Superflexible Thomastik fan club

[pbasswil]

I've had the S.F. Solos (tuned concert) on my Cleveland hybrid for 6 weeks or so.

Now there's a slight penalty for the lighter strings; acoustically, they _sound_ a little light.

But I don't care! They're easy to play; just the right brightness for me; and have just the right amount of sustain and growl for me (i.e, not a lot of either).

They amplify just the way I want them to. (And the only time I play acoustically is to practice.)

So I'm sold!
It's nice to no longer feel driven to experiment with strings, and just think about playing. :^)

[stefaniw80401]

I'm predominantly an arco player and have tried most of the arco friendly, and hybrid sets over the years. Currently running with superflexible (3/4) G/D/A over a spiro mitt extended-E. Last night at a noisy gig with my classical bass trio (wine/chocolate tasting event), I was impressed how the superflexible strings sing and project in the upper register.

[Les Fret]

I have already posted here that I think the tension and thickness of the Superflexible D is way to high compared to the other strings. .052 .074 .079 .107 is the gauge which means the D and A only differ 5.
I Don't understand at all why they make it this way but I always replace my D for a Spirocore weich D. It works.
But I was thinking about replacing my Superflexible D with a Superflexible solo D which is 064 gauge which seems more normal and more in line with the other strings. Is the tension of the Superflexible solo D about the same as say a Spirocore D?

[Steve Boisen]

Originally Posted by Les Fret

I have already posted here that I think the tension and thickness of the Superflexible D is way to high compared to the other strings. .052 .074 .079 .107 is the gauge which means the D and A only differ 5.

I noticed this when I first installed the strings, but I'm used to this now and the heavier D string doesn't bother me. It's certainly more bowable than any Spirocore D I've ever tried.

- Steve

[Les Fret]

Originally Posted by Steve Boisen

I noticed this when I first installed the strings, but I'm used to this now and the heavier D string doesn't bother me. It's certainly more bowable than any Spirocore D I've ever tried.

- Steve

It bothers me a lot. Especially when playing (jazz) pizzicato. The transition from one string to the other doesn't feel natural anymore. I am hoping that the solo Superflexible D is about the same tension as a 'normal' D string. So I hope someone can give me some insight on that.

[Steve Boisen]

Originally Posted by Les Fret

It bothers me a lot. Especially when playing (jazz) pizzicato. The transition from one string to the other doesn't feel natural anymore.

Oh no, now it will probably start to bother me too. I was just looking at my bass and the A and D strings do look identical.

- Steve

[kwd]

I noticed the G/D diameter, tension thing but it doesn't bother me. Have you considered a higher tension, larger diameter G string? I love the D and the G is acceptable to me.

I got a new bass in early September. The instrument had SFs on it when I brought it home. Of course, I couldn't resist doing repeated string experiments with strings from my drawer and one purchased set. After all of that madness I'm back to SFs and I am sticking with them. My bass has a 42 1/2" scale and is on the darker side of the tone spectrum. For this bass the SFs live in a sweet spot for arco and pizz. Arco on my other bass with SFs was like fingernails on a chalkboard.

[Les Fret]

Originally Posted by kwd

I noticed the G/D diameter, tension thing but it doesn't bother me. Have you considered a higher tension, larger diameter G string?

No the G string is not the problem here. It is the D string that is much too thick compared to the other strings. I like all the other strings.

[iiipopes]

OK, remember that SF's come in both 3/4 and 4/4. If a player is put off by the tension of the D string of the 3/4 set, then the 4/4 D string can always be substituted in its place, because the 4/4 D string has a bit less tension than the 3/4 D string, when strung on the same bass.

[Steve Boisen]

That 3/4 or 4/4 thing that is unique to Thomastik strings always confuses me. Another alternative in the the string purchasing labyrinth.

- Steve

[Les Fret]

Originally Posted by iiipopes

OK, remember that SF's come in both 3/4 and 4/4. If a player is put off by the tension of the D string of the 3/4 set, then the 4/4 D string can always be substituted in its place, because the 4/4 D string has a bit less tension than the 3/4 D string, when strung on the same bass.

Is that so? never knew that a 4/4 set has less tension than a 3/4 set (?). And it is not only the tension but also the thickness/gauge of the D string that bothers me. So changing to a 4/4 string will not help me.

[iiipopes]

Originally Posted by Les Fret

Is that so? never knew that a 4/4 set has less tension than a 3/4 set (?). And it is not only the tension but also the thickness/gauge of the D string that bothers me. So changing to a 4/4 string will not help me.

Yes, it can be confusing. Here's the deal: T-I lists the tension of their 4/4 strings as being measured on a 110cm mensure, but as we know, many of them also fit on a 3/4 bass. So, to get what the "real" tension is on most 3/4 basses that have 106cm/41 3/4 inch mensure, and since tension varies as the square of the mensure, then take the listed tension for the 4/4, multiply it by the fraction 106^2/110^2, and you get what the tension of the string is when strung on a 3/4 bass.

It just so happens when you do this math on a SF 4/4 D string, it comes out a little lighter than the listed SF 3/4 D string. It also explains why Spiro S42 Weich G strings are so twangy for some, not for others. And we'll leave for another day how slack a 4/4 solo string really is when strung on a 3/4 at orchestra pitch.

I do see your point in the larger diameter of the D string, however. I also prefer progressive string diameters, so it would probably bother me as well if I used SF strings.

[Les Fret]

Indeed very confusing

Originally Posted by iiipopes

I do see your point in the larger diameter of the D string, however. I also prefer progressive string diameters, so it would probably bother me as well if I used SF strings.

This is exactly what I mean. Progressive string diameters is a must for me. Especially for pizz playing. That is why I don't understand that they choose (almost) the same gauge for the D and A string. Makes no sense to me.

[Steve Boisen]

Originally Posted by Les Fret

That is why I don't understand that they choose (almost) the same gauge for the D and A string. Makes no sense to me.

The Superflexible (aka Rope Core) set has been around a long time and pre-dates the Sprirocore set. One reason for the gauges could be to mimic the still common gut strings where the plain D was often the same diameter as the wound A.

Just a theory.

- Steve

[Steve Boisen]

Okay, now the thick D string is starting to bug me