Belcanto vs. Spirocore

[Thumpie]

Assignment: compare and contrast Belcanto and Spirocore strings.

Belcantos cost more, but Bob Gollihur's site describes them as sort of a "Holy Grail" of strings--good for both arco and sustaining pizz playing.

I'm using well broken in Spirocores right now, and I like them better than Corelli tungsten for their "meatiness," but they're harder to bow. I'm thinking about trying the Belcantos next.

Has anybody played both Belcanto and Spirocore using pizzicato and arco techniques?

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Thumpie

Assignment: compare and contrast Belcanto and Spirocore strings.

Belcantos cost more, but Bob Gollihur's site describes them as sort of a "Holy Grail" of strings--good for both arco and sustaining pizz playing.

I'm using well broken in Spirocores right now, and I like them better than Corelli tungsten for their "meatiness," but they're harder to bow. I'm thinking about trying the Belcantos next.

Has anybody played both Belcanto and Spirocore using pizzicato and arco techniques?

Yes. They are excellent arco strings and not very pizz friendly. Fine for the arco person who does orchestral pizz or occasional pizz gigs but for Jazz Work they are to slow and the E/A strings are weak.

There is a megathread that discusses all this in great detail.

If you are primarily a pizz person with occasional arco work worn in spirocores would probably serve you better, however if your emphasis is arco with occasional pizz Belcantos would serve you better.

There is no perfect Arco/Pizz blend string.

[Thumpie]

There is no perfect Arco/Pizz blend string.

No Holy Grail. Sigh.

I remember reading you say something like searching for new strings is a sickness. You were probably giving sage advice.

Maybe I should get stop thinking about all this and just keep practicing bowing the Spiros.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Thumpie

Maybe I should get stop thinking about all this and just keep practicing bowing the Spiros.

Yes. Without doubt.

[AMJBASS]

Agreed. However, if you NEED a good hybrid strings for both styles, the Pirastro Evah Pirazzi(Weich) is an excellent string.

[PB+J]

I just spent a week with a set of Belcantos on another bass while mine was in the shop. I agree with Uncle Load. A and E were weak, but nice for arco.

Spiro wiechs are a pretty good arco/pizz string. They tend to be to twangy and a little thin on some basses, and scratchy under the bow, but they are easy to start and I liked them for pizz on my bass

[Thumpie]

Belcantos sound a lot like Corellis...

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Thumpie

Belcantos sound a lot like Corellis...

Not on my basses. I found the Corelli much brighter and thinner overall than the Belcanto, both arco and pizz.

[JtheJazzMan]

For me the belcantos were a very dull pizz string. Gave them up straight away and went back to spiros. Youre on the right track, just keep practising on spiros and it will pay off.

[Thumpie]

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

For me the belcantos were a very dull pizz string. Gave them up straight away and went back to spiros. Youre on the right track, just keep practising on spiros and it will pay off.

Exactly my reaction to Obligatos. (That was an expensive mistake.)

[Thumpie]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Not on my basses. I found the Corelli much brighter and thinner overall than the Belcanto, both arco and pizz.

But now you're starting to tempt me, because that's exactly what I don't like about Corellis!

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

There is no perfect Arco/Pizz blend string.

I think Spiros + practice are. Maybe not for full time orchestra work, but I haven't had trouble getting a clean arco sound from spiros - even right out of the evelope - for years from stark to solo. If you want a clear, extra friendly string that still has that growl try to solos tuned regular.

As I many of us have said - spiros have a lot more harmonic information than most strings, so if you saw away like a lumber jack
you will get more sounds happening at once, often called "scratchy". With a little more care you can get a rich and beautiful sound .

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

I think Spiros + practice are. Maybe not for full time orchestra work, but I haven't had trouble getting a clean arco sound from spiros - even right out of the evelope - for years from stark to solo. If you want a clear, extra friendly string that still has that growl try to solos tuned regular.

I agree.

[Thumpie]

As I many of us have said - spiros have a lot more harmonic information than most strings, so if you saw away like a lumber jack

I'm a lumberjack, and I'm ok!

[Phil Rowan]

Originally Posted by Thumpie

Maybe I should get stop thinking about all this and just keep practicing bowing the Spiros.

+1

[JtheJazzMan]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

As I many of us have said - spiros have a lot more harmonic information than most strings, so if you saw away like a lumber jack
you will get more sounds happening at once, often called "scratchy". With a little more care you can get a rich and beautiful sound .

My general tip is that fine white horse hair on your bow and a harder solo rosin gives you a nice smooth sound on the thinner strings.

You can get away with grippy rosin on deader mittels or starks.

[Uncletoad]

Yes, I really like Oak Soft year round on spirocores. Grabs well and doesn't really draw attention to itself.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

My general tip is that fine white horse hair on your bow and a harder solo rosin gives you a nice smooth sound on the thinner strings.

You can get away with grippy rosin on deader mittels or starks.

I agree, but I use black hair with pops and/or a combo of soft and med. Oak rosin!
It helps with projection in more jazz-like and louder settings.

[uprightbass.com]

I don't know how Gollihur came up with that conclusion, but I wouldn't consider that an acceptable pizz string. With strings, you're better off listening to good bassist's opinions. Technogeek babble on pickups, amps and speakers are one thing, but strings are a whole different animal that I would look to proficient musicians' opinions on.

Some ideas: For strings that did Arco and Pizz well, I've had better results with Eudoxa for gut strings, Ep's for Synthetic and Spirocore Weich for steel.

I personally love the Velvet Animas, which I don't recommend unless someone is able to try them out in person because they aren't for everyone since they feel a lot different than all other strings. I feel confident bowing on them and have used them confortably for an orchestral gig when the Italian bass with the Eudoxas needed to be taken to the shop.

[Jake deVilliers]

Man, this place gives good advice!

I think that Spiro Weichs are terrific on Kays - they bow well and are more articulate than the Mittels. If you want an older sound with decent arco possibilities, Innovation Honeys work really well