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

[BobbyT]

You’re getting close to having the entire portfolio!

I dig the 3/4 lights on my ply too. I was afraid the 4/4 lights wouldn’t have enough power but also did not want to go full reds, so these have been the perfect middle ground for me.

 

[GlenParks]

Does or has anyone used Mittel E, Weich A and D, Mittel G? All 4/4.

 

[Selim]

The most surprising thing about mittels (I recently switched from old 4/4 lights to even older mittels) is that I’m not really working any harder than I was with the lights. Even with the bow.

 

[Reiska]

+1. On my bass mittels bow better than weichs.

 

[Selim]

Phil Rowan 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.

I amended this setup slightly not too long ago by replacing the mittel E with an old 3/4 weich E to go with the three 4/4 weichs. The 3/4 E works better for me because it gives you some of the depth of a mittel E but also starts easier with the bow and the tone balances seamlessly with the other weichs.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

fwiw… I just put a slightly used full set of S42 mediums on…

same as what were on the bass (from Arnold) 18 years ago :/

 

[Selim]

fwiw… I just put a slightly used full set of S42 mediums on…

same as what were on the bass (from Arnold) 18 years ago :/

If by “Arnold” you mean Schnitzer, then I have the same story. The last thing the guy who I bought my carved 2002 new standard from told me was, “leave those Spiros (mittels) on”. I then spent roughly 3 years trying out strings only to put those old mittels back on - you miss what only they can deliver.

I’ve got old weichs on now. But your story is tempting me! (They’re in a bag labeled “Arnold’s Spiros”.)

 

[ablumley]

What kind of lifespan are others getting out of their spirocores?
Just curious because I'm 2 years into my first set of Red Mitchells (4/4 mittel) and the windings on the D string have come loose up over the fingerboard.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

People talk about these strings lasting forever, but I found after about two years they were pretty dark and felt/sounded like they needed to be replaced. I get about that long from my current strings (Pirastro Perpetual).

- Steve

 

[TroyK]

What kind of lifespan are others getting out of their spirocores?
Just curious because I'm 2 years into my first set of Red Mitchells (4/4 mittel) and the windings on the D string have come loose up over the fingerboard.

For some reason, Spirocore silks, especially in the pegbox don't wear as well as almost any other string I've tried, but the strings are usually fine.

@bassfiddlesteve you aren't the only one who feels that way about Spirocores. I thought that Perpetuals lasted well for me too, I'm not sure how long, but they never "failed". Strings like Permanents, Flatchromesteels, Original Flatchromes, all fade...fade...FALSE! in my experience. Jazzers lasted longer, but not forever, they died more slowly and usually I'd check the calendar and try a new set, and then realize how much of the goods they had lost.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

For some reason, Spirocore silks, especially in the pegbox don't wear as well as almost any other string I've tried, but the strings are usually fine.

Yeah, Spirocore silk is not very durable. The jack from my Full Circle eventually makes a mess of it.

- Steve

 

[ablumley]

For some reason, Spirocore silks, especially in the pegbox don't wear as well as almost any other string I've tried, but the strings are usually fine.

The silks are fine with my set. It's the metal windings that are coming loose from around the core, from about F up to G on the D string.

 

[TroyK]

The silks are fine with my set. It's the metal windings that are coming loose from around the core, from about F up to G on the D string.

That is most definitely not good. I've never heard of that with Spirocores. If it's not from the D, then I don't think we can blame your nut slots. I'm not sure. Have you tried Thomastik?

 

[jjcarswell]

I jumped back on the spiro train…went from helicore light pitz to spiro solo’s tuned to normal pitch on both of my basses, including one with a C extension. Really like the way they feel, sound & record….it’s nice to be able to play some arco without a fight…….it did put quit a dent in the cc tho…..

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I have a 10 year old set of Dominants on my main bass. They have outlasted the Spiro Starks on the bottom by a fair bit.

 

[the_Ryan]

What kind of lifespan are others getting out of their spirocores?
Just curious because I'm 2 years into my first set of Red Mitchells (4/4 mittel) and the windings on the D string have come loose up over the fingerboard.

I only use Spiros on the low strings, but I change them yearly(ish) because from my experience the long E tends to get noticeably darker (compared to the A string) after 11–12 months, which is convenient because that's about how long my Belcanto D and G last.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

The 2+ year old set on my bass still sounds good.

 

[ablumley]

That is most definitely not good. I've never heard of that with Spirocores. If it's not from the D, then I don't think we can blame your nut slots. I'm not sure. Have you tried Thomastik?

Yeah, it's not the nut slots. They're smooth, coated in graphite and wide enough for gut strings. I'm guessing that the loose windings were caused by lots of aggressive 2 hand glissandi lol. I'm not going to bother Thomastik as the strings are 2 years old and played heavily. Just kind of surprised me as many people claim that Spiros are longer living than trad gut but I've had a well made set of those last me upwards of 4 years. Happily, the Spiros are 1/3 the price of a set of Gamuts or Sonores. Should get a new set in the mail by the end of the week.

 

[Martin Beer]

I'm pondering the lifespan issue at the moment, my current set were put on new in 2016 and haven't been swapped around, so the silks are still clean looking and physically they're fine. Practicing at home I sometimes feel they're a little dark now and could use the extra high end they had in the first couple of years, but then when I play with others it's still totally a sound that works, so a change would be more preference than necessity. Also I find them easier with the bow when they're well played in like this.

 

[Ben Noblit]

Alright y'all, I need some 'splaining on the whole growl/buzz thing. My main bass is an American Standard (with a Romberg bevel) that sports a Stark E that belonged to my dad. I love it. Tons of power, can't choke it out, big boom, can really kick a jam in the butt.

I picked up a second American Standard (no Romberg bevel) a month ago. I put a new Stark E on it. And. . .it GROWLS on the closed notes. F to G#. Not a big fan. Even worse, when I hit one of those closed notes real hard, it buzzes. I can mitigate this with technique, using the tips of my left hand, or altering the plucking angle of my right hand to be at more of a right angle, but neither of these are ideal. If I'm playing a C tune, for instance, and bouncing real quick between the A and E strings, it's almost necessary to play with the pads. For the right hand, it just feels wildly unnatural, I'm effectively 180ing the movement of everything wrist on up.

Thoughts? Will it break in eventually and get less growly/buzzy? It's lost a lot of brightness already but the growl/buzz ain't changed. Setup issue? The action's a little lower on this bass, mebbe 9/16, though it is higher at the nut, about two credit cards worth. Something to do with the bevel? The neck is thicker on this one (which I really like) but mebbe that's messing with my technique?

Much appreciated!