Spiro/Flexocore Mix

[bassist1962]

I have searched for a thread for this to no avail. I read a David Gage article on strings that mentioned using Spiro E & A with Flexocore D & G. Brighter bottom, darker top. Has anyone tried this combonation, and if so, what were the results? Which Flex set was used? I am looking at 95/5 pizz/arco percentages. Since I don't bow that often should I just stick with a full Spiro set? Thank you for the advice.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by bassist1962

I have searched for a thread for this to no avail. I read a David Gage article on strings that mentioned using Spiro E & A with Flexocore D & G. Brighter bottom, darker top. Has anyone tried this combonation, and if so, what were the results? Which Flex set was used? I am looking at 95/5 pizz/arco percentages. Since I don't bow that often should I just stick with a full Spiro set? Thank you for the advice.

I tried that for a minute. The flexocor seems slow in comparison and took more energy to get a good quick pizz out of it. The flexocor is not a pizz friendly string and I think only really useful if your pizz/arco ratio is the other way. I prefered the spiro D/G. If you burn them in long enough they are very nice. Besides the full Mittel Spiro set of what I've tried so far I prefer Dominants, Oliv and Plain gut on the D/G when spiros are on the bottom.

[Andy Allen]

Originally Posted by bassist1962

I have searched for a thread for this to no avail. I read a David Gage article on strings that mentioned using Spiro E & A with Flexocore D & G. Brighter bottom, darker top. Has anyone tried this combonation, and if so, what were the results? Which Flex set was used? I am looking at 95/5 pizz/arco percentages. Since I don't bow that often should I just stick with a full Spiro set? Thank you for the advice.

I tried this and the result was good and bad

Alone, while practicing it sounded great - the best of both worlds, as you would expect. But out on the gig it was not so encouraging.

The response time, as Mr T. suggests above, does not match well, but more off-putting than that was their different aural characteristics. I don't know why it should happen, but the Spiros sound good from playing positiion, while the Flex's sound bigger in the room. Wierd.

I experienced this in particular one night on a corporate gig in a hotel lobby - we were playing opposite a glass wall/doors, and I could hear the Flex D&G bouncing back from the wall, while hearing the Spiro D&G directly from the bass. Very disconcerting.

That same night a friend of the band sat in on bass for a couple of tunes, and it was interesting to hear the bass from an audience perspective - two potentially good sounds, but mismatched. If you like the Flex D&G then maybe a heavier Flexocore E&A would match better. If you like the Spiro E&A then there's a lot of strings out there that will match with them very well - including the rest of the spiro set .

Andy

[Mike Carr]

I used Spirocore Mittle EAD, with a Flexacore G, the "blue" wraped one for about 6 months a couple years ago. These were the strings David Gage had on my Czech-Ease bass when I first bought it. It seemed a little weird at first but that string combo worked real well on that bass. It's been a while since then, I'm on my second set of Weichs now on that bass, they are fine but I'm getting a bit bored with them. I still have the old set of Mittles+ Flexacore, and have been thinking about trying them again for several weeks now. After seeing this thread, I think I'll go ahead and put them back on. I'll post any comments, yea or nay latter.

[Michael Case]

Spiro E & A with a Dominant D & G work together really well. That's what I'm using now

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

I used Spirocore Mittle EAD, with a Flexacore G, the "blue" wraped one for about 6 months a couple years ago.

This is the "Original Flexocor".
The regular Flexocors have a ruby red silk wrap.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

...with a Flexacore G, the "blue" wraped one

Originally Posted by francois

This is the "Original Flexocor".
The regular Flexocors have a ruby red silk wrap.

Correct! I find the Orig Flex G to be very bright - almost like a more bowable Spirocore. I have the rubber tone filter installed on mine to blend better with the other 3 as I'm using these for orchestra playing.

[bassist1962]

So if I were to use the mix David Gage talks about in this article, I would use 'Original' Flex, not the 'Flex 92'?


"The composition of a set of strings is decided by the manufacturer of the strings -- some players may disagree with that decision. You may find a combination from different sets of strings to be more appropriate for your needs. For example, sets made by two veteran European string manufacturers, Thomastik (Spirocore E and A) and Pirastro (Flexocore D and G) can be combined with satisfying results. With this combination you get the edge, clarity and brightness of the Spirocore for an otherwise darker and possibly muddier bottom and some thicker darker tones from the Flexocores for a brighter and possibly shrill or thin sounding upper strings. "

[Francois Blais]

To be sure, just ask him which kind of Flexocor he's talking about.
But IMHO, the Original Flexocor D & G would fit better with Spirocores than the regular ('92s) Flexocors.

[Mike Carr]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

Correct! I find the Orig Flex G to be very bright - almost like a more bowable Spirocore. I have the rubber tone filter installed on mine to blend better with the other 3 as I'm using these for orchestra playing.

That's pretty much the way I remembered the combo behaving back when I was using it. The Flexacore G matched up real well with the rest. I'm certain it's not a "92", I know those strings, it's an Original Flexacore. My old set will be going back up on my bass in the next day or two I think.

[basstef]

I recommend to try a Jargar Forte G instead...it matches much better with spiros than any other Flexocor or Orig. Flexocor . At least, for me

[bribass]

Originally Posted by basstef

I recommend to try a Jargar Forte G instead...it matches much better with spiros than any other Flexocor or Orig. Flexocor . At least, for me

I used to use Flexocor G (Ruby end) w/ Spiro Weich D & A and a Spiro Mittel E on my German bass for years. It works pretty well for that bass. Now I'm experimenting w/ Flat Chromesteels for that bass.

However, on my darker sounding (my main bass) Prescott I've been really enjoying a Superflexible G matched w/Spiro Mittel D, A & E. The SF matches really well w/the Spiros in punch and clarity, but a bit less whiny and pingy than a Spiro G and bows a bit better. I have tried a Orig. Flex G and a Bel Canto G w/ the Spiros. I did like those as well, especially the Orig.Flex (for arco), but I think the SF is the best match overall.
BTW-they're relatively cheap too.
I tried the SF- D as well, but it's gage was much thicker than a Spiro Mit. D so it didn't really match w/ the Spiro Mit. A so well

I just put new a set like this (SF-G w/ Spiro Mit. D, A, E) on tonite and all I can say is why did I wait so long for new strings?! I usually go only 7-8 months w/a set, but after reading how so many of you TBers get 1-3 years out of a set of Spiros and even enjoy them more when they're old, I tried to hold out a few weeks longer.

I don't know how you do it. After 9 months ( I gig and play alot, but do not sweat that much) I could barely stand them any longer. They still had a decent tone , but I find response and pitch stability suffer after about 7ish months. The new set sounds huge and much louder. I feel like I can leave the amp home for more gigs w/a new set. My bass never sounded better. OK, I'm just gonna stop wondering about diff. strings now and "shut up and play my guitar (bass)".

BG

[Phil Rowan]

For a while I had Mittel E and A and Reg. Flatchrom D and G, and I liked this set up a lot. It took some getting used to the thinner gauge of the Flatchroms, but it didn't take long, and the sound was great, both pizz and arco.