Strings

[perica]

Hey,

I bought this upright bass about 3 years ago, and it still has the
original strings on it. It is a great sounding bass. I'd like to get a
new set of strings for it. Any suggestions?



perica

[Nathan]

I just ordered some great strings from www.deligopicks.com (http://www.deligopicks.com)

Special section just for tambure.

[perica]

Nathan,

Thanks for the info. Not much of a pick and string selection where
I live.

Perica

[mac]

perica,

Where DO you live?

[perica]

Mac,
I live on the north side of Chicago.

Perica

[BassicBark]

Hey man,
for an upright bass,
D'Adario Helicore bass strings
they come in Acro, Hybrid, and Pizzicato.
For most folk gigs (plucking), sustain and tone, go with the pizzicato, uless you are bowing some as well, then go hybrid, but i wouldn't go Arco unless you are bowing an entire gig.


Pirastro Obligato
Thomastik Infeld Vienna
are also nice strings pros swear by.

peace,
B

[perica]

BB'

Thanks for the info. I don't use a bow, but plan to soon.


Perica

[Djuroslav]

The bow, blows... :rolleyes:

- Unless it's a rubato movement, the bow should be left in it's sheath... :cool:

[perica]

Djuroslav,

Exactly!


Perica

[BassicBark]

Spoken like a true bug player.

Expand your mind and your guza will follow, don't hate on something you don't understand. Your better than this man. The bow can be a very artisitic thing if properly utilized, and yes even beyond your run of the mill rubato section too. Check out "Edger Meyer", and any of the stuff he has done with Bela Fleck , Mark O Conner, or Yo Yo Ma. That whole Apalachian, Uncommon Ritual thing. Also The Super bass recordings ( Ray Brown, John CLayton and Christian McBride), not alot of bow on those but the moments that do emphasize my point.
There is also a French Bass Group Called
" Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass Bass". ( i know its redundant) They are almost all Arco and Slammin. This might change your mind, or this might not. No Dis respect, Just trying to help. Especially now entering an age where artistry and creative liscence are impacting tradditional folk music and reaching broader audiences and generations, like it or not. We as musicians have to be open and willing to accept experimentation for the sake of expression.

All my best,
-B

[perica]

Bassic Bark,

Thanks for your input. It's true that Bela Fleck and Yo Yo Ma are
experts in their field. While some musicians expand what they play,
some of us do not. I play traditional Tambura music. It's the music
I grew up listening to, and it's what my parents listened to and played.
I enjoy keeping it this way, as do the people I play for. There's room
for all types of music. I listen to many venues of music, but it does
not impact the way I play music because I prefere to keep it.....

Traditional.


Perica

[BassicBark]

YEah man i dig what your saying and agree with you in the regard of tradition. I just got burned a little when Djuro posted the "bow blows" comment.
I too Grew up with Tambura music and appreciate and respect the tradition of the sound, but my musical enculturation from that age spands many ethnicities and styles i suppose making me sensitive to sweeping generalizations like Djuro's forementioned comment. Perhaps this is not the forum for my musical quibbles. Being a tambura (genre based) site, not a solely music (in general) based site.
Again no disrespects all around, just had to add my 2 cents .

All the best Perica,
-B

[jokirinaround]

Hmmmm,

No comment yet from Djuro. Maybe he's bowing out!!!!! :)

[Djuroslav]

BassicBark (and jokirnaround),

Sorry brats, but I just got back in town, and am just now catching up on my Tamburaland 'Message Board'. In my absence, I believe that BB sent out a message, which in effect criticizes my humble opinion about the use of a bow on a double bass...

"Expand your mind and your guza will follow, don't hate on something you don't understand..."

In my defense, I'd like to make the following comments;

- First of all, I have played semi-professionally with Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, AND Rumanian orchestras - so I certainly 'UNDERSTAND' the structual & musical repercussions of sliding a bow across the strings of a stand-up double bass.

- Secondly, since this is a tambura web site, (which generally deals with the Croatian & Serbian musical genre), my opinion about bowing deals exclusively with THAT type of music.

- Thirdly, I steadfastly maintain that ANY bowing activity employed by a bass player in situations OTHER that a 'rubato' section of a musical arrangement, SHOULD BE HIGHLY AVOIDED. The reason being, it SOUNDS BETTER, if you use YOUR FINGER!!

- Lastly, even though it is well known that I prefer the over-all sound of an acoustic, double bass to that of a tambura bass - I must give credit to the designer of the berde, in that it's design completely PREVENTS the use of a bow TOTALLY. Which is probably what the composers & arrangers desired in the first place...

So in summary, as I stated earlier...

..."THE BOW BLOWS!" :cool:

[BassicBark]

ok, this is getting way out of hand. Djuro , as much as i love folks taking one line i wrote and qouting me to serve as fodder in some jutstifying defensive back lash, i really don't. More so, i worry you didn't read anything else i wrote. None the less , at the risk of getting sucked into this debate, I leave you with this. I think this topic is directly tied to your personal experience hearing someone play a bass arco. From what you said it doesn't sound like they were very meaningful experiences. I have played bass most of my life, in most facets you can list, and even graduated from a university music school with the bass as my primary instrument (i know...shameless plug for my cedibility). None the less i have heard folks play a bass with a bow better than some if not( because of their numbers) most violinists or sound as solid and punchy as a drum. Like wise i have heard cats pizz far beyond what some can only do with a bow or pick. My point is on a professional or amateur level, their out there. They being people who completely prove your bias but more so disporve it . It seems you have made a declaritive based on the musicanship of the bassists you know...is this right? is this fair?
where all im saying is the worlds a big place and as a semi-professional bassist i take a little offense to " generalizations" about something i happen to know a great deal on, form someone ( im only guessing) who hasn't spent as much trench time as me. (by trech time im refering to bass playing or study of the instrument in general). Maybe i shouldn't be offended, perhaps it was my initial respect for you Djuro or your voice( what you say) and its impact that lead to my being offended. And im sorry, saddly what you said was not open minded and proves your conception of bowing a bass is limited, rationalize it based on your past, be upset if you want, spit what ever you want at me because i said what i said, as a musician i expected more but now im truly over it.
Im truly sorry for getting involved in this when i honestly wanted to avoid this type of thing. Isn't it funny how this all started out by me recomending strings to a bass player but now here i am defending myself to a bugarija player. I have no real comment , just though it was interesting. I'll certainly think twice before i try to help anyone else out again. lesson learned.

Once again despite this exchange i mean no disrespect, just edification, Take what you will.
Peace,
-BassicB

[Djuroslav]

Wow B2, quite the soliloquy so early in the morning! I'm not sure if this 'edification' of yours has woke me up, or is putting me back to sleep...;)

...and this would not BE THE FIRST TIME that a bass player has had to 'defend' themselves to a BUGARIJA PLAYER! :D

All I'm saying Bassic, is that on a 'normal' Serbian/Croatian gig, most of our stuff sounds better; has more punch; and is better received, when the bass player leaves his bow AT HOME.

And when you say,

..."I think this topic is directly tied to your personal experience hearing someone play a bass arco. From what you said it doesn't sound like they were very meaningful experiences"...

I've played with some of the best 'ethnic' bass players in the United States, and they knew how to handle a bow - it just doesn't fit in with the type of music we were playing.

If you don't believe me, try using a bow the next time you're playing by the bar!

But don't let this exchange disuade you, Bassic. After all, this is Tamburland - where good, honest debate about the music we love is ALWAYS welcome, and even encouraged. So even if you ARE a 'bass player', your point of view is important in this forum. After all, not EVERYONE can be a bugarija player you know... :cool: :D

[The Curious Tamburas]

I'm Curious: Why would anyone feel that they have to themself to a Bugarija player? :confused:

[Kolo Queen]

I'm curious - Curious - were you typing so fast that you left out one important word in your statement?????

I'm reading it and I'm curious - did you leave out the word "defend"????

Just curious

[Tominellay]

Is it good etiquette, or bad etiquette, to do a snare roll during the arco parts?

[The Curious Tamburas]

Why should a Tamburas, albiet a curious one, have to him/herself to a Kolo Queen?

[The Curious Tamburas]

IMNSHO - a snare roll would compliment the Bugarija part and consequently be good etiquette; however, a paradiddle would clash and would be bad form (kinda like an an accordion trill).

[Kolo Queen]

I think, Mr Curious ,that you did it once again, left out an important word.
You don't have to explain anything to me, do you think I really care what you think! Just slow down and type something that makes sense.

Now I am REALLY curious - what will you type next!!!!!

[Tominellay]

...him/herself; what happened to themself? Paradiddle me that! Badly formed accordion trolls have feelings, too...

[Tominellay]

BassicBark, did you ever try RotoSound strings?

[mac]

Nice "paradiddles"!!!!

[The Curious Tamburas]

KQ,

Somehow, my keyboard just won't type the word "d-e-f-e-n-d". It must be something with the automatic sensor censor I have turned on. (I had to trick it the way Joe Leno does when he writes "set" instead of "s-h-i-t")

I don't know why I have to myself every time. Oops, there it goes again. However, it apparently does allow me to repeat myself myself myself myself myself myself myself myself myself myself myself myself myself myself myself, but not themself.

By the way, no, I don't really think that you really care what I think! I'm curious, not delusional !!!!!

And No, I Can't Slow Down. Once I hear that music my feet just begin to move and my fingers follow.

[The Curious Tamburas]

Inellay,

Touche! You really know how to turn a phrase, musical or otherwise.

[Pavle]

what's all the hub-bub? i've been paradiddling for a long time. find it enjoyable! still paradiddling as good as i once did! hey dj, i'll have an extra "BB" in reno. want to join me this time? it's wild running with the big dogs, but your view might not change!!

[Djuroslav]

I will consider it an honor to run with the 'Royal' big dogs, Pavle. And will look forward to accepting your kind invitation in Reno. Perhaps Kenko could join us as well? :cool:

[Pavle]

he's more than welcome! ask him to join us. don't look for him, has something to do with fear. have him tell you a story in private! good for a few laughs!!

[Tominellay]

...thinking you fossils ought to spill your stories before you forget 'em...

[Djuroslav]

...you first, Tomi... :eek: