String advice for Shen

IdealWay · #1 09-01-2010, 07:27 PM

I'm pretty new to the upright world, been at it for about a year, but I'm really feeling the need to try a new set of strings. Right now I have the same D'Addario Helicore Hybrids that came with the bass when I bought it and they're less than a thrill to play. I've read lots of threads about strings and their qualities, but am still having a hard time deciding, especially since I'm in the minority with my plain ol' Shen ply (SB80, I dig it though!). It'd be ideal to try multiple sets and see works best, but I don't have the $ for that right now so some advice would be awesome. I'm currently playing in the university big band and symphony, so I'm doing about 55/45 pizz/arco. In the future I definitely see myself leaning more towards the pizz side, but a good hybrid string is preferable. The tone I'd like to approximate is essentially that big fat Ray Brown sound; rich blossoming notes (mmmmwah) with good sustain and an articulate fundamental. Also want it to bow fairly easily. Are there certain strings that tend to do well with a ply bass? Do strings usually sound better after being broken in? I'm leaning towards the Evah Weich's or Spiro Mittel's, since there are some used sets in the classifieds, but I'm open to all suggestions. Let me know if any more info is needed. Thanks guys!

Greg Clinkingbeard · #2 09-01-2010, 07:47 PM

It depends. If your bass is nasal at all I would go with the Evahs. If it has a darker tone, the spirocores will work. I don't much like spirocore G strings, putting something darker on top. Last night curiousity got the better of me and I swapped the Olive for a mittel. Talk about a thin, whiney sound. An hour later the Olive was back on.
Maybe Mittels on the bottom and Evahs on top?
Ultimately your bass will tell you what it likes.

PB+J · #3 09-02-2010, 06:16 AM

It's really hard to answer that question because different strings sound different on different basses. I go back and forth with spiros--put them on, I like them, I get irritated that they sound too bright and sustainy, I take them off, I try something else, I like it for a while, then I get irritated...

I have a set of Evah weichs on order for my shen, which is the 7/8 carved model. The Evahs do seem to have a darker tone. I have never liked Helicores, and I'm not sure why.

But if I were you I would try some spirocores. Sooner or later everybody does--they are like the default string. They bow easily and have a strong loud tone that I find to be a little harsh and hard to modulate, but my arco technique is very poor. You ought to try them just to have a reference point.

wdnewman · #4 09-02-2010, 07:10 AM

+1 on the Evah weichs. I had them put on my Shen SB200 3/4 willow. Prior to that I had Evah standards.
They both have a great pizz sound, and bow quite well also. This is just my experience, but I would recommend them without hesitation.

IdealWay · #5 09-02-2010, 07:13 AM

I'm actually not sure if it's bright or dark, I haven't heard enough uprights in person to compare. I've never thought of it as nasaly though. Is there a big difference between the Evah Weichs and the Spiro Weichs? Are the Spiro Weichs easier to bow than the Mittels?

IdealWay · #6 09-02-2010, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdnewman

+1 on the Evah weichs. I had them put on my Shen SB200 3/4 willow. Prior to that I had Evah standards.
They both have a great pizz sound, and bow quite well also. This is just my experience, but I would recommend them without hesitation.

Thanks! I'm definitely leaning towards these right now. I read loads of positive reviews in the "Evah Pirazzi Megathread" so I feel that I need to experience the glory for myself.

Only problem is, every time I go to click the "Order" button I picture UncleToad's description of the Spiro Mittels and I think, "maybe I shouldn't jump the gun on this one"

Greg Clinkingbeard · #7 09-02-2010, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdealWay

I'm actually not sure if it's bright or dark, I haven't heard enough uprights in person to compare. I've never thought of it as nasaly though. Is there a big difference between the Evah Weichs and the Spiro Weichs? Are the Spiro Weichs easier to bow than the Mittels?

Somewhat. I like the smittels better though. They feel better to me and have more power.

PB+J · #8 09-02-2010, 07:47 AM

It's just so hard to predict. The Mittels are higher tension and bigger (diameter) so they tend to have more volume and body. Generally that's true--the bigger the string, the bigger the tone. But not always--some basses like lower tension on the top, and I find that wiechs give me a softer sound and more "bounce," a more open seeming tone. But then my bass is a 7/8s and probably has a longer scale length, which means that wiechs are at a higher tension in my bass than they would be on a 3/4. On a 3/4, the weichs might seem too light.

Your bass sounding "choked" could be that the top will like lower tension strings, or it could be that higher tension strings will drive it harder and open it up.

kmanley_29649 · #9 09-02-2010, 08:36 AM

I play an SB80 too, and so far from my limited experimentation, my favorite is Obligato E and A with plain gut D and G. I have been dying to try the Evah Weich, though. A full set of Obli's is great for this bass as well, and the Superflexibles that were on it when I got it sounded really good too.

Eric Hochberg · #10 09-02-2010, 08:40 AM

My student's SB80 sounds really nice with Evah Weichs. It is a good sounding bass and will probably sound good with any number of strings...

Meddle771 · #11 09-02-2010, 04:04 PM

I play Corelli heavy gauge(TX) 370 on my plywood. I just bought another set last week. Their cheap, and I haven't played a hybrid string that I liked better, not even Evah's.

FWIW: I've only played sprios pizz, but from what I read they are NOT an arco or even a hybrid string... if about half your playing is arco in a symphonic setting I would say stay away from them.

Eric Hochberg · #12 09-03-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meddle771

FWIW: I've only played sprios pizz, but from what I read they are NOT an arco or even a hybrid string... if about half your playing is arco in a symphonic setting I would say stay away from them.

You haven't read the pro-spiro arco posts then. It depends on the bass and the sound you're looking for.

Meddle771 · #13 09-04-2010, 01:42 AM

Ah Eric, you got me... i forgot to take into consideration the bass' own qualities.

IdealWay · #14 09-06-2010, 08:11 AM

Thanks for all the input! It looks like I'll be picking up a set of Evah Weichs within the next week. They were used for 2 days so I'm getting them at a little discount, which is nice. If I love them, great! If I don't, I'll put them in the classifieds and probably try the Spiro Mittel's for comparisons sake. Gotta love TalkBass!

PaperbackRyder · #15 09-06-2010, 08:40 AM

FWIW...I have a well made ply (Upton) and had smittles for almost a year, doing mostly pizz for gigs and arco for practice. Went to Evah Weichs a month or so ago seeking a warmer sound, easier to bow. And I got it!
Still not where I want to be, but it seems very few are around the string forum!
Good luck,
=JR=

IdealWay · #16 09-12-2010, 06:34 PM

I ended up buying 2 sets, Spiro Mittels and Evah Weichs

The Sprios arrived first so I have those on now and I am astounded by how much of an improvement are from the Helicore's! The bass seems so much more vibrant and alive, I love it! The arco sound is good, a little on the bright side on the D and G strings, but not too bad. Not as hard to bow as I expected either. The Evah's arrived yesterday but I haven't tried them yet since I'm still getting to know the Spiros. Maybe later this week I'll give 'em a go. Either way I'll post my impressions. Thanks for the advice all.