Loudest, thickest, & highest tension...

I like my spirocore solo. They aren’t massive sounding or feeling strings but they are present in the mix.

 

“Highest tension” and “thickest” are normally opposites in bass strings. Gut strings are thickest but lowest tension.

Guts project far more than steel strings, but can sound quieter to the player.

 

And then there’s loudness and there’s perceived loudness. A bass/string setup that has certain frequencies (mids, upper mids, the growl) make it easier to hear the bass and to my mind this is perceived loudness. Another setup with less of those mid frequencies might be just as loud in a real sense, but not perceived (heard) as such.

Maybe. Just my nickel.

 

All this is secondary to Sound, for me. You’re at your best when your sound is there. I’ll take that over considerations of loudness any day.

 

And it's not a standard equation. The same string on different basses is going to sound different. The same string with different over stands is going to sound different. Different strings under the same tension are going to sound different.
The same strings and setup can sound weak and thin on one bass, big and loud on another, and choked on yet a third.

 

Here is a recent video in NYC with my Chadwick (a Shen Hybrid) with all four Spiro solos:

 

But you’re always back to Sound considerations. What kind of a voice do you want to speak with?

I say this also acknowledging that Spirocores are an incredible string. I love em. But their sound is not the voice for every player. And other string designs cut thru, too - just in a different way.

 

They're very bright.
Our friend Sam is selling a couple of them here: For Sale - Superflexible Solo, Evah Slap, Chorda

 

Hey, I'm not the OP!

 

I can say this: if there was only one kind of string, let it be Spirocores.

 

I'd be unhappy if there was only Spiros around, honestly.

 

I understand that emotion. I said that because I think they are still the most versatile string design.

But I'm also saying that because they sound great on my current bass. My previous bass (which I played for 35 years or so up until last year) hated them, and that's why for 35 years I thought I hated them. When it was really the bass that didn't like them.

 

I’d be fine if there was only Spriocores and gut!