Supersensitive Stellars to Corelli 370F

bassist1962 · #1 06-30-2006, 12:15 PM

I recently aquirred a German fully carved bass, that I can best guess (using the string winding chart), has Supersensitive Stellar strings on it. They sound alright, but I know the history of this instruments last 45 years, and know that these have been on there (albeit not played that often) for 25 - 30 years. In chcking out strings I have decided to use Corelli 370F. How different a sound should I expect from the Corelli's than from the Supersensitives?

gomez hacienda · #2 06-30-2006, 02:21 PM

I would be at a loss trying to compare new strings to ones 25 yrs old. Corellis are good, however, especially if you use the bow, but you probobly know that already. One thing...I would always recommend TXs instead of Fs...Corellis are not very heavy to begin with. I would bet you'd get a better sound from the TXs.

gomez

**Francois Blais** · #3 06-30-2006, 03:24 PM

I agree with Gomez on the TX vs F's.
Expect them to be bright at first.
They will settle in within a few weeks.
Are you playing jazz pizz or arco?

bassist1962 · #4 06-30-2006, 07:15 PM

I am faily new to DB. My brother in law played jazz in the '50's and '60's. He raised me from the time I was eleven (I am now 43). I learned to play bass on this particular upright. I am a rocker at heart and have played BG mostly. I haven't played the upright in over 15 years, and arco since high school. He passed away a few years ago and I inherited this instrument which hasn't really been played since 1968. I finally was able to take possesion of it about a month ago. My band plays acoustic as well as electric, and as a whim on one song I played arco, now one guitarist is trying to find as many songs for me to use the bow on as he can, but I am mainly a pizz player. I plan on doing both, but mainly pizz. I don't mind a bright sound, but a thin, tinny sound I can't stand. If I gave the model and brand info would that help in determining what type of sound I could expect?

**Francois Blais** · #5 06-30-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist1962

He passed away a few years ago and I inherited this instrument which hasn't really been played since 1968. I finally was able to take possesion of it about a month ago.

Stellar strings were launched after 1972. (I'd say in the late '80s, early '90s)
So I don't think that's what's on your instrument, taken they are there since at least 1968.

Quote:

I don't mind a bright sound, but a thin, tinny sound I can't stand. If I gave the model and brand info would that help in determining what type of sound I could expect?

Brand and model of string?
Some generalizations are possible, but each instrument reacts differently with strings. (mainly a tension thing)
Corellis may give a relatively thin sound.
If you want a bright but fuller tone, I'd suggest looking at Pirastro Jazzers and Thomastik Superflexibles or Spirocores. (Superflex being somewhat darker, easier to play, and more affordable than the Spiros)

bassist1962 · #6 06-30-2006, 09:03 PM

I guess I forgot to mention the last time it was restrung was around 1978 - 79. I was originally looking into Helicore Hybrids. Should I go with my original instinct? I have read that they are like Spirocores only less expensive. He was a jazz player which suprises me that he wouldn't have Spirocores (or something similar) on the instrument. I have also heard that Spiros are harsh sounding under the bow. As far as tension - if I am right the more tension the louder and more sustain I will get. I just don't want to destroy this instrument by placing too much tension on it. It has been played more in the last month than in the last 38 years, and the wood is finally starting to wake up again. It needs a good refurbishing, so right now I am just weighing my options. It all comes down to sound. Is there a recording that has a good example of Corelli pizz? I have heard Rabbath's cello like arco sound, and I like that, but can't seem to find a pizz player using these strings. This would be a wonderful help.

bassist1962 · #7 06-30-2006, 09:09 PM

I'm sorry Francois - Brand and Model of the bass.

Johnny L · #8 06-30-2006, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist1962

I have heard Rabbath's cello like arco sound, and I like that, but can't seem to find a pizz player using these strings.

I could be wrong and didn't ask them personally, but I want to recall that Lynn Seaton's and Jeffrey Eckels' basses both were strung with Corellis. Both guys are PIZZ SUPERHEROES and teach (or teached) at UNT.

So was mine, though I consider myself more of the student grade level player.

Paul Ellison's bass was strung with Corellis, and he played a Rabbath tune all-pizz. Sounded fantastic!

I saw around 20 kids playing jazz on the UNT owned basses or their own...and all the basses were strung with anything and everything imaginable, from Corellis to Helicores to Spirocores to Pirastros to the $10 Chinese strings that get dogged here...they all sounded great in my book.

Actually I thought the best sounding bass was one held by (an exceptionally good) student using Helicore Orchestra strings from top to bottom, both pizz and arco. Because of that, my bass now has my own pre-owned Helicores back on and I do like the big sound they make. Plus, arco sounds great too!

But I've seen firsthand a player sound absolutely knockout doing nothing but arco on Spirocores...and I'm big time jealous she can make them sound so good with the bow. Absolutely dynamite pizz strings with great sustain for vibrato and other nuances dead sounding strings won't support.

Really, it will be fun exploring all the options whether you choose your favorite player's endorsed string or whatever...enjoy!

JoeyNaeger · #9 06-30-2006, 10:33 PM

"I could be wrong and didn't ask them personally, but I want to recall that Lynn Seaton's and Jeffrey Eckels' basses both were strung with Corellis. Both guys are PIZZ SUPERHEROES and teach (or teached) at UNT."

When I saw Jeffrey Eckels play a few weeks ago at UNT, it looked like he was using obligatos...that being said, the corellis have always had warm sustaining pizz on both my basses.

Johnny L · #10 06-30-2006, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyNaeger

When I saw Jeffrey Eckels play a few weeks ago at UNT, it looked like he was using obligatos...that being said, the corellis have always had warm sustaining pizz on both my basses.

Hi Joey hmm you are probably correct. They had red and black thread colors...thought they were a different size Corelli but maybe not.

Were you in one of the camps too...Jeff Bradetich's?

**Francois Blais** · #11 07-01-2006, 10:12 AM

For bassist1962:
As you can see with all previous posts, the same strings may sound quite different on various instruments.
The idea that higher tension strings will give you more power and sustain is not really true. It depends on the instrument.
If it likes lighter strings, it'll get choked with higher tension ones.
There's no magic answer to your query.
You'll probably need to experiment, like us, with several sets until you find the set, or mix, that satisfies both you and your instrument!

bassist1962 · #12 07-01-2006, 08:54 PM

So I am literally learning a brand new instrument per say. I have to go through the same things I went through for 30 years on the BG. But I have that experience to rely on of saying I should have listened...I just need to know what It is I am looking for, and go in that direction. Look at what others in the music I am playing are using as a starting point, then spread out from there. Ask the pros around my area what they use as well. I aready did this with rosin, now it is on to strings and then onto something else. I will eventually have it put together and have my own sound/style, just as I have on BG. Thanks for the tips and advice.

bassist1962 · #13 07-02-2006, 06:08 AM

Interestingly I looked at the website of the distributor(?) of this instrument. the only thing mentioned about strings is that they have the 'highest quality of chromium steel strings.'. I am now wondering if the materials used are arco specific, pizz specific or a middle area. This particular instrument was intended for classical work. My research shows me that chromium strings are what are on there now. I remember in the '70's when, I first picked it up, this instrument having gut strings on it. Do I just experiment or how can I tell if my bass 'likes' high or low tension? Back then a bass was a bass was a bass, so I can't really remember the sound of the gut strings. But for my purposes, playing style and all that - after further study - it looks like the Thomastik or Helicores would be the choice for me. Everybody seems to praise Spirocores and Love/Hate the Helicores. Anyway my question is about material makeup of the string for certain applications. What can anybody tell me?

**Francois Blais** · #14 07-02-2006, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist1962

Do I just experiment or how can I tell if my bass 'likes' high or low tension?

As a simple experiment, you can raise or lower the pitch on all the strings to see how the bass reacts. A half step is okay, and let the bass stabilize for several hours. Now play it.

Quote:

But for my purposes, playing style and all that - after further study - it looks like the Thomastik or Helicores would be the choice for me. Everybody seems to praise Spirocores and Love/Hate the Helicores. Anyway my question is about material makeup of the string for certain applications. What can anybody tell me?

Orchestral strings are usually dampened with stuff like silk or plastic to reduce the metallic edge and sustain, and give a darker, somewhat more gut-like tone.
You'll also see solo strings, or solo-tuning.
These strings are meant to be played a whole tone higher, thus F# B E A, so they're thinner. You can play them at regular orchestra pitch (E A D G) as an extra thin gauge string.

bassist1962 · #15 07-03-2006, 07:34 AM

I tuned the bass up a half step. I left it overnight, and played it first thing this morning. It seems to be louder, with a quicker response. If I remember right, he had a problem with the soundpost falling, if that has anything to do with string tension, I would rather not go with low tension strings anyway. but I did have the strings lowered a half step last week, as I was trying to figure out lines of players that tuned a half step lower. It didn't seem to have any resonance or response. If the Corellis have less tension, then I may have this same problem if I string them on my bass. It is looking more like I am going in the direction of Thomastik. I am leaning more toward the Superflexibles rather than Spiros for my purposes. I had a similar problem when I started on BG. Everybody was using Rotosound. I like the sound of them, but they weren't right for me in certain applications. I feel the same thing will happen with the Spiro's. I need something bright, long lasting, loud, and bowable. It looks to me that the Superfexibles meet that criteria better than the Spiro's which I hear are relatively harsh under the bow. Thanks for all the advice. This is an absolutely wonderful site.

**Francois Blais** · #16 07-03-2006, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist1962

If the Corellis have less tension, then I may have this same problem if I string them on my bass. It is looking more like I am going in the direction of Thomastik. I am leaning more toward the Superflexibles rather than Spiros for my purposes. [...] It looks to me that the Superfexibles meet that criteria better than the Spiro's which I hear are relatively harsh under the bow. Thanks for all the advice. This is an absolutely wonderful site.

Twenty years ago I had a nice hungarian plywood.
That bass *loved* the Superflexibles, but didn't sound as good with Spirocores.
YMMV.

bassist1962 · #17 07-04-2006, 03:03 PM

I couldn't find anything on this, so I am asking here. If an arco string has material to dampen the sound, or vibration, and I am mainly a pizz player wanting to use brighter strings such as Spirocores or Helicore pizz, then would a mute dampen the strings enough for arco playing? I am sure that this has been done before, so what is the result?