Dominant longevity

christ andronis · #1 05-30-2006, 08:44 AM

I've just ordered a set of Dominants I want to try on my carved Christopher. I notice on the Thomastik website it says the tone of the Dominants don't last as long as, let's say, Starks or other metal strings. For those of you that use them regularly (Dominants), what has been your experience? How often do you play and then replace them? Just curious.

Thanks in advance

Tbeers · #2 05-30-2006, 11:04 AM

I've played mine almost every day for over a year, and I'm still happy.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #3 05-30-2006, 12:17 PM

I've had my G, D, and A on for about 14 months. The E broke a few months ago, and I switched it out with a spiro stark, which is still there. About 2 months ago, I swapped out the G string for a new one (dom) because it had a ding in it which made a strange sound at the D in the middle of the neck. My new bass has a full Dominant set, and sounds good....but I haven't had it for very long.

Randy Ward · #4 05-30-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I swapped out the G string for a new one (dom) because it had a ding in it which made a strange sound at the D in the middle of the neck.

Curious; I too am experiencing this (same string and spot) but I raised the bridge and it is not quite as bad.

I have had ADG and a Spiro Mittle E on for about 9 months,
still like em and they seem like they have a lot of life left.

Andy Allen · #5 05-30-2006, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by univac jr.

Curious; I too am experiencing this (same string and spot) but I raised the bridge and it is not quite as bad.

I had a ding at the high C (thumb pos.) on a dominant G after it was removed and replaced a couple of times for repair work. (Or it could have been caused when my little boy knocked over the bass to cause the repair work.

)

Quote:

Originally Posted by univac jr.

I have had ADG and a Spiro Mittle E on for about 9 months,
still like em and they seem like they have a lot of life left.

That was my favourite combination, which I am about to go back to after recently trying other strings.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #6 05-30-2006, 04:51 PM

You guys gotta try the spiro stark E with the Dominants. I've yet to meet a single person who prefers the orch E after having tried both.

Andy Allen · #7 05-30-2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

You guys gotta try the spiro stark E with the Dominants. I've yet to meet a single person who prefers the orch E after having tried both.

Mehh...you're like a string pusher preying on the weaknesses of us poor stringaholics

Any idea who stocks these in 3/4 length? Quinns doesn't list them on their web page, and juststrings.com only lists 4/4 (my string length is only 40.5" so 4/4 would be way too long).

Andy

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #8 05-30-2006, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airbass

Mehh...you're like a string pusher preying on the weaknesses of us poor stringaholics

Any idea who stocks these in 3/4 length? Quinns doesn't list them on their web page, and juststrings.com only lists 4/4 (my string length is only 40.5" so 4/4 would be way too long).

Andy

I think they only come in 4/4, but try PMing Thomastic Mike.

christ andronis · #9 05-30-2006, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airbass

Mehh...you're like a string pusher preying on the weaknesses of us poor stringaholics

Andy

Really! You're a dangerous man.....

Dr Rod · #10 05-30-2006, 08:28 PM

Back to the main theme. I think the Thomastik Infeld statement on Dominant longevity is not really accurate.

Also, if you compare just about any string with the spirocore line, in terms of longevity, you will find the spiros standing out triumphant. If you compare the dominants with a non-spiro string I think their longevity is very good, provided they don't break.

Do take the statements and descriptions from Thomastik Infeld with a grain of salt (sorry Thomastik Mike). As an example just look at their tonal description of the dominants (soft sounding ??!!!).

Back to the side theme....Chris Fitzgerald is right about the Starks, they are much superior to the mittels (unless you have a bass with a weak top)

christ andronis · #11 05-31-2006, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Rod

Back to the main theme. I think the Thomastik Infeld statement on Dominant longevity is not really accurate.

Also, if you compare just about any string with the spirocore line, in terms of longevity, you will find the spiros standing out triumphant. If you compare the dominants with a non-spiro string I think their longevity is very good, provided they don't break.

Do take the statements and descriptions from Thomastik Infeld with a grain of salt (sorry Thomastik Mike). As an example just look at their tonal description of the dominants (soft sounding ??!!!).

Back to the side theme....Chris Fitzgerald is right about the Starks, they are much superior to the mittels (unless you have a bass with a weak top)

Yeah, it's so hard to tell without actually playing them. This is a great site to listen to the feedback of others who have tried the different strings. It's about as close as you can get without buying 5 or 6 different sets. Thanks to everyone who responded and I look forward to hearing from others as well. I'll post my own review when I get them on and broken in a little.

Randy Ward · #12 05-31-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

You guys gotta try the spiro stark E with the Dominants. I've yet to meet a single person who prefers the orch E after having tried both.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Rod

Back to the side theme....Chris Fitzgerald is right about the Starks, they are much superior to the mittels (unless you have a bass with a weak top)

Actually I REALLY want to try a stark E but here is my excuse:

I've ordered a Cleveland from Wil And Arnold with dom. ADG and spiro e with a fingered C ext. And as far as I know there is no long C/E spiro stark. So I wanted to see how the mittle was.
And yes my little hybrid has a top that may have been thinned too much.

ThomastikMike · #13 05-31-2006, 11:49 AM

Ignore that bit on the website about longevity.

Uncletoad · #14 05-31-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

You guys gotta try the spiro stark E with the Dominants. I've yet to meet a single person who prefers the orch E after having tried both.

+1. Spiro stark E is one of my favorite strings.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper Animas and warm woolen Dominants
Olive G's Stark Spiro E's really can sing
These are a few of my favorite strings...

Ah. Dork. Back to work....

Dr Rod · #15 05-31-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by univac jr.

And as far as I know there is no long C/E spiro stark.

I wonder how many strings one would have to buy for Thomastik to make a custom string (Thomastik Mike ?). Making a long Stark E would be an easy task. Maybe we can make a communal purchase.

One of the reasons I never got an extension was because of the reduced selection of E strings.

greitzer · #16 06-02-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christ andronis

I've just ordered a set of Dominants I want to try on my carved Christopher. I notice on the Thomastik website it says the tone of the Dominants don't last as long as, let's say, Starks or other metal strings. For those of you that use them regularly (Dominants), what has been your experience? How often do you play and then replace them?...

My experience with Dominants was a bit different than the others who've posted. I loved the Dominant strings, in terms of their sound, their feel, bowability (if that's a word). But they "went" after about eight months, and I mean they really went. One night they sounded as beautiful as ever, the next day they were as dead as a doornail. It was rather bizarre. As I was removing them, I noticed that one of the Dominants (I think it was the D) was just about to break at the upper winding.

Still, they are a terrific string.

christ andronis · #17 06-09-2006, 06:55 AM

Well...I put the Dominants on yesterday and started playing them in for a couple of hours last night. My initial impressions are good to great. Want to reserve that judgement till they break in a little more. I've got several gigs coming up that will put them through their paces. They sound ALOT like the Spirocores (which IMO is a good thing) with a nice round, full tone but not as banjo-y, if that makes sense. They really sound almost broken in right out of the package. A little easier on the hands too. More later.

Thanks again for the input from everyone.

peace

stockbass · #18 06-13-2006, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christ andronis

...They really sound almost broken in right out of the package. A little easier on the hands too...

...reminds me of going from red Spiros to Obligatos...

christ andronis · #19 06-13-2006, 07:29 AM

I've got to say, I'm really liking these strings. I've got a trio gig Saturday and a big band Sunday so that should give me enough of a variation to see how they respond. Alone in my basement though, they sound wonderful. I'm liking them a little better than the Spiro's . I may try a Stark E later after these have been broken in, seeing as how Chris raved about it (several times if i remember), but for now the strings seem really well balanced to me and I'm liking the output.

yeee-haw

Dr Rod · #20 06-13-2006, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christ andronis

I've got to say, I'm really liking these strings....

....they sound wonderful. I'm liking them a little better than the Spiro's ....

... for now the strings seem really well balanced to me and I'm liking the output.

It sounds like you're infected with the Dom virus. Scientists haven't found a cure yet.