Double Bass New Spiro Orchs: E Volume?!?

[Huy Nguyen]

Just curious, can anybody tell me if the Orch E get louder as it breaks in?

I took off my Animas and put my virtually new set of Spiro Orchs back on last night. The Anima's were getting a little too "pingy" sounding in the higher registers. I just wish the Spiro's had the same "oomph" in the lower registers that the Anima's did. I like the consistency I get from the spiro's.

Kept the string heights pretty high and right now I'm getting a sound that's much like Steve Swallow's electric sound. I assume they'll mellow out but right now the E string isn't as loud as the rest. It's kinda weak sounding and made me start string shopping.

I'm going to try to resist changing strings and let these settle in but would appreciate any comments on the E.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

I think so, or at least they create the impression of getting louder. The sound, to my ears, balances out and "widens", for lack of a better word. Seems like more of the fundamental comes out, and I believe that they actually do get louder. The contrast is probably more evident since you're coming from the huge sound of the Animas.

 

[Francois Blais]

The sound, to my ears, balances out and "widens", for lack of a better word.

Right. I suggest the verb "deepens".
At first, much energy is spread in the higher harmonics, and as the strings settle and age, that energy goes toward the bottom of the spectrum.

 

[Huy Nguyen]

The contrast is probably more evident since you're coming from the huge sound of the Animas.

Yeah no kidding. It was kinda hard taking the Animas off. They had such a great sound for walking to me but the pingyness was just enough for me to go for the "grass is greener" thing.

So far the spiro's are super bright so hopefully they'll mellow out bigtime. If I don't get some decent thunder coming outta the spiro A and E, I just might put the Anima A & E back on and mix it with the spiro G and D. That'll be weird.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

I did the same thing earlier this year. Grass is greener indeed. I'm back on Animas now, but Spiros are undeniably great. One of my favorites.

 

[FidgetStone]

I just put a Spiro orch E on my Christopher hybrid mixed with Flat Chromesteels. The Sprio E is louder than the FCS E was and has improved, as in "deepened", over the past week of very light playing.

I only play out at church, and I've been subbing on guitar more than bass the past couple of months. I feel like I am cheating on my upright . . .

I bought a Spiro A on-line last night that I'll try when it arrives. So far I am pleased with the sound of the E and how well it mixes with the FCSs.

 

[appler]

I use a Spirocore E with D'Addario Helicore Orchestral A, D, and G and after a few weeks they balanced out nicely.

 

[Phil Rowan]

Yeah no kidding. It was kinda hard taking the Animas off. They had such a great sound for walking to me but the pingyness was just enough for me to go for the "grass is greener" thing.

So far the spiro's are super bright so hopefully they'll mellow out bigtime. If I don't get some decent thunder coming outta the spiro A and E, I just might put the Anima A & E back on and mix it with the spiro G and D. That'll be weird.

I'm pretty sure that's the combination that Martin Wind uses, and it sounds great.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

That might be cool. I personally like the sound of the Anima D&G, but it certainly would be an interesting mix. I wonder, though, about the difference in tension.

 

[Tom Baldwin]

I would wonder if you just got a bum string. The spiro E is IME typically the loudest of the 4 in the set, assuming a good bass and setup. Or possibly you are equating loudness with "more fundamental" which could explain why you perceive you are getting more from the Anima E.