What everybody else said about strings. As I posted above, I only recommended the D'Addario Solo set because it is most like what you are using right now. Yes, as recommended above, the Velvet Blues, having a synthetic core, have a nice snap and tone for pizz; the down side is they discolor easily with their copper alloy wrap. And Yes, if you want to go back go Spiros, then there are at least seven sets to choose from that can be strung up on a standard 3/4 106cm bass. Of those seven sets, if you want the 50 to 55 pounds of tension per string, then there are three sets that fit: the traditional S42 Weichs that, when adjusted from a 110cm scale which they are rated for to 106cm, have about 55 to 63 pounds tension per string; if you want more even tension across the board, then the 4/4 solo set, when adjusted to the shorter scale, has about 50 to 55 pounds tension per string; and the 3/4 solo set has about 56 to 58 pounds of tension per string Finally, if a player were really, really retentive about tension, then a player could get a set of almost exact even tension across the (finger)board by using the G string out of the S42W set, and the DAE strings out of the 4/4 solo set. If you use one of the 4/4 sets, the E string is long enough that if you are mounting them on a 106cm bass, I would switch out which tuner you mount the E string on so it doesn't break so drastically over the nut and end up with speaking length of string around the tuning post.
And then, after you play them for awhile, you can join the Dead Spiros Club!
If you want a darker, thumpier pizz, then the Bel Canto solos downtuned have about 52 pounds of tension per string. But the E string is really dark, and for jazz pizz would benefit from substituting a 4/4 solo Spiro E string in its place.
Spiro G strings still twang. I use a D'Addario Prelude G instead: it is darker and less expensive, as are all D'Addario sets. The problem is that D'Addario strings are like the little girl with the little curl - when they are good, they are very good, but when they are bad, they are horrid with absolutely no quality control, which has supposedly been a topic of improvement at the factory. On the forum are extensive threads about what to use for a G string with a set of Spiros otherwise. All these were out before T-I started making Bels in a solo set, so if it were to do all over again, I would try a Bel solo A string tuned down to G on top of the 4/4 Spiro solo DAE.
If you don't mind going up just a little bit in tension, the 3/4 3885W set is the most under-rated Spiros set out there. The tension is between S42 weich and mitt, more towards the weich, fairly even from string to string, and they are truly bulletproof. Barring unforeseeable accidents, a player should get 25 or more years out of a 3885W set. And even then, if the accident destroys the bass, the strings would probably still be playable, after extraction from the remains and remounting on another bass.
And remember, whatever you end up going with, everything goes with a Dead Spiro E string, which will literally last forever.
But really if you know of a medium to light tension set that is decent sounding and goes for less than 100e, please share!
Never say never I guess. Thanx for the feedback guys.
. The pizzicato strings are very much like the spirocore strings in my opinion. I'd go with a heaver Hybrid set
