Is It Bad To Mix Strings?

[braizahn]

Is it? I dont know much about stings but am curious to know if it is bad to put more than one or two different kinds of strings on one bass.

[Duckwater]

Lots of people do it

[AdmiralScreed]

Depends on the strings.

I see a lot of players who use Bel Cantos G, D, A with a Spirocore E. It seems to work for them.
I once tried Bel Cantos G, D, A with a Helicore E. That worked pretty well.
One combination that I wouldn't recommend are Evah Pirazzis and Bel Cantos. I tried mixing them once recently and it was not pretty.

[TroyK]

Is it bad to play around with heroin?

Once I know your position on this, I'll be able to answer you question about strings.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Is it bad to play around with heroin?

Once I know your position on this, I'll be able to answer you question about strings.

It's bad to mix heroin and cocaine. Jim Belushi would have been 63 last weekend.

I think it depends on the bass and strings. Personally, I've used an Olive G with spirocores and Evah Pirazzis. I even used it for a bit with Animas. Animas and Garbos are good with guts on top.

If it works, why not?

[drurb]

It's not bad or wrong. It depends on what you like. I've never been a string mixer.

[DC Bass]

Originally Posted by drurb

It's not bad or wrong. It depends on what you like. I've never been a string mixer.

Concur.

I did mix Eudoxa with Oliv though for a while...some will say you "have to"...

I've also mixed gauges- as some will say that Pirastro E's are weak compared to the rest of the sets they come with...YMMV.

Generally speaking, I think "sets" sound good together- at least this has been the case on most of my basses over the years.

Joe

[TroyK]

Joking aside, I think it's best not to mix. Very old string companies have put a great deal of time and expertise into designing balanced sets. Some are better than others at acheiving this.

It's expensive, it's distracting, it will lead to down a dark, twisty road to ruin, from which there is no redemption. It's impossible to get it right, except through experimentation. Your energy is better spend practicing. Your money is better spend on lessons, luthiery, great recordings, a massage, Alexander Technique or dinner with a pretty girl.

That said, my name is Troy and I'm a string mixer.

I have two general thoughts around why so many of us do it anyway:

1) String sets weren't really designed initially for how we're using them (non-classical players anyway). Spirocores, for example were originally orchestra strings. The G is too bright for most jazz players, it would appear. Some modern sets, like Evah Pirazzi or Anima probably had modern uses in mind and people seem to mix less often with them. So, we're compensating for what we want to hear and feel vs what they may have had in mind when they designed them. (Just a theory)

2) It's the bass or the setup that makes things unbalanced, but we try to fix it with strings rather than getting some professional setup help or shopping for a different instrument (or getting over it). To a degree this is practical and to a degree it's misguided.

I also think that none of the makers have really figured out that a large subset of us want darker strings for D and G and need brighter strings for E and A. So, we mix Spirocores with Obligatos or Flexicores or Gut. Or 140Bs with Honeys. Or in my case for the last few years Original Flat Chrome G with a Jazzer set.

The first time someone used steel strings on bottom and gut on top was probably 40-50 years ago. Why hasn't it occured to Thomastik, Pirastro or Innovation to make a balanced set that had a metal core E and A and a synthetic core D and G? They know we all try to do this on our own.

Anyway, stay in school, don't do drugs and get your bass set up with a quality set of strings and forget about it...unless you get a cool idea and want to try something. In this case the TBDB classifieds are your friend.

Question for the classical guys and gals: Is this as common for you as it is for us pizzacato types?

[braizahn]

yes

[braizahn]

lol thanks for the deep analysis of my question! so funny i was actually thinking about buying a gut D and G because i dont like the steel D and G... heheh anyway thank you ppl for the response

[braizahn]

DCbass how did you like the oliv and eudoxa mix? or can anyone else comment on this?

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by braizahn

DCbass how did you like the oliv and eudoxa mix? or can anyone else comment on this?

It used to be considered the gold standard by a lot of people (8-10 years ago). Very expensive and a lot of reports of durability issues. I've used combinations of these strings, though not ever quite this magic mix. I see what the buzz is about, but it made me nervous to have them on there. I hate changing strings during a gig.

[DC Bass]

Originally Posted by TroyK

It used to be considered the gold standard by a lot of people (8-10 years ago). Very expensive and a lot of reports of durability issues. I see what the buzz is about, but it made me nervous to have them on there. I hate changing strings during a gig.

I'd go Eudoxa all the way across- but my bass is plenty dark. Folks usually go to the Oliv to warm things up a little on the D and G- not a problem on my bass.

But let me tell ya- it's no fun paying that much money for a string and to watch them fall apart in front of your eyes. My "record" was something ridiculous like ten minutes for one Oliv A...but I got crazy long life out of a particular Eudoxa E- it was insane! Almost two years of heavy use!!!

I've heard that they are better these days- and I also have to blame the climate here as well. Gut and the metal wrap behave very differently to volatile temperature and humidity variations.

Anyhow- I don't know if there is a sweeter arco string out there- just not worth the PITA- for ME- IMHO, YMMV.

Joe

[KJPbop]

John Belushi...........................

[iiipopes]

Originally Posted by AdmiralScreed

I see a lot of players who use Bel Cantos G, D, A with a Spirocore E. It seems to work for them.

Hey! I resemble that remark! 3885.5W

[Matt Burri]

I use my OlivDG/EudoxaAE mixed set for classical playing and haven't had to replace any of them in over a year. My Eudoxa E doesn't look too hot right at the bridge, but it doesn't get worse as long as I reapply pencil lead to the groove frequently.