So Many Choices

charmicarmicat · #1 09-19-2007, 01:17 PM

Newbie here so bear with me.
Having played electric bass for many years I am an absolute believer that your sound really does come from your hands. So practice does make perfect in every way. That said I need some help. It took me a while to find the bass strings I felt comfortable when I played EB and I figured it will be the same with UB. I would like to be able to experiment but at the prices UB strings go for I just can't

So far I have had two set of strings on my upright: Dominants and Superflexible. Dominants... I did like their sound although I thought they were stiff, which in retrospect was a good thing since it gave my left hand the workout it needed. After a year on the Dominants I wanted to try something else and opted for the Superflexibles. Liked them at first but after a few months found them, for lack of a better term, dull/dead/not much sustain.
I play mostly pizz (Jazz Improv) but I do play arco. Mainly as practice for intonation etc. but live as well. Not much but I do. So I would like a string that responds to both. Here's what I'm looking for and I am totally open for any suggestion you folks may have: Sustain and a bit more brightness. What would you guys recommend? I know that all of this is subjective but fire away. I'm all ears!
Thank you all for taking the time.
PS: I did read some of the newbie links but man, hard to weed through as there is so much. So I figured that maybe a more focused question would help me get more focused answers.

TroyK · #2 09-19-2007, 01:28 PM

Go directly to Spirocore Mettiels, do not pass go, do not collect $200. There are plenty of other temptations, but based on what you've tried and what you described, don't waste your money and pysche. Give them time to break in and don't be in a hurry to change them once they are. Some people leave them on for years, some people change them annually. They are perhaps the most durable string on the market.

Enjoy.

Marcus Johnson · #3 09-19-2007, 01:54 PM

Yup. Spiros.

TimoMetzemakers · #4 09-19-2007, 01:56 PM

+1. Great advice from Troy. Spirocores are THE jazz strings all others are compared to, so you might as well get a set right now. BTW, the german translation for "medium" is "Mittel", not "Mettiel"

They're the ones that have red silks on both ends.

TroyK · #5 09-19-2007, 02:04 PM

But keep your other strings around as a) spares in the unlikely event of a breakage and b) in case you feel the need to experiement with a G string from another set, which sometimes people do. Just give them a chance to break in first.

charmicarmicat · #6 09-20-2007, 03:51 AM

Thank you all. Spiro's it is. Questions:
1-Weich=Light, Mittel=Medium, Stark=Heavy... Am I right?
2-Besides gauge is there any difference? As Suggested I will get the mediums.
3-I've seen a regular set of Spiro's but also a "Jazz set". Which one shall I be looking to get? Is there a considerable difference?
Again, thank you all so much.

drurb · #7 09-20-2007, 07:15 AM

Indeed, I agree that the next string to try would be Spiros. I actually switched from Spiros to Dominants. The latter are not nearly as durable and long-lasting but, on my bass anyway, I prefer greatly their sound and their feel. The interaction with the particular bass should not be, but often is, overlooked. I have experienced first-hand (pun intended) that some strings can sound great on one bass while sounding like dog**** on another.

Martin Beer · #8 09-20-2007, 03:41 PM

I've done something very similar to charmicarmicat. I'd tried both Superflexibles and Dominants on my old (new) bass, then got a new (old) bass which had a newish set of spirocore mittels on. And I'm really enjoying them for pizz, what with the quick response, sustain and all. I actually quite like the arco sound too, but it does seems to require a bit of care to avoid harshness. So I'll probably leave them on, and try not to be tempted by anything else for a while...

T-Bal · #9 09-21-2007, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmicarmicat

Thank you all. Spiro's it is. Questions:
1-Weich=Light, Mittel=Medium, Stark=Heavy... Am I right?
2-Besides gauge is there any difference? As Suggested I will get the mediums.
3-I've seen a regular set of Spiro's but also a "Jazz set". Which one shall I be looking to get? Is there a considerable difference?
Again, thank you all so much.

Correct on the guages. Never heard of them referred to as Jazz vs. Regular. Most people consider them a jazz string, regardless of guage, but a few use them for classical as well. In addition to guage, the heavies are considerably higher tension and if your bass han handle it, probably louder. The weichs have been described as less twangy, even gut-like by some, as well as easier to bow.

For years the mittels were the most popular, gold standard for a steel jazz string. Recently they changed suppliers for the raw materials they use, and they are not the same string despite their claims to the contrary. Still, it is a good place to start, and you might not need to look further.

EDIT: Rereading your original post, I would definately say mittels. They will be less stiff than Dominants, and have more sustain/brightness/life than the Superflex.

bassist1962 · #10 09-21-2007, 02:54 PM

http://www.uptonbass.com/Thomastik-S...ings-S42-JAZZ/

http://www.uptonbass.com/Thomastik-S...-Strings-3885/

These are both from Upton's website.

T-Bal · #11 09-22-2007, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist1962

http://www.uptonbass.com/Thomastik-S...ings-S42-JAZZ/

http://www.uptonbass.com/Thomastik-S...-Strings-3885/

These are both from Upton's website.

That's a new one on me. Not that it really matters, but the pics on Upton's site are of the old packaging. The pic for the so-called Jazz set is actually the cello package.

As if all this weren't confusing enough, I forgot about solo guage. So there's Stark, Mittel (also labelled Orchestra!), Weich, and Solo guages. To further complicate, the Mittels, Weichs, and Solos are available in true 3/4 size, the Mittels and solos are available in 1/2 size.

From the T-I website, the S42 set, the one we all used to buy, is actually made for a 110cm string length, typically assoc. with 7/8 size basses. The 3885 is for 104-106cm string length, or 3/4 size.

charmicarmicat · #12 09-22-2007, 03:05 AM

So what am I to do? After reading T-Bal's post I am really confused. I guess I should go with S-42. The only reason I would buy, besides the fact that they are, accodring to T-Bal, "the" set, is because I can see how a "long" scale set could sound good on a somewhat shorter scale neck. a little looser without flopping all over the place. At least that's what it seems to me. As I said, newbie

And one more question: What's the deal with solo gauges?
Again folks, your input has been really helpful and I am lucky to be in such company. Thank you.

bassist1962 · #13 09-22-2007, 05:36 AM

The solo strings are usually for orchestra principles who do most of the solo work. They are guaged to be tuned one whole step higher (F# - B - E - A), but can also be tuned stndard, and acts as an extra light guage string in this manner.
You will find that when all else fails, Ask (All Hail) Bob Gollihur:

http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/strings.html#thomastik

T-Bal · #14 09-22-2007, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmicarmicat

So what am I to do? After reading T-Bal's post I am really confused. I guess I should go with S-42. The only reason I would buy, besides the fact that they are, accodring to T-Bal, "the" set, is because I can see how a "long" scale set could sound good on a somewhat shorter scale neck. a little looser without flopping all over the place. At least that's what it seems to me. As I said, newbie

And one more question: What's the deal with solo gauges?
Again folks, your input has been really helpful and I am lucky to be in such company. Thank you.

Yeah, sorry for the confusion. The S-42 is what you want. Despite being developed with a longer scale in mind, it's what most Spiro users have regardless of the scale of their particular bass. Maybe someone else could chime in with their experience with the 3885s, I don't know of anyone who uses them.

charmicarmicat · #15 09-23-2007, 10:36 AM

Gotcha, T-Bal. Thanks for the clarification!

Mark Perna · #16 09-23-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bal

Yeah, sorry for the confusion. The S-42 is what you want. Despite being developed with a longer scale in mind, it's what most Spiro users have regardless of the scale of their particular bass. Maybe someone else could chime in with their experience with the 3885s, I don't know of anyone who uses them.

I've used 3885s as well as S42s and until I read this thread, I didn't know that there was any difference between the two and, frankly, even in hindsight, I can't tell the difference between them. There might be a subtle difference if you A-B them directly but I couldn't tell from taking an old set of S42s off and putting a new set of 3885s on. I change strings infrequently enough that I thought the 3885 designation was just a packaging change.

mark