Dogal Hellborg Strings

I know that some factories in Germany (mostly car manufacturers) have a company-wide 'summer vacation' to change production processes for the coming season or product line, but no one answering any emails for weeks on end? That usually spells death for a business.

I've contacted my string merchant of choice (biggest in Europe, and they pretty much have anything you'd ever want), and they couldn't get me a replacement string either because they don't do business with Dogal directly. Tried re-setting the string and twisting the string a bit to adjust the strands, but no dice.

It's a real shame because I want to love these strings (and far would it be for me to discourage anyone reading this who wants to try the Dogals). But I feel Thomastik (and I'm a long-time fan) will serve me better in the long run. I just blew my whole string budget for the next months on this set though...

The tone of the Hellborg Dogals sounds really nice. But I wonder if it’s too smooth. I like a strong punchy attack on each note, do these strings have that? They sound great for chordal playing, but how do they do as part of a hard grooving rhythm section?

hmmm. i say yes and no. lol
(there’s a lot of variables in type of style/player/bass)

yes. they do punch thru, play great for contemporary gospel and r&b IMHO. But it’s a ‘softer’ transient if that makes sense? (i also LPF at10K)

No. i don’t feel they’d cut it for me doing any “motown RnB soul 60-70 P bass thicker sound” etc etc. -but boy they do the “modern contemporary sound” for me.

I’ve been curious about the Dogal strings and this has been and interesting read.

Totally off topic, but I’m curious if the B in a TI rounds set is tapered?

no taper green silks


same for Dogal blue/blk silks (just to bring us back on topic)

Ordered a set of Dogal Hellborg roundwounds. Got a set with a dead E string. Or at least an E completely different from the others. Missing brightness completely and exhibiting a kind of vibration when playing. Asked customer service. They kindly sent a replacement E with the same problem though.
I guess they either have a serious quality problem or a design issue.
I am still waiting to hear from customer service/technical after the replacement arrived.
Had I known that I would have not ordered an expensive set of strings no one would have use for.
I have read the same issue of Dogal Hellborg (and other Dogal strings on TB if I am not mistaken).
For those looking for something along the lines of these I would buy a set of Thomastik Infelds Jazz Rounds which I have done and sound and feel amazing

its nice to hear you got thru to CS@Dogal. (I'm in US so everything would have to go thru their local distributor Stringsbymail.com)

Agreed. Ive never had an issue with TI (both EB and UB) and the cost savings from Dogal is so minimal I may stick with TI. (Im curious if I can get a longer lifespan out of the Dogal)

I didn't notice any issues with the E in my 5 strings set. Maybe everyone could post their purchase date, set, issue—maybe we could start to see a pattern, if any?

6/24: 5 Str. 34" scale Hellborg set, No issues.

Karl Kaminski said:

Agreed. Ive never had an issue with TI (both EB and UB) and the cost savings from Dogal is so minimal I may stick with TI. (Im curious if I can get a longer lifespan out of the Dogal)

I didn't notice any issues with the E in my 5 strings set. Maybe everyone could post their purchase date, set, issue—maybe we could start to see a pattern, if any?

6/24. 5 Str Hellborg set. No issues.

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All purchased from Strings By Mail (love em!):

6/11: 4 string 34" scale, no issues

6/29: 4 string 35" scale, both Es rattled - one fixed by twisting before setting in post, broke the other (my fault)

I imagine a lot/serial number or manufacture date would be useful, but not seeing one on the packaging - barcode number is same for all the strings (#033959513354).

FWIW, I absolutely love these strings. To me, they're the most unique strings I've played. Some of my impressions:

- Not good at putting sound into words, but I love the clarity (so so clear) and crunch these have (reminds me a little bit of the crunch Dunlop Super Brights have). For me, they're plenty punchy in the low end, but ymmv.

- I feel like they actually have pretty normal tension for a light set, but they're incredibly pliable/flexible

- They're smooth, but kinda tactile and grippy, if that makes any sense at all . I feel like this actually helps with playability given how flexible these strings are.

- There's less variation when played closer to the bridge vs close to the neck, and sound a lot less thin/farty when played close to the bridge vs normal core strings

- They seem to need more turns of the tuning peg to come to pitch, but they also seem to handle drop tuning well, especially considering how flexible they are

These are the only strings I want to play now. I just hope they last a good while and that they figure out this rattling E string thing. And I'm really hoping for some alternative scales at some point - I've heard that flatwound are coming in the future, though!

5/30, Jonas Hellborg 35" six string set, rattling E.

Looks like I must have bought my set quite some time before you guys.

I couldn't find a serial number either, and I still have the original packaging. The only thing printed onto the paper sleeves is the pitch, and my box also seems to be repurposed box from a 5 string set without much info at all.

Speaking of pitch, they weren't kidding about the "perfect pitch" part. These intonate really well beyond the 12th fret, especially on the B string that is really quite uncommon.

I'm not really a fan of the high C string, I had to raise the action really high to avoid fret rattle all across the board, and there's still a weird thing happening with the overtones (plus the sound was really thin - I've tried resetting the string, which made it a bit better, but not enough for my satisfaction). I've replaced it with an old DR Sunbeams C this morning, but haven't had a chance to see how that string gels with the set (since I also play double bass where different string makes and even types on the same instrument are quite common, I'm not adverse to it... at least it's my choice this time. ).

good looking out on the "scale" too

yeah my package has no identifiers—other than the same barcode you have.

Curious have you tried the Dogal flats Jaco set? I hear they are also 'supple/flexible' like the Hellborg Set (similar to TI flats)

Karl Kaminski said:

good looking out on the "scale" too

yeah my package has no identifiers—other than the same barcode you have.

Curious have you tried the Dogal flats Jaco set? I hear they are also 'supple/flexible' like the Hellborg Set (similar to TI flats)

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I have! To me, they're aren't nearly as noodly as TI flats, but def not as stiff as most flats (to be fair, I haven't tried too many). To me, they still fall on the spectrum of standard strings for flexibility - I suspect the spiral core of the Hellborgs really makes a huge difference.

Karl Kaminski said:

Curious have you tried the Dogal flats Jaco set? I hear they are also 'supple/flexible' like the Hellborg Set (similar to TI flats)

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I haven't mainly because 1) I was perplexed by the moniker... Jaco is someone I do not associate with flatwounds and 2) I am quite happy with the TI flats I already play, so there was not much motivation to try them.

@Nashrakh
did you readjust your pickups on the High C side? (I had to spend some time 'dialing in' heights after installing the Dogals. (Maybe you can re-focus the high end?)

Karl Kaminski said:

@Nashrakh
did you readjust your pickups on the High C side? (I had to spend some time 'dialing in' heights after installing the Dogals. (Maybe you can re-focus the high end?)

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Yes, I have (and dropped it quite a bit on the C side), but found that it made no discernable difference with respect to the warbling overtones (to be frank, it is VERY faint, probably wouldn't notice in a mix at all). "Stratitis" was the first thing I've thought of, but I never had it happen to me yet, actually.

well after a very short/unscientific poll (LOL) already theres a pattern of 35" scale E strings 'rattling'.

Im gonna see if I notice anything in my strings (34" scale) today at rehearsal.

The reason I got answer from Dogal CS is perhaps because I wrote in italian.

The rattling E for me is a 34" scale.

Regarding the Jaco System ultraflats. I have tried them and they seem just like normal flatwound strings a la La Bella. I have to mention I took a 40-60-75-100 set (JC106B). It would probably be interesting to try a lighter gauge set to see how they behave. I am anyway not buying more sets from them until they fix my issue.

Hi all,
Been following this thread from a distance, but the concept of the Hellborg strings caught my interest.

First a comment on the Dogal communication. I emailed them asking for a 5+1 string order of the Hellborg strings. I never got a reply, but a while later a six string package showed up on their web page. Unsure if that counts as bad communication

Regarding quality. I ordered a 6-string set and attached them to my bass yesterday. Unfortunately the B string broke at the bridge, similarly to what others have witnessed regarding their E strings. I have emailed them, and am waiting for a reply.

Regarding playability. I haven't had the time to adjust my bass or play the new strings properly, but the first impression is that they are very light and flexible (it's never been easier bending notes on a bass), and the clarity when playing two notes an octave apart is unsurpassed. It sounds like one note rather than two.

It is certainly a very interesting set of strings, and I hope the quality will prove better than what I've first experienced. I would still like to explore and experience these strings much more.

Cheers,
Karl

I'm currently waiting on a TI Jazz Round to replace my E string, but from what I can tell so far, the Dogals play nice with other strings - as in, if you're into combining sets, these strings make a great base line. I've swapped the Dogal C string with an old DR Sunbeams C, and I like it much better. Fits right in, but has more body to it (also louder, which is a nice bonus).

What I also noticed is that with these strings, I seem to favor either 100% neck or 100% bridge pickup, whereas with DR Sunbeams, I was all about that both full on sound. I think it's all in the mids of these strings.

Now, this makes me wonder why mixing sets is (apparently) not as popular with BG players as it is with upright players. We have just as much classic problem areas as them when it comes to strings.

cost? its also harder to get single strings for the expensive sets TI Dogal DR strings (my choices in this case). While other top brands offer singles, Im not playing them, so mixing them in doesn't make sense (for me).

yes, lots going on in 'mids'

karla684 said:

Hi all,
Been following this thread from a distance, but the concept of the Hellborg strings caught my interest.

First a comment on the Dogal communication. I emailed them asking for a 5+1 string order of the Hellborg strings. I never got a reply, but a while later a six string package showed up on their web page. Unsure if that counts as bad communication

Regarding quality. I ordered a 6-string set and attached them to my bass yesterday. Unfortunately the B string broke at the bridge, similarly to what others have witnessed regarding their E strings. I have emailed them, and am waiting for a reply.

Regarding playability. I haven't had the time to adjust my bass or play the new strings properly, but the first impression is that they are very light and flexible (it's never been easier bending notes on a bass), and the clarity when playing two notes an octave apart is unsurpassed. It sounds like one note rather than two.

It is certainly a very interesting set of strings, and I hope the quality will prove better than what I've first experienced. I would still like to explore and experience these strings much more.

Cheers,
Karl

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I got a reply from Dogal today, and they have forwarded my complaint to the tech department. 24 hours for first reply is good to me. Let's see what tech says.