Double Bass Looking to Brighten up my DARK bass

[AugustBerger]

My current setup is as follows:

The instrument is a Thomas Martin 4/4 Concert Double Bass with Flathchromes on the GDA and an extended Bel Canto for the E(C).

I am a classical player and the bass I have has a deep, rich, (and of course, Dark) English sound. I am looking to couple this with a very bright choice in strings. I have had Evahs, Bel Cantos, and Kaplans on the instrument and all of them didn't do much to add the zing I am looking for. I like the flatchromes, however I would like something with a little less tenstion. I have done all I can with my setup to reduce this, however the tension is still not as comfortable as I would like.

I have been thinking about dropping some Spirocores on the top strings and a Permanent for the low one. Of course, money is tight so I don't want to waste it on a bad sound. I am aware the spirocores are jazz strings, but I have heard they might work well to achieve what I am looking for.

Any advice or alternate suggestions in this matter?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

If I understand that you're using Original Flatchrom I can think of a lot of strings that would feel looser and sound brighter. Actually, pretty much every string fits that description.

OFC to Spiros would be a quantum leap, even if the Spiros are old and well broken in. If new Bels are too dull, maybe Flat-Chromsteels would fit the bill? I believe Rotaru was using those over Spiros and he sounds awesome, and with brilliance galore.

My favorite all-purpose low strings are old Spiros. Bow them, pluck them, slap them, pair them with gut, they just work for me. I do not always like Spiros on top.

 

[MikeCanada]

I would flip it with Spirocores on the bottom and Permanents on the top. I have seen a Spirocore on the bottom string with almost anything on top and it works for a lot of instruments to give definition and a bit of "zing" to the bottom, so a great first step would be the Spiro extended E. I played on a Bel Canto low C for a year or two and while it was great right out of the package, it was just indiscriminate mud after a while. I am currently playing two Spirocores on the bottom and two Permanents on the top, as I found that the Spirocores on top (even after playing them in for 6 months or so) were two bright for my instrument. The Permanents blend well with the Spirocores, but they add brightness without the twang.

Start with the Spirocore low E, or even ask around as I'm betting anyone you know with an extension likely has an old one in a drawer somewhere, and then build up from there. Maybe your bass would like two and two, three and one, or one and three, but a Spirocore high G is pretty rare among orchestra players.

 

[Sean Riddle]

I can only help partially. I'm mainly a jazz player but I do bow a bit. I Spirocore Mittel on my E (with Evahs on top) and it plays like a dream. It has an absolutely powerful presence when I play arco. I've heard of good experiences of people using Spiro E and A before and of using a well worn full set. For your top strings, the more experienced players will have to chime in.

 

[eerbrev]

I agree with mikecanada. Spiro Low strings are great for a clear low end that isn't nasal.

 

[Nathan Levine]

I put Spiro Weichs on the bottom of my new bass at first and I ended up taking them right off. No adjusters so it was a buzzy love fest that I wanted nothing to do with. Might mittels have worked better?

 

[Carl Hillman]

My bass is fairly dark and I use Spiro Mittels on the bottom (Ext. E & A) and Flat-Chromesteels on the top. It works for me.

I tried a detuned solo set of Spiros on my plywood bass years ago, but there just wasn't enough resistance to dig into with either fingers or the bow.

 

[eerbrev]

I put Spiro Weichs on the bottom of my new bass at first and I ended up taking them right off. No adjusters so it was a buzzy love fest that I wanted nothing to do with. Might mittels have worked better?

I find weichs way too soft. I'm for mittels.

 

[AugustBerger]

Start with the Spirocore low E, or even ask around as I'm betting anyone you know with an extension likely has an old one in a drawer somewhere, and then build up from there. Maybe your bass would like two and two, three and one, or one and three, but a Spirocore high G is pretty rare among orchestra players.

I like the low spirocore idea. I am concerned as to whether the response with the permanents will be what I need it to be.

I am also aware that I am kind of searching for a Goldilocks scenario asking for brighter sound with less tension.

 

[Reiska]

I´m no expert of any kind but low Spiro mittels work really well, just like eerbrev adviced me only a little while ago.

 

[Francois Blais]

FWIW, Corellis are not much expensive and they are bright and easy to play.
You may want to get the 370TX set. (tungsten high tension)

 

[Sam Dingle]

My bass teacher Dave Anderson uses Spirocore on the E and A (i believe he uses the extended Stark E) and belcanto on top. He changes the Belcantos out once a year or so to keep them bright because his Prescott is old and dark sounding. He says those mix well.

 

[MikeCanada]

If you are looking for less tension then you are currently playing, the Spirocore Weichs fit the bill. I have a weich low C in 5ths on my bass right now, and it is adds some nice definition to the low notes without choking the bass. Some basses do like Mittels better, but if tension is a problem you are attempting to eliminate, then weich is likely the way to go. It is also worth pointing out that Spirocore makes 3/4 and 4/4 strings. If I remember correctly, the Thomas Martin 4/4 Concerts have bigger body dimensions but the string length is still around 41.5" (105cm-ish) which means the 3/4 weichs would be the right choice. Try the extended E and see what you think, and there is a very good chance an A string will also work well.

What is your concern about "response" from the Permanents? I have no association with Pirastro or vested interest, I just have not heard of "response" being a concern with Permanents before. They are bright, focused, and quick to respond which makes them fairly popular on the audition circuit in North America because they articulate clearly through the screen. I would describe them as a more bow friendly Spirocore that still has the punch/presence without as much of the Spirocore "twang" that tends to get dirty looks from the rest of the section, especially regarding your top string fresh out of the package. Not quite a played-in Spirocore-which you might find is exactly what you are looking for-but a string I have been very happy with. They are a bit higher tension then the Spirocore Weichs, although I would not consider them a high tension string.

 

[AugustBerger]

I have read the permanents are a little stiff so my concern is mainly having to use a lot of effort to get the note started or to get the note to speak, but it might not be as bad as it may seem. Most of this is also in comparison to what I currently have which seems to be one of the highest tension strings on the market (flatchromes)

 

[AugustBerger]

Would you also recommend a Weich A string as well?

 

[MikeCanada]

There is a good chance your bass would be happy with a Spiro Weich A as well as the extended E. I have not had a problem with getting the Permanents to start or respond the way I want them to, and have always thought of them as a "fast" string. I am not really able to compare them to the flatchromes personally, as I have only very briefly played them on a colleague's instrument.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

I have read the permanents are a little stiff so my concern is mainly having to use a lot of effort to get the note started or to get the note to speak, but it might not be as bad as it may seem. Most of this is also in comparison to what I currently have which seems to be one of the highest tension strings on the market (flatchromes)

Edgar Meyer plays Permanents over Spiros and he seems to be able to get the strings started okay!

 

[bassmastan]

My current setup is as follows:

The instrument is a Thomas Martin 4/4 Concert Double Bass with Flathchromes on the GDA and an extended Bel Canto for the E(C).

I am a classical player and the bass I have has a deep, rich, (and of course, Dark) English sound. I am looking to couple this with a very bright choice in strings. I have had Evahs, Bel Cantos, and Kaplans on the instrument and all of them didn't do much to add the zing I am looking for. I like the flatchromes, however I would like something with a little less tenstion. I have done all I can with my setup to reduce this, however the tension is still not as comfortable as I would like.

I have been thinking about dropping some Spirocores on the top strings and a Permanent for the low one. Of course, money is tight so I don't want to waste it on a bad sound. I am aware the spirocores are jazz strings, but I have heard they might work well to achieve what I am looking for.

Any advice or alternate suggestions in this matter?

Give the Corelli 370TX's a try, Im currently using the GD and A on my 4/4 Solano, I love the G and D but the A kind of fades away a bit. This week I will be trying Flexocor deluxe which are supposes to be like BC's but slightly brighter and with more of a tonal range.

Just wondering are you switching for Solo purposes or are you feeling like youre getting to sucked into the section, because both can be fixed...

 

[Matt Ides]

I had a full set of perms on for a while and really liked them. Great for Arco and good pizz sound. I needed something with a mid more volume so now have Spiro Weichs on.