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Double Bass Spirocore question

Y

Yvarg

Mar 10, 2007
837
53
Lake Forest, CA
#1
First, I'd like to state that I did indeed do a search, but that returned fruitless (maybe I'm bad at searching?).

Anyhow, my situation is this: my bass is somewhat overdue for a string change and I'm planning to add an extension when I change the strings. In the past, both on bass guitar and double bass, I've found that the E string is often too light for my taste. I would imagine that with the added scale length of the C extension that this probably would not get any better. So my question is, would it make sense to use the A, D, and G strings of a Spirocore Weich set and a Mittel E (C) string? Would this create a hugely uneven amount of volume between strings? Have any of you tried this and experienced something that would make you not want to do it ever again? I ask because ~$200 is a lot of money for me to spend on something that is just an experiment. Thanks a lot for any information you can provide! :D
 
#3
The C extension Spirocore for Orchestra gage is a pretty hefty string. It's the same diameter as the Stark E string but the tensions are different given their open C tuning. At the E on the C string in a closed gate it feels tighter than a Spiro Mittel E of regular length and not as tight as a Spiro Stark E of regular length.

If they have a Weich E extension I've not seen it and can't comment on it.

The diameter difference between the C extension (.117") and the weich A(.079") is a smaller compared to a mittel A (.085") however I've played the mittle set across with the C extension string and found it just fine.

I've not tried the Mittel C extension with Weichs.
 
#4
Wow, that's a lot of good information. Unfortunately, I have no experience with any spirocores at all, so this tension talk is all very relative. What it sounds like from what you're saying though is that a weich C string might have more tension than I think (by the way, according to juststrings.com, they do make weich low C strings) and I should probably go with that instead of a mittel (at least I think that's what the information you gave means . . .).
 
#6
There is no string length posted on juststrings.com or even Thomastik Infeld's own website. However, Lemur Music has the string listed as an extended E string rather than a low C string (though there is no proof that these are the same string), so the length probably won't be an issue. When I'm ready to order the strings I'll probably call up Lemur just to double check that I'm getting the product I think I am.

Actually, upon further examination, Lemur Music's strings generally tend to cost less than buying them from juststrings.com, yet their "extended E string" is $20 more than just string's "low C string". Maybe they are two different strings . . .
 
#7
Taking this tread from 2009 back to the top. Anyone have an answer on this? When the gates are closed will the Medium spiro Extension string have the same tension as a 3/4 spiro medium?

I'm playin 4/4 spiro mediums. The stark E was too much tension for me to play (sounded great though) but next time I get a set I'm thinking of 3/4 mediums which are in between 4/4 and stark. I'm throwing an extension on so I'm wondering if the most even tension match for the extension string is the 3/4 or 4/4 mittles.
 
#9
Tension does not change when you close the gate of an extension except that it goes a little bit higher because it gets pressed down by the gate (but this is marginal). So have a look at my Excel file in my Dropbox (link in signature) for tension and tension comparison of strings at the same (user definable) scale.
 

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