Solo strings at orchestra pitch

[Bethelbass1]

I need a set of relatively inexpensive solo strings that sound and feel decent at orchestra pitch. Most of my repertoire would benefit from solo pitch but I still need to be ready to play in orchestra and jazz band every day. I'll need both arco and pizz. Thanks

[Chasarms]

Jargar Dolces?

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by Chasarms

Jargar Dolces?

Good idea.
The pizz tone is very dark though.
If you like a clear pizz tone, forget about them.

[Jake]

I don't really know. Corelli? Let us know how the Jargar set is if you try them. I am interested in finding out about the Jargar Forte set, because they're relatively cheap compared to Original Flex's, Original FlatChromes or Bel Cantos. I'll probably never buy a set again just on what somebody else says about them, though, because of my string experiments in the past.

[Jake]

For the best sounding set up, though, get a set of Original Flexocors, a set of Spirocore orch or weich, a set of Pirastro Original FlatChrome Solos (the best arco solo strings there are, IMO), and a nice DeWalt screwgun with a string changing bit (& maybe a tailpiece with big string holes.)

[dfp]

or a second or third bass.

but seriously, i heard a great bassist do a recital on solo Spiros, they suited his bass.. tuned down, i guess they'd be ok for your jazz band stuff, orchestra stuff

if they make solo superflexibles, they might be good too, their mediums are higher tension than med. spiros, maybe their solos would be too... that would come in handy when tuned down a step...

[basstef]

Spiro solos are what you need

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by basstef

Spiro solos are what you need

If you can handle the arco, not a bad string. De-tuned solos are pretty similar in feel to weichs to me. Definitely usable at orch pitch.

I would add that I try to buy a steel core string rather than a perlon core (doms, Oblis). There is at least anecdotal evidence that the perlon doesn't like the dropping and re-tuning over and over.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by basstef

Spiro solos are what you need

I've heard a few basses that can handle Spiros for orchestral arco. Hopefully yours is one of them. I heard on TB that the well known bass player and teacher Sidney King won the Louisville Symphony Assist. Principal Bass audition on Spirocore weiches.

[pipeman]

homer mensch also used detuned spirocore solos on his 300 year old italian bass.
they sounded pretty good but he had the action up high....

[conte2music]

From speaking with some of the older gentlemen around my area spiro solos were THE hybrid string. Since the late 60's if you only had one bass and were doing double or triple duty that's just what you used. My bass instructor from college still uses them and he only has one acoustic bass. Pay close attention to your orchestral pizz technique though. If you're using a jazz style pizz within a section it will sound more similair to arco playing because they are spiros and have that great sustain.

[travatron4000]

I've done that with the jargar dolces and thought they worked fine. the pizz is dark but i happen to like that sound.

trav

[rprowse]

I can tell you that solo doms don't cut it as a pizz string in normal tuning. They have a great bow sound in solo and arco sounds pretty good in standard, but pizz in standard is too floppy. I did a short gig (a few tunes) in standard tuning pizz, but won't ever do this again. Got my Weichs back on at present and, though I've had much better arco sounds, the pizz is always ok... though, next string change, I might give spiro orchs a serious go.