What to Try After Flexocore Original

[SirFunk]

Hi all,

I'm trying to decide on what strings to try next on my bass. I play roughly 25% jazz, 35% orchestral, 40% classical solo. So I need a generally "all around" string, but pizz can sacrifice a little in favor of solo stuff.

Right now I have a Flexocore Original G and D and Permanent A and E.

The Flexocores are the best strings I've had on my bass so far. I am; however, interested in what else might be "better".

I'll give a quick rundown of the strings I've had:

Flexocore - Best so far, sound good, bright, not tooo-bright, nice texture and tension, speak relatively well.

Permanent - Sound: eh, ok ... they do not speak well at all on my bass

Corelli Tungsten - Sounded good, too much on the bright side though and they seemed to wear out quick, i think they were a little too low on the tension side, but I'm not certain

Helicore Hybrid - they were just kinda.. meh

I've also played obligatos on someone elses bass, i don't like the feel of them, they feel too "big" physically.

So what would you recommend i try next? I have heard lots of good things about the Evah Pirazzi and the Bel Canto... Also the teacher i'm starting with in the fall said some of his students like Velvet strings (he didn't mention which line)

Thanks for any suggestions,
Jeff

[Jeff Moote]

If you didn't like the larger diameter of Oblis, you probably won't like the Evah Pirazzi or Velvet strings. The Velvets that would be advised for arco playing are the compas 180s - someone is selling a set in the classifieds but they are notoriously large in diameter and low in tension (I've been researching because I may get a set myself).

I'm not quite sure what you're looking for... if better bow response and a warmer sound, then Bel Canto will probably be a good choice.

It sounds like you're pretty happy with the strings on top, so why not try a full set of Orig Flexocor? The E is pretty huge, but other than that the bottom two are pretty much how you described the top two.

[SirFunk]

Yeah, sorry I guess i didn't really specify what i was looking for. I just want to try something similar but different. The flex's sound good, but maybe something else will sound better and the only way to tell is to try (and i can't afford to buy multiple sets at once to test). I might try the Bel Canto's my new teacher also suggested those.

Thanks!

Any other suggestions welcome aswell.

[Jake deVilliers]

You might try Thomastik Superflexibles. There are some descriptions to be found if you use the 'Search' function.

They are tight, but not too tight, warm, but not too warm, punchy, but not too punchy.

They are medium fat (see the String Gauge Sticky) and work fairly well for both pizz and arco. They don't have the long boingy sustain of Spirocores or the pizz thumpiness of Flexocore '92s. They last very well and they are relatively inexpensive too.

You could try just the A & E to start with........

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

You might try Thomastik Superflexibles.

I hate to make this comment without firsthand experience (with the Superflexibles), but from my research there's no way they are even comparable to the Pirastros under the bow in smoothness. This can be good or bad, but since Jeff says he plays 40% classical solo (not to mention the 35% orch) smooth bowing would be at the top of my priorities - thus the Bel Canto suggestion - lots of people with similar needs are going for these. If it was more like 70-100% orch where a strong sound is more important than a "nice" one I'd agree that Superflexibles (or perhaps Dominants) would be a good choice.

[Francois Blais]

I also agree on the Bel Canto rec for mostly arco work.
Also worth of try:
Kolstein Varicors: along the lines of Original Flexocors, but with more clarity
Jargars: pizz can be real muddy, but arco is what they're designed for! Extra smooth and soft.

[Cfederle]

Not sure what sound difference you are looking for, but with my bass and experience I have found that compared to the Orig Flex the Orig Flatchromesteel (white with purple stripe wrappings) are a bit thinner feeling and a little brighter. I use the G and D for solo strings (both solo and orch tuning solo playing). For orchestra I have started to like the Bel Cantos, these seem to be darker and have a faster response, though they are a bit lighter string and can not take the weight like my pirastros. Personally I am considering to switch back to the Orig Flexs since my bass has been restored, but I also play on an older French bass mostly for orchestras and solos, so I am trying to find something that is as dark and responsive as I can.