Strings for a dark sounding bass

[anonymous12251111]

Hey, so i need some strings for my orchestral/solo bass. it's very dark sounding especially with the belcanto's i currently have on. i can hear a lot of fundamental but no pitch in a section, also for solo playing i just get buried because the sound is so dark. i understand flat-chromesteel is nice and bright for soloing but that it's pretty wimpy for orchestral playing. i have a permanent e on my bass but the string feels too low in tension, and floppy. are dominants the next best bet?

thx!

[Francois Blais]

Kolstein Varicors maybe.

[Co.]

I like both Permanents and Spirocores. Both are - in my opinion - great arco strings and are for sure brighter than Bel Cantos. The Permanents are of course better for orchestra, while the Spiros are better for modern solo playing. Both are way more powerful than Flat Chromesteel.

[anonymous12251111]

Originally Posted by Co.

I like both Permanents and Spirocores. Both are - in my opinion - great arco strings and are for sure brighter than Bel Cantos. The Permanents are of course better for orchestra, while the Spiros are better for modern solo playing. Both are way more powerful than Flat Chromesteel.

Interesting. I didn't really know anyone who uses spirocore for bowing. I always thought they were a pure jazz string.'

How does spirocore relate to dominant?

[Co.]

There are a lot of players, who use Spirocore as a solo string. I don't think the weich or mittel are very popular, but they bow great, when they are old enough. I would use them, if I liked the pizz sound. On my bass the D Spiro sounds like a telecaster. I've seen some classical players who use Spiros as single strings. One more contemporary player uses just the G, one more 18th/19th century player uses the low C. Quarrington uses the low C, Edgar Meyer the E/C and solo B,...

[bribass]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Hey, so i need some strings for my orchestral/solo bass. it's very dark sounding especially with the belcanto's i currently have on. i can hear a lot of fundamental but no pitch in a section, also for solo playing i just get buried because the sound is so dark. i understand flat-chromesteel is nice and bright for soloing but that it's pretty wimpy for orchestral playing. i have a permanent e on my bass but the string feels too low in tension, and floppy. are dominants the next best bet?

thx!

Superflexibles, higher tension, brightish, bow & piz well, economical

[Stephen Koscica]

Another string that is definitely brighter are the Helicores. It really depends on the bass. I never liked the way Helicores feel under the left hand. The winding can be a little uneven and don't feel smooth, but they are brighter and are great for dark basses.

[Greg O]

try some obligatos..they're awesome

[Uncletoad]

Calvin the Spirocores were designed like all strings for DB to play with a bow. Not the most common use of them these days but on a dark bass they would sound pretty balanced. They take some work to get used to under the bow. Bertrand Turretsky uses Spirocores.

Some of these suggestions don't make sense in my experience with a large variety of strings. For instance Obligatos are a very dark string compared to Spirocores. Helicores overall are darker than spirocores but brighter than Obligatos. Superflexibles are a bright string just down a notch from Spirocores. Dominants are just a tick darker than that. Flat Chromsteels just a notch darker still.

Permanents are dark on the bottom and bright on top, sort of the opposite of what you'd want on a dark bass. I'd avoid most of the Flexocore varieties, the Evah Pirrazzi, and most of the other traditional orchestral strings if Belcanto are to dark.

Dominants are worth a try. I thought the Dominant E had a little less tension than the Permanent E so I'm not sure if that's your E string.

I'd suggest a Spirocore E string. Maybe even an A with Dominant tops or Flat Chromsteel or Permanents.

Finally take this all with a grain of salt. My experience in playing is not orchestral.

PS. Don't overlook the possibility that a simple soundpost adjustment may help you're bass project with your current strings.

[jallenbass]

The Spiros and Doms that I have tried on my jazz bass makes it sound dark. Helicore Pizz and Pirastro Jazzers so far are the only ones that make it sound bright. YMMV.

[anonymous12251111]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Calvin the Spirocores were designed like all strings for DB to play with a bow. Not the most common use of them these days but on a dark bass they would sound pretty balanced. They take some work to get used to under the bow. Bertrand Turretsky uses Spirocores.

Some of these suggestions don't make sense in my experience with a large variety of strings. For instance Obligatos are a very dark string compared to Spirocores. Helicores overall are darker than spirocores but brighter than Obligatos. Superflexibles are a bright string just down a notch from Spirocores. Dominants are just a tick darker than that. Flat Chromsteels just a notch darker still.

Permanents are dark on the bottom and bright on top, sort of the opposite of what you'd want on a dark bass. I'd avoid most of the Flexocore varieties, the Evah Pirrazzi, and most of the other traditional orchestral strings if Belcanto are to dark.

Dominants are worth a try. I thought the Dominant E had a little less tension than the Permanent E so I'm not sure if that's your E string.

I'd suggest a Spirocore E string. Maybe even an A with Dominant tops or Flat Chromsteel or Permanents.

Finally take this all with a grain of salt. My experience in playing is not orchestral.

PS. Don't overlook the possibility that a simple soundpost adjustment may help you're bass project with your current strings.

thanks for the great information! i picked up a set of corelli 370 tx's...they were on sale for 60 percent off new. I have no idea if i'll like these strings, who knows i may hate them! but for the price it's worth a shot. that's for the great advice uncletoad!

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

thanks for the great information! i picked up a set of corelli 370 tx's...they were on sale for 60 percent off new. I have no idea if i'll like these strings, who knows i may hate them! but for the price it's worth a shot. that's for the great advice uncletoad!

I always forget about those. That might just be the ticket.

[anonymous12251111]

Had the Corelli 370FX on my bass for 3 days now...These strings SUCK.


Flat-Chromesteels?

[Jake deVilliers]

FCS are really good strings, sort of Weichs but not so banjo-ey, more cello-like. They bow as nicely as Flex '92s but aren't so dark.

Like most Pirastros the E is too floppy but you can substitute. What didn't you like about the Corellis and what strings do you like?

[anonymous12251111]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

FCS are really good strings, sort of Weichs but not so banjo-ey, more cello-like. They bow as nicely as Flex '92s but aren't so dark.

Like most Pirastros the E is too floppy but you can substitute. What didn't you like about the Corellis and what strings do you like?

Corelli 370FX

Likes
-Price
-Low Tension/Ease of playability
-Very Clear upper register
-Incredibly open sound with tons of sustain.

Dislikes
-Top Two strings have a very different tone than bottom two
-Bottom two strings despite having a decent amount of tension (almost comparable to Belcanto) still have no balls or edge. I'd describe the sound as very thin and airy.
-Volume generally quite low (but I was expecting that being a fairly low tension string)
-Sound is not focussed and has very little warmth. I'd describe it as transparent and thin.
-Gritty against the bow, not the most easy to use.
-Construction...The windings at the tailpiece were seperating before I even put them on.
-The balls were so small that they were popping out of my tailpiece during install. Perhaps I should have used the washers that were included!


Overall a good string if you're perhaps plagued with tendinitis otherwise for a real "bass" sound you need to turn away the "Freedom" Strings.

Strings I like...Well I loved Belcanto's on my old bass, on my new one they just don't work at all. I also enjoy Dominants but the bowing is very scratchy and metallic when playing spiccatto.

Next Set to try?

I'm thinking either Pirastro Flat-Chromesteel G and D with Flat-Chrome E and A....Maybe the best of both worlds. I generally don't like how some Pirastro strings go down in tension the lower you go...If anything I like the revearse...E and A lots of bow pressure, big substantial strings, G and D very easy and acrobatic for soloing.