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Double Bass Corelli 370F....the next step??

Michael Drost

Michael Drost

Supporting Member
Oct 16, 2009
591
861
Grand Haven, MI
www.youtube.com
#1
Hello,

Like all of us, I am searching for the perfect string for my bass. I had Bel Canto's on it. It is a Shen Willow 3/4 carved with aC extension. I play Solo/Orchestral/Jazz equally. I loved the arco sound of the BC's. I did not like the pizz for jazz type gigs. So I am starting my search for a good hybrid that works for my bass.

I just put on a set of Corelli 370F and like the the brightness(cello-like), low tension.

I think I am sacrificing volume, a bit of bow sound, but the pizz is much better.

If I were to by another set of strings what would you recommend? Your advice is much appreciated!
 
#2
What would your objectives be? Do you want to hang on to that sound? Have the people you play with said anything? I've wanted to try Corellis; from what I can tell you won't find anything else like them. Bob Gollihur's enthusiastic description claims that they get a little less bright after you've played them some.
 
#3
I played 370Fs for about 6 months and loved them as a hybrid string. Permanents are a great arco string that you can get away doing some pizz on, but the E is pretty dead and its a high tension set which is not my thing- I'm currently on Spiro solos tuned down to EADG which is a pretty good hybrid string, though, like the Corelli's, you're losing a bit of volume, but the solos have that mushy Spiro feeling which you won't get any where else. Superflexibles are alright, but I find them to be too much of a compromise in either direction- they're not great pizz or great arco, but they just kinda do both OK. All in all, I'd recommend Evah Weichs. Of all the strings I've experimented on, I stuck with them the longest- a whole year! (yes I have a problem). They are low tension, nice and mushy under the right hand, but NO ROLL like you get from Obligatos, and sound great under the bow. Good luck!
 
#4
I've used all of the strings that we're talking about here (except the Corellis)

Permenants and Superflexibles are pretty far up the other end of the tension continuum from where you are. Unless you want to go that way, I'd stay away. Evah Pirazzi, even in the weich gauge are also a lot stiffer and meatier than what you're using and they lack that "cello-like" clarity that you described. People love them or don't but they are not a "singing' kind of string.

Spirocore weichs would be potentially a better version of what you've got. We had bunch of TBDBists together one day when I had them on my bass and even the most arco-focused among us liked them on my bass. They have a disputed reputation for not being as arco friendly as some, so it may depend on your bass, but they might be worth a try. Used ones would be a good test as they age very gracefully.

The true 50/50 strings are tough. Most people feel as Vince described about with respect to Superflexibles - you give up something on both ends. Lynn Seaton was a big proponent of those Corellis for this exact reason.

What I haven't tried yet, but would like to is the new "deluxe" formula Flexicores. Flexicores of various flavors are such beautiful strings, but always a little dark in the pizz department. Sounds like they're trying to bring some crispness into them with the new formula, but haven't seen or heard much about them yet.
 
#5
I just remembered Pirastro Flat Chromesteels. On the "less tension" end of the spectrum, very articulate sound, good arco string with plenty of pizz clarity. Might be worth consideration if you move on from the Corellis.

EDIT- "Flat-Chromesteels", not "Original Flat Chrome". Pirastro really needs better product marketing people, but the make fine strings.
 
#6
+1 to Evah Pirazzi Weich.

As TroyK points out, they are a little stiffer than the Corellis and, on my bass anyway, the Evahs have a little less sustain and growl than the Corellis, but only a little and they have a really nice pop on the front end of the note for pizz and they don't roll under the bow.
 
#7
But however, that Original Flat Chrome G is really nice for Jazz. I flirted with (before I went back to Evahs from Spiro Mitt EA/Evah weich DG) using an OFC G and it sounded really great. But now I am back to full Evah weichs and while I like them for both my Classical (symphony and solo) and Jazz work they are absolutely, positively, NOT low tension. You might want to still use the Corelli's until after they break in (best guess is a month)
 
#8
I use the OFC G with Jazzers and it is a an amazing string. Sucks that it took me so long to find it. I need to order a new one.

Spirocores and Evah Pirazzis are kind of a cult. People love them and tend to shout them out as an answer to every question. They are both fine strings, however, Evah Pirazzis are neither low tension nor cello-like, which is what the OP said he was looking for.

I don't have enough experience with Velvet Compas 180s to say, but them aside, unless you can bow Animas, which...

I stick with Corellis, Spirocore weichs or Pirastro Flat-Chromesteels to the OP's description. I think with sweichs are probably the best of the bunch, but not everyone feels they are a good arco string. Though they certainly were on my bass.
 
#10
They got cha. Definitely weichs. The Mediums make you work pretty hard. Personally, I think the weichs were a correction, they came out about a year after "regulars" and feel about like Spirocore Mittels in terms of tension and gauge.

Get ready for a much darker string.
 
#12
Very little has been said about them so far, especially from a jazz perspective. I'd like to try them someday. The Flexocore '92s make a really nice jazz string if you can handle darkness. I loved them at home, hated them on a gig. I've said this a million times, but while I had them on my bass, a friend sat in one night and sitting at the bar across the room, they sounded great. Standing over the bass, they sounded mushy. In the practice room, sounded and felt lovely. The Deluxe's are supposed to be a little brighter and could be the ticket, but I'm not going to pop for them until I read more.

My special sauce is keeping me pretty happy right now.

By the way Bel Cantos are on the low end of the tension spectrum too.

You might be okay with EP Weichs, some people really love them.
 
#13
TroyK said:
Get ready for a much darker string.
Click to expand...

That would be my concern with evah weich on a Shen willow.

Evah weich are great on my ply, but I suspect would not give me enough acoustically on my 7/8 Shen willow. It is currently strung with Original Flexocore... great tone in the practice room but as Troy said for the Flex '92s gets buried in a jam.

I am considering the 370F, "cello-like brightness" would work for me, but leaning toward Spiro Mittels for greater volume.
 
#14
shadygrove said:
I am considering the 370F, "cello-like brightness" would work for me, but leaning toward Spiro Mittels for greater volume.
Click to expand...

Is your Willow a rather dark-sounding bass? If it is then Spiro weichs might work well. With a very dark bass they would sound fine for arco and pizz. My experience is that when I tried them on my fully-carved Paesold they sounded really bright but felt really nice. On my school's Juzek plywood that I use for Jazz Band/Jazz Choir nothing works better for both arco and pizz. And don't be fooled by the rumors, Spiros work well for both arco and pizz...it's just that they're really bright.
 
#15
MDrost1 said:
I did not like the pizz for jazz type gigs. So I am starting my search for a good hybrid that works for my bass.
Click to expand...

It is very hard to find a good hybrid string.
Didn't like the Correli 370TX, not very powerfull and not very bright for pizz. Don't know about the F version though.
Love Spirocore weichs for pizz.
Now I have Superflexibles on my bass for one year. For me the best hybrid string so far. Good sustain and brightness for pizz and better bowing sound than the Spirocores. The only major drawback is the tension and thickness of the D string which is almost as thick as the A string. Very annoying for cross string pizzicato playing. I changed that D string for a Spirocore weich and for now I am ok.
Just ordered a Helicore Hybrid medium set to try. Hope this is the 'perfect' string for me. But probably it isn't.
 
#16
I know they are sort of expensive, but I LOVE the Velvet Compas 180's as a hybrid string. They are just a touch brighter than my ideal for section playing, but that is a compromise that I am happy to make for all the other things they do really very nicely. I had a set on for about two years and was quite pleased with them. I'll be going back to them at my next string change.
 
#17
Ryanpet42 said:
Is your Willow a rather dark-sounding bass? If it is then Spiro weichs might work well. With a very dark bass they would sound fine for arco and pizz. My experience is that when I tried them on my fully-carved Paesold they sounded really bright but felt really nice. On my school's Juzek plywood that I use for Jazz Band/Jazz Choir nothing works better for both arco and pizz. And don't be fooled by the rumors, Spiros work well for both arco and pizz...it's just that they're really bright.
Click to expand...

My Willow is definitely on the dark side, at least with the Original Flexocore it has on it from when I bought it. I'd consider Spiro weich, but my understanding is mittel are closer in diameter and tension to Evah weich which feel good to me. I really like the Evahs, just need something brighter for the willow.
 
#18
shadygrove said:
I'd consider Spiro weich, but my understanding is mittel are closer in diameter and tension to Evah weich which feel good to me.
Click to expand...

Mittels are similar in tension to EP weichs (on my bass they were a little higher tension) but are incredibly stiff from my experience. Spiro weichs are lighter but much more flexible.
 

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