bowabiltiy of Spiro Weichs vs. Mittels

[bribass]

I recently played a bass w/ Weichs.

I used Weichs for many years, but not for for the last 3 or so years.

I switched to Mittels and more recently going from Evahs, back and forth w/ Superflexibles for a more arco friendly hybrid experience than Mittels.

The Weichs seemed to be more arco friendly than I remembered and maybe better than Mittels for that. What is the general consensus here comparing them with Mittels in this regard?

Opinions?

Thanks, BG

[Johnny L]

I prefer the mittels because they've got more "meat", but I think they bow pretty much the same.

Being higher tension maybe they require more bow weight or something to get them going. That may be an issue for some folks I don't know.

[jtlownds]

Hi Brian,

I'm assuming that you are referring to my bass, with the Weichs on it. It's been many years since I've drawn a bow across a set of mittels, so my recollection is a tad fuzzy. If I remember right, the Weichs seem to start a bit more quickly than the Mittels.

My wife and I enjoyed what we got to see of your show. We had the wrong address for the venue, and arrived in time to hear the last 3 or 4 tunes of the show. Didn't get to hear any of your arco work. I was curious about what my bass sounded like from the audience perspective. I was blown away by the fat bottom end that I heard. When I'm playing, all that I'm hearing are the mids, and the lows aren't apparent until you get some distance away from the bass. Probably your hands had something to do with that too.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by jtlownds

Probably your hands had something to do with that too.

Brian's got game.

[Bobby King]

A few months back I had some Weichs on my Shen and was surprised that they bowed fairly easily. I thought that they must bow better than the Mittels, but I hadn't actually bowed on Mittels for quite a long time. I just recently got a lightly used set of Mittels and now have them on the Shen. I think that they bow just fine. I don't think they're any harder than Weichs, and the Mittels may actually sound better. Also, the extra tension is a plus for arco IMO.

[bribass]

Originally Posted by Johnny L

I prefer the mittels because they've got more "meat", but I think they bow pretty much the same.

Being higher tension maybe they require more bow weight or something to get them going. That may be an issue for some folks I don't know.

I switched to Mittels back then for the same reason, but I'm thinking the same thing about the lower tension of Weichs after performing on Jim's bass.

BTW- 1000 THANK YOUS again Jim for the use of your really nice bass. I remember somewhere in TB a thread about how DBers are the best people. This must be true. Jim and other TBDBers have and generously loaned their prized basses to me on my performance travels on more than one or two ocassions w/o knowing me at all except for my posts here on TBDB. I am truly grateful and humbled by their generosity. Makes you feel like we ARE really bass brothers. So great to not have to fly w/ a DB these days.

Jim, I really felt badly that you missed most of the show. There was an all arco w/ piano / vocal tune as well as an all piz uptempo Jazz number w/ just scat vocal. Everyone said the bass sounded great. It is very well set up and easy to play.

I'm thinking that Weichs maybe a bit easier than Mittels to bow, especially the lower strings. My needs are for A and E strings that are grabby w/ the bow for Jazz arco solos, oom-pah type Klezmer arco accompaniment, classical playing as well as Jazz piz. A tall order.

Brian Glassman

[jtlownds]

Originally Posted by bribass

BTW- 1000 THANK YOUS again Jim for the use of your really nice bass. I remember somewhere in TB a thread about how DBers are the best people. This must be true. Jim and other TBDBers have and generously loaned their prized basses to me on my performance travels on more than one or two ocassions w/o knowing me at all except for my posts here on TBDB. I am truly grateful and humbled by their generosity. Makes you feel like we ARE really bass brothers. So great to not have to fly w/ a DB these days.
Brian Glassman

In my 72 years on this planet, I have never met a double bass player who didn't treat me like gold. Just returning the favor.

[Johnny L]

Originally Posted by bribass

I switched to Mittels back then for the same reason, but I'm thinking the same thing about the lower tension of Weichs after performing on Jim's bass.

In confession, I would switch to weichs if I were using G and/or D string that had low enough tension for me to feel awkward going to the mittel A and E strings (e.g., belcantos). Whatever low end I felt I lost for it, I'd just deal.

I usually don't use a full set of spiros on my bass...just the E, A and D strings. There's no good justification for it IMO, the spiro G is a fine string. I just like having more than one color above the tailpiece.

[jtlownds]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Brian's got game.

+1, when I grow up, I want to play just like Brian.