Double Bass Possibly Switching from Spiro Mittels...

[freemole]

Hello,

Longtime member and lurker but I rarely post.

I’m contemplating a change, not for change’s sake, but to give my hands a break. Some of you may have already gone through this exercise, so I thought I’d ask for your opinions and advice.

I love the sound of Spiro Mittels. The zing, the clarity, the growl, the punch, the sustain. I love how the low end makes me want to hang out on one note and let it grow. I love the “cello” tone and ring under the bow. (I’m a mediocre arco player but I practice with the bow and pulling a good tone is always a goal).All the above is on my bass, with my hands.

Going to Spiro weichs is the obvious answer, right? But weichs sound “darker” to me. Except for the G, which both pizz and arco, gets ”whiney”. On my bass.

I didn’t care for the Superflexibles. Too stiff. EP weichs lack some of the power, brightness and sustain. Helicore hybrid mediums just don’t have much character to them and they’re no easier to play pizz than mittels.

I know I’m probably looking for something that doesn’t exist. I’ll most likely end up making repeated trips to the luthier saying “lower, lower” (that gets expensive really quickly) or going to Spiro Weichs with something different on the top. But I thought I’d ask the forum for some ideas.

Thanks

 

[JBarz]

Easy - try Pirastro Perpetuals

 

[Stuart.C]

+1 for Spiro weichs with Mittel E (I know what you mean by the weich G but I try remind myself it has more to do with the small room I practice in than the string)

Zyex are a decent compromise, but you'll likely miss the spiro pizz

 

[Sam Dingle]

easy try perpetuals. every single think you said was what i wanted when i switched to them. they were perfect

 

[freemole]

Thanks.
How are the Perpetuals in terms of feel? Or tension or whatever you would call it?

 

[damonsmith]

Moving from Spiros to non Sprios means you are going to a string with less harmonic information. If you think weichs are "darker" anything else is going to sound dull and dead. Get Weichs or solos and let them settle. Also, you can try weich G & D to give your self a partial break.

 

[JBarz]

You trade off some off that Spiro power and sustain for a softer touch/feel and a more delicate “ping” to the tone. I like the Stark perpetuals over Spiro E_&A

 

[Francois Blais]

Corelli 370TX are another alternative.
Bright growly tone, easy to play, but of course not the power of Mittel Spiros.
That’s a trade-off...

 

[Sam Dingle]

my bass gained more power when i put perpetuals on just saying. never lost any overtones, actually gained some

 

[james condino]

 

[CaseyVancouver]

If you are not gigging or rehearsing with folks a lot, here’s an option nobody ever thinks of…
For your home practice room, tune your Spiro mediums down a note. Eb instead of E etc.

Way kinder on the tendons, sounds good and makes bowing Spiros with French bow almost easy.

Then when you have a weekly rehearsal or occasional gig, tune ‘em up that day.
Spiros are tough and can handle it.

Easier on the tendons/muscles and costs you nothing.
You have that Spiro sound when needed.

 

[Sean Riddle]

If you’re gonna go Spiro Weichs and want to miss out on the zing of the G, try out an Oliv G. Been using that with Spiro Mittels on the bottom for the last few months and it’s been a great set. I’ve found with the Mittels at least, the Oliv G helps slightly lighten the tension load and give the bottom end a little extra beef.
Either way when I used Spiro Weichs, the G zing faded over time.

 

[sean_on_bass]

Perps are fine but not as exciting as the Spiro sound to me. Spiro Weichs could either be a great move from Mitts or not based on the bass in question. Some basses will lose punch and volume with a less tense string while others actually prefer it and open up even more. I think you just have to try a lighter set and see what happens, unfortunately. If it doesn't work out then sell the set on the used market. For me and my hybrid, i actually kept trying less tense strings and instead of ending at Weichs went all the way to solo downtuned. This bass really likes low tension for some reason.

I personally think there is a Spiro set for all basses, you just gotta try em until you get the right one that provides balance of playability and sound production.

 

[damonsmith]

For me and my hybrid, i actually kept trying less tense strings and instead of ending at Weichs went all the way to solo downtuned. This bass really likes low tension for some reason.

Yeah, my main bass is really punchy, so solos work great on it. On my travel bass, it is more that that is what I am used to so it is easy for me to get the sound out of them. I think it puts less stress on the Chadwick mechanism as well. Solos are not for everyone but if they work for you then they are a great option.

I personally think there is a Spiro set for all basses, you just gotta try em until you get the right one that provides balance of playability and sound production.

Agreed.

 

[freemole]

Thank you all for your feedback! I appreciate the information and suggestions. (and the art!) I'll tune down a half step for now and order some Perpetuals. Or weichs....

 

[Jeff Kissell]

I prefer the Perpetual solos to the Spirocores, FWIW, YMMV, etc

 

[BarfanyShart]

I used to do Dominant solos down tuned with a Spiro Weich E. That's a pretty zingy set that sounds good with the bow and is easy on the hands pizz.

 

[tomcookpsu]

I'm a 76 year old with arthritis who starting playing in 1962 on a 1962 Meizel that I still have. Recent decades mostly Bluegrass with Spiros.
Bob Gollihur recommended Corelli 370M's several years ago and I've never looked back. NO they don't have the THUMP but close enough to keep me playing. If I'd stuck with Spiros i might have quit ten years ago.