Superflexibles vs. Spirocores

JavierBass · #1 01-23-2009, 10:38 PM

I've read through the threads reading about many of the classic qualities and characteristics of the spirocore strings. My bass is strung with superflexibles which I've been very happy with, but are a little too dark. How does the tension, feeling and playability of the superflexibles compare to the spirocore medium and weich, I'm looking for one that is most similar to the superflex but a tad bit brighter and fuller and won't need any change in string height as I'm very comfortable with the medium-low action I have my bass set up with.

Jake deVilliers · #2 01-24-2009, 12:44 AM

Spirocore Mittel

Bobby King · #3 01-24-2009, 07:51 AM

I agree with Jake. I think the Mittels will give you what you want. Weich is less tension than Superflexible. Mittels are maybe a little more tension, but not much. They are also somewhat brighter than Superflexibles.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #4 01-24-2009, 08:24 AM

Dunno for sure, but I've had both on my bass. Supers are probably a bit stiffer than Mittels. The character is similar, but Mittels are brighter.

bribass · #5 01-24-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clink

Dunno for sure, but I've had both on my bass. Supers are probably a bit stiffer than Mittels. The character is similar, but Mittels are brighter.

I agree. Despite the name of SF, Mittels feel more flexible.

Johnny L · #6 01-24-2009, 09:40 AM

Yeah mittels.

If I could bow the SF's better I'd think them the hands-down best hybrid string on the market.

fred pratt · #7 01-25-2009, 11:53 AM

I don't know. I don't doubt the observations you guys have made about stiffness/tension --you have more playing time in than I do.

But I had a two-year-old Mittel E and A on my bass for a few days last week (with Dominants on top) and the Mittels felt really stiff to me. I replaced them with a set of two-year-old Superflexibles and found those to be much easier to pluck with my right hand. The SFs are warmer sounding. Maybe my perception of the string tension was influenced deviously by the sound.

I read two conflicting things on Talkbass a couple years back. One thread said the SFs had the same tension string per string as the Mittels. Another thread said the Mittel E had more tension than the SF E but the SF G had more tension than the Mittel G.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #8 01-25-2009, 01:21 PM

From the top of this page:
http://jordankirkness.tripod.com/dbstringtension.html

Peck_Time · #9 01-25-2009, 03:08 PM

It depends on your bass.

On my Cleveland, Mittels were very tense, boingy and bright- even after 9 months of playing. I could bow them but not very well.
The Weiches feel a lot nicer to play, sound darker and bow much better.

Your mileage WILL vary!

TroyK · #10 01-25-2009, 04:59 PM

Safe to say that Mittels are the Spriocore counterpart to Superflexibles. Weiches will feel quite a bit different. I've found Mittels and SFs to be very similar in gauge and feel, but I've seen contradictory tension charts and opinions on both. No one compares them to Weichs or Starks, though. if you're looking to brighten up when you already have, it's Spiro Mittels.

Bobby King · #11 01-25-2009, 05:37 PM

Maybe it's the difference between stiffness and tension that gives people conflicting impressions about Superflexibles versus Spirocore Mittels. That chart says that Superflexes have greater tension, but I perceive Mittels as having more. Maybe it's just that they have greater stiffness? I put Mittels on my Shen recently, and between them and the cold snap we've been having, I developed a crack on my right hand middle finger tip. Ouch, it hurts to pluck! But, I do like the Mittels and I'm bowing on them with no problems.

robgrow · #12 01-26-2009, 09:49 PM

For a while I was using Superflexible D & G along with Spirocore Mittel E & A. I've since gone back to using all Spirocores, which I like much better overall and are also easier to play with less tension.

Uncletoad · #13 01-27-2009, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peck_Time

It depends on your bass.

On my Cleveland, Mittels were very tense, boingy and bright- even after 9 months of playing. I could bow them but not very well.
The Weiches feel a lot nicer to play, sound darker and bow much better.

Your mileage WILL vary!

Yea ymmv for sure.

Weichs on my Cleveland seemed wimpy and buzzy, Mittels are loud and powerful. I use a Stark E as well on that bass. A little extra sauce on that string makes it really get moving.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedGrout

For a while I was using Superflexible D & G along with Spirocore Mittel E & A. I've since gone back to using all Spirocores, which I like much better overall and are also easier to play with less tension.

Me too. Funny how far around the barn you go to get right back where you start.

JavierBass · #14 01-29-2009, 09:35 PM

You know what? I'm way too happy with my superflexibles right now. I'm definitely not switching to spirocores. I'm really happy with the sound of my bass right now and I feel like I can really dig in to the spirocores and that darker tone sounds great. I guess I was just contemplating the switch since I knew alot of jazz guys use spirocores like my hero Ray Brown who uses Wiechs. But I decided I'm staying with superflexibles.

Mark Perna · #15 01-29-2009, 09:48 PM

Ray Brown used Weichs? I thought he used Mittels.

Uncletoad · #16 01-29-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calivox

Ray Brown used Weichs? I thought he used Mittels.

He used Mittels when he switched from Gut to Spirocore in the late 50's or so. Started using Weichs in the last 5 or so years before he died.

Mark Perna · #17 01-30-2009, 04:18 AM

Ah. Thanks.

TroyK · #18 01-30-2009, 08:33 AM

In a somewhat unrelated comment, Ray Brown had some huge hands. I got to see him twice including the month that he died. All of the stuff you thought was true, but I also remember being stricken with those big mitts and giant pizz finger moving the weichs seemingly 4 inches on every note, but with complete finesse.

That memory has been some of my inspiration to set my bass up the way that she seems to want to be and then adjust myself to her. Within reason, of course.

jgbass · #19 01-30-2009, 09:38 AM

I am totally happy with my Supflexibles. They have been on both of my bassess for about a month or so and have settled in nicely. I play 50/50 pizz and arco, and I find they work just great for both. I did a lot of research here and Superflex's seemed like the best choice for someone who does both pizz and arco. They are working out fine.

Coming back to a Spiro family string, I remember how much I missed the feel of these steel strings. I think I am going to stay with these for a long time.

AMJBASS · #20 01-30-2009, 10:57 PM

I still don't dig the Superflexible E. The rest of the set sounds good, and the gauge particularly nice(IMO), but the E just doesn't sound like the rest of the set to me. I have experimented with pretty well everything and I still find Spirocores to be ideal when I am not practicing at home