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

[sean_on_bass]

If you can find the thread, everybody chimes in — it seems everybody has their favorite substance to do the same thing.

I leave my hand gunk on them and don't wipe them down as often. You can also leave some of the rosin residue on there between arco practice.

 

[Fretless55]

Yeah, I think they take on their aural patina naturally through normal play.

(I do remember reading stories that Jaco preferred a plate of extra greasy fried chicken before playing his J bass, thankfully no Spiros were involved to the best of my knowledge...)

 

[Phil Rowan]

Would this also work for darkening strings (brighter/barking G in particular) that are primarily used for arco/orchestra playing?

 

[logdrum]

After much experimenting, I’m back in the Spirocore fold (almost):
Mittel E
Weich AD
The G is the hold out - currently Innovation Polychrome and it works fine with Spiros, but I’m going to try a Perpetual G. (The Poly G is a very string tho —punchy warm pizz and very nice under the bow.)

Actually, I ordered DG Perps with the intention of matching them with the 2 Spiros, but the Sweich D is sounding fantastic both pizz and (surprise/no surprise) arco.

I’ll pass this along — I had read a thread on the BG side started by a guy who claimed he found a way to kill the twang and brightness of his brand new flat wound BG strings by rubbing a particular skin cream on them (forget which one), leaving it on for varying lengths of time before rubbing it off.

I’ve had this full set of Sweichs for about 5-6 years now but never used the DG — never liked them because of the rasp and twang. So I tried this - put a skin moisturizer cream I found in the house on the D for a few hours or so before rubbing off. And what it did was take practically all the new string twang and the rasp out of it (the stuff that makes you yank a string right off). And so now after a playing the heck out of the bass or a week now (and loving every second of it), what I’ve got now is just beautiful: chocolatey but extremely clear, brilliant (but not harsh at all) tone — and powerful, of course.

Very happy. Spiro Power!

Eucerin -- I think JimmyM is the one who uses it

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[Nashrakh]

Now I understand what the plastic sleeve is for

I recently restrung my upright with Spiros and noticed the sleeve as well. I immediately thought it was going to have this kind of function, only problem was... I couldn't get the sleeve on the silk. The sleeve diameter is too small. Totally defeats the purpose.

 

[Les Fret]

I am back with Spirocore weichs! I started my upright career with Weichs and then eventually switched to Helicore Hybrid mediums after trying several other brands. I didn't like the weichs for bowing. Always liked the Hybrids as a good steel string compromise between arco en pizzicato. But I always missed the pizzicato growl of the Spiros. Lately I don't bow as much as I used to do. Somehow I also don't like it as much as I did and I now prefer practicing pizzicato. So after many years of pain and sorrow () I switched back to Spiros. Really missed the buzz and sustain of these strings. Glad I am back!!

 

[Phil Rowan]

I am back with Spirocore weichs! I started my upright career with Weichs and then eventually switched to Helicore Hybrid mediums after trying several other brands. I didn't like the weichs for bowing. Always liked the Hybrids as a good steel string compromise between arco en pizzicato. But I always missed the pizzicato growl of the Spiros. Lately I don't bow as much as I used to do. Somehow I also don't like it as much as I did and I now prefer practicing pizzicato. So after many years of pain and sorrow () I switched back to Spiros. Really missed the buzz and sustain of these strings. Glad I am back!!

Here, here! Just yesterday I replaced a set of Spiro Mittels (with Stark E) that my bass had been wearing for a year and half (scored them off TB, sold as very used), and I couldn't be happier. My sound post is set in such a way that the Mittels felt nice and loose, but I'm not sure if it was how they were aging or what, but they somehow didn't feel so easy to get around on (and they were almost too dark, almost veering on thumpy). I'm finding the tension of the Weichs (with Mittel E) are just light enough to remind me of the bounce I have strong and fond memories of having, and my bass is suddenly twice as loud. Win win!

 

[Selim]

I'm finding the tension of the Weichs (with Mittel E) are just light enough to remind me of the bounce I have strong and fond memories of having, and my bass is suddenly twice as loud.

I have the same configuration and enjoying the result.

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

Same here!

 

[Les Fret]

Yes I will replace the Welch E with a mittel E soon. The weich E is nice but a little loose. When I apply some force it will rattle a bit. They should sell a set of ADG Welch with mittel E as a standard set. I think many people use that combination.

 

[elmer]

Yes I will replace the Welch E with a mittel E soon. The weich E is nice but a little loose. When I apply some force it will rattle a bit. They should sell a set of ADG Welch with mittel E as a standard set. I think many people use that combination.

There´s always this question which Weichs are you referring to? Have you tried the 3/4 (3885) weichs? They have significantly more tension than the 4/4 weichs on a 105-106cm mensur (over two kilos on the E string).

 

[Les Fret]

There´s always this question which Weichs are you referring to? Have you tried the 3/4 (3885) weichs? They have significantly more tension than the 4/4 weichs on a 105-106cm mensur (over two kilos on the E string).

Yes I have the standard 3/4 (3885) weichs. I see no reason to use 4/4 weichs on a 3/4 bass.

 

[Sean Riddle]

So it finally sounds and feels like the mittels on my bass are broken in at last. They’re not as tight as before and have a deeper less metallic tone to them. And the G is tamed. I enjoyed by brief one week experiment with an Oliv, but patience is worth it with Spiros. Overall my bass sounds and feels amazing. Expect for trying Genssler/Tempera strings at one point in the future, I see and feel no need to try any other string.

 

[Don Kasper]

So it finally sounds and feels like the mittels on my bass are broken in at last. They’re not as tight as before and have a deeper less metallic tone to them. And the G is tamed. I enjoyed by brief one week experiment with an Oliv, but patience is worth it with Spiros. Overall my bass sounds and feels amazing. Expect for trying Genssler/Tempera strings at one point in the future, I see and feel no need to try any other string.

Yes. I've had a set of Spiro Mittels on for about 2 weeks now - they are calming down and loosening up nicely (the A string is still a bit stubborn with the bow.)
I am really liking the Mittel G, as I have long-hated the Weich G. (Maybe my hearing is just deteriorating!)
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it " is now my String Mantra....for now.
Thanks.

 

[Sean Riddle]

Yes. I've had a set of Spiro Mittels on for about 2 weeks now - they are calming down and loosening up nicely (the A string is still a bit stubborn with the bow.)
I am really liking the Mittel G, as I have long-hated the Weich G. (Maybe my hearing is just deteriorating!)
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it " is now my String Mantra....for now.
Thanks.

I've fluctuated in my like of the Mittel G up until this point. Sometimes I dug it's inherit brightness when new and sometimes I absolutely despised it. There's still plenty of punch and projection to it, but the brightness has subsided to a much more deep sound. Worth the 9 months wait.

 

[Selim]

Are there any differences/advantages in using a Spiro light Ext. E/C over a regular Light E on a bass without an extension?

A friend just sent me a few Spiro strings that he won’t be using...

 

[Sam Dingle]

Are there any differences/advantages in using a Spiro light Ext. E/C over a regular Light E on a bass without an extension?

A friend just sent me a few Spiro strings that he won’t be using...

you run the risk of breaking it. i forget where I saw this but the spiro extension strings are only 3 sizes, solo light and medium and they are made to be paired with the 3/4 tension upper 3, so the spiro medium extension E will be higher tension than the normal length 4/4 medium E. on my juzek i liked spiro 4/4 medium ADG with the stark E, was worried when the extension went on that i'd hate it but it was heaver than the 4/4 medium.

 

[BobbyT]

Question: In addition to mellowing out over time, do Spiros “loosen up” at all?

I’m a few days into my first set of Spiros after playing Evah P. for the past decade. I bought a basically unused set of 3/4 Weichs from a fellow TalkBass member and put them on a couple days ago.

As the thread title says, Spirocores are fun! I was looking for a string that would last a long time and would be a little easier to play than my dead Evah medium set, and these do the job in most respects. I don’t play professionally anymore, but when I did, it was a hodgepodge of weddings, regional orchestras, background jazz, and musical theater.

The 3/4 Weich set has a surprising amount of tension on my Strunal plywood bass, and they feel relatively stiff under the right hand. I did not go for the 4/4 Weich set because I’d read comments likening them to wet noodles, but I wasn’t expecting the 3/4 set to be so far in the other direction. There really isn’t a huge difference in feel from Evah medium on my bass, despite the Spiros being thinner. I believe the Spiros’ tension contributes to their volume, so it’s a trade off. The jury is still out for me on whether the 3/4 set hits the right balance of playability vs. power.

Volume seems similar to the Evah medium set on my bass, which is a pleasant surprise. A little less oomph in the low end, but no concerns playing unamplified.

Tone is direct, focused, bright, expressive. My wife, a vocalist who doesn’t usually have strong opinions on bass matters, commented on the brightness. I am enjoying how easy it is to hear the pitch of each note, and the growl on the E string adds a nice element for jazz/pizz playing. I would need to break them in quite a bit with the bow before I’d be comfortable doing any type of significant arco work outside the practice room. This is different than other strings you can take straight to an orchestra rehearsal the next day. The D string is particularly abrasive right now, with a lot of “twang” in the sound. Not as harsh as I was expecting though.

Hope this is helpful for folks who may not be as familiar with the 3/4 Weich set.

 

[sean_on_bass]

I've perceived most all strings as loosening up with age, but have never been sure if it is just me getting used to their feel or maybe even seasonal fluctuations in the setup of the bass. Curious what others think.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I've perceived most all strings as loosening up with age, but have never been sure if it is just me getting used to their feel or maybe even seasonal fluctuations in the setup of the bass. Curious what others think.

I've always wondered the same thing about both strings and basses. My belief is that basses and strings don't loosen up with age nearly as much as we adjust to them over time and calibrate ourselves toward getting the best sound out of them in the most relaxed way.