Double Bass Alternative G String to Spirocores (Wanting More Volume)

[The Bass Clef]

I have Thomastik Spirocore Solos (tuned down to concert pitch) on my bass, and I love the feel and sound... except the G string just doesn't have as much punch or volume as the other 3 stings. It tends to get lost in the mix often when the other strings do not. Anyone have any suggestions for a G with similar tension and feel to a detuned Spiro solo, but will stand out in a mix a little better? Thanks.

 

[Earl]

Superflexible Solo G. Bel Canto Solo G

 

[AGCurry]

You didn't say whether you are bowing or plucking, or both, or whether it's something a soundpost adjustment might address.
You're not likely to find a metallic solo G string that will give you more aggression than the Spirocore.
On the bass I use for jazz, I use Superflexible solos with a plain gut G string... low tension and no chance it's getting "lost in the mix!" It doesn't feel the same, but it IS low tension.
I think many of us prefer "beefier" G strings. I do.

 

[Don Hergert]

Spiro G strings are available in a huge number of higher tensions. If you like the sound and feels of the other Spiro Solos, you might want to start with a Weich G -- in fact if you're using a 3/4 double bass and you want to try what would be close to the half-step up in tension, the 4/4 (S42) Weich G.

If you want to stay with a metal rope core, TI does also have a number of other brands of strings with a variety of tension ratings.

Then also, there are Pirastro Perpetuals in Solo, Orchestral and Stark.

If you haven't already, you might want to visit Gollihur's string description website (NFI)

It's a rabbit hole, good luck there!

 

[The Bass Clef]

You didn't say whether you are bowing or plucking, or both, or whether it's something a soundpost adjustment might address.
You're not likely to find a metallic solo G string that will give you more aggression than the Spirocore.
On the bass I use for jazz, I use Superflexible solos with a plain gut G string... low tension and no chance it's getting "lost in the mix!" It doesn't feel the same, but it IS low tension.
I think many of us prefer "beefier" G strings. I do.

I am plucking only for the band I play in.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

3/4 and 4/4 Spiros have different tensions on the same scale. So we need to know if you use 4/4 or r 3/4 solos. 4/4 Weich and 3/4 solos downtuned have a similar tension, 4/4 solos even lower than that.

Have a look at my excel file in my Dropbox. (Link in string sticky.)

Also consider a repositioning of the soundpost.

 

[ole Jason]

I would try a 4/4 Weich

 

[The Bass Clef]

3/4 and 4/4 Spiros have different tensions on the same scale. So we need to know if you use 4/4 or r 3/4 solos. 4/4 Weich and 3/4 solos downtuned have a similar tension, 4/4 solos even lower than that.

Have a look at my excel file in my Dropbox. (Link in string sticky.)

Also consider a repositioning of the soundpost.

They are the S43 Spiro Solo pack. I forget if they are 3/4 or 4/4, but it is what was recommended to me by Gollihur Music and several here on TB for my Englehardt a couple years ago (I asked for nice sounding, lower tension strings for pizz). I don't have anyone near me that I know of that can do a soundpost adjustment, unfortunately. LA is a 6+ hour round trip with traffic, so it's an entire day to have it done, and not even sure if it would work (or even worse, it screws up the sound that I do love for the other 3 strings). That's why I was hoping maybe just a different G would be the easiest first thing to try. I'm also considering maybe just using a compressor in my signal chain??

 

[Mark_T]

I don't know a lot of strings that are louder than Spiros overall, so changing up the model is not a bad choice but it'll mess with the tension across the set. On my bass, not a lot of strings are loader under the bow than Perpetuals, so maybe a perpetual solo G might work and be on okay color match, but I've never tried solo perpetuals.

 

[Paul New]

For me, the twang of a spirocore doesn’t work on the G string. So what I use is a Jargar Dolce G, actually I even use that on top of EP Weichs. I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for. They are a damped arco string, very dark, but they give my bass punch in the frequency range that matters. They are pretty inexpensive.

If you want to try that string, you might have to look around. I just went to Gollihurs to buy a new G and found that they have been discontinued. I was able to buy a G, but not sure what he has left.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

For me, the twang of a spirocore doesn’t work on the G string. So what I use is a Jargar Dolce G, actually I even use that on top of EP Weichs. I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for. They are a damped arco string, very dark, but they give my bass punch in the frequency range that matters. They are pretty inexpensive.

If you want to try that string, you might have to look around. I just went to Gollihurs to buy a new G and found that they have been discontinued. I was able to buy a G, but not sure what he has left.

According to Gollihur, Jargar bass strings are now discontinued after the company was purchased by Thomastik.

 

[Paul New]

According to Gollihur, Jargar bass strings are now discontinued after the company was purchased by Thomastik.

And that’s why I said as much in the post you quoted. Gollihur does have some Jargar strings and I was able to buy a new G yesterday.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

And that’s why I said as much in the post you quoted. Gollihur does have some Jargar strings and I was able to buy a new G yesterday.

Sorry. Didn’t read the full post.

 

[Francois Blais]

I sent an email to Jargar two weeks ago about the bass strings being discontinued but didn't get an answer yet.
They are still shown on their website though.
It's also written somewhere that they're part of the T-I family..
I may be wrong but I think their best-selling strings are for cello, so maybe that's what T-I had an interest in.
Total speculation on my side though!

 

[Mark_T]

I tried Jargars on my old bass a few times - was sentimentally interested because of familial connections to the country of origin - but I never liked them. Sort of dead sounding and not particularly responsive, at least for me on that bass.

 

[Sam Reese]

You might try a Corelli 370F G string.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

They are the S43 Spiro Solo pack. …

These are 4/4 strings.
(Any Sxy Spiros are 4/4.)

They are the lowest tension Spiros.

Have a look at the Excel file in my Dropbox for finding a similar tension to a downtuned S43-set G string.
You may want a string with a bit larger diameter, but not too much.
Maybe also a bit more tension.

 

[The Bass Clef]

These are 4/4 strings.
(Any Sxy Spiros are 4/4.)

They are the lowest tension Spiros.

Have a look at the Excel file in my Dropbox for finding a similar tension to a downtuned S43-set G string.
You may want a string with a bit larger diameter, but not too much.
Maybe also a bit more tension.

I will do just that. Thank you.

 

[elmer]

I don't know a lot of strings that are louder than Spiros overall, so changing up the model is not a bad choice but it'll mess with the tension across the set. On my bass, not a lot of strings are loader under the bow than Perpetuals, so maybe a perpetual solo G might work and be on okay color match, but I've never tried solo perpetuals.

Yeah Spiros are loud and Perpetuals are even louder arco on my bass. But I don´t like the timbre of Perpetuals. Some basses (including mine) like lower tension strings by letting the top resonate more freely. Tempera G strings (Bassos) are louder than Spiros on my bass. The sound is also more beautiful.