For orchestra, Dominant Substitute

Dr Rod · #1 03-10-2006, 12:09 PM

Hey Friends

I love my Dominants, but I am going to have to do some playing in solo tuning and may have to switch strings once in a while.

I am looking for a string that can be replaced often without breaking, and with the high-stiffness of the Dominants.

My bass is sort of loose so I need the stiffness that many strings don't have (helicores for example).

I was thinking about the Pirastro Jazzers, Pirastro Permanents or even Spirocore Starks (the normal Spirocores are too flexible on my bass). Any thoughts?

Any experience with Jazzers in the orchestral setting?

**Francois Blais** · #2 03-10-2006, 02:54 PM

Pirastro Chromcors are using a solid steel core, which makes them stiff and powerful, and, being made by Pirastro, you get top craftmanship. I think they bow great. (I play pizz only)

Dr Rod · #3 03-10-2006, 03:27 PM

Thanks Francois

Never tried them, I'm very curious.

Dr Rod · #4 03-10-2006, 03:46 PM

funny, there seems to be no info on the tension of the chromcors on the internet, or it's very well hidden.

**Francois Blais** · #5 03-10-2006, 05:59 PM

They replaced the Ultra-Sensitive brand in Pirastro catalog, about 14 years ago.
The Chromcors are better balanced than the Ultra-Sensitives, IMHO, which were mostly arco oriented.
Chromcors were also available in solo tuning, but now only in orchestra tuning.
They were once their cheapest line, but now it's the Obligato.

Dr Rod · #6 03-11-2006, 11:48 AM

Francois

You kindly mentioned in a private message that due to their solid core, chromcores can't be transfered to another instrument.

Do you think putting them on and taking them off (from the same instrument) might fracture the area near the bridge? even though the bridge bend will be in roughly the same spot?

What precautions, if any should I take to avoid problems?

Thanks

Rod

Devrais-je changer le nom de cette discussion? (chromcores for orchestra, par exemple) Merci

**Francois Blais** · #7 03-11-2006, 03:15 PM

Hi Rod.
No I don't think there would be a problem at the bridge.
However at the peg, the outer wrap can deteriorate faster than flexible core strings.
Of course it depends how many time you put them on and off!
All strings get deteriorated at this place to some extent.

Dr Rod · #8 05-13-2006, 03:36 PM

Thanks Francois, I got the Chromcors and they are great.

They are not quite as loud as the Dominants, but they are very snappy and articulate. They are darker, are have a greater variety of colours.

The only string that doesn't work as well on my bass is the E. Because of the Pirastro construction, the tension decreases from the G string which is the most tense, to the E which is the least tense.

The E also gets sharp as one plays louder, an unfortunate characteristic of some other E solid core strings like the Thomastik Precision.

Is there a string that will match well? A stiff and tense E string for orchestral playing.

I heard that the braided core Helicore High Tension were very stiff, but are they any good?

I am guessing that other possible solid core strings would be:
Innovation 140H (synthetic)
Super-Sensitive Red Labels and Stellars (steel)
LaBella 610s (steel)

gomez hacienda · #9 05-13-2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Rod

The E also gets sharp as one plays louder, an unfortunate characteristic of some other E solid core strings like the Thomastik Precision.

I love it when someone can actually hear that! Renews my faith in humanity.

I thank Francois for turning me onto Chromcors, which I use for the bottom of my gut setup. They really match up well, and talk about tuning...those darn things never seem to go out...except the E, of course which goes sharp as you play louder...

gomez

**Francois Blais** · #10 05-13-2006, 06:30 PM

How about the Original Flexocor (or Original FlatChrome) E?
It's thick, tense, very dark.

Dr Rod · #11 05-14-2006, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francois

How about the Original Flexocor (or Original FlatChrome) E?
It's thick, tense, very dark.

Original Flexs are the deep purple ones, right?

I'll try one today. Somehow I think it might be too civilized for my bass. the E Spiro was too flexible and didn't match well.

Dr Rod · #12 05-15-2006, 02:46 PM

yep, the flexes were too dark and rounded. They also didn't respond as well as the Chromcors.

Any other ideas?

JoeyNaeger · #13 05-15-2006, 05:11 PM

Perhaps a permanent E? Many of my freinds use one, and It seems pretty bright and responsive.

anthem274 · #14 05-15-2006, 05:41 PM

+1

I have permanents on my bass right now and the E is the best string in the set. It's not floppy at all. The response is immediate and the tone is very clear.

I wouldn't buy the permanent G or D, though. They're both pretty wimpy in volume department.

Dr Rod · #15 05-15-2006, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anthem274

+1
the E is the best string in the set. It's not floppy at all. The response is immediate and the tone is very clear.

Thanks for the input.

How about the stiffness factor?

stiff like a dominant?
flexible like a spirocore?

anthem274 · #16 05-15-2006, 08:12 PM

The bass I play at school has a spiro E and I don't think that I've played many E's that are that flexible feeling. The permanents would definitely be stiffer. I've never played dominants but I imagine the permanents, a high tension string, would be about the same.