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Double Bass 2022 Spirocore Challenge

Who's in?

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#161
abaguer said:
... Hope this is still kosher
Click to expand...

To the other judges, I think the fairest thing to do is commiserate publicly here (for transparency) about "acceptability standard" questions, and then vote. Since there are 5 of us, if we all vote we'll get a majority and then can set the standard. In cases where we don't all vote and there is a tie, maybe we can lean on @Chris Fitzgerald for a vote.

It might also be appropriate at times to talk with with our OP and esteemed moderator, @TroyK, about what his intent was with certain situations. Even though he's a contestant, at least personally I consider him a very reliable OP witness. But if there are different judge opinions about that I'm open for discussion. Again, transparency is a good thing.

Judges, what are your thoughts about this as a foundation?
 
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#164
As a "judge", I am neither judgemental or critical of what anyone wants to do regarding using Spiros or otherwise. I'm not into bureaucracy and believe we are both artists and students to this craft of double bass. If asked to "vote", I'll do it for the fun of this cybergame. If any of the original "enlistees" decides to use other strings, I'm all for it. To each their own and most importantly- have fun; life is short.
 
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#165
I put the contest in the hands of our judges (lifeguards?), but you know that I'm not short of opinions.

For me, I own one doublebass and play jazz. I plan on keeping 4 Spirocores on it for at least 12 months. I'm 65/70% confident. The one thing I worry about is recording, but if that comes up, we'll see.

I can't see playing a "house bass" on a gig unless I was traveling, which is probably unlikely in 2022.

But, if I had a 2nd bass and played in a chamber group 2x a month, it would almost certainly have something darker and more genre appropriate. I would invite the panel to be open.

Now, if chamber music was someone's main thing and their backup bass had Spirocores for their monthly Real Book jam, no.
 
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#166
I'll re-voice then...

To be clear, I'm just as comfortable not making a very organized effort at judging as making it organized. And I definitely recognize that I'm probably the very least experienced DB player here among both the judges and contestants, so in consideration of that my opinions are going to be very gentle and fluffy.

Mostly, because I am the least DB experienced, and also since I'm retired and have some time for it if needed, I felt if some administrative organizing would help -- possibly help more than my DB opinions would -- that I could offer that.

So, that offer is out there. Definately no harm or offense taken if it isn't needed.
 
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#168
@Sam Reese good to know that if I slip on the string mission, I can try to sway you with my abject sexuality.

@dhergert it's going to be an easy job. I'm surprised no one has bailed already. "After hearing xxxx play on yyyy, I just wanted to see what it sounded like if I put a zzzz on for a few minutes, but I'm sorry and I want to come back..."

This is when you fire off of a cannon and project their avatar into the sky, like in The Hunger Games.
 
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#169
abaguer said:
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
Click to expand...

I’d like to hear what the other judges think but meanwhile I hope your 10% classical schedule coincides with the 2022 Christmas season! ;)
 
#170
So 2021 was the Year of the Evah Slaps for my Upton (primary gig bass). I was kinda sick of the strings on my Czech flatback last year and dug around my string stash and rediscovered my long forgotten Spiro Mitts. I forget when I put them on, but for being over 10 years old- they are freaking great. That being said and the analogy that @TroyK mentioned xxxx/yyyy/zzzz...I kinda am thinking about putting the Slaps on the Czech! I'm only mentioning this because I know how difficult this challenge is going to be for the Enlistees!
 
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#171
Don Hergert said:
Judges, what are your thoughts about this as a foundation?
Click to expand...

I think your ideas are very reasonable. I kinda figured a five person vote was the way it would go and I posted that stuff about disclosures and the definition of gig (vis-a-vis the OP’s first draft of the rules) in the interest of transparency and setting a baseline in the event that a “judges’ ruling” would ever be needed. I also like having an impartial tie breaker vote.

As you pointed out earlier, this is for fun/comparative data and the contestants will “police” themselves.

For context: I have had my main bass (an 80 year old Jake Devilliers rebuilt Hofner) decked out with Spiro 3885 Weich since I got it back from Jake in December 2020. I also have a Strunal Ply at work for lunchtime practice that wears a set Evah Slap synthetics. I also use it for outdoor gigs in the rain or when the mercury gets below 8C/46F since the Hofner has many cleated cracks already. By some interpretations of the rules, these uses of the backup would mean elimination, right? Judges? @TroyK ?
 
#172
In my mind, I'd like to say it's still in the spirit of the contest -- only using your Strunal Ply when forced into it by weather. It's better than turning down a gig.

But I'd also like to hear an unbiased opinion from other judges. And I do think we need some further "spiritual" guidance about multiple DBs from @TroyK.
 
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#174
@TroyK

I agree that your “flag” aligns with the spirit of the original challenge’s rules. It will be interesting to see what happens as the rules are interpreted by the judges moving forward.:)
 
#175
... So the easy solution is for a multiple DB contestant to string up all of their DBs with Spiros.

:cool:

So here's another hypothetical...

I play multiple instruments. What if I have blisters from my Spiros and decide to play Dobro instead?

(I know for sure I'd be disqualified if I chose to play banjo instead. :roflmao:)
 
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#177
I wonder how many doing the challenge have multiple basses? I use both of my basses like a baseball manager chooses a pitcher. Upton SSL gets the call most of the time, but Czech Flatback gets the call many times and it totally does as well or better. It has multiple cleated cracks, like the @Bar Star Hofner. Since I have thousands invested in it, I treat it more gently...but only to a point.
 
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#179
Selim said:
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.
Click to expand...

Could it be that the 3/4 Weich were thicker and as a result felt stiffer? While I haven't seen actual specs yet, I think we have determined that 3/4 Weich and 3/4 Mittles are thicker diameter than their 4/4 counterparts.
 
#180
Selim said:
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.
Click to expand...

@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).
 
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