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Double Bass 2022 Spirocore Challenge

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#381
Reporting in that I have bowed out.

After many experiments in search of the most suitable and versatile string for my one and only bass, the old (probably 10 years old) mittels that came on the bass when I purchased it 5 years ago are always the ones that end up back on the bass (honorable mention to weichs and original polychromes).

But the mittel G string has always been an outlier. (More people complain about the S weich G, but ironically I am one of the ones who like it when it’s part of a full set of weichs.)

Anyway, I put on a new Oliv for a week or so, decided that the slightly reedy arco response in thumb position wasn’t for me and swapped it out for a Flex Deluxe G, which I think combines well with the Spiros’ pizz/arco response.

So I guess I am back in the “mostly Spiro group” now.
 
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#382
Selim said:
Reporting in that I have bowed out.

After many experiments in search of the most suitable and versatile string for my one and only bass, the old (probably 10 years old) mittels that came on the bass when I purchased it 5 years ago are always the ones that end up back on the bass (honorable mention to weichs and original polychromes).

But the mittel G string has always been an outlier. (More people complain about the S weich G, but ironically I am one of the ones who like it when it’s part of a full set of weichs.)

Anyway, I put on a new Oliv for a week or so, decided that the slightly reedy arco response in thumb position wasn’t for me and swapped it out for a Flex Deluxe G, which I think combines well with the Spiros’ pizz/arco response.

So I guess I am back in the “mostly Spiro group” now.
Click to expand...

I had a teacher who committed to that setup. Would change the spiro EAD every 3 years and the flex deluxe every 6 months or so.
 
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#383
F878A656-76BD-4FDC-B7B5-FD672C01ECF0.jpeg
It’s not the worst thing in the world, but changing strings certainly isn’t the best.
 
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#385
Jason Sypher said:
That’s a fairly suspect bridge all around. Looks to be leaning up too much to the fingerboard, perhaps even warped a little? Add that you’ve got it cranked all the way up and I think it might be time for a new bridge?
Click to expand...

It also appears to be installed backwards- I usually see the flat part facing the tailpiece. That plus the adjusters being so far out make me thing a trip to the luthier might be in order. When my adjusters got like that on my LaScala, I had Nnick Lloyd add some wood to the upper bridge legs to keep the adjusters in a better range.
 
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#389
I got my bridge reshaped this week. I had installed a Yamahiko, which is thicker than the old adjusters and I needed some space. I think the new shape may ease some of the tension restrictions I've had and I immediately started wondering if it might open up S42 Mittel as a possibility for me. Not that I'm not still enjoying the 3885 weichs, but we'll see.

Luthiers are good folks. I like it when my bass is happy.
 
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#390
TroyK said:
Check out how young and hip I am, creating an internet challenge!

I had an idea from a discussion going on in the Spirocores thread and thought I would propose a challenge here and see if anyone was game.

Put Spirocores on for a year without trying anything else.


Here are the rules I propose, negotiable until the challenge starts Jan 1, 2022:
To be eligible:
  • You can't have had a full set of Spirocores on for every month of 2021.
  • You have to disclose if you have more than one bass and we'll have to make a ruling if you switch basses mid-year or if you aren't using your Spirocore bass.

To play:
  • You have to start the year with a full set of Spirocores (no guest G string) and commit to them for the year.
  • You can change or even mix gauges as long as all of the strings are Spirocores.
  • You can replace your old Spirocores with newer or different Spirocores.
  • But, no trying anything else (on your bass) for even one gig. You may not, for any period of time, have a string on your bass that isn't a Spirocore.
  • If you slip, you have to self-report and you're out, but how long you made it will be on record.

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#.
Click to expand...
I’ve had the same set of Spiros on my bass for 10 years.
 
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#391
I just realized you are in Buffalo. I know this is a long shot but if you were ever so inclined to take a five hour drive to completely change your whole life on the bass, I cannot resist suggesting putting that bass in the car and taking it to Mike Shank in Elizabethtown PA. I guarantee it will be a life changing move to have Mike get that bass in top playing order. It might seem like a big commitment but you will benefit ten fold, a hundred fold, for the effort.
 
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#392
I'll be honest...it's been a tough month for me regarding "the challenge".

The setup on my bass changed to accommodate the Yamahiko pickup and the 3885 Weichs haven't felt as natural as before. But, I'm working through it.

Also, my physical problems are changing and in some ways getting worse. That's not the strings fault, of course, but there is a hard quality with sweichs, especially the strings on the treble side that I don't enjoy amongst the pain I'm already having in my hand and I've been fantasizing about putting the Perpetuals back on, which feel buttery in comparison.

But, sticking to the rules, that I carefully drafted for just such an occasion, I put an S42 Mittel G string on instead. There is just enough more surface areas with it that it "bites" less. With my setup changes, I wonder if I might finally make it to a full S42 Mittel set. That would be great, but for now, I'm just going to see how life feels with this one bump up.
 
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#393
@TroyK What string length is your bass? Also, IME/IMHO I would recommend a sound post adjustment in conjunction with the installation of the S42s (or even your current setup) just in case that might help loosen things up in terms or feel. I recently threw S42s back on my 41” string length Lang bass (switched from Perpetuals), whose sound post I had had adjusted going into the winter season, and they feel just right in terms of tension. The sp adjustment seems to be holding up just fine, too, even as we slowly make our way into spring weather here on the east coast.
 
#398
TroyK said:
Also, my physical problems are changing and in some ways getting worse.
Click to expand...

Dude, I speak for the trees when I say no one will be upset if you need to break your internet challenge vows to your beloved Spiros if it’s a matter of health and/or pain. Pardon me for playing devil’s advocate, but if you can get some relief from the perps - do that.
 
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