• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass SPIROCORES ARE SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!

#341
The tension is hold by the core alone. So as long as th core is intact the string will not break.

But you should fixate the winding/silk at the peg end side of the playable area of the string. Electrical shrink tube works (even if it may break if wound around the peg) or some glue to hold winding and silk in place. This prevents unravelling of the windings which would make the string permanently unusable.
 
#344
Ok, thought I'd chime in here. As I've posted elsewhere, I attempted stringing my Gamuts on my smaller 3/4 Benedikt Lang hybrid. The 41" string length meant the strings (most heavy gauge, except the D) felt way too loose compared to how they felt on my since sold Kay. I found this out after having the nut/bridge slots widened to accommodate them, during which time I replaced the Belcanti ADG/Permanent E (the Lang was my arco bass till I upgraded) to a used set of Spirocore mittels, so I threw the mittels back on. A couple weeks later, they mellowed out, and wow, just wow... they match this bass way better. This is the set, no doubt. With the sound post adjustment, they felt nice and loose, and I'm able to get a full, round, punchy sound out of them (with that clarity, though!).

I played a real nice trio gig in a big finished barn at a small college up in Vermont last night, and asked the very good drummer friend of mine that was on it what his impressions were, and he just said, "I dunno, I couldn't totally tell... it just sounded like your sound", which is about the highest unintentional praise I could've expected. But yeah, these strings let me still pull that gut like tone, so I'm pretty excited. Almost feels like I got two new basses!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: dhm, Selim, Chris Fitzgerald and 1 other person
#345
I’ve been using the 4/4 again. I was using 3/4 but I wanted to give these a shot again. This set was played for two years and then spent a year off my bass (the extension string is about a year old though).

I think my bass just likes them better.

An added bonus is that according to Thomastik they can be tuned up to solo tuning and aren’t much more tension than solos and for some reason my bass likes that better than actual solo strings in solo tuning.

Basses and strings are fickle creatures ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
  • Like
Reactions: stefaniw80401
#346
the_Ryan said:
I’ve been using the 4/4 again. I was using 3/4 but I wanted to give these a shot again. This set was played for two years and then spent a year off my bass (the extension string is about a year old though).

I think my bass just likes them better.

An added bonus is that according to Thomastik they can be tuned up to solo tuning and aren’t much more tension than solos and for some reason my bass likes that better than actual solo strings in solo tuning.

Basses and strings are fickle creatures ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Click to expand...

WAIIIT the 4/4 spiro lights can be tuned to solo tuning?! Where do they say this?
 
  • Like
Reactions: stefaniw80401
#348
the_Ryan said:
I sent them an email.

I only found this out a little bit ago, but it’s been a game-changer for me.
Click to expand...

crazy. Its funny you say you have an extension. The long C string both medium and lights are about the same tension as the normal length 3/4 strings. They don't specify, so it sounds like your bass just likes a little less tension on the high 3 strings. i'd be worried about tuning that extension string up a whole step...
 
#349
Sam Dingle said:
crazy. Its funny you say you have an extension. The long C string both medium and lights are about the same tension as the normal length 3/4 strings. They don't specify, so it sounds like your bass just likes a little less tension on the high 3 strings. i'd be worried about tuning that extension string up a whole step...
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don’t tune that string up.

I mostly just tune up the top three strings, but I’d probably use a long F# if I was playing a program where the pieces needed the F#.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sam Dingle
#350
Tuning a 4/4 Spiro up a whole tone on a 105 cm scale is about the same tension if tuned up by a halftone on a 110 cm scale (which is the scale the string was designed for. So in reality you use the string a halftone below the intended tension in orchestral tuning and a halftone over the intended tension in Solo tuning. This might be acceptable. But still the tension difference between orchestral and Solo tuning is over 20%.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sam Dingle
#351
Deltatim said:
Tameing the New Spiro Twang.
Having recently joined the "Spiro Gang", comeing from Helicore Hybrid Orcs, my mid-century Germanic noname gained her voice.
As expected the new Reds opened it up, especialy the E string, which was a dull thud with the HH. The expected D-G twang has lasted longest, with the A starting to mellow out. On a whim, I thought maybe a little muteing may help. Looking around, I found a few rubber bands. The heavy blue ones that come holding bunches of vegies fron the market. I tied one around the D & G, right at the bridge. BINGO!!! Smoothed right out, no noticable loss of volumne. One more on the A, same. Now sounds like they are a year old. Will see how long they last, check every so often to see when they can go.
Click to expand...


Update: now down to just 1 rubber band on the G. No "twang", just smooth, mellow Spiros.
 
#352
Iam back to playing the spiro weichs after another stint on the evah w's and a brief period playing the mittels. The s. weichs are such a pleasure to play! They aren't hardly any quieter than the mittels or the evahs on this bass, and so much easier to get around on.
Why do I keep learning this same lesson over and over -and over. My main upright teacher told me this years ago- And I learned then- but keep getting swept up into chasing more acoustic volume and thinking i need to be more manly with a heavier string.
i recently saw some video/photos of Carlos Del Puerto and Johannes Weidenmuller playing the weichs; these guys are both so amazing!! So it's back to the Weichs for now :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Selim
#353
Do any of you know what frequency range allows Spiros to cut through so well? I've tried many strings, and so far it is really just the Spiros that can be heard well in a group that fills the frequency spectrum... My guess is somewhere high-mid (800 hz+?), but it may be higher... Anyone? Weichs work really well on my bass (old German, light), but do lack some fundamental compared to others.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Fat bob
#354
Threw a new set of Spiro Weich on the bass (25 y/o Engelhardt) after 5 years of low-tension synthetic and WOW! Bright and yummy, although I hear they age a little over the course of the month.

My fingers might fall off due to the 10mm G and 12mm E. I asked the luthier if there was anything to be done when he was resetting the soundpost, so I'll see what he comes up with.

I think that the key is that the bridge NEEDS adjusters, probably in October after the student rush is over. The fella said that there might not be enough meat on the bridge and that there was a little cupping, so hopefully no new bridge, but maybe I have to get another credit card.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris Fitzgerald and HateyMcAmp
#356
DoubleMIDI said:
So leave the top of the bridge as is and let the luthier cut a bit more wood from the leg than the adjusters thickness.
Click to expand...
The legs are the place where there's not very much wood to be taken. The bridge has little spikes that restrict the amount of "leg" available. Since adjusters are so big, the additional height might raise the bridge so high that it trashes the setup. The feet are already almost too thin, and the string slots are pretty deep already, so if I have to redo it, it will have to be the whole thing.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back