I Hope I Did The Right Thing

Cathead · #1 03-12-2007, 05:18 AM

I play bass in a bluegrass band and I just ordered the strings pictured for my bass. They are described as Thomastik-Infeld Spirocore S42 3/4 Bass String Set. Have I screwed up?

Uncletoad · #2 03-12-2007, 07:25 AM

Many Bluegrass players use those. Next to Gut string it's the most popular string in Bluegrass. Not knowing your bass it's hard to know if you got the right size or not but you probably did. That's the most common size.

They'll be way to bright and banjo like for the first 2 to 6 for weeks. They'll sound really great in 6 months. They'll last forever.

It's the pizz string they all are judged by. If you haven't used them yet you might as well do it now.

clink · #3 03-12-2007, 07:33 AM

I had those on a plywood bass that was sold to a newbie bluegrasser. The bass was a cannon with those things on it. Talk about loud?

Cathead · #4 03-12-2007, 11:57 AM

Thanks for the replies. I feel better about my $120.00 already. I really appreciate the input.

drurb · #5 03-12-2007, 12:27 PM

...but you just might get sucked into the "I gotta try other strings" vortex. It's a fun ride but it can be quite expensive. You ended up with one of the staples of the DB string market. Rest easy.

Cathead · #6 03-12-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

...but you just might get sucked into the "I gotta try other strings" vortex. It's a fun ride but it can be quite expensive. You ended up with one of the staples of the DB string market. Rest easy.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Actually, I broke an A string at practice Friday night and decided to pull the trigger on a set. It's killing me not being able to plunk around until my strings get here. I even strung some .080 weed eater string on the thing........not enough tension.......ha ha.

Marcus Johnson · #7 03-12-2007, 12:48 PM

Just make sure to leave them on awhile before you judge them. They just get better and better as time goes on, and they are a great investment, because they last forever.

Steve Swan · #8 03-12-2007, 12:56 PM

Good choice! For decades this string set has been the versatile workhorse doublebass string in a wide variety of playing situations. They take a beating and sound great long after other kinds of strings are deader than last week's weather report.

Cathead · #9 03-13-2007, 02:16 AM

Thanks, y'all........it's much appreciated!

MT Spaces · #10 03-13-2007, 09:21 AM

I'm bluegrasser too and I put a set of the same Spirocore mediums on my 64 Kay eight months ago and have been real pleased with them, rock stable at the outdoor jams. However I found myself avoiding the G string cuz it was just too bright and metallic (yea ... well ... it is a steel string afterall) for the bluegrass and fiddle tunes we play. Felt like I was playing a 3-string bass after awhile. I bought an individual Innovation Super Silver G non-steel string and it helped a lot. It seems to match in with the Spirocores OK. Now I use the open G and the closed A at the second imaginary fret on the G string a lot more than I used too. Of course there are probably a dozen other G's you could try with the ultimate being the premium gut strings that Uncle Toad and others around here use. I'm tempted but I just don't know how "stable" it would be for the varying conditions that I play in. Good Luck & keep on thumpin'.

P.S. On my 40 Kay I run the full Super Silver (non-slap version) set and am real happy with those too. They seem to need to be tuned a tad more often under varying conditions but nothing ridiculous.

**Damon Rondeau** · #11 03-13-2007, 10:33 AM

Hey, you "Spirocores last forever" guys: would you say the same thing about SuperFlexibles? Do Spirocores last longer than, say, Corelli steel strings? Just curious about the different lasting properties of steel strings...

Uncletoad · #12 03-13-2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon Rondeau

Hey, you "Spirocores last forever" guys: would you say the same thing about SuperFlexibles? Do Spirocores last longer than, say, Corelli steel strings? Just curious about the different lasting properties of steel strings...

Don't know about Superflex but Corelli's have a significantly shorter life span than Spirocores IMO.

PB+J · #13 03-13-2007, 11:01 AM

LIke everyone else said, a great choice. They're fine for just about anything.

But now do yourself a big favor and never, ever look at the strings forum again. It's hell on your wallet

**Damon Rondeau** · #14 03-13-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Don't know about Superflex but Corelli's have a significantly shorter life span than Spirocores IMO.

I only have experience with Spiros, SuperFlex and Corelli (can't remember which X's I've used...) I never actually wore out the one set of Spiros, I don't think -- I just replaced 'em when I thought it was time and because I really wanted to try something else. The Corellis I wore out more or less, but more wound up unhappy with them as time went on. The SuperFlexes, though, were The Bomb when they were new -- loved that dark, gritty sound -- but they are dead, dead, dead and gone right now... They don't even intonate adequately anymore.

I might as well face up to it: I'm too poor to be a string hound and might as well get used to the Spirocore sound. Long-lasting and cheap -- sounds right up my alley.

Cathead · #15 03-13-2007, 02:18 PM

On another note......since I have never installed strings on a DB will I need to cut those strings to a better length before they go on or will the whole string go on as is? I certainly can't afford to ruin a $120.00 set of strings.

Eric Hochberg · #16 03-13-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathead

On another note......since I have never installed strings on a DB will I need to cut those strings to a better length before they go on or will the whole string go on as is? I certainly can't afford to ruin a $120.00 set of strings.

Don't cut them. If you decide you don't like them and want to sell them or try them on another instrument, they will still fit on a bass with a longer string length than yours.

Aaron Cohn · #17 03-13-2007, 03:38 PM

Also, since you're new to this, make sure you don't take all the old strings off before putting the new ones on. I think there's a sticky with string changing info if you're looking for more guidance. Enjoy the new strings.

Uncletoad · #18 03-13-2007, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron Cohn

Also, since you're new to this, make sure you don't take all the old strings off before putting the new ones on. I think there's a sticky with string changing info if you're looking for more guidance. Enjoy the new strings.

More specific:

Dont' cut them.

Change them one at a time leaving them all up to pitch except the string you are changing.

Tune each up to pitch before detuning the next.

There is a post just beneath the bridge on the inside that is held in place by string tension. It can fall over if the tension is relaxed alltogether.

Not good.

Pay attention to the bridge and make sure it doesn't move forward or back from where it started both on the top of the instrument and in space above where it touches the strings. It can tilt over when changing strings.

Have someone do it for you if you are uncomfortable or unsure.

Cathead · #19 03-13-2007, 05:35 PM

That's all cool.....thanks a bushel for the tips. They're on the way. I'm in WV and I last tracked them in Kentucky. Can't wait to practice Friday night with new strings. Thanks again folks.

Cathead · #20 03-14-2007, 06:50 PM

Well.....the strings already came and I already got them on. They seem to lack a little of the bottom of the ones I took off. Maybe it's just my imagination. I certainly can't do a comparison. Anyway, I really like the strings overall. The strings I took off had a little felt pad between the ball and tailpiece. I figured that would cut down on some of the string to tailpiece sound transfer and left them off. The new strings really bow well. Before I would get like an octave/harmonic thing on the G string when I bowed and I don't get that now. These new strings seem to be much better balanced from string to string than the others were. I really appreciate all the help and tips from y'all. Thanks a bushel!