Double Bass My string journey documented (to be Continued)

[the_Ryan]

Ok I'm back to tinkering. The madness has started again:

Quick recap: I got a new bass. 7/8ths juzek. Threw sprio mediums on it and didn't like the E string on that bass so put a heavy on. Much better. Then got a C extension put on and sadly there isn't a stark long C string. The medium was doing fine. I got curious based on another thread and tried a medium Evah on the G and liked it ok, but it threw off the tension of the rest of the strings.

I then took out the spiro weich ADG and threw those on with the medium Long C. I took videos of all 3 sets.

I liked the medium Evahs gauge but the tension threw everything off

I love the sound of the full set of mediums but the feeling on the E isn't perfect. I'd love to fix that.

The sound of the weich ADG is much less exciting then the full medium set, but the feel is there and it makes the E jump out in comparison. I like that part.

Last time I tried weich strings I didn't like them on the band stand. Got a loud gig tonight so I'll test the weich there. Let me know what you think in these videos, and don't mind the shot playing.

I preferred the Weichs, but that's because it's the sound I'm going for.

Have you tried the 3/4 Weichs? I'm not sure what you're using in the video, but I've been using them for a while and I like them a lot more than the 4/4 Weichs.

 

[Bigbassguy]

Thoughts on this:

I have an upton hybrid standard and I'm thinking
Of using a, d ,g gut and spiro e.
I play jazz standards with piano.
Like to hear your thoughts
Thanks in advance

 

[Jason Hollar]

Have you tried the 3/4 Weichs? ... I've been using them for a while and I like them a lot more than the 4/4 Weichs.

What is it you like about the 3/4 over the 4/4? I ask because I’ve got three+ years on a set of 4/4 and I’ve got a new 3/4 set for backup ... thinking about having it set up & restrung this year.

 

[the_Ryan]

What is it you like about the 3/4 over the 4/4? I ask because I’ve got three+ years on a set of 4/4 and I’ve got a new 3/4 set for backup ... thinking about having it set up & restrung this year.

They're a little stiffer and the sound is a little fuller. For me they're still light enough that I can play for long periods of time, but there's just a little more density in the sound.

 

[Don Kasper]

tried a medium Evah on the G and liked it ok, but it threw off the tension of the rest of the strings.

Maybe try an Evah Weich G with the Spiro Weichs?
That's what I use.
Good Luck and thanks for bol$tering the Global (String) Economy!

 

[Sam Dingle]

Maybe try an Evah Weich G with the Spiro Weichs?
That's what I use.
Good Luck and thanks for bol$tering the Global (String) Economy!

For my playing the Spiro Weichs are too low tension and don’t cut through on my bass. Sticking with mediums again, just need another setup

 

[Selim]

4/4 weichs below groovy polychromes.

The 4/4 weichs give up a little depth compared to both 3/4 weichs and 4/4 mittels. But they speak better on my bass.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Ok so the bass is better after a setup! Take a listen:



I had my luthier move the soundpost and it made the D and G string much higher tension, the opposite of what I wanted so he moved it the other way and it was a little better, so we spent the next hour messing with the setup. Basically the bass didn't have a lot of scoop that I was used to. The board was quite flat so we did... something:

Added scoop to the board, raise the action so that the E string was great, did something with the fingerboard blah blah blah. Its great! Just what I wanted. Very even just as I like.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Oh sorry about the arco scale....hahaha

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Oh sorry about the arco scale

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Oh sorry about the arco scale....hahaha

Your luthier obviously didn't put all of the notes back in the right place

- Steve

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

It’s long been an article of faith around here when that one finds a bass that sounds good arco with Spiros on it, for the love of God, keep it forever.

 

[Sam Dingle]

It’s long been an article of faith around here when that one finds a bass that sounds good arco with Spiros on it, for the love of God, keep it forever.

I’m glad you think my subpar arco sounds good. This bass truly is special though. Only need one more slight tweak and it’ll be great for me

 

[Sam Dingle]

Your luthier obviously didn't put all of the notes back in the right place

- Steve

Yes. That’s it. It’s his fault

 

[the_Ryan]

It’s long been an article of faith around here when that one finds a bass that sounds good arco with Spiros on it, for the love of God, keep it forever.

That's what I'm doing with mine

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Sam’s string journey documented:

Post #1: Spirocores

Post #309: Spirocores

It’s funny how some journeys lead us right back to where we started.

- Steve

 

[Sam Dingle]

Sam’s string journey documented:

Post #1: Spirocores

Post #309: Spirocores

It’s funny how some journeys lead us right back to where we started.

- Steve

More accurately:

Post 1: Started with spiro mediums, tried a bunch of stuff and I'm back to spiro mediums.

Post 38: Tried Obligatos. Back to spiro medium

Post 115: Spiro Weich

Post 127: Spiro Medium

Post 116: Spiro/Dominant

Post 224: Spiro Mediums

Post 238: Superflexible

Post 250: Back to spiros, then evah mediums, back to spiros

Post 258: Spiro E/A with Belcanto D-G (Don't really count this as it was truly necessary)

Post 274: Spiro EA/ Flex deluxe DG

Somewhere in the middle of that I went back to spiros, then bought a new bass THEN!

Post 292: Evah Medium G, Spiro weich

Post 296: Back to spiro mediums

This truly is madness

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

News flash: we’re all crazy.

 

[statsc]

Like I said in post #293, “Step away from the string box!” Is there. 12-step program for this?

 

[Francois Blais]

I may be the sole person here who dislikes Spiros.
Too much buzz in the tone for me, sorry.