theater gig on czech-ease string help

conte2music · #1 11-01-2007, 01:01 AM

Hi guys,
I'm doing a touring theater production and I'm using my Czech-ease. It's a cool little bass, and I've been happy using it in jazz situations, but using it for both arco and pizz poses more of a challenge. Right now I have spiro reds on the bottom and flexocors on the top. I know it sounds extreme but it's been okay

thus far.

I'd like a less aggressive sound that is more bowable on the bottom...maybe switch to somthing along the lines of a superflexible? I'd also like less of the "ping" I'm getting on the top from the flexocor, so maybe a dominant? Being that durability is a priority I'd like to keep to steel strings atleast on the bottom.

Has anyone been using a czech-ease for this type of playing and what strings have worked best for you?

I have been sending a golden trinity and a rev solo to the board...each have there own channel. The sound guy swears he uses the rev solo sparingly, but who knows...haha
I have since purchased an amt mic and will send that hopefully by itself in the future.

Thanks for any and all help!

Chris

**Francois Blais** · #2 11-01-2007, 06:23 AM

If you put something else on the bottom, with less growl and sustain, you may find the Flexocor on top quite satisfying.
I suggest Permanents for the bottom strings.

conte2music · #3 11-02-2007, 10:54 AM

Thanks Francois! I would agree, however I just checked out the amt mic and the flexocors are too dark. The spiros pizz were great with the mic, but bowing the a is dreadful.

Any thoughts about the spiro E with superflexibles or corelli txs keeping in mind that I'll be using the amt mic on the Czech-ease? The show is about 70/30 pizz/arco, but all the arco passages are super exposed during the ballads, so the spiro chainsaw thing isn't going to cut it...haha

Chris

conte2music · #4 11-02-2007, 11:00 AM

I feel like I'm asking the same old knoob questions, but this czech-ease is a real different beast. It's great for what it is, but getting both arco and pizz sounds happening at the same time is a real challenge.

**Francois Blais** · #5 11-02-2007, 11:10 AM

Why not an all-Corelli setup?
My favorite set is the 370M.

conte2music · #6 11-02-2007, 03:22 PM

I have corelli 370f with a spiro weich E on my 5/8 wilfer, and they sound great for the jazz and chamber music I do with that instrument. I think that a little more ooomph for the czech-ease would suit the older style Irving Berlin tunes that we're doing in the show. The spiro red on the bottom has really helped with the low end. I had a weich on there previosly and it was super wimpy in comparison.

**Francois Blais** · #7 11-02-2007, 06:54 PM

Obligatos then?

conte2music · #8 11-02-2007, 08:54 PM

obligatos would be a dream...don't temp me! The bass gets tossed around by tech people, and lives on the back of a tractor trailer. We travel by bus all over the US, and within the same week we'll travel through extreme climate changes. We often have VERY limited time to setup and I'm just too afraid to open my case and have some broken strings and only 20 mins before the curtain...especially with winter coming. Steels are going to be a must, atleast on the bottom for sure.

conte2music · #9 11-02-2007, 08:56 PM

I think i'll just put all the names of middle of the road steel strings in a hat and pick one...haha

**Francois Blais** · #10 11-03-2007, 09:24 AM

Dominants may be prone to breaking, but I didn't know the Oblis too!

I give up then!

conte2music · #11 11-03-2007, 11:06 AM

Me too! I'm just putting on something cheap and calling it a day. Your patience amazes me Francois.

**maxito** · #12 11-05-2007, 08:53 AM

Just sold my Czech Ease, but had been in a similar situation. Might I suggest a Kolstein Heritage set...?

AMJBASS · #13 11-05-2007, 08:57 AM

The Superflexibles are OK strings. I never liked the E on them. It seemed to lack fundamental. Might I suggest trying Pirastro Flat Chromes on the A D G? They are great for Pizz, and easy to bow. I say keep the Spiro E. I think I am going to pick up one of those Czech Ease basses in the near future...

Reuben · #14 11-05-2007, 10:06 AM

I use Spirocore Weichs on my Czech-Ease and it sounds great. I bow a lot.

No problem.

Sounds great ampified, too.

conte2music · #15 11-07-2007, 04:07 PM

Thanks for the responses guys! I'm just too nervous about using synthetic strings while I'm on the road, but I'll be sure to give the Heritages a go in the future. I had great success with the weichs when I was doing gigs that only required my amp, but going through the house they just sound thinner. I'll look into the flatchromes, and I haven't ruled out the superflexibles. I used to use them with good results on a great old kay I had years ago. On that bass they were like a broader, more bowable weich. I got even more volume than I did with spirocores, so maybe I should try them first just because I'm familiar with them.

BrandonEssex · #16 11-12-2007, 12:13 PM

I've been using innovation strings for years, and I've never had any issues with them breaking or unwinding. I typically use them for a year or more before changing, and I keep the old ones as spares, although I've never needed one. Before I switched to these I even broke a Helicore hybrid right in the middle of a gig. They make a solid core and a braided core. I like both, with the braided core being noticeably darker and more bowable. That being said, I think the solid core is the best sounding/playing hybrid string I've heard for getting an old school punchy pizz sound, and also a good solid arco tone without all the scratch. It's also a higher tension string, and seems to be more appropriate for modern basses designed to accommodate steel strings. Also they're cheap.....
http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_innovationbass.shtml

conte2music · #17 11-17-2007, 03:55 PM

Thanks for the reply Brandon. Are the Innovation Hybrids darker for bowing than pirastro flatchromsteels?

greitzer · #18 11-18-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conte2music

....I'll look into the flatchromes, and I haven't ruled out the superflexibles. I used to use them with good results on a great old kay I had years ago. On that bass they were like a broader, more bowable weich. I got even more volume than I did with spirocores, so maybe I should try them first just because I'm familiar with them.

In my experience, those two strings -- Superflexibles and Pirastro Flat Chromesteels -- are the two best "multi-purpose" steel strings I've tried. Both have a strong, clear pizz sound and both are pretty bow-friendly. In fact the Superflexible E is the only E string that I've ever been happy with on my bass.

Flexocors are nice to bow but don't have as much oomph for pizz; same with Corellis (although I've only tried the Corelli medium gauge, perhaps the heavy guage give more oomph). Good luck.

ZonGuy · #19 11-18-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conte2music

I feel like I'm asking the same old knoob questions, but this czech-ease is a real different beast. It's great for what it is, but getting both arco and pizz sounds happening at the same time is a real challenge.

The first time I saw a Czech-ease was with Michael Moore playing with Dave Brubeck last year in Houston. MM sounded awesome on both pizz and arco, esp. on arco. Unfortunately, I never asked him what strings he used. He Fed-Ex's his CE to his gigs.

BrandonEssex · #20 11-18-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conte2music

Thanks for the reply Brandon. Are the Innovation Hybrids darker for bowing than pirastro flatchromsteels?

I believe they are, but i haven't compared them in many years. I haven't heard a steel string that compares, really. Even Corellis are brighter, last time i compared....