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Double Bass Solostrings for orchestra tuning

#21
Just my own opinion, a luthier could tell you more, but I think that new basses are still moving/changing so high tension strings aren't the best idea. I think that usually new basses have heavier bass bars to keep the top from moving too much thus keeping the arching... Again I am not an expert in this at all and could be completely wrong LOL
 
#24
My lowly Kay projected waaaay better with SOLOS on than weichs, but the weichs had a bigger low end. The Solos were however giving me a better warmth and tone, albeit just a little bit thinner in sound. that may sound confusing but i tried. :(

in caveman speak: SOLOS, nice tone, projects farther, less low end....WEICHS more bass, project not so much.
 
#25
Gearhead43 said:
I've also heard very good things about the Superflexible Solos and the Flexocore Solos.
Click to expand...

I have a BIG hand carved romanian 3/4. The string length is 43 inches (109cm) and currently I'm using Piastro Permanents on it (that are waaaay overdue). The tension is quite high. I do consider myself more of a classical player, but latley I've been playing more pizzicato in my band and jazz gigs. I just got out of a jazz gig today and plucking never felt so hard. Is this from the tension? Old strings? Well, I have a solo Piastro Flexocor set that I'm thinking of putting on and tuning down to orchestral tuning. Will this make the bass a bit easier to play? However, I'm scared this will sacrifice my tone and lack vibration on arco orchestral/classical playing. I'm pretty sure since the strings are obviously thinner it would make it easier, but I don't want to make it hard to bow or just simply make my bass sound like crap. any suggestions? If not the Flexocors, are there any regular orchestral sets that would accommodate what I want? Any info will be greatly appreciated!
 
#26
Well I've been playing on solo spirocores tuned to orchestral tuning for the past few days. I wouldn't use this setup all the time, but right now I love it. I just have to use a lot of bow speed and very little bow pressure. It constantly feels like my bow hair is loose. Luckily I'm playing a very classical program right now so this is more of a "period" setup, although finding the bounce for the Marriage of Figaro Overture proved a bit difficult on the low tension strings.
I find it is taking me more effort to sound good on these strings. A can't let the bow dig in for a focused sound, but I have to keep it light and quick. Also, my left hand has to articulate even more. I sometimes, especially on quick passages, won't get the string completely pressed down which will work some of the time on higher tension strings because it effectively stops the string. This doesn't work on the low tension solo strings.
Pizzicato isn't very loud on these strings, but does produce a very wide, warm sound. I can get fairly decent volume with arco if I can get the string vibrating wide enough.

This is just my little review, nothing more.
 
#27
I've been using solo tuning sets - Corelli 360 TX on my bass for about a year now. I use it both for solo (classical) and orchestral tuning work (orch, jazz, etc.) For arco, the tension softens up considerably when tuned down (for me they respond better when tuned up to solo), but still good anyway. For pizz, just a bit of volume is lost, but I like the way they resonate compared to my previous set (standard tuning helicore orchestral). when tuned to orchestra pitch, they actually sound less metallic and if I can say, better overall ;)
 

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