Pirastro Flat Chromesteel E-string - help!

[TonyD]

Hi guys,

I just put a solo set of Pirastro Flat-Chromesteelsteels (FCS) on my bass, downtuned to orchestra pitch. But the E-string sounds terrible dull when doing pizzicato. No sound at all.

I did a search on this forum and it seems to be a well known problem. Didn't Pirastro come with an updated string in the meantime?

Anway - how to solve this? Another E-string? Note that I am using solo strings downtuned, for the low tension. Playing 50% pizz and arco.

Thanks for your help,

TonyD

[iiipopes]

Spiro S42 Weich E string.

It doesn't matter what anybody uses for ADG, for something like this, most folks come around to a Spiro for an E string eventually. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. To "keep it in the family," a Jazzer E string might work also.

[TonyD]

Originally Posted by iiipopes

Spiro S42 Weich E string.

It doesn't matter what anybody uses for ADG, for something like this, most folks come around to a Spiro for an E string eventually. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. To "keep it in the family," a Jazzer E string might work also.

Thanks for your input, but a Spiro (s42) might differ to much in tension form the other strings.

I play an old german vintage bass Es-mensur 107.5 cm scale length. Downtuning the FCS solos to orchestra pitch gives 24 kg of tension. Adding a S42 Weich spiro e-string will give 32 kp of tension. Too much difference with the other strings.

To stay with Thomastik: a S3886 solo string (Mittel) downtuned to orchestra will give appr. 27 kp of tension. Even an S43 downtuned will gibe appr. 25 kp of tension.

But when I want to stick with Pirastro, would an E-string Permanent or Obligato solo (downtuned) be an option?

[MaxJohnson]

Use the normal orchestra tuned Flat Chrome Steel E string

[DoubleMIDI]

I'm rather sure, that you get a bit more tension on the longer than avarage scale. Maybe that's the reason why you prefer downtuned solo strings.

Most Orchestral strings have a bit more tension on the lower strings than on the higher ones. So 24kp (kg) on G/D/A and 25kp (kg) on E is OK and won't give you a flabby E, I think. So try the Spiro S43 downtuned F# for an E.
You won't be the only Flat-Chromesteel-Player using a (little bit higher tension) Spiro E.

[TonyD]

Originally Posted by DoubleMIDI

I'm rather sure, that you get a bit more tension on the longer than avarage scale. Maybe that's the reason why you prefer downtuned solo strings.

Most Orchestral strings have a bit more tension on the lower strings than on the higher ones. So 24kp (kg) on G/D/A and 25kp (kg) on E is OK and won't give you a flabby E, I think. So try the Spiro S43 downtuned F# for an E.
You won't be the only Flat-Chromesteel-Player using a (little bit higher tension) Spiro E.

Yes - I did an extensive search and a E Spirocore should blend nicely with FCS. I am even considering a E Mittel (3886) solo downtuned. It will give appr. 27 kp of tension which is quite OK.

[DoubleMIDI]

You mean a 3/4 Spiro Solo downtuned, I think.
(The 388x.y[W] is the 3/4 series, the 4/4 Series is S4x[W].)

There is Mittel, Weich and Solo (like Mittel if tuned a whole step higher than orchestral, in orchestral tuning lighter than Weich) each for 4/4 (lighter than the corresponding 3/4 string because the tension is the same on the longer scale) and for 3/4 (heavier than the corresponding 4/4 string because of the shorter scale).

The S42W E is similar in tension to the 3/4 Solo Fis (downtuned to E), so if you think it could be a little bit different (a bit more tension?) there is still room for fine tuning. The 4/4 strings are just a few centimeters (about 6 to 7) longer then the 3/4.

[TonyD]

Put on a Spirocore E (S39s - downtuned) and have a great mixture now of FCS and Spirocore E. So count me in to the group FCS fans with Spirocre E!