i play classical and jazz and i really like the pizz on these srings and the seem pretty decent with a bow. any thoughts?
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Double Bass spirocores for classical?
- Thread starter davidsbass
- Start date
Yeah this comes up every so often. There are examples of players using each gauge, which isnt too surprising since that seems to be their original purpose - especially the solo gauge.
Certainly possible, I played them in the orchestra for a long time. Weichs aren't so easy to bow, but are good when you get it right.
I have been playing classical with spirocores for over ten years and I have been very happy with them. They do sound a little more "scratchy" than some strings but IMO it helps your sound carry in a section. My biggest arco complaint with spirocores is that they are touchy when amplified.
You really should ask the people you're playing with in the section what they think about your sound. IMO section playing is more about blending in than cutting through. You are supposed to have a uniform sound and approach together. Ask the principal what they are looking for and go from there.
Although I cannot call myself a classical player at all, I do play bowed, and increasingly so, be it at home for the amusement of my neighbors or out in the real world. Never with string sections, though. But: I think, spiros are wonderful bowed strings, you get a strong sound that cuts through everything, you get to work on your bow technique because they are not forgiving (every slight mistake sounds like hell), but if Edicson Ruiz does it, it can't be wrong... IMO the sharp edges of the high frequencies are more annoying for the player than for the audience, they hardly hear them at 5-10 metres distance...
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I have been playing spiros mittels and starks for 5 years exclusively, on and off for the last 20 years. I just love them.
They will not scratch if you rosin the lower two strings directly. This is a forgotten technique and it is frowned upon by many, but it is still widely done by historic performance professionals using plain gut strings, which tend to be scratchy as well.
It will feel weird at first, you will need to learn to adjust to using A LOT LESS downward pressure, otherwise your bow will get stuck from the additional rosin.
They will not scratch if you rosin the lower two strings directly. This is a forgotten technique and it is frowned upon by many, but it is still widely done by historic performance professionals using plain gut strings, which tend to be scratchy as well.
It will feel weird at first, you will need to learn to adjust to using A LOT LESS downward pressure, otherwise your bow will get stuck from the additional rosin.
+1 This is the real factor here, by the time anyone is a real "classical player" they won't have any trouble getting a good arco sound from Sprios or any other string.
The extra overtones make them cut a lot more. I know at least two great new music solists use them, Stefano Scodanibbio and Joëlle Léandre.
I think many solosists use Spiro solos.
They are wonderful strings if you want your arco playing to have a lot nuance, which could also make them less ideal for section work.
If you have a super dark bass, they might help you in a section, though. Matching strings to the instrument is as important as matching them to your technique and playing style.
I use Spiro Mittels for G, D and A with a tuned down Stark E for the fourth string. I used to play a variety of synthetic core strings before I switched a couple of years ago.
Within in a month of putting on the Spiros two people at different events (both playing Baroque music) commented on the "sweet" sound of my bass. That sure never happened before.
The people who say they sound scratchy are usually the ones who use a Glasser bow with 10 year old hair and dried out Pops rosin to play the last note of a ballad on a cheap plywood bass with an Underwood pickup in a smoky bar after eating chicken wings during the break.
Within in a month of putting on the Spiros two people at different events (both playing Baroque music) commented on the "sweet" sound of my bass. That sure never happened before.
The people who say they sound scratchy are usually the ones who use a Glasser bow with 10 year old hair and dried out Pops rosin to play the last note of a ballad on a cheap plywood bass with an Underwood pickup in a smoky bar after eating chicken wings during the break.
I too have played orchestra with Spiros. And two more guys were using them in the section. The other two guys had a real dark sound with spiros. One of them had an Old bass, probably Czech, and the othet guys had a KAY!!!
Anyway, although I like spiros a lot I had to switch to EP's regular just so I have an easier time blending with the section. I play a new Romanian 7/8 flatback.
Anyway, although I like spiros a lot I had to switch to EP's regular just so I have an easier time blending with the section. I play a new Romanian 7/8 flatback.
I use the light gauge spiros and the string rosining trick works well for extra grip on the spongier weich E without over-rosining the bow. Why is it frowned upon?
I've bowed mittel, weichs, and solos. All of them were very easy to bow IMHO. The weichs and solos being the easiest. Right now I use a mittel E and weich ADG. They have a bright sound, but if you can bow them they have a great tone.
Damn shame. Too many people forget that, even though it may have been awhile, even centuries, all ideas and techniques were new once upon a time, and considered unorthodox.
