COMPARATIVE REVIEW of SIX Double Bass String Brands for Orchestral Playing (and auditioning).

Sam Ferrer of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, after extensive back and forth comparisons over several years’ time (including intraday and month by month), reviews 6 brands of strings. Summary: BEL CANTO will remain my go-to set for on-the-job playing. It delivers the low frequencies very well, and even if not the fastest string, I can achieve all my articulations without issues (except the low C string, which is a slightly flabby). Furthermore, it is the hands-down winner for warm tone color. (My instrument already has some tension, so the relative softness of these strings may explain why they are a good match for response.) FLEXOCOR DELUXE is the hands-down winner for auditioning, as it is the superior string for speed, not to mention response versatility. Its power is strong, but probably directional (not omnidirectional). Its low end is good, but doesn’t deliver as much as other brands. Three other brands all vie for the deepest, most powerful set, but all of them had response issues that eventually frustrated me (which may be less of an issue on other instruments?): the bright, somewhat metallic SPIROCORE LIGHT (WEICH) felt a bit cumbersome and scratchy; the similar and equally bright PERPETUAL was uneven in response and tone, slower on the lower side and with a glaringly metallic D string; and while KAPLAN HEAVY delivered good punch and pop, it was not sensitive in other response contexts and was exceptionally dry. Lastly, KAPLAN MEDIUM was a very fast set, but had response-versatility issues and offered the least in terms of depth and power. For the low C string, I will substitute in the Flexocor Deluxe. If one wanted to substitute in a G string that crosses over well with orchestra and solo playing, the Perpetual G would make a very interesting choice.