Spirocore/Belcanto, But Lower Tension?

[flyingmarcel]

Hello All,

I just picked up my new bass yesterday and its came strung with Corelli 370Ms. After playing on the bass for only a few minutes, I could feel that the lower tension was really making a difference for me, and in a good way. Although I'm not a huge fan of the 370Ms, due to both small gauge, as well as what I perceive to be a bit of a thin sound (a huge complement to the bass, its sounds huge regardless!), I am looking to keep the low tension thing happening with the new strings I'll replace them with.

I've never been a high tension guy, used a mix of Spiro Weichs and Belcantos on my last bass, which I thought was a great combination for a nice warm jazz sound. I would go back to this set up in a second, but am looking for other options with a similar sound, but slightly less tension perhaps than the Weich/Belcanto mix. Thinking of trying Animas or Garbos a second time.....

Any advice? wouldn't mind knowing what others in similar position are using.

Thanks all,

fm

P.S Really just looking for something to waste money on until I come to my senses and go back to Spiros again....

[clink]

I too used the Corelli strings recently until the D started to unwind in the scroll. Their low tension really opened up the bass and were easy to play. With a clear, defined sound they amplified very well.
My bass is currently strung with an old set of Obligatos as a temporary solution, but they sound pretty good on there. They amplify very 'old school' in a way that makes me play differently. Things that would just pop with little effort on the Corelli just don't work as easily. In the end, it's a big wooden box with strings that needs to be played regardless of what strings are on it .

[TroyK]

Superflexibles will not be lower tension, though.

I love Spirocore Solos tuned orchestra. If you otherwise liked the weiches, give it a try. They feel maybe 10/15% looser (subjectively). Different character, though. I used a full, unmolested set, with is unusual for me.

[Michael Glynn]

I'm with Troy. If you like Spiro Weichs but want lower tension, Spiro Solos tuned down make perfect sense. I'm using these right now, but with a Dominant Solo on the G for a little less twang.

[CB3000]

i have read alot bout spiro solos at orch pitch but are you guys using the solo Medium or the other ones? i want to get a set of one or the other but i just want to make sure the mediums aren't higher tension than the others... thanks!

[flyingmarcel]

I thought the Spiro Solos only came in one variety - if this isn't the case, I wouldn't mind knowing as well.

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I've been thinking of the Spiro Solos tuned down, but was also thinking about the Dominant Solos Tuned down - Anyone using a whole set of these? The only thing that has always worried me about the Dominants is that their Fragile nature would always be in the back of my mind.....Anyone have experience with breaking issues with the solos tuned down?

Thanks,

fm

[CB3000]

actually i do! i have used the whole set tuned at orch pitch as well as 3rd and 4th with gut D and G. they work really really well or at least have for me. it's been my fallback metal set for a while now. i haven't had fragility problems in fact i have abused mine and they keep going. the windings loosened and came apart and they still work! it took a lot for that to happen too-they don't fall apart like that under normal use. they do need a day or two to settle in tuning-wise. i don't play much arco but i do have to say they can be a bit hard to start with the bow.

[TroyK]

Spriocore Solos are only in one gauge. "solo" is the gauge.

I haven't tried the Dom's, but that's an idea too. The regular gauge are pretty stiff, but solo @ orchestra pitch might be okay. If you want stable, though, you can't beat Spirocores.

[flyingmarcel]

CB3000 - Thanks for the info on the Dom Solo's tuned down - I'm really intrigued by this set now and think I might have to finally give them a whirl.

TroyK- I agree, it really is tough to beat Spiro's - Played on the same set of Weichs for years, wish I'd taken the E and A off the bass I just sold before getting rid of it! Probably wouldn't be looking for options if I still had that whole set.

There's a shop near me that has a string trial room that can be booked for trying out new strings on your bass (free of charge too!). They have both the Dom and Spiro solos, so I think I might have to try out both!

Thanks,

fm

[Eric Swanson]

If you write to Thomastik you may be able to get a set of Belcanto Solos, with the caveat that you answer a few questions for them and return the questionnaire. I actually did this, because I had a similar yen as the one you mention. I received the strings, roughly four weeks later, at no charge. I did have to go to the post office to sign for them, as they were sent registered mail, as I recall.

The Belcanto Solo (only available this way, as "prototypes") can be used tuned to EADG, much like the Spiro Solos, tuned to orchestra pitch.

I used them for about a month. They were a lovely-feeling set and had a nice growl, pizz. They were just what you describe; softer, warmer, and easier to bow than the Spiro Weich. They sounded nice amplified; growly and warm. They are the same gauges as the regular BC's.

Acoustically, on my bass, they were quieter, arco. Pizz volume didn't seem softer than the Spiro Weichs had been. They were a joy to play, pizz. They sounded and felt great, playing jazz, amplified. Thumb position was effortless.

My bass is somewhat "heavily wooded" so the strings didn't move the instrument enough under the bow, so now I am back to the regular Belcanto. Just a thought though. A more responsive instrument might work much better, arco.

When I had them on, I repeatedly thought of them as a warmer Spiro Weich, that was a bit easier to bow, and had lower tension. Of course, it'll be all about how your bass responds to any of these options...

Good luck finding something before the money runs out...

[flyingmarcel]

Hey Eric,

Thanks for the tip! Message sent to Thomastik.

Those Belcanto solos do sound exactly like what I'd be looking for - I really liked the regular Belcantos for jazz work, even though that is not their intended use. A little less tension just might be the ticket...

fm

[Michael Glynn]

Originally Posted by flyingmarcel

I thought the Spiro Solos only came in one variety - if this isn't the case, I wouldn't mind knowing as well.

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I've been thinking of the Spiro Solos tuned down, but was also thinking about the Dominant Solos Tuned down - Anyone using a whole set of these? The only thing that has always worried me about the Dominants is that their Fragile nature would always be in the back of my mind.....Anyone have experience with breaking issues with the solos tuned down?

Thanks,

fm

I've used Dominant Solo G and D strings and have had no trouble with them. My guess is that because you are not tuning them all the way up to pitch, they will not be as fragile as orchestra dominants. On my bass, solo dominants on top (just G, or G and D) mix well with Spiro Solos.

Just to confuse things a little, there are technically several varieties of Spirocore solo gauge strings. There are sets for 4/4, 3/4 and 1/2 size basses. I got mine from Lemur and they are the 4/4 set. I think that for some reason this is the standard set that you get most places (this is true of all gauges of Spirocore). On a 3/4 size bass, this means the tension will actually be a little lower than if you had a 3/4 size set. You could probably special order a 3/4 size Solo gauge set, but my guess is that it would end up being almost identical to the 4/4 weich gauge strings you are used to.

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by Eric Swanson

If you write to Thomastik you may be able to get a set of Belcanto Solos, with the caveat that you answer a few questions for them and return the questionnaire. I actually did this, because I had a similar yen as the one you mention.

Great! Thank-you. I want to BUY some.....didn't know that they were available at all.

[Eric Swanson]

Yeah, I know. I was ready to buy some, too. At this point (at least as of about three months ago), Thomastik thought that the BC's were pretty much fine the way they are and weren't offering other gauges, as they do in their other strings.

Its about volume, demand, etc., I would guess. The BC's are a new string...it may take Thomastik awhile to figure out that some customers might want either a softer or stiffer version...they may be practicing a bit of prudence before assuming additional tooling costs, R and D costs, marketing costs, etc. If the demand is there, they may eventually respond.

At this point, there are no BC Weichs available...the BC's are very similar to the Spiro Weichs in tension already. The Solos are available only as these prototype strings. No Starks, or any stiffer version, either, that I have heard of.

[Johnny L]

I still like the Belcantos quite a bit for arco...easy to get a nice spiccato.

They were O.K. for pizz, but when I tried the Dominants I liked them for pizz way more. They're stiffer, though...which isn't the direction you want to go.

An option is to try lowering your string height if you have an adjustable bridge and seeing if that compromise satisfies you, especially if you like the sound you're getting already.

Corelli 370M's are very nice low tension strings and will spoil you immediately. On the right bass they can make it sound like a cannon.

[moles]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned the Superflexible solo gauge yet. They're working out quite well on my 44" scale, downtuned to orchestral pitch. My bass just doesn't like higher tension strings either.

My guess is that they'd be just a tad darker than Spirocores(?)

[martinc]

Pirastro Jazzers. Less tension than Spiro Mittels and no zing.

[flyingmarcel]

I've thought about the Superflex Solo's tuned down - Do you think the tension of these strings is close to Spiro Weichs, Spiro Solos tuned down, somewhere in between? I used the regular Superflex on a bass I used to have, but wouldn't ever dream of going back to that tension - just not for me

Also considered the Jazzer's, but heard they are nearly impossible to bow - I'm crappy enough with the stick as it is!

Thanks,

[conte2music]

When both are tuned to orchestral pitch I found the Superflex solos have just a hair less tension than spiro solos.

[flyingmarcel]

THAT is what I wanted to hear!