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Double Bass Spiro stark G string with Spiro medium EAD: opinions wanted.

Fran Diaz

Fran Diaz

Mar 28, 2002
3,912
1,058
Santander, Spain
Disclosures
Bassist
#1
I love the sound of my Spiro EAD but I find my G to lack a bit of the big, powerful sound that the other three strings give me. Would a stark G be a wishful choice.

For starters I put a med G with weich EAD on another bass and loved the results (I couldn't stand the weich G).

please offer your opinions/experiences.
 
#3
I think it may well work, but you will have to be patient while the new string darkens, especially if you have dry skin. If your skin is more acidic, then the new string will darken quickly assuming you play a lot.

The other option is to experiment with the height of the string to see if raising it helps you get the sound you are looking for. You can do this by shimming under the G string at the bridge with a piece of folded index card. I discovered years ago that most bridges are cut for orchestral playing, so now I have my bridges cut in a way that optimizes them for pizzicato. More info here: Individual String Response - adjustable thru setup?
 
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#4
How about a Superflexible G string, either the 4/4 (T-I #36) or the 3/4 (T-I #2887,2)? Both of them have about the same tension, when put on the same bass, as a Spiro 4/4 Mitt D string (T-I #S37).

There is a following of folks who, in a similar manner, use a solo Superflexible as a G string ("A" string T-I #36S) with a Spiro 4/4 weich set (T-I set S42) for the same reasons: compatible tension, a little darker sound, similar feel.
 
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#7
I have tried the Superflex G with both Spiro Weich and Mittle on two different basses. Mixing with the Mittle proves to be the most compatible. I am using that set up on my carved Upton. It bows great and the feel is very compatible with the Mittle.
Back in the 80's I switched from Mittle to Wiechs and immediately hated the G, quickly returned to the Spiro Mittle G. It seem to work well for close to 15 years on my old Prescott. I know that sometimes goes against logic with tension difference but each bass is different, which leads us to conduct our own investigation to find what works.
 
#8
lrhbass said:
I have tried the Superflex G with both Spiro Weich and Mittle on two different basses. Mixing with the Mittle proves to be the most compatible. I am using that set up on my carved Upton. It bows great and the feel is very compatible with the Mittle.
Back in the 80's I switched from Mittle to Wiechs and immediately hated the G, quickly returned to the Spiro Mittle G. It seem to work well for close to 15 years on my old Prescott. I know that sometimes goes against logic with tension difference but each bass is different, which leads us to conduct our own investigation to find what works.
Click to expand...
Are you using a real superflexible G or a solo A downtuned?
What i miss in the Spiro G is the big sound that the other three strings have. Will I get that from the superflexible?
 
#10
Sam Dingle said:
This is not to be offensive but it could be a technique thing, or possibly a setup issue. Have you had someone look at your bass, or perhaps a player you respect play it?
Click to expand...
No offense taken. ;-)
My teacher played the bass and also found the G to be a little less powerful.
It might be only that I'm spoilt by Charlie Haden and Neal Miner's fat GoldenSpiral G strings.
The bass and the strings are 4 months old so I might just wait for a few months more before I change my G.
 

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