Double Bass Identifying S42 vs. 3885.0

[jsf729]

I purchased a bass that had a set of Spirocores on it which I have transferred to another bass. They are broken in nicely (D still a little zingy though). I'd like to know which set I have for possible future/ additional purchase. Silks are red on both ends and TI website doesn't help much. I know the S42 are more popular. The silks at the ball end come up to a couple inches from the bridge. I have a set of 4/4 Superflexibles and the silks come up right to the bridge which lend me to believe that maybe my Spirocores are 3/4. Any insight would be appreciated

 

[eh_train]

I had the same question a while back. If you check Thomastik’s spec sheets (not sure where, but I did find it at one point), the 3885 set are slightly shorter (especially the E, iirc), and the tension is slightly less.

It seems bizarre to me that Thomastik would sell two different strings that have the exact same markings! I had a chance to ask two of their sales reps about this at a trade show this past summer, and they could not (or would not) give a straight answer about this. Maybe they were thinking about (gasp!) reformulating Spirocores, then chickened out? I realize they’re not very different, but the packaging sure is confusing...

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

My 3885 Weichs have purple silk at the pegbox end. I believe that the 3885 and S42 mediums both have red silk at both ends, but the length of the silk is different (at least at the ball end).

 

[nogbert]

My 3885 Weichs have purple silk at the pegbox end. I believe that the 3885 and S42 mediums both have red silk at both ends, but the length of the silk is different (at least at the ball end).

purple silks at the pegbox mean they are weich/light guage. too bad they make both 3885 and s42 in weich lol

 

[jsf729]

My 3885 Weichs have purple silk at the pegbox end. I believe that the 3885 and S42 mediums both have red silk at both ends, but the length of the silk is different (at least at the ball end).

Thanks. Yes I am familiar with Weichs, but these have red at both ends. I'm thinking that due to the shorter silks these may be 3885 set.

 

[jsf729]

I had the same question a while back. If you check Thomastik’s spec sheets (not sure where, but I did find it at one point), the 3885 set are slightly shorter (especially the E, iirc), and the tension is slightly less.

It seems bizarre to me that Thomastik would sell two different strings that have the exact same markings! I had a chance to ask two of their sales reps about this at a trade show this past summer, and they could not (or would not) give a straight answer about this. Maybe they were thinking about (gasp!) reformulating Spirocores, then chickened out? I realize they’re not very different, but the packaging sure is confusing...

Ah, so I am in good company! Would anyone be so kind as to measure the silks of their S42 set at the ball end? This may solve the mystery. I will measure mine as well. Thanks!

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I wouldn’t rely on the underlength silk length but rather on the total string length.
If you have a look in my Dropbox (link in signature and string sticky) you find a file that I have grabbed from the net some time ago with string lengths for 4/4 and 3/4 Spiros.

 

[Sean Riddle]

Thanks. Yes I am familiar with Weichs, but these have red at both ends. I'm thinking that due to the shorter silks these may be 3885 set.

Those are the Mittels, either 4/4 or 3/4.

 

[panos]

The silk length at the ball end of my D string from S42 set is 14.6 cm, that makes 5 6/8 inch.
But measuring the whole length is more safe as DoubleMidi said.

 

[jsf729]

The silk length at the ball end of my D string from S42 set is 14.6 cm, that makes 5 6/8 inch.
But measuring the whole length is more safe as DoubleMidi said.

Thanks DM and panos. Yes, I thought about measuring the whole string length after I put them on. I wanted to leave them intact for today's gig so they remain in tune. I will follow up this week. Very interested to know since after I determine which set that they are, the TI site (and DM's valuable work) will give me the tension ratings for further escapades into the Rabbit Hole (of which I am firmly entrenched)! Regardless of 3/4 or 4/4 in this instance, I really like the sound of these on my carved bass. However, they may have a bit more tension than I like. Time will tell.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Keep in mind that you always can simulate a lower tension by tuning down.
If you already have a higher tension version of the string, you also get the feel for a similarly constructed lighter string.
The Formulas.html in my Dropbox calculates the new tension when you enter actual tension (or 100 as a percentage) and the detune in the right formula.

The feel is different for different core material, so solid core steel, braided core steel, rope core steel and to a much higher degree different kinds of synthetic core and gut core feel (!) different because of different elongation forces. Keep in mind that pressing a string down or plucking makes the string longer (triangle between straight open string and plucked or pressed down string).

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I would think that the more accurate measurement for determining the type would be to measure the string length between the silks.

 

[jsf729]

Keep in mind that you always can simulate a lower tension by tuning down.
If you already have a higher tension version of the string, you also get the feel for a similarly constructed lighter string.
The Formulas.html in my Dropbox calculates the new tension when you enter actual tension (or 100 as a percentage) and the detune in the right formula.

The feel is different for different core material, so solid core steel, braided core steel, rope core steel and to a much higher degree different kinds of synthetic core and gut core feel (!) different because of different elongation forces. Keep in mind that pressing a string down or plucking makes the string longer (triangle between straight open string and plucked or pressed down string).

Yes, thanks DM. I have referenced that in the past and will revisit it again

 

[jsf729]

I would think that the more accurate measurement for determining the type would be to measure the string length between the silks.

Agreed Chris, but on TI website they only mention "vibrating string length". Would that be the distance between the silks in your opinion? Now that you mention it- makes sense. may be the answer to the riddle.

 

[TroyK]

I sorted a few sets out of my string box a few years ago and the only way to tell them apart is string length. In my case, I had old sets of both, so "the longer ones are S42s", was good enough.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Agreed Chris, but on TI website they only mention "vibrating string length". Would that be the distance between the silks in your opinion? Now that you mention it- makes sense. may be the answer to the riddle.

That would be my guess.

 

[TroyK]

...but of course the string doesn't have a vibrating string length, only the bass. The same string moved across multiple basses will have whatever each basses mensure is.

You'd have to take the string off and measure it and then have someone or some shop who had a set of marked strings do the same thing and compare numbers.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The problem is that the silk lengths can vary for several strings of the same type, so measuring the silk lengths can be misleading.
Even the total string lengths vary a bit, but it would be clearer to measure them than the silk lengths.

 

[Ludwig]

In DoubleMIDIs DropBox is a list of lengths of the different Spirocore,hope it is accurate.

 

[eh_train]

You'd have to take the string off and measure it and then have someone or some shop who had a set of marked strings do the same thing and compare numbers.

Right. And keep track of the measurements for the next time someone asks "Is this an S42 or a 3885?"

It's frustrating, and I don't understand why Thomastik did this. Especially when they're messing with (possibly?) their best selling string.