Need String Recommendation

[LarryR]

Gents,
After playing Spirocore Solo's tuned to Orchestra pitch I'm looking for something brighter.
Any recommendations? Bass is an American Standard, old 40's ply, big & dark. I play Jazz pizz 95% of the time.
I wonder if Weich's will do the trick. Yes?

[Violen]

In before "use the search function!"

I haven't used them yet but i am researching new strings. The Weichs are sposed to be darker than the spiros (YMMV) in almost all cases. lots and lots of positive reviews for feel and the sound has a "purer" fundamental but im told they are no were near as bright as spiros.

Oh, and go use the search function, we basically have a weich megathread.

[TroyK]

Spirocore Weichs will most likely be brighter than Spirocore Solos at Orchestra pitch. Spriocore Mittels brighter still.

[LarryR]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Spirocore Weichs will most likely be brighter than Spirocore Solos at Orchestra pitch. Spriocore Mittels brighter still.

That's what I thought. Re: stiffness, most any string will be stiffer than solos tuned to orchestra. I've played Weichs and know they're not real stiff. Are Mittels stiffer than Weichs? If so, maybe I should make an incremental change.

[TroyK]

Weichs would be an incremental change. Mittels are definitely heavy. I've found that how stiff they feel depends on the bass/setup. I think the difference in what you have now and weichs in terms of tension would be nominal. Mittels will be brighter, but it's a bigger jump in terms of tension.

Pirastro Jazzers are in between, but are not as bright and crisp sounding in my experience. There might be a Corelli that would give you what you were looking for, but you'd have to search or talk to someone with experience with them.

[LarryR]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Weichs would be an incremental change. Mittels are definitely heavy. I've found that how stiff they feel depends on the bass/setup. I think the difference in what you have now and weichs in terms of tension would be nominal. Mittels will be brighter, but it's a bigger jump in terms of tension.

Pirastro Jazzers are in between, but are not as bright and crisp sounding in my experience. There might be a Corelli that would give you what you were looking for, but you'd have to search or talk to someone with experience with them.

Thanks a million Troy. I'm goin back to Weichs. Case closed.

[MaxJohnson]

I'm a big fan of the Pirastro Flat-Chromesteels on my Kay. They're bright, pizz great and bow wonderfully as well. They are also loud and clear.

[LarryR]

Originally Posted by MaxJohnson

I'm a big fan of the Pirastro Flat-Chromesteels on my Kay. They're bright, pizz great and bow wonderfully as well. They are also loud and clear.

Well Max, I got Weich's installed Monday. As Troy said, nominally stiffer (tension) than the detuned solo's. Bottom line: very little adjustment for me, and so far, I dig 'em. Maybe in a year I'll check out the Chromesteels. Thanks for chiming in.

[TroyK]

Glad you like 'um, Larry. I agree that FCSs would be another incremental change before Spirocore Mittels. They sound better on some basses than others and not really like Spirocores, but good medium-low tension string with usable brightness.

Play those weichs into the ground, though. They last forever and just keep getting better.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Play those weichs into the ground, though. They last forever and just keep getting better.

+1 If you like them now,you're going to love them in a few months!

[LarryR]

Thanks guys... yes, I'll play the Weich's for a long time.
Got something to say about the Solo's though. I'll try to make this short.
I'd been using the same set for a little over a year.
Now, I have made a handful of bridge height adjustments over that time. So: they've not been 100% stable (ie. they've been stretched) since install.
My trio plays the tune Footprints. I do a lot of sliding on the G string. Sliding on new Weich's vs old Solo's was night and day. Weich's so much easier, smoother.

I bring it up for this reason. I've always heard strings break-in, and will get better with time. All's I know.... sliding on the Weich's (day 1) is a dream. I wonder if it'll stay that way. Or.....do strings in fact lose certain characteristics making some "moves" more difficult? Unfortunately, I don't remember how the Solo's felt a year ago versus last week so I can't say whether Solo's lost "something" over time.

OT, but, I'm so frikkin excited........ I made a huge breakthrough the day before I got rid of the Solo's. Instead of fighting my bass trying to play the strings as high as I thought comfortable, I lowered the height to EASIEST playability. When I did that, I grooved like a mofo the entire night of 3 sets. GREAT news is, I did the same with the WEICHs (which confirms Troy's comment of nominal difference).

Just sayin....