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Double Bass 2024 Spirocore challenge
- Thread starter Jmilitsc
- Start date
Finally got my bass back with fresh Spiro Mittles. Oh my, I missed Spiros. I'm missing most of lower frequency hearing for the next six months due to ear surgery and tube insertion, but I can actually hear my bass when I'm playing it now. I can hear the growl and clarity and attack, if not the bass response. They feel so much better, too. These will be on there for a good long time.
Played on my bass today with the Spiro/Perpetual mixed set (a friend of mine called it the ketchup & mustard combo) and so far I think it sounds good?
I used a question mark because I realize it’ll take a while for my bass to adjust to the difference in tension and the strings will settle in a little, even though they’re used. I have some gigs this week, so I suppose that’ll be the next test.
I used a question mark because I realize it’ll take a while for my bass to adjust to the difference in tension and the strings will settle in a little, even though they’re used. I have some gigs this week, so I suppose that’ll be the next test.
Perpetuals are very good strings. I like them a lot.
I liked Perps on my full ply, but the Spiros rule on my Shen hybrid. Well, feel-wise, anyway. My hearing is so inaccurate right now who knows what they actually sound like.
I spend a bit over a year with Perpetuals and really liked them, but I recorded myself at home during the pandemic with every set of strings in my box of broken dreams.
Spirocores really sounded better in that there is more complexity and projection. It took my trying a few different gauges and just vowing to stick with it, but what's on there is really perfect right now in feel and sound.
But Perpetuals sounded great, especially with a band and I loved how they felt. Might have been a smidge easier with the bow.
Spirocores really sounded better in that there is more complexity and projection. It took my trying a few different gauges and just vowing to stick with it, but what's on there is really perfect right now in feel and sound.
But Perpetuals sounded great, especially with a band and I loved how they felt. Might have been a smidge easier with the bow.
My spiros are just starting to settle/break in to my liking, or maybe it's just me getting used to them. I came from Eva Pirazzi and switched mainly to accommodate a Krivo pickup.
DenverBass
Supporting Member
When I first threw a set of 3885 Weich’s on my bass they had that electric bass sound and feel, almost no envelope and flavorless. A soundpost adjustment warmed them up and gave them more character. Still has the sustain, growl and articulation of Spiros, but are darker than any Spiros I’ve played before. The set is really balanced too; they might be a one off set, (no twangy G)
They bow easier than any Sprio I’ve tried too, but that could be a decent bow and time in the shed.
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Those spiros will continue to sound better and better as your hearing improves. I’ve had 6 ear surgeries — including tubes — and I have suffered with single sided hearing loss for decades. I hear better now than I ever have. I’m also bionic and blue-tooth capable now with a BAHA (bone attached hearing aid) implant.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate this post. I was really freaking out for a bit in the days immediately after the surgery due to the decreased volume of my hearing and the decimation of my low frequency hearing. After grilling the surgeon during the follow-up I'm feeling better about it now, but the next six months are going to suck. At least with the Spiros there is enough top-end that I can hear what I'm doing.
Yeah, and in those six months, the Spirocores are going to settle in and mellow out. This could all work out together.
Well I’m happy to help and provide some of my experiences with hearing loss. The pressures in your inner ear will eventually reduce as the swelling goes down and the equilibrium on either side of your ear drum goes back to normal with the tubes. Then you’ll get your full range of hearing back. Tubes are a pretty standard procedure now and they work.
My issues stemmed from multiple ear infections as a child to where I had to have my mastoid bone removed from my right ear, resulting in a 60 decibel loss of hearing on right side, which was fixed by the hearing aid implant. I had tubes, two mastoid ectomy procedures, an osiculoplasty procedure, another unrelated procedure to clear out scar tissue and clean it all up, and my BAHA implant surgery.
You’re going to be fine, but it’s a marathon and not a sprint. Best of luck to you in your recovery.
I had tubes as a kid, which is part of the reason I wasn't too worried going into it. They also dilated the eustachian tubes in both of my ears. I have a titanium implant in my left ear to replace one of the inner ear bones due to otosclerosis. I was just shocked by the difference after surgery.
And thank you! Fingers crossed it all come back, and hopefully better than it was.
I have something similar in my right ear. My ear drum is some type of synthetic material with a skin graft over it and there’s some sort of artificial bone in place of my right mastoid bone. That happened with my second mastoid echtomy.
I just saw Stanley Clarke moments ago, the man is amazing. He played his double bass a lot and had a great variety of tones even with his bow. It looks like he is playing Spirocores, can anyone confirm?
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I found what looks like a recent photo and the bass has what looks like Spirocores. Always tough to go by this, because it might not be his bass or it might not be as recent as I think or he might not have been playing his bass when you heard him.
But, if someone said to me "guess what kind of stings Stanley Clarke plays." I would have probably guessed Spirocores or something like Labella.
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Pretty sure he has an endorsement deal with Thomastik and whenever I’ve seen photos/videos it looks like he’s using Spirocores. That being said, take endorsement deals with a grain of salt. A friend/mentor of mine has stacks of unopened packages of Corelli’s sitting in his studio.
Also, the Spiro Weich & Perpetual mixed set seems to be working well on my bass. I’ve had 2 gigs so far this week (and another tomorrow) and so far they’re blending together nicely. I’ve noticed that while my bass is quieter acoustically, I don’t have to dig in as hard to get the pizzicato articulation I want.
We had great seats and I clearly saw the red silks, I'm just not knowledgeable enough to know if only Spirocore have those bright red ends.
They certainly didn't sound like my Spiros!
We had great seats and I clearly saw the red silks, I'm just not knowledgeable enough to know if only Spirocore have those bright red ends.
They certainly didn't sound like my Spiros!
You know how it is: setup, bass, amplification, and HANDS!
