only so much rosin I could apply!

So, enter the Helicore Hybrid lights. I’ve played both medium and heavy gauge in the past; wasn’t crazy about the mediums but I remember liking the robust sound of the heavies. Had to work a little harder (tough on the hands) but what a terrific pizz sound!

Anyway, curious if there’s any folks out there who have experienced using the Hybrid lights as an arco string doing double duty as a modern jazz/pizz string.

Cheers

 

[lrhbass]

A good alternative to Spiro's. The hybrid lights work well with the bow and very good jazz string with a reasonable price.
They sounded good to me and felt pretty good also, the downside is they will not last as long as the Spirocores.

 

[basss]

Did you did you end up putting on the helicores? How are you finding them with the bow? I'm thinking about giving these a shot. What are they like compared to spiros with the bow? I've used helicores in the past but it's been a long time and I don't really remember anything about their bow response.

 

[foilracer]

Haven’t posted anything of substance in a while (not sure this qualifies) but it was time for my annual string change and it seemed appropriate.

I’ve been a strong supporter of the Zyex strings - particularly the light gauge - as I’ve had such a great experience with them. I was going to put on another set but decided to take a different route and go with Helicore Hybrid lights.

Having been spending a lot more time on my arco playing, I wanted a set that would be more responsive to the bow without sacrificing the wonderful pizzicato sound and playability I enjoyed with the Zyex. I discovered with the Zyex lights, when played with the bow, it was sometimes challenging to get the string started. The A string in particular was giving me all sorts of difficulty with getting the note started cleanly without overtones, scratchiness, etc. There was only so much rosin I could apply!

So, enter the Helicore Hybrid lights. I’ve played both medium and heavy gauge in the past; wasn’t crazy about the mediums but I remember liking the robust sound of the heavies. Had to work a little harder (tough on the hands) but what a terrific pizz sound!

Anyway, curious if there’s any folks out there who have experienced using the Hybrid lights as an arco string doing double duty as a modern jazz/pizz string.

Cheers

Three years later! Any string choices here for bowing? Back to the Zyex light?...bowing Helicore Hybrid light? Yet another string for bowing jazz ? And finally, can anyone compare bowing Zyex lights to Zyex mediums?

 

[BassiklyAC]

Three years later! Any string choices here for bowing? Back to the Zyex light?...bowing Helicore Hybrid light? Yet another string for bowing jazz ? And finally, can anyone compare bowing Zyex lights to Zyex mediums?

Still a fan of the Zyex strings but back in August I acquired a new bass, fully carved, that has a very responsive top and is a very resonant instrument. I started with what I know and have been happy with; Zyex mediums, but found that I was getting more sustain and growl than I wanted. The combination of the bass and strings was almost venturing into fretless electric territory. Had a very lightly used set of EP weichs sitting around (my previous bass, a Christopher hybrid did not take to them) and put those on. Sounded fantastic. The resonance of my new bass was a perfect match with the EP’s. Great arco string too.

Cut to a couple weeks ago and I find I’m really pulling hard to cut through the mix on the bandstand. It reminded me of my experience with Obligato strings; sounded great at home or in an intimate setting but didn’t amplify as successfully in medium to loud band situations. As someone posted on one of the Evah Pirazzi megathreads; “Obligitos are like EP’s on steroids”…or something like that. Anyway, I made the connection and figured it was time to find something that cuts a little more and I don’t have to work so hard. So…

Pulled the trigger a couple days ago on a new (for me) brand of strings I’d had my eye on for some time; the Kolstein Heritage strings. I’m waiting with great anticipation for these to arrive so I can get them out on a gig. My hope is that they’ll be as advertised; the best most desirable qualities of both synthetic and steel strings in one, superb jazz and classical (or hybrid) string.

A rather long reply to your post. My apologies. Hope you find what you’re looking for.

PS: My preference between the Zyex mediums vs lights is the medium gauge as I like the feel of a slightly thicker string under my fingers. Didn’t detect a noticeable difference in arco response.

 

[foilracer]

Still a fan of the Zyex strings but back in August I acquired a new bass, fully carved, that has a very responsive top and is a very resonant instrument. I started with what I know and have been happy with; Zyex mediums, but found that I was getting more sustain and growl than I wanted. The combination of the bass and strings was almost venturing into fretless electric territory. Had a very lightly used set of EP weichs sitting around (my previous bass, a Christopher hybrid did not take to them) and put those on. Sounded fantastic. The resonance of my new bass was a perfect match with the EP’s. Great arco string too.

Cut to a couple weeks ago and I find I’m really pulling hard to cut through the mix on the bandstand. It reminded me of my experience with Obligato strings; sounded great at home or in an intimate setting but didn’t amplify as successfully in medium to loud band situations. As someone posted on one of the Evah Pirazzi megathreads; “Obligitos are like EP’s on steroids”…or something like that. Anyway, I made the connection and figured it was time to find something that cuts a little more and I don’t have to work so hard. So…

Pulled the trigger a couple days ago on a new (for me) brand of strings I’d had my eye on for some time; the Kolstein Heritage strings. I’m waiting with great anticipation for these to arrive so I can get them out on a gig. My hope is that they’ll be as advertised; the best most desirable qualities of both synthetic and steel strings in one, superb jazz and classical (or hybrid) string.

A rather long reply to your post. My apologies. Hope you find what you’re looking for.

PS: My preference between the Zyex mediums vs lights is the medium gauge as I like the feel of a slightly thicker string under my fingers. Didn’t detect a noticeable difference in arco response.

Thanks for your not too long reply....you covered what I'm looking to find out and of course every bass is different so I'll need to try both Zyex med and light and watch for your evaluation of the Kolstein Heritage.