Helicore String Identification

[bobbykokinos]

I have Helicores on my bass but I dont know exactly which ones they are (pizz., hybrid, orch..).. I tried the string identification website but it didn't work for me. How can I identify what kind they are?

They are blue and yellow on the ball end. On the peg end, the E is Green, the A is Blue, the D is Yellow, and the G is Red..

Any help?? Thanks!

[Basschair]

Orchestral.

I don't know enough to say if the peg end color varies with the tension differences, but the ball end on yours (blue/yellow) are orchestral. Green/yellow are hybrids, red/yellow are pizz.

[bobbykokinos]

Originally Posted by Basschair

Orchestral.

I don't know enough to say if the peg end color varies with the tension differences, but the ball end on yours (blue/yellow) are orchestral. Green/yellow are hybrids, red/yellow are pizz.

Actually, as soon as you typed that, I found that they are orchestral mediums from the D Addario website.

Now, pardon me for this question because I'm quite ignorant when it comes to bass string. All I play is jazz. Hardly any bowing. Will it be a night and day difference if I switch from the orchestrals to something like Spirocores?

[bobbykokinos]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Colors like this?

The ones on the right of this photo.. Thanks for confirming that they are Helicore Orchestral..

If you would have any insite to my question above (post 3), I'd greatly appreciate it!

[Basschair]

IMO, you'd definitely notice a difference in feel, sustain, sound, etc., but that would also depend on your bass. I'm currently back in the swing of trying out new strings, and am learning this all over again

Originally Posted by bobbykokinos

The ones on the right of this photo.. Thanks for confirming that they are Helicore Orchestral..

If you would have any insite to my question above (post 3), I'd greatly appreciate it!

[bobbykokinos]

Originally Posted by Basschair

IMO, you'd definitely notice a difference in feel, sustain, sound, etc., but that would also depend on your bass. I'm currently back in the swing of trying out new strings, and am learning this all over again

Cool! Thanks for the info.. I've heard great things about the Spirocores.. We have a recording coming up in January. The last recording we did, there wasnt enough space for me to have my own booth so we had to use the pickup (actually didnt sound bad). But, this time since I'll have space, I'd like to get a good set of strings and record with a MIC.

I'd like to buy them now so I can have a good 2-3 months to break them in and get them dark..

[Basschair]

Originally Posted by bobbykokinos

Cool! Thanks for the info.. I've heard great things about the Spirocores.. We have a recording coming up in January. The last recording we did, there wasnt enough space for me to have my own booth so we had to use the pickup (actually didnt sound bad). But, this time since I'll have space, I'd like to get a good set of strings and record with a MIC.

I'd like to buy them now so I can have a good 2-3 months to break them in and get them dark..

Hmmm....in that case, you might want to look up some threads on recording and strings (Here's one from the Newbie links: Strings and recording ). I'm still in the experimentation stages with spiros (weich and solo tuned down), and so far they work very well with my bass. Still, take a look around and see what others have to say on the subject. Good luck!

[bobbykokinos]

Originally Posted by Basschair

Hmmm....in that case, you might want to look up some threads on recording and strings (Here's one from the Newbie links: Strings and recording ). I'm still in the experimentation stages with spiros (weich and solo tuned down), and so far they work very well with my bass. Still, take a look around and see what others have to say on the subject. Good luck!

Thanks again for the info!! Looks like Chris prefers the Spirocores as do many others..

[Basschair]

Originally Posted by bobbykokinos

Thanks again for the info!! Looks like Chris prefers the Spirocores as do many others..

It took me a while to come around (I had a bad experience with Starks when I was first starting out ). I'm loving them now, though I'm trying to be patient to see how they end up sounding.

[bobbykokinos]

Originally Posted by Basschair

It took me a while to come around (I had a bad experience with Starks when I was first starting out ). I'm loving them now, though I'm trying to be patient to see how they end up sounding.

Sorry for the 10000 questions.. But what changes could I expect going from medium sized strings to light sized?? I like how the medium Helicores feel but am willing to try light Spirocores if it would sound better.

[Basschair]

Originally Posted by bobbykokinos

Sorry for the 10000 questions.. But what changes could I expect going from medium sized strings to light sized?? I like how the medium Helicores feel but am willing to try light Spirocores if it would sound better.

Well, aside from the feel, I think it will have a lot to do with your bass and how it responds to tension. Check this site to compare the tensions of Spiros to Helicores: http://jordankirkness.tripod.com/dbstringtension.html . Depending on what you want to do, you might consider the medium Spiros rather than the light in order to get a bigger sound.

[GriffithLea]

Originally Posted by bobbykokinos

Now, pardon me for this question because I'm quite ignorant when it comes to bass string. All I play is jazz. Hardly any bowing. Will it be a night and day difference if I switch from the orchestrals to something like Spirocores?

Well, I went the other way, from Helicore Hybrid Lights to Orchestral Mediums. I am solely an orchestral player. I noticed a definite improvement in "bowability" and a better (for orchestra) sound. Also, the OrchMed strings were less "squishy" under the left hand, which to me was a positive change. I don't know if that was because of the switch from Hybrid to Orch, Light to Medium, or both.

So maybe you can extrapolate some information from that experience of mine.

[joel kelsey]

Bobby,
I think you should try spirocore orchestra mediums. If you want, I have some old ones you could borrow to try out. I have found that the E and A are great "out of the box" and the G and the D take a month or two sound good. In fact, I have the G and D on my bass for two years or so, and they sound amazing. I change the E and A every year sometimes more often. This system has worked for my plywood bass and my new bass. Let me know if you want to get together, it would be fun to hang.
Good luck
Joel

[bobbykokinos]

Originally Posted by joel kelsey

Bobby,
I think you should try spirocore orchestra mediums. If you want, I have some old ones you could borrow to try out. I have found that the E and A are great "out of the box" and the G and the D take a month or two sound good. In fact, I have the G and D on my bass for two years or so, and they sound amazing. I change the E and A every year sometimes more often. This system has worked for my plywood bass and my new bass. Let me know if you want to get together, it would be fun to hang.
Good luck
Joel

Thanks for the offer! I might have to take you up on trying them out..

BTW, its probably too late notice, but Wooten is playing at the Music Mill tonight @ 8:30pm.

[TroyK]

Spirocores would be night and day different than Helicore Orchestras in terms of sound, but not necessarily better. It depends on what sound you are going for. If you're disatisfied with how your bass sounds or if you played someone else's bass with Spirocores and loved the way it sounded, then it might make sense to experiement, but most of us have tried a number of things after the first before we felt like we really found what we were going for. Not sure I would do it right before a recording, unless I didn't like the sound I was getting.

Knowing nothing more about your bass or preferences, I concur with whomever said to start with Mettiels first if you go that way. I think that your current strings are on one end of the steel string spectrum and medium Spriocores are on the other. You'd certainly have your solution surrounded if those were the two strings you had experience with.

-tk

[bobbykokinos]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Spirocores would be night and day different than Helicore Orchestras in terms of sound, but not necessarily better. It depends on what sound you are going for. If you're disatisfied with how your bass sounds or if you played someone else's bass with Spirocores and loved the way it sounded, then it might make sense to experiement, but most of us have tried a number of things after the first before we felt like we really found what we were going for. Not sure I would do it right before a recording, unless I didn't like the sound I was getting.

I dont like the sound I'm getting with my Helicores acoustically. Not loud enough, not much sustain, and just doesnt have that typical "jazz" sound I have in my head. Pardon my ignorance again, but, the recording is in January.. Even if I put on the Spirocores for a couple months and dont like it, can't I just put the Helicores back on?

Knowing nothing more about your bass or preferences, I concur with whomever said to start with Mettiels first if you go that way. I think that your current strings are on one end of the steel string spectrum and medium Spriocores are on the other. You'd certainly have your solution surrounded if those were the two strings you had experience with.
-tk

To be honest, I really haven't expiremented enough (or played acoustically enough) to have a preference on sound. I'm still in the "trying to find my sound stage". From what I gather, for jazz playing, the Spirocores would be an upgrade from what I have now. The only thing is, most people I've talked to have suggested the light strings. The Helicore Orchestrals I have are medium guage strings. I like the feel of my strings so I think, despite peoples suggestions, I'll go with the Spirocore mediums unless there is a huge difference going with the Weichs.

It was also suggested to me, by Bob Gollihur, to check out Corelli 370s. It stated they are "apparently louder" than the Spiros because of the better attack. Also, they bow better from what he had told me..

[TroyK]

Allright, so that being said, if you don't like the sound of the Helicores and want more sustain and "that jazz sound" then give the Spirocores a try. I would go with mediums unless you have an affinity for thinner strings or the top to your bass is unstable or something.

You'll have a starting point and can tweek from there.

Yeah, you can swap things back and forth (with metal strings). If you hated the G on the Spirocores for example, you could try the Helicore G string with them.

There is also Corelli, A bunch of different kinds of Pirastro, Kolsteins... it's a dangerous rat hole to go down.

Starting with Spirocores is a smart way to go.

[bobbykokinos]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Starting with Spirocores is a smart way to go.

Cool!! Thanks for the info.. I think I'll go ahead and order some..

[TroyK]

Let us know how you like them.

[Andy Allen]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Starting with Spirocores is a smart way to go.

+1 on that.

I think you'll find they give you that classic jazz sound - especially once they're played in for a while. In fact, I'd take Joel Kelsey up on his offer of some old 'played in' Spiros - I know players who have five-year-old Spiros on and claim they're just getting played in .

Spiro Mittels (or maybe Weichs) are possibly *the* jazz string, so at the very least, if you don't like them, you'll have a solid basis to judge where to go next with your string experiments.

Andy