Low tension string recs

hdiddy · #1 05-22-2008, 12:36 PM

Hi Guys,

Looking for the uber low tension string witout having to go to gut. My Yamaha EUB feels really tight and I"ve brought the string heights down far to where it's doable but I'd like to go even lighter so I can bring the heights back up to eliminate buzzing from being so low. It's kinda odd but raising the bridge can increase the tension dramatically. I think it may be because the afterlengths are a little shorter than the typical bass. I have Corelli Fortes on and I want to go even lower tension! :hide:

Something with more girth but uber low tension. Does anybody have experience with say, Eurosonic Ultralights? Acoustic quality is not neccessarily a priority as this is an EUB. This is my practice tool so tension is more important to me ATM.

Uncletoad · #2 05-22-2008, 12:55 PM

Have you tried solo strings tunes down? Like Spiro or Dominant Solo strings. The Dom solos are extremely light.

hdiddy · #3 05-22-2008, 01:03 PM

Hrm no, I read about that in another thread. I like Doms but are concerned with longevity as I seem to have a habit of taking things strings on and off alot. I'll look at the Spiro Solo's.

Uncletoad · #4 05-22-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Hrm no, I read about that in another thread. I like Doms but are concerned with longevity as I seem to have a habit of taking things strings on and off alot. I'll look at the Spiro Solo's.

I have solo spiros on my Baby Bass. They've been on and off more times than I can remember and they are about 10 years old.

They sound great.

rdwhit · #5 05-22-2008, 03:27 PM

Corelli makes a lighter gage string than the Fortes that you may prefer to the solo string tuned down option. I've forgotten what they're called. Try the Corelli site or try Bobs site. I believe he recommends them for very low tension. I liked the set I used when I had an injured left arm & needed a break.

hdiddy · #6 05-25-2008, 12:47 AM

Actually I'm trying to get away from Corelli's as I find them extremely thin to my fingers. I'd like something wiht more meat and going to Corelli Mediums might be a little too much. I will give the Spiro Solos a whirl and report back.

**Francois Blais** · #7 05-25-2008, 08:49 AM

LaBella Supernils are meaty and low tension, but you need to like round wound strings.
They use nylon core, and the basses are wrapped with round silver-plated wire.
The tops are wound with round nylon.

Innovations Rockabilly strings are quite meaty and floppy too.
Probably their Super Silver brand too. (never tried them)

hdiddy · #8 06-02-2008, 12:25 PM

I got the Spiro Solo's for several days now. Looks like it fits the bill. Nice girth, very low tension and I'm able to bring the string heights up to prevent the E-string buzz while keeping the tension down. It's still slightly tighter than my regular DB but it sounds good and I like the big growl from all 4 strings. My old Spiro Orch's on the regular DB didn't do that. Thanks for the tips.

hdiddy · #9 07-21-2008, 12:56 PM

REPORT: 1 month in and I love the sound and feel. Zingy, yet mellow. Very easy to play. ATM, I enjoy playing my EUB even more than my DB cuz it's so easy to play and the sound is awesome. I'm done with high tensions. I'd rather relax and focus on the music than trying to get around high tensions. For me, playability > sound, especially since I sound like me no matter what strings or type of bass I'm playing.

It's so much fun to play and practice now.

I'm going to mix Solos with guts or just solos by themselves on my DB.

damonsmith · #10 07-21-2008, 01:11 PM

I am thinking of going to spiro solos myself, Reggie Workman uses them, and I think they might be a good match for my bass. Hdiddy, where did you get yours? I am thinking of just going to Ifshin.

hdiddy · #11 07-21-2008, 01:26 PM

Do it. I dig mine. John Wiitala uses Spiro Solo's too.

Yeah I should be buying more **** from Ifshin just do the local thing. I buy all my strings from Quinn and have them mailed to me.

BTW: I"ve always been disappointed with low tension strings. I tried Corellis when I first started and hated them and how they felt. Heritages had a nice feel but the G was thin and I'd get a funny pinging sound in the middle registers. Doms were cool but still a little tight. The solo's still have a really nice girth to them. I wish I had tried them sooner.

Eric Hochberg · #12 07-21-2008, 01:57 PM

Put a set of Velvet Compas 180 Suit on my bass a few days ago. Tuned to Orchestra pitch, they are very loose feeling, more so than weichs on my bass, and have a big dark sound. They bow nicely too, but they are loose, so digging in isn't the same as with higher tension strings. They also are not thin feeling at all, quite the opposite.

They are a bit slower to respond pizz than the other steel and hybrid strings I have used and also kind of a pain to install, it took me over two hours. Not sure if I'll keep them but they are kind of nice for now.

Uncletoad · #13 07-21-2008, 02:11 PM

I really like the feel of spiro solos. They bow well too. On my basses they never had enough volume for me but on a really responsive bass with a thinish carve they can be plenty loud.

hdiddy · #14 07-21-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehochberg

They are a bit slower to respond pizz than the other steel and hybrid strings I have used and also kind of a pain to install, it took me over two hours. Not sure if I'll keep them but they are kind of nice for now.

Like I mentioned before, my EUB is pretty tight so it's just right. On my DB, I've been wanting to raise the string heights so I think they'll be just right. I notice no real difference other than how the strings sound different (I dig the growl they get). Try raising your adjusters a quarter or half turn. On my basses, it doesn't bring the strings much higher but amount of tension is noticable.

hdiddy · #15 07-22-2008, 12:40 AM

Update: LIke I mentioned in my other thread, I put on a Spiro Solo A on with my gut strings. The Solo sounds like a friggin rubber band. I think the Solos still sound/play great on my EUB, but maybe because it doesn't have a real strong acoustic sound, so the strings work better with something that is strictly a pickup instrument. The solos definitely give it a character that sounds and feels really nice. I played a session yesterday with some friends and I was really getting this awesome mellow vibe out of the Yamaha. Something that was slightly EB like, more reminiscent of some 70's DB playing but not harsh at all.

My initial impression is that they're going to be a bust on the DB. It sounds too much like a metal rubber band. I can see them mellowing out a bit but the ringing whine from the strings isn't neccessarily what I'm seeking. I'm not saying it's bad but it's not what I'm looking for. I think I would still prefer these over Labella Tapewound. I would say they are more of a modern sound. I don't think I'd want these if I was looking for puffy air thumping. The sound is alot less organic than the FCS I had on before. I'm going to keep the Solo A on for a little while longer. I know the E will just be the same but even more so.

Looks like I'm going all gut on the DB.

EDIT: Bah... I'm going to try the Solo E now too. We'll see what happens.

bonaventura · #16 07-22-2008, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Hi Guys,

Looking for the uber low tension string witout having to go to gut. My Yamaha EUB feels really tight ... I have Corelli Fortes on and I want to go even lower tension! :hide:

Something with more girth but uber low tension. Does anybody have experience with say, Eurosonic Ultralights? Acoustic quality is not neccessarily a priority as this is an EUB. This is my practice tool so tension is more important to me ATM.

Apart from gut, Animas and Eurosonics are the lowest tension I've played. Even less tension than Corellis. Sound-wise, the Animas have it way over the Eurosonics, but I don't know how either would work on an EUB. Good luck!

Eric Swanson · #17 07-31-2008, 04:30 AM

I have had a prototype set of Belcanto Solo on my bass for a week or so. They are the same girth as regular Belcanto, but lower tension when tuned EADG.

Still getting used to them. Report so far:

- Pizz is great, almost as much growl as Spirocore Weich, without the metallic thing.

- Left hand tension is really mellow. Shifting double stops in upper thumb position is no sweat.

- Arco is easy, even near the bridge.

- E string is weak; probably going to the regular Belcanto E to even things out.

- Much nicer overall finish than Corelli's. Smooth and supple on the left hand.

- Sound is warmer and darker than Corelli or Spiro. More "old school" pizz.

- Volume is fine on the G and D, drops off a bit on the A, and is too low on the E.

- The "feel" of the G, D, and A are very similar to Weich, pizz or arco, on both hands. The E is too loose, too floppy, on my 42" scale bass.

More to be reported when I've had them on for awhile and doctored with other E's, maybe other A's (probably regular Belcanto, there). Got them from Thomastik-Infeld for the price of a querying email and the obligation to return a questionnaire to the firm when I am done evaluating...

Could be a solution for you, if you play arco at least some of the time, if you like a dark, warm sound (pizz and arco), if you want good pizz sustain, and if you want really low tension...

hdiddy · #18 07-31-2008, 09:42 AM

Hrmmm... yeah I think solo tuned orch is the way to go on my basses from now on. I like my Spiro's at the moment and hardly ever do any arco but I will keep this in mind, esp if I'm hankering for something dark. Thanks. I wonder if you don't like the E, you might try a Spiro Solo E. Mine is nice and think it's "loud".