Doms with Spiro Orch E?

drurb · #1 06-15-2006, 09:05 PM

Well, I'm about to get a set of Dominants but am really uneasy about all the E-breakage reports. Yes, I've read about the Stark E with the Doms but my bass has a 41.5" string length. The fact that the Starks come only in 4/4 makes it seem like not such a good idea. The reports that the Starks kill the right hand don't help the cause.

So, please tell me what you all think of the Doms with the regular Spiro E (the red wrapping).

If it helps to know, I'm switching from Obligatos.

Thanks!

Andy Allen · #2 06-15-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRURB

So, please tell me what you all think of the Doms with the regular Spiro E (the red wrapping).

If it helps to know, I'm switching from Obligatos.

Thanks!

That's my personal combination

Now, I haven't tried the Stark E, but the orch/red E with ADG Dominants is perfect for me & my bass...once the E is worn in a bit it sounds similar to the Dom, with just a little more growl. Tensions match well too.

Go for it!

Andy

hdiddy · #3 06-15-2006, 09:22 PM

OOoh with a Orch E... that sounds tasty. Thanks for the tip!

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #4 06-15-2006, 10:01 PM

Regular orch E is fine. My personal preference is either the Dominant E or the spiro stark. That said, the orch E is what I carry as a backup to gigs, mostly because it's as indestructible as a cockroach and already broken in.

Mark Carlsen · #5 06-15-2006, 10:17 PM

The most mixed and matched string in the double bass world.[Orch E] also as David Gage has said..."the "E" string is the first to go, To mix a new spiro "E" w. an older set will get a few more monthes out of the whole set. A great trick...

drurb · #6 06-15-2006, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Regular orch E is fine. My personal preference is either the Dominant E or the spiro stark. That said, the orch E is what I carry as a backup to gigs, mostly because it's as indestructible as a cockroach and already broken in.

Thanks Chris-- What are your thoughts about the Stark E only being available in 4/4 (or am I incorrect)? Does that not pose problems on the nominal 3/4 bass with string lengths of 41.5 - 42.0"?

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #7 06-15-2006, 11:42 PM

I think you may be right about that, but it's done fine on my 3/4, which has (I believe) a 42" string length. I even tune the thing down to D regularly (see the "Clint Eastwood" clip on my site by way of example) and it still pops pretty well.

IanAllison · #8 11-29-2006, 02:14 AM

I just thought I'd weigh in on this post. I've been lurking for about a year and haven't posted much in this forum. I'm mostly an electric guy - but recently picked up a wonderful carved bass and am studying like a madman!

Anyway - I switched my Helicore Pizz strings to the "TB Endorsed" Dom A D and G with a Spiro Stark E.

I love the smoothness and evenness up the neck of the Doms. The Spiro is pretty dang nice too.

HOWEVER - I just wanted to give my two cents on a few things that I've found to be a little exaggerated:

The Stark E isn't THAT bad on the left hand. My action is pretty low, but I'm not finding a big difference between the playability of the Stark vs. the Helicore Pizz. Don't let the Stark scare deter you from checking it out.

Also, I kept hearing about how this combo was so LOUD. To be honest, it doesn't seem quite as loud as the Helicores, and certainly not as growly. BUT, it is more balanced.

Haven't checked them out with the bow yet - but I know it's going to be better than the Helicore Pizz!

So yeah - great combo, but not quite as loud and growly as the Helicore Pizz.

Ian

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #9 11-29-2006, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artiseasy

HOWEVER - I just wanted to give my two cents on a few things that I've found to be a little exaggerated:

The Stark E isn't THAT bad on the left hand. My action is pretty low, but I'm not finding a big difference between the playability of the Stark vs. the Helicore Pizz. Don't let the Stark scare deter you from checking it out.

The Stark E isn't the hand killer: the D and G are the ones that shredded my hands when I had them on...especially after 3 or 4 hour gigs.

Quote:

Also, I kept hearing about how this combo was so LOUD. To be honest, it doesn't seem quite as loud as the Helicores, and certainly not as growly. BUT, it is more balanced.

Haven't checked them out with the bow yet - but I know it's going to be better than the Helicore Pizz!

To get them loud, raise the string height up a bit. The great thing about this set is that they tend to "open up" when you get a little height under them instead of choking, as some strings do. And I find the Stark E much more difficult to bow than the Dominants...it's harder to get it started, and it just doesn't seem to "hum" as much; then again, I am a rank novice with the stick.

**Jeremy Allen** · #10 11-29-2006, 12:41 PM

I use Dominant on the top three strings with a Spiro mittel E. It works very well! I didn't avoid the Dominant E for fear of breakage, it's just that I always leave a Spirocore on as the bottom string (makes string experimentation significantly less expensive). A player here at the school uses a full set of Dominants, and it sounds/feels fantastic, the E especially. He hasn't had any breakage issues since he learned how to treat the Doms when putting them on (and neither have I). (Regarding the last: I just make sure to fully lubricate the slots, take my time tuning the strings up to pitch, make certain that the string doesn't actually touch/get wound around the peg [if this happens, there's nothing you can do--just get a different string, because the Dominant will definitely break!], and this other guy I mentioned puts electrical tape around the windings of adjacent strings in the pegbox and swears it does the trick.)

Incidentally, I just switched out some strings on my plywood bass and it's now strung with Anima G, Dominant D and A, and Spirocore mittel E. This is a totally slamming string combination (far, far superior to the all-Spirocore setup the bass came with); Animas are not at all gut-like when installed as a full set (that whole "even tension" thing really is magic), but putting on just the G is like having a gut string on there that's fairly easy to play (and bow). The sound of the single Anima matches up surprisingly well with the Dominants--it sounds like the Dominant D's fat, rude, slovenly older brother, which happens to be what I was looking for.

bribass · #11 11-29-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I find the Stark E much more difficult to bow than the Dominants...it's harder to get it started, and it just doesn't seem to "hum" as much; then again, I am a rank novice with the stick.

Oh, so we're playing some arco lately?!
Great, welcome the Jazz Players Who Love Arco Club. I think you'll enjoy it more & more w/ time. I find it can be a great color for Jazz as well.

I've been playing all Spiro Mittels lately, but yesterday I found a Thom. Super Flex G and D and I put just the G on and I'm really enjoying it. Softer and more mellow feel than the Spiro Mit G w/ less ping. I'm thinking of slapping on the D as well. They seem match fine w/ the Spiro Mits., but easier to bow w/ a sweeter sound. I'll have to see how this translates to rythm section playing w/ my already dark sounding bass. How do Super Flex compare to Doms? I've never tried Doms.

BG

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #12 11-29-2006, 03:43 PM

Thread derailment about DURRL's ARCO ADVENTURES moved Here. Please use this thread to keep talking about Doms mixed with Spiros.

IanAllison · #13 11-30-2006, 12:51 PM

Hey Chris - thanks for the advice! My action is pretty dang low - I may try cranking them up a bit to get a little more heft.

Update - I really like this combo - especially the Dom D and G. Bowing is more pleasurable for sure (as pleasurable as bowing ever is for an electric-guy-going-upright with a focus on jazz!) However, I kinda miss that growly A I had going with the Helicore Pizz. Could anyone recommend a good Spiro for an A with the Stark E and the Dom D and G?

Also - could someone tell me what the deal is with the gauge/naming convention for Spiros? I know Starks are heavys . . . but what about Orchs, Mittels, and Weichs?

I love this forum . . . maybe I'll change my avatar!

Ian

hdiddy · #14 11-30-2006, 12:56 PM

You could try a Stark A. The sound of a Stark A is also good and simlar to the Stark E, but coupled with both it puts alot of tension on the bass. Combine that with the Dom D & G you're talking hamburger fingers!

You can also try an FCS A. It's pretty good with the Stark E. I used to have Doms on my bass but switched to FCS A, D, G instead as it works much better on my bass.

IanAllison · #15 11-30-2006, 01:03 PM

Excuse my ignorance . . . what is a FCS?

hdiddy · #16 11-30-2006, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artiseasy

Excuse my ignorance . . . what is a FCS?

Sorry, Pirastro FlatChrome steel strings. Not be confused with Pirastro's Original Flatchromes. They're two different strings.

Uncletoad · #17 11-30-2006, 02:16 PM

I used a Dom D/G with Stark E and Mittel A for awhile. That worked well.

The Stark A is a knucklebuster. The only Spiro Stark string I would go back to at this point is the E.

I prefer the whole set of Doms over a mixed set I think. The Stark E on the bottom is nice but a different enough tone that they don't mix as well as I'd like.

The Dom E grows on you. I'm using it on the bottom of Guts now and it sounds great.

Dom's should growl pretty well if you ask them to.

Randy Ward · #18 12-01-2006, 08:24 AM

That was the combination I started with and I always felt the tension of the mittle was just enough less than the Doms to bug me. But i have an extension and there is no Spiro stark for that so YMMV. but if I could I would match them with a stark

Arnold suggested I go the other route and match the tension of the low string so now I have wiech ADG w' mittle E.

As for sound difference I think it is slight.
I am enclosing a 5 second audio file that I did just to check the direct sound of the fishman full circle pick up when I got it. This is with the Dom top three strings and I think you can hear the difference when it ends on the low G gliss.