Double Bass Is there such a string?

[Huy Nguyen]

A string that is sorta similar to Spiro, but not so "in yo face". A mellow spiro orch. Not neccessarily darker, but with more warmth, timbre.

My sinking suspicion is that no such string exists, or simply that it's a spiro that's been played in for a few years.

If I were to describe spiro's on my bass, it's kinda like speaking from your lips & tip of your tongue. The sound is clear, sharp, has attack. A more rounded sound would be more like speaking from the back of your throat, and relaxed. Looking for something that is slightly rounder tha spiros, but still clear.

It's the best analogy I can think of, though I know it's rife as a setup for a dirty joke. Please have mercy. Whatever you do, not in the face.

 

[JavierBass]

I would have to say my friend, try the Superflexibles. I think they have incredible clear and precise attack, but not so bright, indeed darker but definitely rounder and fuller which I think is what you may be looking for. Very remarkably similar to spirocore mittels.

 

[moles]

Superflexibles?

EDIT: We simul-posted - I'm in agreement with the above...

 

[JtheJazzMan]

Maybe something like La Bella 7720? Havent tried them myself. Brian bromberg uses them right?

Also are they the ones Miroslav Vitous uses? I like his tone. Still has brightness but rounded.

 

[ctxbass]

Have you tried increasing the string height? If that is hard to play, Spiro Weichs, or even Solos, set up higher might do the trick.
Superflexibles are my favorite steel string, darker than spiros, but I would not say they are warmer or have more timbre. I think they have less character than Spirocores and the sound is more dependent upon your bass.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

Yes, I've raised the string heights. I"m playing them fairly decently high. At this point, raising Spiro's any higher just results in more volume and thump.

Spiros were just about 2 months old. I tried installing tone filters, but it didn't help that much. Just made the strings more springy so I and slightly muted.

 

[Francois Blais]

First string that comes to mind is Pirastro Jazzers.

You may also want to get a look at the new all-metal Eurosonics.
In EU they're called Presto Balance.
Available in orchestral and Hybrid types.
Orchestrals in two gauges.
Quinn has them.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Supers is what you want.

 

[Marc Piane]

Wait until the Spiros are at least a year old. To me that's when they are gold. Still some of the Spiro edge with quite a bit of old school mellowness and thump.

Some call that dead. I call it beautiful!

I have Evah Orchestra's on my bass now and I really dig them to. They have many of the same properties of old Spiros with more upfront attack. They are a little harder to amplify then Spiros IME but they are nice too.

 

[AMJBASS]

Pirastro Jazzers are neat strings, but I found them to have a bit of a strange tone. Similar to Spirocore in Sustain, but a bit darker, and a "different" sounding attack.

The string that comes to mind for what you describe wanting is the Thomastik Dominant. I would try mixing a Dominant D and G with the Spiro E and A. They mix very well and the Doms on top give you a much more smooth and round tone.

 

[Marc Piane]

Doms depend on the bass IME. They sound great on my German ply but have a strange plastic-y sound on my Shen.

 

[Michael Glynn]

Have you tried other gauges of Spirocore? I'm loving Spiro solos (with an Oliv G). They seem more mellow than the mittels, but still have great clarity. Of course, if you or your bass like higher tension they won't work well for you.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

I don't get that much tension with orchs on my bass. Arnold works wonders. I've used Solos on other basses in the past, but the sound seems thinner.

Superflexs sound interested. I might give it a whirl. If it doesn't work out, I'll just go back to Spiros and beat the crap out of them for a year, like El SWAMI suggests.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

I think the Superflexes could be the ticket for you. They're really nice if you don't feel like hanging in there waiting for the Spiros to mellow.

I had a set that I gave to a student... damn, I wish I'd hung onto them, I'd send them to you.

 

[dfp]

+1 Superflexibles for what you describe wanting. i found them to be a bit less flexible, ironically, than Spiros, but at least in the ball park of feeling very similar. a pair up top and Spiros on the A and E works really well too. my hands don't deal w/ mittels lately so i really wish Superflexibles came in a weich gauge

 

[Huy Nguyen]

hrm ok. Seems like the suggestions for Supers are overwhelming. Gonna put those up on deck next. Thanks guys.

 

[moles]

... i really wish Superflexibles came in a weich gauge

One could always try the solos down-tuned on the A/D/G with an Orchestal E (or even a Spiro weich E)

 

[Jake deVilliers]

A string that is sorta similar to Spiro, but not so "in yo face". A mellow spiro orch. Not neccessarily darker, but with more warmth, timbre.

My sinking suspicion is that no such string exists, or simply that it's a spiro that's been played in for a few years.

If I were to describe spiro's on my bass, it's kinda like speaking from your lips & tip of your tongue. The sound is clear, sharp, has attack. A more rounded sound would be more like speaking from the back of your throat, and relaxed. Looking for something that is slightly rounder tha spiros, but still clear.

It's the best analogy I can think of, though I know it's rife as a setup for a dirty joke. Please have mercy. Whatever you do, not in the face.

I think that Weichs have a less edgy sound than Mittels. The lighter gauge and tension mitigate the eternal perpetual (or is it perpetual eternal?) sustain of the Mittels too.

The next step on the path to a thicker and blunter (that's me) sounding string is the Honeys. Lower tension again but a stiffer string, so not floppy under the right hand but definitely enunciating from the back of the throat in a very French way...

 

[MR PC]

I would have to say my friend, try the Superflexibles. I think they have incredible clear and precise attack, but not so bright, indeed darker but definitely rounder and fuller which I think is what you may be looking for. Very remarkably similar to spirocore mittels.

Assuming the bass is the one listed in your profile, I'd agree that SF's would be worth a shot. But after your bass breaks in some more, Spiro's would be worth trying again.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Hey! (or maybe, Huy! ). I found another full set of Superflexes in the shed, they look to be in good shape. You want 'em?.... shoot me your address....

So much crap in that shed....