From Spirocore mittel to evah weich to...

Valis · #1 07-29-2010, 05:20 PM

My bass works better with lower tension strings due to a thin top and a not too big bass bar. At the moment it sounds really good with Evah weich's which are very balanced both pizz and arco. However I'm not really liking the stiffness (especially on the D and G strings) and the plastic feel of the core. I think I really want steel core strings on my bass...

So my question is... what strings would have a bit less tension than mittels, be as thick and smooth as evah weich's and be ok for 50% arco/50% pizzicato use?...

I've been thinking Permanents or Flat Chromesteels or Jazzers... or maybe a mix of these?

Thanks for listening.

fdeck · #2 07-29-2010, 06:35 PM

I'm pleased with my current set of strings: Obligato's on the top and Spiro Mitts on the bottom. I tried an entire set of Spiro's. They were difficult to bow, which I might have been able to overcome with work on my technique, but it also felt like they were hurting my hands. So I put the Obli's back on G and D but left A and E alone due to being in a hurry.

That combination seems to work nicely for the 50-50 pizz/arco thing. The Obli's may still be marginally better on A and E, for instance they show the low end "bloom" that the Spiro's don't. OTOH I have read about issues with lifetime of synthetic strings, and figure that replacing half a set is cheaper than a whole set. One thread suggested that it's the lower strings that wear out on Obli's. We'll see. I have decided to defer my next descent into string hell until I actually need new strings.

jrlynch · #3 07-29-2010, 08:18 PM

the oliv g and d sound quite wonderful paired with the evah welchs on the bottom. not cheap, but ...

bejoyous · #4 07-29-2010, 08:27 PM

Why not try Spiro Weilchs? Ask Uncle Toad, he knows all

.

Uncletoad · #5 07-29-2010, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejoyous

Why not try Spiro Weilchs? Ask Uncle Toad, he knows all

.

Hardly, but I agree with the Weichs. If you don't dig that try the Spiro Solos.

TroyK · #6 07-29-2010, 10:55 PM

Yeah on Spirocore Weich or Solos, but they aren't as thick as EPWs. Jazzers are not "low tension", but they're probably a bit less than the Evah Pirazzis. FCS could be an option too, but Perms will be heavier for sure.

Valis · #7 07-30-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyK

Yeah on Spirocore Weich or Solos, but they aren't as thick as EPWs. Jazzers are not "low tension", but they're probably a bit less than the Evah Pirazzis. FCS could be an option too, but Perms will be heavier for sure.

Thanks everybody for your advice!...

I find the weichs on my teacher's bass really too thin for my right hand, and also I find the smoothness of the windings and the arco friendliness of the evah's really appealing, that's why I'm trying to stay with Pirastro, so...

I read a Flatchrome steel E is not very satisfying pizzicato? Would Permanent E and A with FCS D and G be a good set? or rather Jazzer E and A with FCS on top (can you bow jazzers?)? Or...

Uncletoad · #8 07-30-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valis

Would Permanent E and A with FCS D and G be a good set?

I've not tried that combo but I could see it being very nice.

How bout a full set of Permanents then?

Valis · #9 07-30-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I've not tried that combo but I could see it being very nice.

How bout a full set of Permanents then?

Since my bass likes lower tension I thought I'd keep it down a bit by having FCS on top.

Whats the difference in terms of feel and tone between the two? Or... Why would you prefer the full set of permanents?

And thanks for your thoughts.

Uncletoad · #10 07-30-2010, 08:29 PM

My personal preferences lean more to pizz friendly strings. I'm not much for really light strings either so I'm probably not the best resource for this thread.

I think Pirastro's entire line of E strings are terrible. The only passable ones for me are the Permanent and the Evah Weich.

I really like many of the Pirastro G strings. My favorites are the Original Flatchrome, the Flexocor Stark, the Oliv, the Permanent, and the Evah Weich.

A and D strings are hard for me to not use Spirocores of some size. The Oliv D and Permanent D are probably the only exceptions and even they don't thrill me all that much.

I really like Belcanto D/G strings and if I played lots of arco I'd try those with Spiro E's and A's. For that matter considering all arco strings If forced to use Pirastro strings with steel cores I'd choose Permanents all across or Flexocor Starks all across.

Perhaps you'd like the lighter versions of the flexocor if the perms are to heavy.

TroyK · #11 08-01-2010, 04:34 PM

My opinions on these strings are pretty close to Phil's, but I have no problems with the Jazzer E. I used a Perm E-D for a few years, they work fine. The low Permanent strings are awesome and growly in my experience for about a month, then the growl goes away, but they take on a different awesomeness until, for me, about 6 months, then they lost their goodness. They were structurally sound, but the sonic qualities just became flat...for me. I went through maybe 5 sets in 2 1/2 year of E and A. I thought the D and G were brighter and I usually changed the D about 1/2 as often as the E and A and I used a FCS G and was very satisfied with that mix. I tried a few other Pirastro Gs and did really like them, though the FCS was the one that I got the most use out of.

Then I put a complete set of Jazzers on and left them unadultarted for about a year and a half. Most people around me agreed that my bass was louder and more clear and I felt like I played in tune better because my ear acquired the pitch more quickly. Then I got sucked down the Evah Pirazzi hole which was a wrong turn for me.

Then my friends organized an intervention, Jake kidnapped my bass, give me a proper setup and a set of Spirocores and I'm in recovery...which of course means the occasional setback.

kscbass · #12 08-01-2010, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyK

My opinions on these strings are pretty close to Phil's, but I have no problems with the Jazzer E. I used a Perm E-D for a few years, they work fine. The low Permanent strings are awesome and growly in my experience for about a month, then the growl goes away, but they take on a different awesomeness until, for me, about 6 months, then they lost their goodness. They were structurally sound, but the sonic qualities just became flat...for me. I went through maybe 5 sets in 2 1/2 year of E and A. I thought the D and G were brighter and I usually changed the D about 1/2 as often as the E and A and I used a FCS G and was very satisfied with that mix. I tried a few other Pirastro Gs and did really like them, though the FCS was the one that I got the most use out of.

Then I put a complete set of Jazzers on and left them unadultarted for about a year and a half. Most people around me agreed that my bass was louder and more clear and I felt like I played in tune better because my ear acquired the pitch more quickly. Then I got sucked down the Evah Pirazzi hole which was a wrong turn for me.

Then my friends organized an intervention, Jake kidnapped my bass, give me a proper setup and a set of Spirocores and I'm in recovery...which of course means the occasional setback.

Don't tell me this, I just ordered a set of Evah Weichs to get away from my Spiro Weichs...

Marcus Johnson · #13 08-01-2010, 08:17 PM

You will like them.

I'd rather compromise with other set of strings than deal again with the Spiro Weich G. I believe string technology and amplification (pickups, amps, speakers, mics) has advanced so much that we don't need to just buy spiros and settle, of course IMO.

Bobby King · #15 08-01-2010, 08:38 PM

I've been using Spiro Weichs for my E&A, and I have an Original Flexocore G, which I really like for both pizz and arco. I'm still on a quest for the right steel D string. The Spiro Weich D has just a little more "boing" than I ideally want, but then most of the orchestral-type Ds wind up being too thuddy. I recently put on a dreaded Super Sensitive Red Label D that I had in my string drawer, and surprisingly, it's really not all that bad in this set -- less boingy than a Weich, but not too thuddy either. The tension matches perfectly, but the quality of sound is perhaps not quite up to the other strings. I'm waiting to get a Super Sensitive Pinnacle D that I bought used from another TBer. Francois recommended that one to try.

I can be pretty happy using a full set of Spiro Weichs, but being a former gut user, I still like going for a little darker sound on top, and I don't really like getting much of that "mwah" sound. Uncletoad and some others have recommended trying Spiro Solos, which I've only ever tried once on a borrowed bass. The thing is, I actually prefer the tension of Spiro Mittels and don't want to go lighter than Weich. Would most of you say that the Solo's tension is less than Weich's? Would you say the sound is darker than Weich's? Thanks for your input!

Greg Clinkingbeard · #16 08-01-2010, 09:07 PM

Spirocore D's have been a bit more alive for me as well, not louder but just more 'spirocore' sounding if that makes any sense.
However, no string mix has worked for me as well as the mittel E, A and D with the Olive G. I could be happy with a mittel G as well, but there's just something about that Olive that I love up there.
These mittels have a lot of time on them and I dunno if a new set would drive me bonkers and I hope I won't have to find out for a loooong time.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #17 08-01-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kscbass

I'd rather compromise with other set of strings than deal again with the Spiro Weich G. I believe string technology and amplification (pickups, amps, speakers, mics) has advanced so much that we don't need to just buy spiros and settle, of course IMO.

Bite your tongue.

Don't sell the spiros. You'll be back.

kscbass · #18 08-01-2010, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clink

Bite your tongue.

Don't sell the spiros. You'll be back.

Noooooooooooooooo
I won't sell my spiros...but I believe there has to be a better compromise!!! Mitells are too much tension and the Weich G is too thin, other bassists have moved on so it's possible!!! (Rufus Reid, John Clayton, etc).

Michael Glynn · #19 08-01-2010, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valis

Thanks everybody for your advice!...

I find the weichs on my teacher's bass really too thin for my right hand, and also I find the smoothness of the windings and the arco friendliness of the evah's really appealing, that's why I'm trying to stay with Pirastro, so...

I read a Flatchrome steel E is not very satisfying pizzicato? Would Permanent E and A with FCS D and G be a good set? or rather Jazzer E and A with FCS on top (can you bow jazzers?)? Or...

I used Jazzer E and A with FCS G and D for a few years and I liked this set a lot. The FCS seem to be lower tension than the Jazzers, and not quite as growly, but the sound blended very well. FCS are quite thin strings, though. The Jazzers can be bowed, but are similar to Spirocores. The FCS bow much better and have a bright, clear sound. Since you like lower tension and want to do a bunch of arco, maybe G, D, and A FCS with only a Jazzer E would work better?

baldy McBalders · #20 08-01-2010, 11:26 PM

Hi,
Thanks to Troy, I have finally settled on the EP reg E/A oliv D/G combo. I can see the Oliv D/G working very well with the EP E/A Weich set as well. Yikes, this combo sounds sooo good to me, on my bass, etc.
The tension differential between the E/A & D/G isn't bothersome. This really is my "default" sound. I really couldn't get the head around Spiros; nasty bright.
Me like dark, and this combo delivers.
thanks,
Brian
oh, and p.s, the A EP and the D Oliv seem as if they are the same gauge! Lovely for me, but etc. etc. . . .