Spirocore Orch. Mittels - bright!

[RustyAxe]

Just strung up a set, and find these very bright (especially the G). Since I play bluegrass but often some jazzy bluesy stuff with a local singer/songwriter I didn't want to go to the synthetic core nylon covered "thumpy" strings so many grassers love, I need the sustain. I play all pizz, btw. I also find these a bit tougher on my fingers (right hand) than I did the Obligatos I had on (they were more than a year old, and splitting over the bridge).

My question: I know these will settle down in time and probably give me just the balance I'm looking for. Any guesses as to how long that could take? Thanks.

[pdbass]

For me, it took about a month for Spiros to calm down on the brightness and really start sounding 'great'. Keep playing them.

Also, do yourself a favor and read this thread. It's everything you wanted to know about Sprios and longevity...really.

[TPugh]

Give them three months and you'll love them for the next ten years.

[TroyK]

If you practice with the bow, it seems to speed up the process.

[Square Bear]

true. also, the more you play on them, the faster you can tame them a bit. i always feel that you have to manhandle your strings when you first put them on. the way i break in strings it takes about a few days to a week tops to get them feeling great, but spiros will take longer than other strings.

[bolo]

Some people swap out just the G for another type string. My luthier said an Obligato G blends well. Perhaps also the T-I Superflexible G.

[TroyK]

You could also try heroin, but I wouldn't recommend either that or string swapping until you've given these a real chance. People who can be happy with complete sets of medium Spirocores and the happiest (and wealthiest) bassists in the world.

[bolo]

Funny man. True.

It was that d^&* Spiro G that eventually led me to swap them all out.

To each his own.

Make a good sound.

[RustyAxe]

So it seems one to three months is the answer ... depending on how and how often I play. I can live with that. Not thinking of replacing them, really ... I love the volume and sustain. I like the idea of 10 year longevity. The Obligatos went a year, but I was pushing the envelope, I think. Thanks for the comments.

[drurb]

As I reported here, I returned to the venerable Spiros about eight months ago. I must say that, in that time, they have "matured" nicely. I'm even happy with the G. Sure, some of my content may result from my have gotten used to them. I play every day and I experienced a steady improvement up to about six months.

As an aside, I did a fair amount of tweaking with my string height. There was just a bit of a stiff feeling in the strings that was bothering me somewhat. About a month or so ago, I seemed to have found a "sweet spot." A small tweak of the adjusters produced a large change in the comfort. I can guess at what the physical explanation may involve (e.g., break angle over the bridge, changed tension on the top, etc.) but it hardly matters.

So, for now, I have no string G.A.S. A full set of mittels all the way. Of course, there is one string I'd have on there in a heartbeat if only I could.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by drurb

As an aside, I did a fair amount of tweaking with my string height. There was just a bit of a stiff feeling in the strings that was bothering me somewhat. About a month or so ago, I seemed to have found a "sweet spot." A small tweak of the adjusters produced a large change in the comfort. I can guess at what the physical explanation may involve (e.g., break angle over the bridge, changed tension on the top, etc.) but it hardly matters.

Unfortunately, my bridge is as low as the adjusters will go. If I'm uncomfortable a month from now I'll have someone cut it for me. I'm too much of a rookie to attempt it myself I think. Thanks for your comments!

And what would that one string be?

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Denny,
Most of us in this padded cell have done alot of experimenting and have the needle tracks to prove it (nod to Troy). It's good that you plan to give spirocores a fair chance because they truly are the benchmark double bass string for pizz players. Many arco players like them as well.
If you aren't loving them after Labor Day, I would recommend switching the G and possibly the D for something darker. I think an Olive G on top of mittels is the best thing on earth, but that's my preference. So try darker strings on top and if that doesn't do it for you, maybe Superflex, Evahs or Velvets. Roll up your sleeves and figure out what works for you. Good chance all the discards will be hanging on the hook on the back of your closet door after you go back to spirocores, but you may have to try everything to know for sure.

Also, a healthy dose of salt can help you on your quest. Consider the type of music played and whatever else you consider relevant as you take opinions on any forum. A principal in a major symphony hyping a string wouldn't help me much unless I planned to play an entire jazz gig with a bow.

Good luck.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

What's your string height now? G to E.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

And what would that one string be?

My avatar says it all.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by drurb

My avatar says it all.

So go make some so we can find out whether they are as good everybody says they were back then. Nirvana?

I like Telefunken flat plate ECC83's and Mullard 6BQ5's but they don't make them either.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Ray Brown and Lycons

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by clink

Ray Brown and Lycons

Like Doc, I liked the originals better than Ray's.
Those Mothers were really great in every which way.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by clink

Good chance all the discards will be hanging on the hook on the back of your closet door after you go back to spirocores, but you may have to try everything to know for sure.

I read that entire thread that DRURB pointed to in his post ... and gather what you say is the absolute truth ...

I played an open mic last night, backing up a few of the performers. Bluegrass, jazz standards, blues ... nice shakedown for the strings. The G isn't so bad if I'm careful about my attack, it seems. And I LOVE the grrrrrowl I can get from the A and D!

[Uncletoad]

Just posted this over on the old Spiro Birth/Death thread and it bears repeating here.

I have noticed that the G string is still a pizz demon from time to time but the arco has settled in much better. I like the projection of that spiro better than most strings under the bow. For me anyway. The pizz issue on the G for me at times is complicated by my attack angle with my pizz finger. If I get my pizz hand elbow out and around front of the bass I fire the string more in parallel with the fingerboard arch rather than into the fingerboard which happens when I get lazy and keep my arm more in line with the A or D strings firing point.

See, I think the G fires off big with a wide arc unlike your average DOA string like an Obligato. If the strings are low it bangs into the board through it's rotation. So it buzzes and looses it's power and low end. If you get the string up high enough and fire it so that it rotates in its elliptical fashion parallel to the board rather than into it then it will speak clearly with plenty of dark and authority.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Just posted this over on the old Spiro Birth/Death thread and it bears repeating here.
I have noticed that the G string is still a pizz demon from time to time but the arco has settled in much better. I like the projection of that spiro better than most strings under the bow. For me anyway. The pizz issue on the G for me at times is complicated by my attack angle with my pizz finger. If I get my pizz hand elbow out and around front of the bass I fire the string more in parallel with the fingerboard arch rather than into the fingerboard which happens when I get lazy and keep my arm more in line with the A or D strings firing point.
See, I think the G fires off big with a wide arc unlike your average DOA string like an Obligato. If the strings are low it bangs into the board through it's rotation. So it buzzes and looses it's power and low end. If you get the string up high enough and fire it so that it rotates in its elliptical fashion parallel to the board rather than into it then it will speak clearly with plenty of dark and authority.

Pretty much says it all, IMO. I'm big on point and tonal blossom pizz wise. You can't beat these strings for that, unless sustain isn't your friend.