VelvetŽ Strings for The Double Bass and Cello NEW
At Velvet we believe the strings to be integral to the musical instrument.
At Velvet our attention is focused on the instrument as a whole, its function and history. Our work involves both respect for tradition and openness to innovation, combining handcraft and contemporary computer-aided string design in a quest for the most beautiful, expressive sound of all.
Round full tones and the greatest possible sound transmission are achieved by uniform loading of the bridge. The strings have been designed so that the force required at standard pitch is the same for each string.
The string cores consist of materials chosen for their sound quality and consistency, elasticity, resilience and robustness. The winding ensure free oscillation of the strings and the best possible tone.
The choice of materials, the design and construction, produce a lighter string with lower tension, reducing the stress on your instrument and opening it up to allow a heightened clarity, intensity and spaciousness to the sounds produced.
Tailpiece cords of flexible, light weight, but ultra-strong cord, are also available. Strings and tailpiece cord work together to ensure perfect results.
The Strings
Garbo, anima, compas360 and compas 180 are constructed around a core of natural fibers and produce a sound difficult to distinguish from pure gut strings. Windings, whether of copper or synthetic materials, reinforce the strings' warmth and richness of tone. Each type of string offers unique characteristics, providing an attractive solution for most playing applications.
velvet gārboŽ price list
The strings of choice for the jazz bassist.
The solid core highlights the particular frequencies which enable the acoustic instrument to hold its own - even against a drum set. The sound is especially distinctive for the lower-middle frequency range, offering rich harmonics that are clear and assertive with the familiar "kick" as the note begins. The gārbo strings can produce a fullness of tone and penetration which is simply unbeatable.
Garbo Light -- Now, velvet offers a new lighter gauge garbo set(available summer 2007).
velvet animaŽ price list
Anima's thinner core ensures a rapid response for pizzicato and arco players alike. The strings produce a strong well-balanced sound with a rich bass and open **harmonic** range. Perfect definition and audibility in all registers makes them suitable for practically every application from Jazz to Baroque.
velvet compās 360Ž price list
Distinctive in their extremely rapid response and perfect balance, the wire wound strings are perfect for all modern playing techniques. Used in conjunction with electro-acoustic transducers the amplified sound remains astonishingly natural.
velvet compās 180Ž price list
Our classical string designed for orchestral tuning.
The use of up-to-date textile fibres makes the strings particularly elastic, allowing increased amplitude of vibration, and producing a full, rich, open sound. The pizzicato is strong with long sustain. The strings respond perfectly to the harmonics, which are crystal clear.
compās 180Ž requires no change in playing technique by the instrumentalist, while opening up new possibilities in terms of sound, tone and modulation.
There are four formulations of compās 180Ž:
- standard set (27 kg, red top) for orchestral playing price list
- suit set (24 kg, black top) can be tuned in standard pitch and solo price list
- solo set for solo tuning only price list
- fifths tuning (C-G-D-A) price list
Tailpiece cord price list
Do not underestimate the importance of this piece.
Very often the tailpiece is fastened to the instrument by means of a metal cable, selected according to strength and ease of fitting, without any special considerations as regards acoustic qualities.
Over time, gut, which has excellent acoustic properties but which is fragile, has been replaced by metal cable, which, though very strong, represents a real mute for the instrument because of its stiffness.
To secure the tailpiece, we have invented a tailpiece cord with acoustic and elastic characteristics comparable to gut. The cord is very strong, safe, and fitting is as practical and simple as making a knot.
The tailpiece cord controls the oscillation of the strings in a longitudinal direction, makes the sound more open and upgrades instrument response capacity.
Recommended for use with velvet strings for completeness, or used together with strings made by other manufacturers, the velvet tailpiece cord considerably improves the sound from your instrument. Bass players who would like a taste of the technology innovation being implemented by Velvet in the field of bowed string instruments (even without trying the strings), can have their first concrete experience of the effect of velvet technology on the sound of their bass by replacing their existing cable with a Velvet tailpiece cord.
The tailpiece cord is available for all bowed instruments. A longer cord is available for those using adjustable tailpieces on their basses.