Upton Gary's Blended Double Bass Strings

LanceSulton · #1 03-12-2010, 04:52 AM

Greetings, all.

Over my 20+ years of playing the double bass (mostly Jazz), I've tried many kinds of strings, with many different results. I'm currently using medium Helicore Hybrids which are getting a bit long in the tooth (pizz is suffering, but arco is improving!). The Hybrids have served me well, but I'm on the prowl for something a bit better. Has anyone tried the "blended" set of Spirocore S42 E & A Med. with Pirastro Obligato D & G bass strings? Sounds intriguing, but before I plunk down $166, I'd like to see if anyone has experience with this.

Thanks!!!

AMJBASS · #2 03-12-2010, 06:23 AM

I have blended spirocores and obligatos. I am not sure if you will like it on your bass or not. The tension between the 2 is somewhat different. There is really only one way to find out! Thomastik Dominants are a much better match tension wise to the Spirocores though. I have played that setup quite a bit and I always found it to be a particularly nice match.

Eric Hochberg · #3 03-12-2010, 07:55 AM

I enjoyed that combo for a while and thought they matched up pretty well. I did a lot of recording with them, and they gave me a darker sound than all spiros would have. I have 3 spiros and an obli G on now and it's ok, but think I like the Evah weich darkness better.

drurb · #4 03-12-2010, 08:19 AM

Nice sound but I always found the Oblis to be wimpy. Fine in the living room, anemic on the bandstand. I'd dig in and they'd give up. I really love Dominants-- so much so that I wouldn't blend 'em-- I'd use an entire set. I don't because they kept breaking. If you want a darker sound, try a full set of Evah weichs. They're what Obligatos always wanted to be.

LanceSulton · #5 03-12-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Nice sound but I always found the Oblis to be wimpy. Fine in the living room, anemic on the bandstand. I'd dig in and they'd give up. I really love Dominants-- so much so that I wouldn't blend 'em-- I'd use an entire set. I don't because they kept breaking. If you want a darker sound, try a full set of Evah weichs. They're what Obligatos always wanted to be.

How's the growl factor on the Evahs?

Greg Clinkingbeard · #6 03-12-2010, 05:07 PM

I used that mix for awhile and liked it until the Obligatos died. They just don't last very long. Been using Spiro mittels with an Olive G and like that alot.

Dr. Jake · #7 03-12-2010, 07:02 PM

I liked the Spirogato mix on my Shen hybrid. But Gretchen the carved Hofner seems to prefer a full set of Spiro mediums. The Obligato D and G just didn't seem powerful enough to get my big German girl's attention.

drurb · #8 03-12-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LanceSulton

How's the growl factor on the Evahs?

Okay, but no way Evahs growl like Spiro mitts (on my bass, anyway).

Daveming · #9 03-19-2010, 08:05 AM

That Upton combination sounds to me more like a marketing thing.

As someone else in this forum said, Evah Pirazzis are the strings that Obligatos try to be, but aren't. To me, EPs are a "fix" for Obligatos - for their shortcomings. I think 2 + 2 EP/Spiro is not only a better combination, it's a great combination.

Eric Hochberg · #10 03-19-2010, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveming

That Upton combination sounds to me more like a marketing thing.

As someone else in this forum said, Evah Pirazzis are the strings that Obligatos try to be, but aren't. To me, EPs are a "fix" for Obligatos - for their shortcomings. I think 2 + 2 EP/Spiro is not only a better combination, it's a great combination.

I don't know, Evahs and Oblis sound much different to me, each good in their own way.

martinc · #11 03-20-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveming

That Upton combination sounds to me more like a marketing thing.

As someone else in this forum said, Evah Pirazzis are the strings that Obligatos try to be, but aren't. To me, EPs are a "fix" for Obligatos - for their shortcomings. I think 2 + 2 EP/Spiro is not only a better combination, it's a great combination.

Daveming: are you referring to the Evah Pirazzi Weichs or the regulars?
I would think with the Spiro Orchestra A' and the EP Regulars would be quite high tension.....same with the Spiro Orchestra and the Dominants.

drurb · #12 03-21-2010, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveming

That Upton combination sounds to me more like a marketing thing.

Having talked to Gary at some length about this over time, I assure you it wasn't and isn't a "marketing thing." I don't understand how you'd come to that conclusion. It's an interesting combination that I don't happen to like, given my preferences and style of play.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveming

As someone else in this forum said, Evah Pirazzis are the strings that Obligatos try to be, but aren't. To me, EPs are a "fix" for Obligatos - for their shortcomings. I think 2 + 2 EP/Spiro is not only a better combination, it's a great combination.

I'm the one who made that comment about EP weichs vs. Obligatos. While you might judge 2 +2 EP/Siro to be a better mix than Spiro/Oblis, I judge a whole set of EP weichs to be better balanced and a better choice than either of those two mixtures. I'm not big on mixing string sets and that holds especially for EP weichs. They are a very balanced set and if one likes the EP weich sound and feel, then IMO, mixing is sub-optimal. If one doesn't like the EP sound and fell, well, that's another story.

**Francois Blais** · #13 03-21-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

I don't know, Evahs and Oblis sound much different to me, each good in their own way.

+1.
They're very different.
EPs are not "improved" Obligatos, they're an entirely different string.

drurb · #14 03-21-2010, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francois Blais

+1.
They're very different.
EPs are not "improved" Obligatos, they're an entirely different string.

Yes, they are different strings. Entirely different? I think not. Here's how I see it. For me and quite a number of other players, they share some fundamental (no pun intended) characteristics. The Oblis are rich and dark-sounding. The drawbacks are for me, and many other players, that they lack punch, the ability to cut through, and they "give up" when you dig in. Now, if you wanted that same type of dark, warm, rich sound coupled with more punch and the ability to dig in, you have EP weichs. So, are EP weichs different from Oblis? Of course, but to me and others, they are functionally an enhanced and, yes, improved version of Oblis. YMMV.

Eric Hochberg · #15 03-21-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Now, if you wanted that same type of dark, warm, rich sound coupled with more punch and the ability to dig in, you have EP weichs.

Except I hear the Oblis as brighter than EPs, which is why I think they blend well with spiros. I haven't tried blending EPs with spiros, but I can't imagine they would mix as well.

drurb · #16 03-21-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Except I hear the Oblis as brighter than EPs, which is why I think they blend well with spiros. I haven't tried blending EPs with spiros, but I can't imagine they would mix as well.

Agreed!

MIKMAN · #17 03-22-2010, 12:56 AM

Following Drurb's advise i tried a set of EP Weichs in one of my basses and it delivered a warm dark sound, which was perfect on stage (K&K pickup and preamp). Then i experimented with a Spiro mittel E and A, keeping the EP weich A and G. This mix is better in this particular bass, since it delivers the warm, dark sound i prefer and keeps the low end's dynamic intact, with the occasionally desirable growl of the Spiros. Last week i made some recordings in the studio and the result was exceptional.
Upton's mix worked well in one of my basses, a carved Guardelli, but the Oblis died in six months (without particular use), so i discarded it. I remember it as a mix which gave me an arco sound
with lot of volume.
Mike

m. parker · #18 03-24-2010, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Now, if you wanted that same type of dark, warm, rich sound coupled with more punch and the ability to dig in, you have EP weichs. YMMV.

How do the EP weichs compare to the Spirocore weichs? I've got spiros at the moment but am looking for something darker and punchier... and that description sounded pretty good. I'm looking for something punchy and clear and with a real natural woody sound if anyone else has any suggestions.

drurb · #19 03-24-2010, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m. parker

How do the EP weichs compare to the Spirocore weichs? I've got spiros at the moment but am looking for something darker and punchier... and that description sounded pretty good. I'm looking for something punchy and clear and with a real natural woody sound if anyone else has any suggestions.

I haven't tried the Spiro weichs on my bass. My understanding is that they retain much of the classic Spiro sound. On my bass, and on a fair number of others I've played, the EP weichs are definitely darker, punchier, and more "woody" than Spiro mittels. They don't have the growl of the Spiro mitts, nor do they have that really nice "whine" in the upper register. I went back to Spiro mitts after my injury and there's just so much to love about them. That being said, I plan to put the EP weichs back on soon.

m. parker · #20 03-25-2010, 01:02 AM

based on the description, im really intrigued by the ep weichs... but then i checked out this comparison recording http://www.hervejeanne.de/saitenmatrix.php and it sounds to me like the spiros are a little fatter and punchier and i kind of like how they sound a bit more.... but just on this guy's bass. do you think these recordings are an accurate general representation of the differences in sound? thanks for the help.