Double Bass 2022 Spirocore Challenge

[TroyK]

I had an acoustic rehearsal today (piano trio) and was really happy with the Spirocores. I said that they weren't overly bright when I put them on and I don't think that they were, but today they sounded somehow mature. Very nice. Nothing I would want that I wasn't getting.

I did catch myself wishing that they were S42 mittels, but I don't think my bass likes 'um. The 3885 weichs are really close and really nice.

They bow like a dream, by the way. I mean, I never have Flexocores on there to compare them to, but compared to anything that I would use for jazz, no issues what-so-ever arco and I really appreciate the richness to their tone.

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

They bow like a dream, by the way.

Your speaking of the 3885 weich strings, correct?

 

[TroyK]

Your speaking of the 3885 weich strings, correct?

Correct. That seems to be the gauge my bass is happiest with.

 

[abaguer]

So even though I am no longer in the challenge i did 29 gigs in march and 28 of them were on the spiros. I also did 1 or 2 acoustic sessions per week in jazz quartet where they held their own with drums and trumpet. These are S42s which sound better on the gigging bass.

 

[Inky13]

^^^^^^^ 29 gigs is indeed impressive!

 

[Inky13]

The warmer weather jobs are starting to trickle in and I think I need to wake up my bass. Helicore Orchestrals on it now. I’m OK with them, but I’d like some more volume and punch. S42’s are calling my name but I’m not sure I can swing it. Scanning classifieds now. Would Preludes be a lateral move?

 

[Sam Reese]

S42's - Look at them as a long term investment.

 

[Jason Sypher]

S42's - Look at them as a long term investment.

Like five to ten years of service...

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Like five to ten years of service...

Or, if you’re an Irish albino crocodile, even longer!

 

[BobbyT]

Would Preludes be a lateral move?

Yes, and possibly even a step backwards—the Preludes may not help you wake up your bass much, due to their construction and lower tension. I’d recommend holding out for the Spiros. IMO, YMMV, ABCDEFG, ETC.

 

[Jason Hollar]

Just dropping in with a 3885 Spiro Weich update.

Overall very happy with the strings but have been less enthused about the tone of the G string and considering a replacement - likely a Mittel.

However! I’ve been recording some tracks at home for a project and discovered that since I had my new Snark Tight fit tuner clipped to the bridge I was getting a pretty substantial muting effect on the treble side.

TL/DR: Tuner removed, tone opened back up. All good.

 

[Jason Sypher]

Or, if you’re an Irish albino crocodile, even longer!

It's a good joke and a good point. My hands are always bone dry.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

It's a good joke and a good point. My hands are always bone dry.

Personally, I think all the blood from the cracked fingertips in the winter must put some sort of layer of protection on the strings, making them last even longer!

 

[Don Hergert]

Love that metallic red tinge!

 

[Aragorn35016]

Still using my weichs 8 months in. I'm finding (and maybe this is true for all strings) that keeping the strings extremely clean from rosin build up certainly ups the bow-ability of them. A little pure IPA on a paper towel with the bass on its side to avoid it getting on the finish every 2 days does the trick!

 

[AGCurry]

Still using my weichs 8 months in. I'm finding (and maybe this is true for all strings) that keeping the strings extremely clean from rosin build up certainly ups the bow-ability of them. A little pure IPA on a paper towel with the bass on its side to avoid it getting on the finish every 2 days does the trick!

You clean your strings with beer?

 

[Aragorn35016]

You clean your strings with beer?

Yeah! And It comes in big jugs! Pour yourself a glass and let me know how it turns out!

 

[Inky13]

You clean your strings with beer?

BMTI! In my defense, I was busy with a 7.2 ABV Hayburner.

 

[Don Hergert]

(For those other teetotalers amongst us, to save you having to look it up, IPA stands for Isopropyl alcohol as well as for India Pale Ale. Please don't drink Isopropyl alcohol. )

 

[Sean Riddle]

Welp, back to a full set of Spiro Mittels on my 5 string bass. The Red Springs metal D and G were nice, but just weren't for me. There's still part of me that wants to try gut D and G in the future, but I got reminded why I've stuck with Spiros the last 4 years.