Double Bass Bright Arco String

[LowG]

I have a few basses that I have different setups/sounds for. What I'm looking for for one instrument (carved bass) is a bright arco string. So many arco descriptions talk about "warm" but I'm not really going for that. I currently have Pirastro Flexocor on this instrument. They sound and feel good for what they are, but aren't what I want.

I especially reference a more "cello" type of tone with a rich midrange bite to the attack. I do not really care about how the pizz sounds, but bonus if it has zero "mwah" (I typically dislike modern jazz bass pizz sounds. Funny that every string these days had ad copy touting its "growl"....)

I have another nice arco instrument with Evahs on it already, so that "warm" sound-family is covered. I have another set up for old-school pizz with Velvet Garbos. Now that nasally gut-ish bow sound is kind of what might work... But those strings don't bow as well as I'd want for this other instrument. I have a ply bass with Spiros on it and I guess I could see if that gets there- I've never tried Spiros on a carved bass before. On the ply they are reasonably bright but that set is quite old..

Other stings I've tried but aren't "the one" (for this instance) are Velvet Compass 180, Velvet Animas, Obligatos, and all three D'Addario Helicore types.

I'm pretty flexible regarding tension (see what I did there ?). This bass is a more recent acquisition so I don't know what it likes yet, but I'm comfortable playing taut or loose strings.

What do you all suggest? Guts?

Thanks.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Pirastro Flat-Chromesteels. They're roughly as bright as Spirocores but do not have the same buzzsaw midrange under the bow.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I'm gonna say try spirocores on the fully carved. You can find a used set somewhere probably.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Corelli 370 series might be another option for a cello-like sound.

 

[LowG]

Just read a bit on the Corelli 370; that seems very promising! I like this quote: "...they are made in France by Savarez, and Francois Rabbath was involved in their development..." Also nice that nowhere were the words "warm" or "growl" used, just "bright" and "edge".

Come to think of it Rabbath is a good benchmark for the tone goal. And the low price sure doesn't hurt either!!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll keep reading and listening.

 

[Francois Blais]

For a cello-like tone, I also think Corelli 370...

 

[Sam Dingle]

Maybe try spirocore solo strings tuned down? There's a thread about them thats only focused on arco.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Maybe try spirocore solo strings tuned down? There's a thread about them thats only focused on arco.

The solos tuned down were actually the darkest of the Spiros on my bass. I agree with suggestion for Corelli 370s. I think Spiro Weichs may be brighter, though, and bow pretty well.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The Flat-Chromesteels are also very bright, but probably a bit more tension than the Corelli 370 series. Many players dislike the E as being too weak.

The Flat-Chromesteels go down in tension towards the lower strings as well as the 370M and 370 TX. The 370F has a bit more tension towards the lower strings like Spiros.

For jazz or orchestral the 370F or Spiros might be better,
for (classical) solo playing the 370M, 370TX or a Flat-Chromesteels.

 

[TonyD]

if you want a 'cellolike' sound you definitely need to go for Flat-Chromesteel. but please do nut buy the low E-string.

 

[damonsmith]

I'm using a mixed set, spiro solos with a weich E. They give a nice clear sound. I mostly play arco and need a wide sound spectrum. This seems to be the way to go. Spiros are pretty easy to clean up the arco sound if you practice.

If you learn to get a clean Karr-style tone on all four strings with the bow right on the bridge you'll have no trouble making a clean arco sound in "normal" circumstances on ANY of the Spiro gauges. Just add that to your long tone practice.