Right now I'm playing a full set of permanents which I'm really quite happy with all around, but for a new piece I'm playing I kind of would like to try something just slightly warmer on top. I was thinking Original Chrome steel because I think that little bit of extra warmth would fill out the tone when I'm playing way up in thumb position at the end of the finger board. But now I'm wondering how a brighter synthetic core string would sound like an obligoto or a Zyex? Outside of brighter vs darker, and louder vs quieter is there any major difference between a set of steel strings and synthetic strings?
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Double Bass Steel vs Synthetic Core Sound Characteristics?
- Thread starter icanjam
- Start date
Hey,
To me, it's not about the core it's about the thickness of the string. Thicker string will sound better in the lower register while thinner string is brighter and more lively up high. Steel strings are usually thinner so I can't see how a synthetic string will be brighter
To me, it's not about the core it's about the thickness of the string. Thicker string will sound better in the lower register while thinner string is brighter and more lively up high. Steel strings are usually thinner so I can't see how a synthetic string will be brighter
I just tried an old set of (original) chromesteels (before they were renamed) and they are still bright. Not as bright a Flat-Chromesteel (never tried Permanents so I cannot compare) but not very warm.
What about Flexocore DeLuxe or (a bit brighter but not to too much) Passione?
What about Flexocore DeLuxe or (a bit brighter but not to too much) Passione?
Darkest to Brightest I always thought the Pirastro strings went from: Plain Flexocore>Deluxe Flexocore>Original Flexocore/Flat Chrome>Original Flat Chrome>Permanent>Chromecore
I just want a small bit more warmth which is why I was thinking the Original Flat Chromes because they should still be pretty bright and match my other strings well. I've never played Obligato on bass yet but the description Pirastro gives on their site seems to be pretty similar to the description that they have for the Original Flat Chromes, and from the sound samples I've heard they really don't sound all that dark.
It's interesting about the thickness thing, I've heard a lot of people play G Guts, which I have to assume are pretty thick, and they sound good in the upper register. You'd think you'd see more people doing synthetic bottoms and steel on top instead of the other way around. It makes sense though because I like the sound of solo tuned strings better than standard tuned ones, especially in the upper registers.
I just want a small bit more warmth which is why I was thinking the Original Flat Chromes because they should still be pretty bright and match my other strings well. I've never played Obligato on bass yet but the description Pirastro gives on their site seems to be pretty similar to the description that they have for the Original Flat Chromes, and from the sound samples I've heard they really don't sound all that dark.
It's interesting about the thickness thing, I've heard a lot of people play G Guts, which I have to assume are pretty thick, and they sound good in the upper register. You'd think you'd see more people doing synthetic bottoms and steel on top instead of the other way around. It makes sense though because I like the sound of solo tuned strings better than standard tuned ones, especially in the upper registers.
I love original flatchrom strings cause they have a very bright g string and very dark ae. D string I think is in between I'm not a great fan but I'm not into mixing sets (other than spiro e + anything) so I just live with that. I find it far superior than other pirastro( and other) strings for solo and section playing, although I am only a student and pizz player primarily. They may not work on any bass of course, etc
My permanent D is pretty good so I'd mostly be looking at just doing the G any way. I think it's really kind of cool to have a bright high end and warm low end for baroque stuff, it's just another way to add contrast between notes. I've heard that the G stands out from the rest of the set as being much brighter, but the way you describe it I might just have to consider a full set in solo tuning in the future.
Mixing strings on bass is a bit different, I haven't done it yet but I've used three different brand strings at one on my viola. That's another reason I'm looking at just changing my G to say I've done some strings mixing. And hopefully done it with good results.
Mixing strings on bass is a bit different, I haven't done it yet but I've used three different brand strings at one on my viola. That's another reason I'm looking at just changing my G to say I've done some strings mixing. And hopefully done it with good results.
