1. Yes, I think so. The OFC seems willing to take as much weight as I can give it. It has a different timbre from the Spiro, in a good way.
2. S42 (4/4) length.
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Double Bass Orchestra Bass String Setup Megathread
- Thread starter Jesse Dietschi
- Start date
2. S42 (4/4) length.
I'm exploring the world of some older Pirastro offerings. As noted above, I very much like the Original Flat Chromes; one of my basses has those A,D, and G strings, with a Spirocore weich E.
Yesterday I received a used set of Flexocor, the "92" variety. Having heard that the E is weak, I put the A, D, and G on my main orchestra bass, along with - again - a Spiro weich E. Very nice! I like.
Based on posts here, I understand that a lot of orchestra bassists like the Permanent E and E/C ... so I have one coming. I have two questions for the Permanent crowd:
1. What is it that you like about the Permanent E?
2. What is it that you (presumably) don't like about the Permanent A, D, and G?
Quantum Bass Center's string matrix really treats Permanents brutally, so I'm curious.
Yesterday I received a used set of Flexocor, the "92" variety. Having heard that the E is weak, I put the A, D, and G on my main orchestra bass, along with - again - a Spiro weich E. Very nice! I like.
Based on posts here, I understand that a lot of orchestra bassists like the Permanent E and E/C ... so I have one coming. I have two questions for the Permanent crowd:
1. What is it that you like about the Permanent E?
2. What is it that you (presumably) don't like about the Permanent A, D, and G?
Quantum Bass Center's string matrix really treats Permanents brutally, so I'm curious.
I have a permanent E/C that i have to say is great in alot of ways. Very loud, plays quite easily, nice and bright, VERY clear pitches - no pitch drooping when you dig in, tone is fairly consistent up the string - doesn't give out once you hit the neck block. There is just an 'open-ness' about the spiro weich that i really like that the permanent doesnt do on my bass. Havent tried the rest of the permanent set but i'd probably say the E/C is my second fav so far behind the spiro.
I'm curious how the you think Flex 92s compare to the OFCs. I "grew up" with Flex 92s but didn't like them on my Arvi when I first bought it in 2007. On that bass they were very bland strings, not terribly loud, and neither particularly hard nor easy to bow. But some people really love them, and I haven't figured out why.
Regarding the Permanents, a teacher of mine used them on the high strings, and they sounded good to me, but I think he could have made lots of strings sound good so...
That QBC string matrix is a great resource. I laugh out loud whenever I read their description of Permanents. However, I don't think I always agree with all of their assessments. For example, I don't find the OFCs particularly dark and on my bass they have pretty good sustain.
I’ve been playing with down-tuned Permanent D/G with Spiro Weich E/A for 4 months or so. I’m really enjoying them especially the arco response (including TP). I’m able to really work with bow speed to play softer passages in my acoustic/folk trio.
I can't compare them fairly, since the OFCs are on one bass and the Flexocors on another. Also, both sets were acquired used, so there's no assurance that either is giving me an honest reading. All I can say is that both sound very good, start easily, and stay in tune well.
Both basses tend toward inherently "bright."
I CAN say that once I have played the Flexocors out, I intend to replace them with new OFCs... but the Flexocors are plenty good enough right now.
A humorous note, revealing my idiocy:
When I put the OFCs on, I mistook the D string for the G, and tuned it up to G. It survived to live in its intended place.
When I put the Flexocors on, I mistook the E string for the A, and tuned it up to A. Very tense! It doesn't appear to have died from the experience, but I wasn't going to use it anyway, so no big deal.
Lesson learned: Pay more attention.
Yes. The OFCs give me plenty of fundamental but a lot of other information as well.
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Perms are just very very very bright. In the same way that spiros are their own thing tonally, perms are in a league their own. I have played a full set and enjoyed them immensely but if you're not managing bow weight and tone/color 110% of the time something is going to come out sounding scary.
I'd say 95% of the time if you're looking for orchestral cushion permanents are not the answer.
With the significant caveats noted above (two different basses, indeterminate string age), I find pizz more satisfying with the OFCs. More volume, longer sustain, and the OFCs seem to have more fundamental.
But I have a third bass strung with Gamut guts ... for all-pizz or mostly-pizz situations. Being relatively new to the bow (3-1/2 years), I don't pay much attention to pizz qualities in orchestral strings.
When you get a chance I recommend trying the full set. You may be surprised how much the tone changes over a couple weeks.
This is the only set I can think of that has an E with a lower tension then the A, as such I think it takes a while for the bass to adjust to the different distribution.
For me the E came alive and G and D mellowed out.
I really like the E, it's not overtone heavy like a spiro, just lots of full fundamental. IMO
I also tried the set with a sprio E and it is really quite drastic how that changes the balance of the set on the whole.
Just a +1 for full plain guts for orchestra - the best (given all the caveats): loud, warm, full, dark... chocolate!
I use Gotz plain GDA with a Spiro Weich E/C (a gut E/C costs more than my first car). It's a decidely mid-level set compared to, say, Duglacki or Pistoy, but they give the fat full sound I like... And are VERY easy on the hands.
