Double Bass Shen SB100 hybrid set?

[NC Violone]

Been a player of one bass or another for 40+, professionally and not, but have be away from taking it seriously for quite some time. I am the "music parent", which means I handle what our kids have and have not been introduced to and when. My son's and adult, my daughter is 14. I've introduced her to the whole spectrum (Bottessini, Bach, Mingus, Bad Plus, The Jam, XTC, Snarky Puppy, and on and on), and she's now wanting to play upright as well as electric. My big bass was passed on to another a while back, so we picked up nice used Shen SB100 from 2007. All is well with it, except for the stings.

I hate looking for strings. Too many variables make them sound good and bad on one bass or another, and they are too damned expensive. Getting to the point: darker toned hybrid medium set is my objective. What do folks like on their older ply Shen's? I once loved Velvet Anima's, if I recall correctly. Obligato's rolled too much. Thinking about Evah's, but don't want to spend the money on a new set until I know how they work on this bass.

Thanks. Sorry for yet another string recommendation thread.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Coming from bass guitar and at the age of 14 I would start with a bit lower tension strings.

Innovation Polychromes (lower tension), Innovation Braided (a bit more tension than Polychromes) or Spirocore Weich 4/4 (S42W).

The Innovations are a bit more bow friendly and the strings easier to press down than steel core strings but not as stretchy as Evah Pirazzi Weich (which have a bit weak E string and are limited in dynamic response if plucked hard) or Obligato.

 

[Jon Mush]

+1 for the Polys and Braided. I felt like a different player (arco) when I had Polys on my bass (also an SB100/Chadwick). The pizz was thumpy yet defined, and they felt really nice under both hands.

I broke a string, and moved back to spiros S42 as I was mid-tour and it took a bit to source a replacement. I miss how much they made me sound so much better with a bow in my hand.

Braided we're great too. Really sang under the bow, lots of air. As @DoubleMIDI said, more tension than Polys. I found the Polys to be an improvement on the Braided—unless you, or the bass, like a bit more tension.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I would say get a set of Spirocore weich Strings. Good on the hands, will last YEARS and will encourage good bow technique. For someone just starting out, they are a great string to throw on and forget.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

You can even mix Braided G+D and Spiro Weich 4/4 A+E tensionwise. Pizz works well, but bowing is different on Spiros and Braided.

I would start with Polychromes and later get the Spiros (which could even be bought used). Then bowing skills could be enhanced with Spiros and the Polychromes are a backup set in case of injuries or similar things.

 

[Fretless55]

A Shen SB100 with a set of Spirocores.

What a great place to start !