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Double Bass SPIROCORES ARE SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!
- Thread starter Jason Sypher
- Start date
Here's my totally high tech solution that has been in place on my LaScala on the G slot for the past 7 years (or however old those strings are by now): I got a box of diamond matches, used them all up, then cut a little square of cardboard out of the box part instead of throwing it away. I loosened the string, stuck the cardboard in there, then tuned the string back up. About a year later, the look of it started to annoy me, so I got super hi tech and covered it in with a sharpie. Still going strong!
I finally got around to trying this today and it worked like a charm, thanks to both of you. Used the side of the inside insert of the match box which seemed to be the perfect length already, then cut a sliver out. Took all but 5 minutes to get it under the string.
Will be taking the bass in for a setup within the next month.
Curious, when do folks generally decide they need a setup? Do you just take it in every now and then for good measure, or does the bass have to hit a certain level of unplayability for you to consider it? Also, what does a luthier generally adjust as part of a good setup? If you could believe it, i've played electric bass/guitar/now upright for the past 20 years and have never once taken an instrument in to a tech or luthier for any reason.
I’m super finicky. I like my string hight a nice medium-low, and there’s buzz on the fingerboard or on an open string I get it fixed ASAP. That said, I have a buzzing tuning peg I’ve repaired with an inconspicuous yellow rubber band and I’m not rushing off to get it fixed.
Here's my totally high tech solution that has been in place on my LaScala on the G slot for the past 7 years (or however old those strings are by now): I got a box of diamond matches, used them all up, then cut a little square of cardboard out of the box part instead of throwing it away. I loosened the string, stuck the cardboard in there, then tuned the string back up. About a year later, the look of it started to annoy me, so I got super hi tech and covered it in with a sharpie. Still going strong!
What I want to know if whether you literally used the matches at your regular pace and waited until they were all gone, or did you accelerate your use of the matches? BITD, when I needed a box top to send off for a prize, the box top got cut as soon as we got home and the inner bag was closed with a bread wrapper.
I save old match boxes for various things, so there are always a few lying around.
I've now had my board planed @ Ronald Sachs in Lilburn' GA and they did a great job. The issue was buzz from about B to Eb on the A string, plus a louder buzz from C# to Eb on the G string. They said WAAY too much scoop from the previous luthier. It plays effortlessly now at 5-11mm, and there's a wonderful growl (not board buzz, but true string growl, almost as aggressive as Velvet Blues when I'm playing F-Ab on the E) that's fairly consistent yet increases as the strings get bigger (from D to E). Best thing is, all my previous blister issues with Mitts seem to have gone away. The Spiro bottoms seem to have finally broken in, too and they now feel like butter. I do have a D'Addario Prelude G on the bass (and a D waiting in the wings if the Spiro D doesn't start to mellow out, but it hasn't been used as much, so I'm willing to wait a while) but those two match the gauge and tension of their Spiro counterparts almost exactly, so those two variables are covered and I'm happy with the setup and volume.
I kept asking myself what the big deal is about Spiros as I took them on and off my bass repeatedly. Then, almost suddenly, they broke in and I'm not asking anymore.
Just updating to say the strings are settling in nicely. No more zing on any of the strings, and the tone has seemed to warm up slightly. The cardboard under the string solution has pretty much put the G string on even keel with the rest and the playability is pretty good right now. Bowing has improved quite a bit as well. Really loving the Weichs.
Still so much fun. My bright hybrid bass with medium ADG/ Stark E shined at a concert last night. Cut through the mix very well and didn't sound bright on stage. They get better each day though.
Weich user here. Keep trying to go back to the mittels- about once a month I thrown the reds on in search of power and "this is what McBride and Holland" use. One day later- back to weichs 
I dunno if it's the bass or me or the combination, but it's so much easier on the hands, and really sounds fuller and bassier. Arco is no comparison- weichs all the way. I really like the weichs
I dunno if it's the bass or me or the combination, but it's so much easier on the hands, and really sounds fuller and bassier. Arco is no comparison- weichs all the way. I really like the weichs
Weich user here. Keep trying to go back to the mittels- about once a month I thrown the reds on in search of power and "this is what McBride and Holland" use. One day later- back to weichs
Im a mittle user who wants to play weich. I should take it easy on myself but damn my bass doesn’t make that sound with Weichs
It's crazy how different the mittels feel on different basses. A buddy of mine has an old Kay with the reds, it's so easy to play and loose feeling. Iam kind of jealous. Juzey (my juzek) feels so much tighter with em (same 4/4 mittels, also broken in)
It’s crazy the different things different basses need / like. That’s why we’re lucky Sprios have some many different tension variants!
My full set of 4/4 Solo strings journey ended at the six month mark this week. I’m really digging the E, A, and D acoustically and amplified, as I always have. The even tension between these theee the strings are nice (ala Velvets), and I particularly like the D string. It sounds nice and open, with a nice balance between warmth and clarity without feeling or sounding thin.
The G string has been just ok since the beginning. Tone wise it’s very good right out of the pack, and didn’t whine the way a Weich G can. I’m a guy who has spent the vast majority of my time on DB playing gut, so the tactile aspects of steel G strings always kind of irk me, but this one is legitimately very very light. It just couldn’t get the top of my Shen SB80 going, and it overplayed very easy compared to the EAD. It always sounded thin through the amp and I was finding myself EQing to get the G more in the mix. Ok, fine, I’m going to play the Spirocore G string game again.
I really don’t like blending core types and want to be able to use a magnetic pickup, so I wanted a steel core string. My first choices were going to be a 3/4 Sprio Solo G, followed by Kaplan Light G. Looking at the tension charts online, it seemed like they might be good matches. That being said, when I was looking at this tension chart I also noticed that the Eurosonic Medium G I had on my shelf would be a perfect tension match....
I’m surprised I’m saying this, but I actually kind of love this combo. Tension and stiffness feels even across the board. The gauge of the nylon-wrapped Eurosonic is bigger than the Spriocore D (.75 vs .61) but the two blend well together well otherwise. Sonically everything is more even sounding and feeling than the full set of solos, and the bass sounds thicker and louder across the board both acoustic and amplified via my Krivo magnetic pickup. Feels great (I’m used to a gauge skip from years of guy playing) and my bass seems to be responding to the tension level. I’m going to try and stick to this combo for six months and see how things progress.
My full set of 4/4 Solo strings journey ended at the six month mark this week. I’m really digging the E, A, and D acoustically and amplified, as I always have. The even tension between these theee the strings are nice (ala Velvets), and I particularly like the D string. It sounds nice and open, with a nice balance between warmth and clarity without feeling or sounding thin.
The G string has been just ok since the beginning. Tone wise it’s very good right out of the pack, and didn’t whine the way a Weich G can. I’m a guy who has spent the vast majority of my time on DB playing gut, so the tactile aspects of steel G strings always kind of irk me, but this one is legitimately very very light. It just couldn’t get the top of my Shen SB80 going, and it overplayed very easy compared to the EAD. It always sounded thin through the amp and I was finding myself EQing to get the G more in the mix. Ok, fine, I’m going to play the Spirocore G string game again.
I really don’t like blending core types and want to be able to use a magnetic pickup, so I wanted a steel core string. My first choices were going to be a 3/4 Sprio Solo G, followed by Kaplan Light G. Looking at the tension charts online, it seemed like they might be good matches. That being said, when I was looking at this tension chart I also noticed that the Eurosonic Medium G I had on my shelf would be a perfect tension match....
I’m surprised I’m saying this, but I actually kind of love this combo. Tension and stiffness feels even across the board. The gauge of the nylon-wrapped Eurosonic is bigger than the Spriocore D (.75 vs .61) but the two blend well together well otherwise. Sonically everything is more even sounding and feeling than the full set of solos, and the bass sounds thicker and louder across the board both acoustic and amplified via my Krivo magnetic pickup. Feels great (I’m used to a gauge skip from years of guy playing) and my bass seems to be responding to the tension level. I’m going to try and stick to this combo for six months and see how things progress.
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The 3/4 weichs do it for me on my (4/4 measured) bass, more so than the 4/4 weichs or the 4/4 mittels (but they're nice, too).
- Dave
I've strayed away from the club...theres a set of zyex on my hybrid and I like everything but the E more than the spiros on it...forgive me for I have sinned...
No quotes on arco. Havne't picked up the sick of pain in 6 weeks. Don't tell my teacher.
I have that merit badge. I lent my bow to a girl I was dating before tour (she’s a French player who wanted to screw around with a German grip) and we kind of had a falling out before I could retrieve it. If I was playing arco regularly I wouldn’t be able to deal with the eurosonic. Besides the famously slippery nylon wrap it has a bit of an obligato-esque roll.
You switched from Spirocores to ZYEX?
HAS THE WORLD GONE MAD?
- Steve
and i'm back....
Here’s my thing with spiros for me. I know what to expect and know what they do and don’t do. They make you honest with your technique and musicality. I was doing some pizz exercises out of an etude book and thought that the E string Zyex felt weaker than my Spiro so I put that back on the next day, and still it was weak. Then I focused on technique and it sounded fine. Probably could have gotten that sound on the Zyex but “chickened out” and blamed gear. I’m sure we all do it to an extent.
So spiros really do keep you honest.
So spiros really do keep you honest.
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