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Double Bass Original Flat Chromes

TroyK

TroyK

Mar 14, 2003
8,127
10,484
Seattle, WA
#1
Why haven't we talked about these strings for pizz before? I searched brought up almost nothing, except Phil at the beginning of the year using a G string with Spirocores. I played last night with that same (exactly same) G string under jazzers and really liked it. At least well enough to wonder why it hasn't come up before.

What's the rest of this set like?

Evidently they are popular solo strings and the orchestra guys seem to have more experience with them. In my experience with this one string, though, not a dark string at all.
 
#5
Actually sits really nicely with the Jazzers and I can imagine that it did with the Spirocores as well. I'm going to force myself to try something else next week, just so I can go through this box, but I may come back to it.
 
#6
Take this for what it's worth (a classical player who plays the occasional jazz jam) but I use the E on my bass and it's not particularly good as a pizz string. no growl, just kind of a deep thud. it's got a bit of sustain, but it sounds much better with the bow (designed as an orchestral thing, afaik). YMMV, but keep it in mind.


Eerbrev
 
#8
So, the round out this story, I've got a box of G strings on-loan from a friend and TB regular and I meant to try a different one every gig over a string of gigs I've got this month and then send them back to him. (they're coming next week, buddy, I promise).

but, I left the Original Flat Chrome G on for 3 gigs. The first two were on a stage with a sound guy and last night was my regular piano trio in a small club, so different experiences.

I'm reluctantly taking it off today so that i can try one of the others and wrap this experiment up. I love this string. It sounds great, it feels great, it's stable. I'm using it with Jazzers and I know Phil enjoyed it over Spirocores, which I can see. Really good find, I can't believe that this hasn't come up before.

I'll decide what to do next week, but I think I'm going to need one of these in my secret stash.
 
#9
I did a blurb on it awhile ago somewhere. I really like that string too. Arco is very very sweet on it. A little lower tension, kinda around a Spiro weich G. It doesn't project in the same way that a spiro does, not quite as pointed but it's warmer all round and doesn't buzz like a spiro, which on the G string can be offensive.

When I use other than a complete spiro set I like either that OFC G or an Oliv G, which is what I'm using at the moment.
 
#10
Yeah Phil,

The Olive G has been a revelation. For me, it is the best sounding G I have played. It is round and warm with plenty of sustain (but not too much). Wonderful up in thumb position and to my ears matches very well with Spiros. I've always loved Spiros but always a bit unhappy with the very nasal, twangy G. Although I was thinking about Guts for a minute, The Olive, Spiro combo is working for me!

Best

T
 
#11
So, I wasn't going to say this, because I realize it's not right and might start a riot, but it reminds me a little bit of the OLIV G. It doesn't really sound like it, but it feels like it. It's a Pirastro string that serves a similar purpose under a different string set. It seems (I haven't measured or looked) like its a fairly substantial gauge, but lower in tension, like the OLIV.

But, it's a steel string, not a gut string, which is both better and worse.

Very nice surprise.
 
#13
Subjectively, I'll measure it. It's been a while since I've had an OLIV, so ignore me, but it feels nice. There's a relationship in general between gauge and tension that I don't like. I want it to feel larger under my finger, but be supple. This one feels good.

I feel like it's thicker, more supple and warmer, for example than the Flat Chromesteel.
 
#14
During my classical studies, I used always the the Original Flat Chromes solo ( A E H F# tuned ) and Orchestral strings. It was so good, when I converted the same instrument for my jazz works, must to changed the strings. I pretty sure the G string is works, but I think there are lot of other better solution for G, like Evah, Dominant, Olive. For arco Flat Chromes are one of the best strings on the Market.
 
#15
So, I returned the borrowed Orig FlatChrome G that i was using and miss it terribly. Despite the fact that I'm pretty broke right now, I just embarked on a 2nd recording project (just finished one) and didn't want to do it with out this string, I ordered one from Quinn this week and pushed the start of the recording back a week to accommodate. It is that good, on my bass with the Jazzers.

As a set, they feel, sound and behave just freakin' perfectly. I promise to update this thread some day if I feel differently, but I'm really in love with this set.

Thanks for the loan (you know who you are), I would have never thought to try this string.

I still love Spirocores, by the way, if you've read my previous threads. But I want more string than the weichs. They sound great on my bass, but after about 3 years with them, I really want more heft under my fingers. Mittels are too stiff on my bass and the open-ness of the instrument starts to decline. I've played other Mittel strung basses that felt and sounded better, but my instrument just doesn't respond.

Jazzers are a good fit. I never loved the G in that set, but it's fine. However, it threw my very precise set up off just a little and I was experimenting with other G's to get it back in phase. The OFC does that and Ilsa and I are happy.

You're all the first to know. I predict that this is my setup for the next few years.
 
#16
When I was going to U or Toronto during the late 80's and early 90's, These were the string of choice of orchestral players. The action was quite high and so was the tension and difficulty of playing up the neck. They sure sounded awesome for the "money notes" though. (Notes that are in 1/2 to III position...and seriously, that's 85% of our orchestral playing.)

The assistant principal bass in Orchestra London uses them and sounds huge and fat. When he is not there, there is a definite lacking in the sound of the section. His action it fairly high, but nothing unusual.
 
#17
So 2 years after I started this post, I'm still using and digging the Original Flat Chrome G. I picked up a D in the classifieds a few months ago because...well it was there and I just put it on last night. Initial impressions were very good. Thicker and more supple than the Jazzer that is usually in that spot. Sounded a lot like the G. Beautiful arco. Practices scales and some other exercises before bed. Getting ready for a gig tonight and played a few hours in the basement, ended up taking it off and putting the Jazzer back on.

Truth is, it's a great string, feels wonderful, but it's an arco string and was just not clear enough pizz for me. For someone looking for something dark, it could be a good choice. Reminded me a bit of the Evah Pirazzi Regular on my bass, but softer under the hands in a good way.

Noisy bar tonight, I know that it would just be missing rather than warm, so it was a short experiment. Pretty much what I expected, glad I did it. The G was such a great surprise that it was worth a try. Just wanted to document for future searchers.

Good arco string, could be a good pizz string for the right person or bass.
 
#18
Sounds right.

I'm probably putting that G back on my bass when the Oliv that lives there dies or breaks.

I use spiro mitts on the bottom three, probably staying there.

G is always in flux between the Oliv the OFC and the regular Mittel.
 
#20
Subjectively I would say "yes", though people do pair lower tension strings (like Obligatos) with Spiro Mittel. There's also a confusing relationship between stiffness/suppleness and tension and without some ability to measure, it's hard to tell sometimes.

Orig Flat Chromes are larger in gauge than their corresponding SWiechs, but tension/feel seems about right. Original Flexicores seem to be a nice match to SMittels to me and at least the G sounds like it could work.

I'm going to do one more little experiment before I just reorder a new Orig Flat Chrome G to go with my Jazzers. It's a good potion.
 

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