Double Bass 2022 Spirocore Challenge

[Ryan in PDX]

Instruments that are not doublebasses have to be okay. I play a bit of guitar, BG, and piano, though I'm unlikely to do any on gigs. If I happen to get a good BG gig, I'm going to take it. That's gotta be okay.

No excuses, Troy. And any drummer caught playing without an approved Spirocore Cymbal Sizzler(TM) is immediately disqualified!

If I may be allowed to opine: I think this challenge can only apply to the double bass. I only have one DB, for the record. And the Spiro in the photo is a backup - my bass is still wearing reds.

 

[Don Hergert]

So I'll start the ball rolling. Just trying to make this easier...

As a judge, I propose that if someone has more than one DB, and if they use the DBs with 100% Spiros on them at least 50% of the time for gigs and at least 50% of the time for practice, they qualify.

Any counter-offers?

 

[Sam Reese]

@dhergert this sounds reasonable. As a bass fanatic that has All-Spiros on two basses, I look forward to the stories that will transpire from those that are trying them for the first time (if any) and others that aren't used to being "stuck" with a single brand/model for a year. Will it be glorious or a jail sentence? For those that might not have your bass set up by a bass luthier, you may learn much about your bass that you didn't know before. I learned my lessons in a great way after both basses were set up properly.

 

[Ryan in PDX]

@dhergertI look forward to the stories that will transpire from those that are trying them for the first time

Happy to indulge! I've spent the last hour and half bowing my long tones, scales/arpeggios, and Simandl exercises, just loving the Spiro G&D. I didn't realize how much the previous strings were hiding as far as my arco technique. The Spiros are giving me back exactly what I put in, for better or for worse. The same E&A I've had for a while are suddenly deeper and more thunderous now that their matching high strings have joined the party.

For those that might not have your bass set up by a bass luthier, you may learn much about your bass that you didn't know before. I learned my lessons in a great way after both basses were set up properly.

My last luthier setup was mid-2020, around the time I started taking lessons. My technique has come a long way since then, and I've just started attempting my own bridge adjustments for the first time. The full Spiro set has expanded my bass's tone pallet quite a bit, and I am looking forward to diving in to some setup experiments. That's probably best left for other threads, though (maybe there's a market for a "newbs in the spiro challenge" setup thread?).

Anyway... back to my Spiros.

 

[Sam Reese]

@Ryan in PDX , I crank on my adjusters regularly all the way from too low to too high. I think it makes perfect sense to tell us about it right here IMHO.

 

[Bar Star]

So I'll start the ball rolling. Just trying to make this easier...

As a judge, I propose that if someone has more than one DB, and if they use the DBs with 100% Spiros on them at least 50% of the time for gigs and at least 50% of the time for practice, they qualify.

Any counter-offers?

Honestly? 50%-50% seems a little too comfortable for what I perceived was the original intent of the challenge. No true journey of discovery goes by without some discomfort and strife. Plus it provides unfair non-Spiro sanctuary for those with other basses who are experiencing the moments of struggle that @Sam Reese is talking about.

I feel like the challenge was for everyone to commit to using Spiros for as long as they can this year while willingly reporting the joys and pains of using only one kind of string as well as if/when/how/why they left the path.

Edit: I also look forward to some (of the previously mentioned) Seinfeld-esque “I’m out!” posts!

 

[Don Hergert]

I understand your reasoning... So, what would you think about 75% of gigs and 75% of practice? Or, do you have a different number in mind? I'm open to suggestions, as long as it's not too complicated for contestants to determine what the standard is.

And, out of fairness to those who have multiple DBs, it's hard to ask them not to play their non-Spiro DBs at all.

Your thoughts?

 

[TroyK]

It should really by 100% Spiros. Let people stake their cases and make their appeals and I don’t want anyone to miss out on work, but like @Bar Star said, it’s a challlenge, that’s what makes it fun.

…I also look forward to some (of the previously mentioned) Seinfeld-esque “I’m out!” posts!

It won’t be long now!

 

[Don Hergert]

Ok, good. Thank you for speaking up Troy...

It is the spirit of this contest as you have thought it out, that we want to promote.

So 100%. Let the chips fall as they will. Contestants, keep in mind, one of you, @TroyK, is sharing your misery and happiness! Report here your appeals!

 

[AGCurry]

It is the spirit of this contest as you have thought it out, that we want to promote.

As far as I can tell, this is not a contest. I haven't seen mention of a prize or award. It is a challenge.

Since I'm not taking the challenge, I'll sit in the peanut gallery and kibitz, like those grumpy old guys on Sesame Street. It's something I do well.

 

[Don Hergert]

If only one person makes it to the end of the year, I will personally send them a prize. If more than one person makes it, I think they should win some kind of a signature tag or club#.

You're right though, Troy calls it a "challenge" rather than a "contest". So noted.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Since I'm not taking the challenge, I'll sit in the peanut gallery and kibitz, like those grumpy old guys on Sesame Street. It's something I do well.

I think you mean The Muppet Show

- Steve

 

[Don Hergert]

 

[Don Hergert]

This one's me:

Locals here also know me as "the Happy Lawn Gnome".

 

[TroyK]

Yes I know it doesn’t make sense. Maybe it was that the 3/4 weichs were newish and the mittels are old and maybe stretched out and groovy? I don’t know! But that how I remember them.

@Selim , did you feel this way about the entire 3/4 weich set or just the G? Only asking because according to Joey Naeger's spreadsheet, the 3/4 Weichs are slightly less tense than the 4/4 Mittels (assuming a 41.5" string length) with the exception of the G (Mittel = 60.7, 3/4 Weich = 62.3).

I have a new set of 3885Ws on their way from our friends in NJ. The old set that I have on my bass seems like the G is either flawed or something, but I've been ignoring it. You guys made me curious, thought so I put an S42 Mittel G string on with the 3885W set.

Using my calipers to measure diameter, under tension, at the end of my fingerboard:

3885W G = 1.20mm
S42M G = 1.26mm

That's very close. Subjectively I would opine that tension differences are similarly subtle, but the Mittel G seems slightly higher, as you would expect. But, I can't objectively measure tension. It's a very nice string. It funny, the Spirocore Mittel G is probably the most maligned string in DBdom, but it's fantastic on my bass. This sort of brings me back to: We compare "Mittel" to "Weich" a lot, but S42M might be closer to 3885W than 3885W are to S42W. I do believe that with Spirocores, you've got to find your gauge unless you're lucky enough to have a bass that loves everything.

 

[JLubinsky-Mast]

My appeal is that usually most people whom I play with, know me to play gut strings, and they expect a "thing". I'm cool putting myself through misery to find the tone in my fingers, but, I'm still going to make a choice before I leave my house to a gig, that best serves the people I'm playing with.

 

[BobbyT]

I have a new set of 3885Ws on their way from our friends in NJ. The old set that I have on my bass seems like the G is either flawed or something, but I've been ignoring it. You guys made me curious, thought so I put an S42 Mittel G string on with the 3885W set.

Using my calipers to measure diameter, under tension, at the end of my fingerboard:

3885W G = 1.20mm
S42M G = 1.26mm

That's very close. Subjectively I would opine that tension differences are similarly subtle, but the Mittel G seems slightly higher, as you would expect. But, I can't objectively measure tension. It's a very nice string. It funny, the Spirocore Mittel G is probably the most maligned string in DBdom, but it's fantastic on my bass. This sort of brings me back to: We compare "Mittel" to "Weich" a lot, but S42M might be closer to 3885W than 3885W are to S42W. I do believe that with Spirocores, you've got to find your gauge unless you're lucky enough to have a bass that loves everything.

Troy, thank you for posting the string diameters. In all the wonderful string resources on this board I’ve not yet come across the gauges for the 3885 sets. I had the feeling the G’s were close between the 3/4 light and 4/4 medium but that confirms it.

Back to the challenge — I agree with your sentiment that it should be Spiros as much as possible. I think part of the challenge is seeing if we can “make them work” in a variety of musical settings, especially where we might normally prefer a different string.

 

[Ryan in PDX]

I have a new set of 3885Ws on their way from our friends in NJ. The old set that I have on my bass seems like the G is either flawed or something, but I've been ignoring it. You guys made me curious, thought so I put an S42 Mittel G string on with the 3885W set.

Using my calipers to measure diameter, under tension, at the end of my fingerboard:

3885W G = 1.20mm
S42M G = 1.26mm

That's very close. Subjectively I would opine that tension differences are similarly subtle, but the Mittel G seems slightly higher, as you would expect. But, I can't objectively measure tension. It's a very nice string. It funny, the Spirocore Mittel G is probably the most maligned string in DBdom, but it's fantastic on my bass. This sort of brings me back to: We compare "Mittel" to "Weich" a lot, but S42M might be closer to 3885W than 3885W are to S42W. I do believe that with Spirocores, you've got to find your gauge unless you're lucky enough to have a bass that loves everything.

After two days and about 8 hours of play time, I think the S42M G feels a bit light compared the the rest of the S42M set on my bass. It's not huge difference pizz, but arco, it doesn't bring the thunder the way the rest of the set does. Two days isn't much time, and I would love to figure it out via technique or setup - it would be amazing to never change strings again. But your post makes me think I should keep an eye on the classifieds for a 3885M G... I didn't know your string neurosis was contagious.

 

[TroyK]

Troy, thank you for posting the string diameters. In all the wonderful string resources on this board I’ve not yet come across the gauges for the 3885 sets. I had the feeling the G’s were close between the 3/4 light and 4/4 medium but that confirms it...

I can measure the rest of the set and post my numbers. My calipers haven't been calibrated in a while, but they should be accurate.

After two days and about 8 hours of play time, I think the S42M G feels a bit light compared the the rest of the S42M set on my bass. It's not huge difference pizz, but arco, it doesn't bring the thunder the way the rest of the set does. Two days isn't much time, and I would love to figure it out via technique or setup - it would be amazing to never change strings again. But your post makes me think I should keep an eye on the classifieds for a 3885M G... I didn't know your string neurosis was contagious.

It brings the thunder on my bass, but it's on there with an otherwise lighter set.

I may visit a luthier at some point to dial things in.

 

[Don Hergert]

My appeal is that usually most people whom I play with, know me to play gut strings, and they expect a "thing". I'm cool putting myself through misery to find the tone in my fingers, but, I'm still going to make a choice before I leave my house to a gig, that best serves the people I'm playing with.

Based on the discussion about a multi-DB standard today, I'd say post here when the time comes that you've had to play other than your Spiro DB. We'll have to make a judgement for you at that time, where the rubber meets the road. Personally I hope you are able to put that off as long as possible, but as @TroyK mentioned, no one here wants you to miss out on a gig.