Feedback on Thomastik Spirocore Strings.

I've been using them for many, many years. They are great for pizz, some guys don't mind them for bowing.
They are just very reliable and very stable, pitch and tension, sound, always there! they last for a very long time, in fact they sound better as they get old.
I don't want to spend any time messing with strings, action, tailpiece, pick ups, etc. so these strings are perfect for me. my bass has been set up the same way for a very long time so I can spend more time working on Music!!! lol

 

They've been discussed more than any string out there. They are the starting point, in my opinion. If you buy a new set now, you won't have to even think about strings for a few years, if then.

 

Great for pizz, and they will kick for butt for arco, which isnt necessarily a bad thing.

Thats pretty much Spirocore 101.

 

They are the de facto standard upright bass string and the one that just about everybody compares other strings too. I'd think that every serious bassist should have some experience with them. I have my back up bass strung with them. The last time I played it, it was still in tune and I hadn't touched the bass in over a month! That's stability. A great many of our bass superheroes use or used Spirocore Mittels or Weichs including Ray Brown, Eddie Gomez, Marc Johnson, Dave Holland, NHOP, Stanley Clarke, John Patitucci (former Weich user), Christian McBride (also former Weich user), and Gary Peacock among a bunch of others.

mark

 

I think he means string gauge.

The thickness of the strings affects tonal and tactile qualities. The thicker spiros have higher tension.

 

I'm another one of those guys who has experimented with a lot of different strings (except guts), and spiros still eventually come down as my favorite all-around string.

If only they could be ordered with a variety of thread colors, I'd love them even more.

 

You could always dye/stain/paint them to match your outfit!

"Honey, does this colour make my bass look fat?"

 

I wish

there's so much talk about a string's tonal qualities and diversity among musical styles

hardly any talk about its appearance



it's time to see a change

 

are you kidding!!!??? lol the red wraps are totally cool!

 

Then you may wish to try Pirastro Jazzers.
They're quite similar to Spirocores, and each string has its own silk color!

 

After agonizing over which new strings to buy, I recently put a set of mittels on my double. My only other experience is with the original strings that came on the bass. I am pretty happy with the spiro's. They sound great on pizz, and decent from what little bowing I am capable of. Feel much better (almost silky) compared to what was on it. I play in a Folk/Americana band and also love Jazz. they seem to work well for these.

 

If it matters I believe Dave Holland uses The Medium gauge strings not the light.

 

Spiros are great because they stay in tune, have a lot of sustain and pretty good for arco and they are very durable. But on my bass they sound way too much "electric bass" if you know what I mean. I tend to play pretty legato and the spiros make me sound more like Jaco than Charles Mingus, and that's not really the sound I'm going for. But some basses are just meant to be strung with spiros is seems....

 

Yes. Dave uses Mittels.

 

I had the same suspicion, FWIW.