Double Bass 2022 Spirocore Challenge

[BobbyT]

Does anyone know the gauges of the 3/4 sets? I am mostly just curious. I am also under the impression that the 3/4 sets are slightly thicker than the 4/4s, but have never seen the actual diameter measurements, only tension.

P.S. Happy Year of the Spiro!

 

[TroyK]

There's a chart in the stickies. Can't open it now. You might also check Thomastick's website.

Strings megathreads and important threads sticky

 

[Ryan in PDX]

My bass is now wearing full set of Spirocores- I'm in!

The Spiro E&A were installed in the spring of 2020. The G&D, purchased used from the classifieds, were installed today (replacing Obligatos from spring 2020), and this is my first full Spiro experience. These are S42 Mittel on a Samuel Eastman ply with 41" string length. String heights are 5-8 mm.

Initial impressions: it sounds and feels like I pulled a blanket out of my bass. I can hear pitches much more clearly, especially in thumb position. There's a lot more volume potential on tap, and there's more resonance at every dynamic level. The arco tone is objectively brighter, with a subjectively woodier and more vocal midrange. If anything, the Spiros feel "slightly easier to bow" than the Obligatos, and significantly more responsive. I'm floored by the difference, and I expect the increased clarity and response will do wonders for my developing technique... I kinda wish I'd gone straight to Spiros from the get-go, but as they say, hindsight is 2022.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The rescued and later corrected baen.tamu.edu tables which were removed from the original website years ago is available from my Dropbox and contains a lot of string diameters, but not for all strings. There are also a lot of diameter data on Jake Villiers website.

 

[TroyK]

Okay, here we go!


Participating in the Challenge
(22 as of Jan 1, 2022)
@TroyK
@abaguer
@Scott Lynch
@oliebrice
@Matt Ides
@Aragorn35016
@ablumley
@PaperbackRyder
@Selim
@ericsmith
@lrhbass
@Sean Riddle
@Reiska
@jlmorgan84
@Brad_Pearson
@Rama Temmink
@Doug Harrison
@Ryan in PDX
@strigidae
@JLubinsky-Mast
@what the pluck
@Levin S
@strigidae

Judges
@Jason Hollar
@dhergert
@Sam Reese
@Sam Dingle
@Bar Star

Everyone participating has self attested to having a complete set of Spirocores on their bass as of today and intends to stick with it until at least 1/1/2023

Replacing Spirocores with different Spirocores is acceptable, but no other string makes or models can be on your bass for any period of time in 2022.

If you have more than one bass and they aren't both 100% Spirocores, you need to disclose that.

We all promise to keep our status current. If you slip or quit, you have to let us know.

The judges will collectively rule on any challenges to rules or transgressions.

Good luck everyone!

 

[Aragorn35016]

We all promise to keep our status current. If you slip or quit, you have to let us know.

What are we thinking here, like a monthly or quarterly pic of the bass with its mighty red silks? Btw your all gonna eat my dust, my love of my strings is only overshadowed by my string ignorance and extreme cheapskate habits ! Best of luck to you all.

 

[TroyK]

As said in the aforementioned Seinfeld episode, the honor's system will have to do, though it is totally inadequate. I posted a tailpiece shot last month, I'll post an update when I put my new set on. Pics are nice, but probably not required. I'll leave that up the judges.

 

[Aragorn35016]

As said in the aforementioned Seinfeld episode, the honor's system will have to do, though it is totally inadequate. I posted a tailpiece shot last month, I'll post an update when I put my new set on. Pics are nice, but probably not required. I'll leave that up the judges.

And it begins…

 

[TroyK]

I'll just quote my photo from Dec 11th.

View attachment 4501894

 

[Bar Star]

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#.

For the other judges: Based on the above rules, should the contestants begin by disclosing for the record their ownership of non-spiro bearing basses?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Okay, here we go!


Participating in the Challenge
(22 as of Jan 1, 2022)
@TroyK
@abaguer
@Scott Lynch
@oliebrice
@Matt Ides
@Aragorn35016
@ablumley
@PaperbackRyder
@Selim
@ericsmith
@lrhbass
@Sean Riddle
@Reiska
@jlmorgan84
@Brad_Pearson
@Rama Temmink
@Doug Harrison
@Ryan in PDX
@strigidae
@JLubinsky-Mast
@what the pluck
@Levin S

Judges
@Jason Hollar
@dhergert
@Sam Reese
@Sam Dingle
@Bar Star

Everyone participating has self attested to having a complete set of Spirocores on their bass as of today and intends to stick with it until at least 1/1/2023

Replacing Spirocores with different Spirocores is acceptable, but no other string makes or models can be on your bass for any period of time in 2022.

If you have more than one bass and they aren't both 100% Spirocores, you need to disclose that.

We all promise to keep our status current. If you slip or quit, you have to let us know.

The judges will collectively rule on any challenges to rules or transgressions.

Good luck everyone!

Over/under on how many people who make it a year slap their foreheads and curse themselves for not having done this all along? Spiros rule with an iron fist!

 

[Bar Star]

Also for the other judges: One of the proposed rules stated that, in order to remain active in the competition, only Spiros can be used on gigs. Is it reasonable to conclude then that the use of a backup bass without Spiros on a gig would eliminate a competitor unless the judges’ discretion were to allow for certain (TBD) extenuating circumstances?

The definition of “Gig” could be limited to paid work but could also be expanded to include any public performance such as busking or open jams, etc.

Thoughts from the other judges on the panel?

 

[Don Hergert]

I'm honored to have been named as a judge. I wish I could use Spiros myself, but it will have to be a different DB for me before that could happen.

Worth saying, this contest is an honor system and we're judges, not police. The police are every individual contestant, for themselves. Thank you all for carrying that responsibility.

The results of this contest, at the end of this new year, will not just be those who succeed and those who don't. It will be a vast library of new experiences with Spiros, from a small army of experienced bassists. For those of us who can't or haven't used Spiros, please be prolific in describing your experiences, good and bad, here. And thank you!

 

[Sean Riddle]

Over/under on how many people who make it a year slap their foreheads and curse themselves for not having done this all along? Spiros rule with an iron fist!

Been using them for nearly 4 years and outside of the occasional hankering to try Gerold Genssler's strings, I have no plans on going back

 

[Povl Carstensen]

I took the “Dominants over Spiro stark E” challenge about 15 years ago, and it stuck so much it was life changing. Subbed in the hopes I will get to see other lives transformed.

In all seriousness, there is a lot to be said for just setting up the bass and doing the rest with ears and hands!

And guts

 

[Selim]

View attachment 4524594
These ~3mo old 3/4 Weichs are settling nicely - and making me money! They sounded great tonight in a drummerless trio w/sax & guitar.

Now I’m thinking about a Mittel G…

Anyway to all my TB friends old & new - hope you have a very swinging 2022!

Jason, are you bowing these 3/4 weichs at all? If so, what do you think -- and do you prefer them over 4/4 weichs (as a bowing string)?

In my case, the 5 year-old 4/4 weichs are a great arco string for me. I tried the 3/4 weichs a few years ago but found their arco response too strident on my bass. Also, stiffer than my old 4/4 mittels. (Maybe they needed to be played in more.)

I'm wondering if the 3/4 weichs have anything over the 4/4 as a bowing string ...

 

[Jason Hollar]

Jason, are you bowing these 3/4 weichs at all? If so, what do you think -- and do you prefer them over 4/4 weichs (as a bowing string)?

In my case, the 5 year-old 4/4 weichs are a great arco string for me. I tried the 3/4 weichs a few years ago but found their arco response too strident on my bass. Also, stiffer than my old 4/4 mittels. (Maybe they needed to be played in more.)

I'm wondering if the 3/4 weichs have anything over the 4/4 as a bowing string ...

I’m primarily a jazz pizz player. I do on occasion rosin up the bow at home but I can’t really offer any bow-related performance opinions.

I can say that the difference in volume and projection of the 3/4 over the 4/4 is substantial - on my bass.

 

[Sam Reese]

"please be prolific in describing your experiences"...here's an example, I put ~13 year old Spiro Mitts ("dead Spiros") on my Czech flatback not so long ago and am discovering absolute beauty in the bowing tone rich in overtones and uber volume. Response-"phenomenal". On the other hand, when played pizz they are somewhat dull (mind you, I have a new G & next to new EAD Spiros on my ply). Dead is probably a misnomer on old Spiros. I can understand the deadness description when played with fingertips, but when bowed "dead Spiros" are very much "alive" on my carved bass. For the record, these "dead Spiros" are from 2007 (D/G) & 2009 (E/A). The D/G were stock on my then brand new Upton Super Swing Laminate. The E/A were from my first set of strings I bought for the Upton in 2009 (bumped set Spiros over Obligatos).

 

[Sam Reese]

Put Spirocores on for a year without trying anything else.

To be eligible:

• 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.
• 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.

I think any public performance is the same as playing privately...Spiros only. No excuses.

 

[abaguer]

Disclosing: My main gigging bass all spiro mitts. Kay backup spiro weich and spiro solos.
Classical bass wearing spiro weich E and Kaplan medium ADG. Main gigging bass accounts for 90% of yearly work. Classical bass about 10%. Hope this is still kosher