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

[TroyK]

I dropped my action and it seemed to help the A string open up.

It's becoming really clear to me swapping strings this year just how important getting the cumulative tension right on your bass is. I assume that some basses are more twitchy than others in this regard and mine appears to be a primadonna. But starting with the right string set and then getting the bridge height and soundpost placement right seems to be the key.

 

[Jason Sypher]

I dropped my action and it seemed to help the A string open up.

Yeah, keep tinkering. Try to imagine it's fun.

 

[Selim]

Also dialing in the string height.

For example, Spiro 4/4 weichs: the difference between thin & wiry and rich & full can sometimes be had with a slight turn of the adjusters.

 

[stefaniw80401]

Also dialing in the string height.

For example, Spiro 4/4 weichs: the difference between thin & wiry and rich & full can sometimes be had with a slight turn of the adjusters.

Which direction will get you toward the rich& full characteristic?

 

[HateyMcAmp]

Which direction will get you toward the rich& full characteristic?

In my experience it could be either direction, depending on the bass in the question.

 

[TroyK]

There are a number of factors. How thin vs thick is your table is one. A thicker top will require more energy to get it vibrating. Tension goes up as strings get higher and goes down with they are closer to the fingerboard.

If you believe in this sort of thing and are setup for it, there is a string height in which your after-lengths will fall into phase.

I suspect that some basses are more sensitive to these small adjustments than others, but I can't quite prove that theory out at the moment.

 

[AGCurry]

... Tension goes up as strings get higher and goes down with they are closer to the fingerboard...

Not to be a pecksniff, but precision in terms helps us keep things straight. It's not tension that changes - it's pressure on the top. It's not the same as an archery bow, because we have tuning pegs.

 

[TroyK]

Not to be a pecksniff, but precision in terms helps us keep things straight. It's not tension that changes - it's pressure on the top. It's not the same as an archery bow, because we have tuning pegs.

Sure, I don't think I can or would want to dispute that. Pressure, not tension, goes up as the string height goes up and comes down with the strings get closer to the fingerboard.

EDIT
Here's some quick, back of the envelop math: P = Fv cos θ

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

...pecksniff...

Had to look that one up. Thanks for teaching me something new today!

 

[PBandJazzBass]

It could be my imagination, but I think the Spiro Mitts sound better on my bass with the bow than the Helicore Hybrids.

I think part of the issue I might've been having with the A string is simply the fact I'm not used to the gauge (string diameter). They're a pretty hefty set of strings.

 

[TroyK]

I don't think it's your imagination.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Not being a fan of helicore hybrids, I don’t think it’s your imagination either.

 

[Jason Sypher]

Not to be a pecksniff, but precision in terms helps us keep things straight. It's not tension that changes - it's pressure on the top. It's not the same as an archery bow, because we have tuning pegs.

Not to be a pecksniffer but I agree pressure is the correct word for the top. And "tension" is the best word for the tightening of strings as the bridge is raised. The archery bow analogy is useful. Adding tension at any point in the chain spreads that tension through all of the relationships. I must be a simple man because I find that interesting. I once imagined Helicores sounded better than spirocores as well...but I also once picked my own mushrooms late at night in cowfields while at the University of Oregon.

 

[Matt Ides]

It could be my imagination, but I think the Spiro Mitts sound better on my bass with the bow than the Helicore Hybrids.

I think part of the issue I might've been having with the A string is simply the fact I'm not used to the gauge (string diameter). They're a pretty hefty set of strings.

They seems to work well for those that play them. A local player sounds great with Helicore Hybrids but they never sounded good on any bass I have had. Again, at 17 years of age I inherited my first set of Spiro Weichs on the first bass I bought and of course have them on my current bass.

 

[Thomas88]

I know spiros are supposed to last forever but is this d string in danger of snapping in the peg box. It has only been on and off 4 or 5 times. I is worn all the way down to the steel core.

Sorry for the bad pic....

 

[AGCurry]

I know spiros are supposed to last forever but is this d string in danger of snapping in the peg box. It has only been on and off 4 or 5 times. I is worn all the way down to the steel core.

It should be fine. That's pretty typical of Spiros.

 

[birgebass]

Yep, I’ve run spirocores like that lots of times. Not to say it may not happen, but I think that core itself will hold up for a long time.

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

There must be a DIY method to replace or repair the silk somewhere on the interweb.

 

[Matt Ides]

I have spiros where the peg end silks are pretty much gone. They always tune up just fine

 

[stefaniw80401]

There must be a DIY method to replace or repair the silk somewhere on the interweb.

I like to rub beeswax on the peg end silks of my strings which helps to preserve them. You could try some shrink tubing made for sealing wiring connections.