low tension

I don't know if they are the lowest, but they gotta be close. I personally think they suck the hind teet, also. On that line, they last about as long as a teenage virgin on Pamela Anderson.

I think most the guys that use the Corelli's, use the Fortes. Still very playable, but much more durable.

I have spoken.

 

You'd get the lowest tension with solo-tuning strings, strung at orchestra pitch, I think.
Corellis are also available in solo gauge.

 

I don't have numbers for Corelli, but for comparison:
Med. guage
Spirocore 278 lb.
Obligato 265 lb
Helicore pizz 263 lb
Spirocore Weich 252.3 lb

= combined total of all 4 strings

 

Like them ok while they lasted but my Corelli's (Forte) are pooping out on me. They have been on about 9 months. As far as tension, I don't know the specs but some have compared them to gut. I found they are not even close to gut tension. The thinness of the strings make them seem as tense as any other steel.

 

I just took off a set of Hybrid Mediums and replaced them with the Corelli 370 M and they really don't feel a ton lighter.

It is probally because of what FarmerDude said, because they are thinner it is really hard to tell if they have less tension. I like them but there was a 1/2 day learning curve because of the with of the string.

 

Corelli 370 M is what I put om my bass.{ALL HAIL BOB} I like them alot. Now I havent tried any others so thats not saying much. I replaced the strings that were on my bass when I got it. Being an electric player I found the light tension very welcome. I think they sound good and my teacher does also. I`m from the old school "if it aint broke don`t fix it" so I will more than likely stick with them. They are bright but I like it.....

Dave

--------------------------------------------------
If the world didn`t suck we would all fall off

 

Dave, how long have you had your 370Ms on? I hope you have better luck than I did, but mine died within a month-and-a-half. I will admit that I was very impressed when I first put them on. Then again, I get that impression every time I put on a new string.

 

Hi Tim,
I`ve had them on for about 5 months. They seem to still be fine. Like I said I have not had much experance with DB strings. The ones I replaced were Superflexables. Superflexables my butt. They were so hard to press down. The only thing I see so far with the Corelli`s is that they seem to have loosened up some. I mean not as much tension as the first month. That could be that I`m getting stronger or the strings. Either way they sound the same. Please understand I`m new to the DB and really should not be giving string advice seeing I`ve played on....2 sets. You might have just got a hold of a bad set. Ask "All Hail Bob" about them. He turned me on to them when I bought a K&K mic. from him. I`m sure he can lead you in whatever direction you wish to go in. Have a good day.
Dave

--------------------------------------------------
If the world didn`t suck we would all fall off

 

Tim, have you tried the Innovations yet? I recently replaced mine with Origional Flexicors because I'm the only bass in a chamber orchestra playing the Messiah. I also thought it was time that I should learn to play on a less forgiving string.

Mark

 

Hey Mark:

Aaahhh, I just had my repair guy recommend Helicores for my bass, so here I am full circle. Anyway it sounds like it should for now. I promise if I don't stick with the Helicores, my next purchase will be the Innovations.

Have you found an original three string yet?

old saw needs an old bass.

 

Problem.....Oldsaw has new bass.....needs old bass.

I took my Innovations off this August and put on a set of Helicors. Practiced for two days and took them off before I had to go to rehearsal. BTW, I threw the Helicores in the trash. It was the second time I had had them on and I didn't like them any better the second time.

Yes, I have found the three string and have picture all over my office for "motivation".

Mark

 

I don't like the Helicores either.
I think they sound shallow and metallic. (even the orchestras)
I tried them in all gauges and none satisfied me.
I'm still in love with Pirastro strings!

 

I just tried a set of Corelli 360M Solo.
Tuned them to EADG and I must say they don't have enough tension. So if you are looking for low tension these might be more than what you are looking for, my BG's have heavier strings.

 

Dear Forum,
I've used Corellis 360 Solo Medium Tension (the lowest) and from my experience in matter of Strings I can say that this is the lowest tension that I've ever setted up on my copy of Tarantino. My soloist db. is a 2/4 size with a diapason of cm. 104 (very little). With lower tension, but very low, it's not easier to play with bow. First of all I suggest an adjustable bridge and a doublebass with already a sweet sound. These Corellis are very thin in gauge, and sometimes it's not so easy to ply them with an heavy bow or with a lot of colophonia. You must accustom to them with new pressions on the strings and a new idea or concepts in bowings and fingerings. With them you can obtain excellent results under every aspect. The only problem is this one: "the tone colour is more similar to a cello than to a double bass". Corellis TX provide more sound power, and probably there are the models used by Gary Karr, Marillier, Rabbath and other soloists. Sometimes, in the same Cd, some soloists use to change strings for different compositions, or for different historical period, or in duets and so on. But in a serious Orchestra, in my opinion, these strings aren't the ideal.
It's physically impossible that a thinner gauge with very low tension gives you the same harmonics of a larger one.
So it's only a question of choice.
Listen to Rabbath recordings or Karr's ones (Corelli)
Listen to Tom Martin recordings (1st Pirastro, 2nd Pirastro, 3rd D'Addario, 4th D'Addario). The difference is great. Petracchi on his Rossi uses Jargars. Very big tone ... on this marvellous instrument.

Regards

Vito Liuzzi

 

Hi Vitto.
104 cm is the standard 3/4 size bass diapason.
An half size should be around 96 cm I think.

 

Francois,
this is a 2/4 instrument with a diapason of cm.104. I ask my liuther to follow this instructions . Probably you can see this copy of a Tarantino in my pictures website. It's the first one on the left, and I usually play it sit down, but not like a cellist. The other one is a Romeo Orsi dated 1890, a 4/4 instrument with a diapason of cm. 110.

Ciao

Vito Liuzzi

 

When I saw Rabbath, he was using the mediums and sounded fabulous. When I saw Ellison, he was using the mediums and sounded fabulous.

I've read in an inteview that Gary Karr uses the solo strings, as he plays in solo tuning.

The last Vienna Philharmonic concert I watched on TV seemed to show one of the bassists using the Corelli mediums (blue thread with black windings), but I may be wrong it was a quick camera shot.

I've seen the fortes on Lynn Seaton's bass maybe 5 years ago, but last I recall he has been using the mediums. Rumor has it that Rabbath subtly suggested he try them...blame me if I'm wrong there also.

I've only used the fortes myself, and they were very nice strings for bowing and pizz. Much lower tension than, say, the belcantos. Even Mark Rubin liked using them on my bass for slap technique.

 

They are great orchestra strings but I made my second attempt at using them on my jazz gigs this weekend and they simply do not put out enough volume with my bass/pup/amp selection. They sound great in my practice room although I find them to be lacking in sustain.


I personally would love to know how the guys that use them for jazz gigs make them work....ie what kind of bass, pup, and amp and what kind of instrumentation too. I have a difficult time keeping up with a baby grand even with my GK MB150.

 

The Corellis in TX gauge give more volume, but in M or solo gauge, don't look further why you have a hard time being heard.
They are very thin and don't have much mass, so they don't move the soundboard a lot.
Solo Spiros will already give more volume, but possibly not as much as thicker ones, depending on how your instrument reacts with tension.