Steel more expressive than synthetic?

I have to say Im strangely addicted to bowing on spiro solos + a flatchromsteel high C.

They have complex harmonics which give each note an individual timbre.

Now getting control over that much freedom....thats the challenge. A fun one too.

 

are you tuning the spiros at orch pitch?

 

I expect it depends more on the particular string than on a particular construction method.

But then, I can't really comment... I like steel (spiros) and tungsten (Corelli), I see no reason to try synthetic.

 

Yep, A D G are spiro solos tuned to regular pitch.

E string is a spiro weich I forgot to mention

 

That was always my gripe with synthetic strings. Every one I've tried (dominant, obligato, evah) sounds good, but not really that exciting either.

 

Inanimate objects are not expressive, humans are.....

 

+1

 

True enough, the strings can't make expression for you... but any piece of equipment can get in the way, and it's a real nuisance when that happens.

However... there's a market for synthetic core strings, so there must be players that like them, for whatever reason.

 

Very true, the goal for me is to have an instrument that outputs a sound as diverse as the input touch. Certainly not all instruments are equal in that regard.

 

Nor are the humans, for that matter...

 

Couldn't have said it better Ed!

 

Chet Atkins gig.
Listener: Your guitar sounds incredible!
Chet, after putting guitar on stand: How does it sound now?

 

Dominants and Evah Pirazzis have more 'edge' (especially Dominants) than Obligatos for sure! I think Dominants and Pirazzis are quite good. But steel strings have superb brilliance that make them very clear and articulate. Spirocores rock and I don't know why they always get a bad wrap about being 'hard' to bow, they are actually pretty easy!

 

I'm back to mittels and find them almost as easy to bow as the EP weichs that were on for a very brief time. The EP weichs were way too dark for my bass and just sounded dead. Smittels have got to be the best all around string going and I don't know if expressive is the right word, but I can express more of my ideas on them than any other string I've tried. They have a midrange brilliance and punch that cuts through.
Animas are the only string I like as well pizz, but I couldn't bow them.

 

I think I might do that this weekend. There are some things happening with my strings that I'm not liking at the moment. I'm going to have to raise 'em anyway when I put the guts on... so I think I'll give it a go.

 

+1. Or as one of my mentors puts it "it's the archer not the arrows."