Double Bass Advice for new strings

[BassDaddy11]

I purchased a beautiful Shen SB 88 last week! It came with an old set of Spiro Weichs on it that are needing to be replaced. They are sounding pretty dead and lifeless.
I’m primarily a BG player and am wanting a string with a bit more volume and thump. Does anyone have a suggestion of a good set to try? ( 99% pizz and 1% terrible arco)
Thanks much!

 

[Fretless55]

Don’t give up your Spiros!

You’re in a great position with a Shen with Weichs.

 

[John Chambliss]

Those Spiros are probably just right by now. Take your bass to a Luthier first to check the setup before buying new strings.

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

Raise the bridge (if you can)

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Spiros die just like any other string after a while. The idea that they last forever is TalkBass mythos. If the current strings don't sound good to you then replace them. A new set of Spiro Weich is a good choice if you are playing primarily pizzicato. I prefer Pirastro strings myself, Perpetual being my current favorite, but I do more than 1% of arco.

- Steve

 

[statsc]

Before you drop $200+ on new set of strings, try this:

 

[BassDaddy11]

I like the feel of the weichs a lot but they just don’t project very well acoustically. This is in general, across all strings. Plugged in they sound great. I was wondering if a med tension string would give me some more volume?
The bass is only a few years old and was set up by a good shop at that time. Could it need it again and what adjustments? The sp is about a full diameters distance south. The nut height is correct and everything speaks well up the Fb.

Jim, I already raised the bridge from the original owner. I’m currently at 6-9mm. Do you mean go up more? He was primarily a jazz player and liked a low action and mellow sound.
Steve, I was thinking a set of zyex would be a good choice. I have a med set on my Kay. Would the light set give me the same tone and volume? I’m fine with either.


I really appreciate all advice!

 

[Francois Blais]

The sole way to find the set that works well on your bass is to try a few ones.
It's impossible to predict how your bass will react to a given set unless you actually try it.

 

[Selim]

Take your bass to a Luthier first to check the setup before buying new strings.

Do this before anything else. He/she can also give an opinion on the state of your weichs.

Also, it doesn’t always follow that a heavier gauge will be louder — with some basses it can be the opposite. Once the luthier makes sure your bass is firing on all cylinders, you’ll be in a better position to decide whether to keep your weichs on or experiment with something else.

 

[TroyK]

There are lots of good string options out there, believe me, I've tried them all.

Based solely on what you've told us, though, nothing is going to be louder or more clear than Spirocores. So if that's your sole reason for looking, I'd stay close to where you are. You might could use a fresh set. They do last longer than maybe anything, but I had set or maybe at least a string in the set die on me last year and replacements were like turning on a light switch.

Getting the gauge right can make a huge difference. It would be good to know which Weich set you have. It seems most common is the S42 Weich and from my own experience 3885 Weich are a significant step toward medium. S42 Mittel would be next and they are almost the standard by which all else are judged, but it depends on your bass.

The other advice you received is valuable too. Clean your strings, clean your bass and maybe look into a soundpost adjustment before you drop $250 on something new and hope for the best.

 

[mooseonbass]

As I've said on another thread, I like the Zyex lights on my SB88. That being said, everyone likes something different in strings, and I may even find something that I like better some day. All I can say with any authority is that those strings work on that bass. I find them comfortable and like the sound and projection. That does not mean that there isn't something better. Get your bass set up well and then decide. At least if you're trying strings, Zyex are not on the high end of the price scale.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

It came with an old set of Spiro Weichs on it that are needing to be replaced. They are sounding pretty dead and lifeless.

I currently have on my jazz bass two Spiro mediums that are 30, maybe 35 years old, with a few thousand gigs on them. They ring and have all the harmonics. The other two, E,A, I replaced about 4 years ago. I expect the E,A to outlast my gigging career. I have used Spiros since they were called Dr Thomastiks, almost 5 decades.
For me they really do last forever, and I pizz hard with jazz. I have used many very expensive bass strings, and nothing lasts like Spiros.

They are beautiful arco but you need really good arco skill. And they get the Ray Brown sound pizz.

Used Spiros are great if you want to save some dough.

So sure your strings may be worn out. Or not.

A bass luthier specialist will help you, but a violin luthier most likely will not.
(but violin luthiers will always talk like they know everything)
Most here will say you want a bass guy working on your bass.
Trust us on that one.

 

[Ed S]

...
I’m primarily a BG player ...

Guts, baby!

Seriously, took me a while to try them, but having done so, I'll never go back. Last week I saw one of my fave local BG bassists, and we discussed our shared love of guts.

You owe it to yourself to at least pick up a used set - the go on sale around here often. If you don't like them, you can resell them readily.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Spiro S42 G-D-A with a Spiro stark E. You’ll be good for a decade, at least.

 

[lowendrachel]

Try Spiro Mittels whole set or Spiro Mittels bottom and D & G Obligatos. Good luck!

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Spiros are great, and they do last, but for me I've changed them when they start playing "false" and for me that seems to happen within a few years.

 

[Ed S]

Just curious - how many of you folk answering play mostly bluegrass? Of course, asking that, I'm pretty sure Todd Phillips plays heliocores...

And BassDaddy - how many basses you you own? Just the Shen and the Kay? Are you thinking of setting them up similarly to each other, or differently? (I advocate different!)

 

[lurk]

Changing strings is the easiest way to change the sound and feel of your bass, often dramatically. That's why there are so many wonderful choices these days. Unfortunately, it can be expensive and frustrating. David Gage used to say that it's like food - you don't know what it tastes like or if you like it 'till you order it and take your chance. This is why so many folks stick to Spiros - bassic (pun intended) eggs and hash browns. You know you'll like 'em at almost any diner. I like to try new things. Currently I'm using a set of Polychromes that I like a lot..for now.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Mmmmm…. Eggs and hash browns. Kind of hard to go wrong.

 

[TroyK]

I was thinking more like chilaquiles.

Bold, filling, interesting, but you can never be sure how spicy they're going to be.