• 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!!!!!!!

#621
Dutch Williams said:
just put some OLD mittels on my Upton ... (thanks @nickmo007)

this is definitely the most POWER i've ever had on this bass ... i still wanna work em in, my Upton might need some time to adjust to the POWAAA (ahnold voice)

i agree with @oliebrice they are so limitless ... responding to dynamics VERY nicely, they can roar or whisper sweetly ....

i MIGHT wanna switch that G out for a pirazzi slap, but then again that might be too GUTTY and dull, relative to the rest of the set.

i'm finding it very romantic to never switch strings out again .... an attempt to cure my sickness..... :cool::cool::cool:
Click to expand...

Same here, they produce the most power of any string i have tried, and noticeably more than the Weich set. I still plan to add a set of Starks to my collection in the future.

Can anyone explain to me what makes Spiros so unique compared to steel strings from other manufacturers? I've tried both Helicores and Perpetuals and neither provide anything like the signature Spiro sound. Both sound a little dull in comparison. What exactly did Thomastik achieve that other strings don't/can't imitate?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dutch Williams
#622
sean_on_bass said:
Can anyone explain to me what makes Spiros so unique compared to steel strings from other manufacturers? I've tried both Helicores and Perpetuals and neither provide anything like the signature Spiro sound. Both sound a little dull in comparison. What exactly did Thomastik achieve that other strings don't/can't imitate?
Click to expand...

Well, if you consider Spirocores to be "the best," what would be the point of an imitation? If another maker were to produce a string with that "signature Spiro sound," the only way to sell it would be at a lower price, and that's not what good makers like to do. So ... they're stuck with trying to make something different in some way.

I (a bit of a Luddite) like to think that, because Spiros have been around for so long, that some lack of technical sophistication (due simply to the time they were designed) played a part in their success.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Seanto and Dutch Williams
#625
Dutch Williams said:
mittels are monster .... you'd have to ACTUALLY be a bigfoot to play starks ...
Click to expand...
I’ve used a full set of Spiro starks. Not as tough to play as some suspect. I have heard of folks getting sunk tops with the starks, that could be the reason I went back to mediums. If you have a C extension and stark Spiro’s that would be serious tension. The bass has Spiro mediums now, which I’ve used on it since 1974.

Both medium and heavy are good, I have never tried lites. The G medium is absolutely awesome to bow, top to bottom, and must be 25 years old. Not harsh, not raspy, full and still has all the harmonics. Amazing. Great for jazz and I used them for an outdoor symphony rehearsal last summer and nobody noticed I had Spiro’s on. Actually nobody noticed I brought a bass tuned in 4ths either lol (I usually bow a 5ths bass)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Thomas88, Reiska, Dutch Williams and 2 others
#629
CaseyVancouver said:
I’ve used a full set of Spiro starks. Not as tough to play as some suspect. I have heard of folks getting sunk tops with the starks, that could be the reason I went back to mediums. If you have a C extension and stark Spiro’s that would be serious tension. The bass has Spiro mediums now, which I’ve used on it since 1974.

Both medium and heavy are good, I have never tried lites. The G medium is absolutely awesome to bow, top to bottom, and must be 25 years old. Not harsh, not raspy, full and still has all the harmonics. Amazing. Great for jazz and I used them for an outdoor symphony rehearsal last summer and nobody noticed I had Spiro’s on. Actually nobody noticed I brought a bass tuned in 4ths either lol (I usually bow a 5ths bass)
Click to expand...
Surprised they noticed the bass ... :help:
 
#630
The way i see it is that the heavier the string, the closer you can move it to the board. This helps compensate for the higher tension of the string in left hand. But does it actually negate the power of the string at the same time? Raising a light tension string gets it closer to a heavy tension string after all....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Reiska and Dutch Williams
#632
The force needed to press down a string not only depends on the tension of the string and the height of the Action but also how easy the string the stretches.
Which depends on the core material, core diameter and construction of the core.

And for the thinner strings the ease of play depends on the string diameter because thin and hard to stretch strings can cut into the flesh of the left hand fingers. Specially with steel core high C strings, but also some G or Solo A strings.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Seanto and Reiska
#633
My bass has a slightly flattened arch on the bass side, and as far as I can take an educated guess at, it's been stable that way with Spiro Mittels since some time in the 90s. (I got it in 2008 with an ancient set on and paperwork and bridge stamp suggesting it was last with a luthier for setup in the mid 90s). I have S42 Mittels on now, though I think it had the 3/4 set on when I got the bass.
It does make me think that I would never try Starks on this bass, though otherwise I'd be curious about them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dutch Williams
#634
DoubleMIDI said:
The force needed to press down a string not only depends on the tension of the string and the height of the Action but also how easy the string the stretches.
Which depends on the core material, core diameter and construction of the core.

And for the thinner strings the ease of play depends on the string diameter because thin and hard to stretch strings can cut into the flesh of the left hand fingers. Specially with steel core high C strings, but also some G or Solo A strings.
Click to expand...
This brings to mind Jargar fortes ... ouch ....
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back