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Double Bass 2022 Spirocore Challenge
- Thread starter TroyK
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The new strings might be all “it’s new” hype. Notice the Spirocores keep coming back in popularity, but so many other strings are just okay. Obligatos do blend well with Spirocore, if you want something closer to gut on top with the same texture on the outer wrap.
Switched from old weichs back to old(er) mittels today. Nice to feel the power again!
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I think that PT is going to help me. She had me bring my bass Friday and it seems to happen when I let my left shoulder roll forward. I bought two $7 mirrors at Target for my practice space, so that I can keep an eye on myself.
Hey Dray, we need a philosophical direction clarification on that from Troy... I think the intent of the challenge was Spiros only, which would mean the SuperFlexible G would exclude you. Plus, it may be a little late to join the challenge.
Troy, your thoughts?
Dray, this does not mean that you cannot enjoy that mix on your own, and even discuss the results here to tempt people, anyway
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Troy, your thoughts?
Dray, this does not mean that you cannot enjoy that mix on your own, and even discuss the results here to tempt people, anyway
.
Yeah, you can be our spiritual Thomastik brother, but not quite in on the challenge.
as an unofficial mod to this challenge, I offer two thoughts:
1. The rules were clear. A full set of spiros must be on the bass to be part of the challenge. That could be a full set of the same gauge or a mixed set (ie: spiro medium E with weich set). but if your tailpiece isn't all red silks, you're not part of it.
2. I consider @DrayMiles an inspired convert who is not eligible to join...but only if decides to go full spiro will be considered one of the hopefully many people who were inspired to join the club even if late. I feel at the end of this year a pole should be held. How many people started January 2022 with a full set, how many ended with a full set, how many started and failed, and how many were inspired and joined late.
1. The rules were clear. A full set of spiros must be on the bass to be part of the challenge. That could be a full set of the same gauge or a mixed set (ie: spiro medium E with weich set). but if your tailpiece isn't all red silks, you're not part of it.
2. I consider @DrayMiles an inspired convert who is not eligible to join...but only if decides to go full spiro will be considered one of the hopefully many people who were inspired to join the club even if late. I feel at the end of this year a pole should be held. How many people started January 2022 with a full set, how many ended with a full set, how many started and failed, and how many were inspired and joined late.
Update from my corner: my appreciation for these mittels continues to grow with each passing day.
Update from my end … 3885 Weichs.. 75 arco / 25 Pizz… Initially I had Belcanto DG with the spiros but been on full spiros since mid December… I was kinda worried about the spiros being a bit gnarly bowed in the high positions… admittedly from behind the bass when playing acoustically and solo this is the case, but not so bad but at the front of the bass, they sound nice and have a sweet presence … I play different styles with different musicians and they are working well… Pizz they sound fantastic obviously… for me its always been a full spiro or belcanto debate but I feel the spiro is a better “hybrid” string. I have tried heaps of other strings and although most sounded good it really got down to feel for me… under the bow and fingers (both left and right) I also suffer from thumb arthritis on left thumb so the weich is the safest string for me as I can’t use my thumb in thumb position and have developed my own fingering system up there! I’ve tried 42s but found them a bit too “floppy” pizz but nice arco … that was on another bass though so that doesn’t count anymore…yeah, so the weichs are keepers for at least this year… I’ll see out the challenge and hopefully I feel the same at the start of 2023 and will have saved some cash to spend on other things!
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Threw some mittles on a couple days ago, and man is my Juzek singing! After having weichs on for a while Iam really surprised how much more fundamental there is and overall volume, even with the mittels a bit lower. It did bring out some buzzing up high in the fingerboard, so she had go into see the luthier- long overdue. I can’t wait to get her back! Can’t stop thinking of those mittels!
Yes I made this same change recently. Both sets offer something that the other doesn’t, but the mittels power and depth is very seductive.
Would you mind describing what the weichs offer to someone who's only tried mittels? I am noticing lots of excitement from people making the switch you just did, and not much talk about going the other direction.
Here's my take:
You have to match the strings to the bass and setup. I don't think that the strings have their own qualities. They are all Spirocores.
How they feel matters too. S42 Weichs feel like violin strings to me, which I really hate. I prefer the feel of S42 Mittels, but 3885 Weich are close and my bass is better with them than with strings heavier or lighter. I have worked with 2 excellent luthiers on this and this is a shared conclusion. If I had a different bass with a shorter mensure, thicker table, other stuff, I think I would reach a different conclusion.
Beware "which ones are best?" or even "listen to these recordings of each", unless they were made on your bass.
You have to match the strings to the bass and setup. I don't think that the strings have their own qualities. They are all Spirocores.
How they feel matters too. S42 Weichs feel like violin strings to me, which I really hate. I prefer the feel of S42 Mittels, but 3885 Weich are close and my bass is better with them than with strings heavier or lighter. I have worked with 2 excellent luthiers on this and this is a shared conclusion. If I had a different bass with a shorter mensure, thicker table, other stuff, I think I would reach a different conclusion.
Beware "which ones are best?" or even "listen to these recordings of each", unless they were made on your bass.
I think a big part of it is how you feel when you play them. I’m doubtful if anyone else wiould be able to pick which set of spiros is on my, yours, anyones bass by listening in a blind test… maybe they can… I dunno …
I guess they’re all good…. Just different unfortunately strings are like clothes… one day you feel good in black another day you wear a Hawaiian shirt… the only real way around this is to own many many basses with many combinations of strings and set ups otherwise your just wearing the same thing everyday… which has its ups and downs….this is coming from the perspective of Spiros as a Hybrid string…,
I guess they’re all good…. Just different unfortunately strings are like clothes… one day you feel good in black another day you wear a Hawaiian shirt… the only real way around this is to own many many basses with many combinations of strings and set ups otherwise your just wearing the same thing everyday… which has its ups and downs….this is coming from the perspective of Spiros as a Hybrid string…,
Weichs lack the heft & depth of mittels but they make up for it (to me) with a more open sound — in other words, they project differently. Mittels have that depth but it’s a more compressed(?) sound.
You might also say that it’s easier to play “faster” on the weichs. But then there’s Dave Holland…
This is a big factor. Only one way to find out …
My one and only bass likes both gauges.
Yeah, I think that a lot of basses are less picky than mine. I would expect with a well made newer instrument or a vintage instrument that had ... oh let's say "less history" than mine the player should be able to chose the strings that make them happiest. I'm not sure what all mine has been through, it's like an abused stray that I rescued from a kill shelter, but given the right care and feeding we do okay together.
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