Double Bass Strings for bluegrass?

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

The set of Spiros on my bass are probably 10 years old. The set on my first bass in 2010 were probably made in the '70s and still played and sounded pretty good after cleaning.

I agree that the strings on the OP's bass are probably Dominants and they look like they've been on and off a few times, which is a highway to suck. Spring for a pro setup and a set of Spiro Mittels and that should be that for a good many years.

 

[Francois Blais]

I think those are LaBella strings.
A picture of the ball-ends behind the tailpiece would tell us if they're Dominants.
If they're like empty barrels they could indeed be Doms.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I would recommend Spiro Weichs as a great all-around string for beginners. They are light gauge, they bow, they slap, they jazz - they kind of sound the same on every bass you put them on, which is weird - and if you like them you never have to take them off. Superflexible solos and Dominant solos are also really good. I did roots music for a long time with Dominant solos + Spiro weich E - and I could still tune up the top 3 strings to practice classical repertoire.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Just some important background info about Spiros for beginners:
4/4 and 3/4 Spiros look to be the same tensionwise from the manufacturer numbers, but they aren't because the tension is for different vibrating string lengths.

The mostly sold Spiros in the US are 4/4 size which have a lower tension when used at the same vibrating string length as 3/4 Spiros. The difference is almost as much as downtuning the 3/4 by a halftone. This is similar to the next softer string (medium to light or light to orchestral tuned solos).

So a recommendation of a Spiro in conjunction with other strings in a mix or for a certain tension is useless if the size (4/4 or 3/4) or the weight (heavy, medium, light, solo) is not specified.

S42 (Spiro medium/Mittel 4/4) are popular in the US for 3/4 size basses for sound strength with a bit lower tension. S42W (Spiro light/Weich 4/4) for easier bowing and loose feel.

Some players might not even know that and therefor may omit important information.

My excel file in my Dropbox (link in string sticky) recalculates string tension for a given scale, so you can compare string tension better.

 

[BarfanyShart]

Just some important background info about Spiros for beginners:
4/4 and 3/4 Spiros look to be the same tensionwise from the manufacturer numbers, but they aren't because the tension is for different vibrating string lengths.

The mostly sold Spiros in the US are 4/4 size which have a lower tension when used at the same vibrating string length as 3/4 Spiros. The difference is almost as much as downtuning the 3/4 by a halftone. This is similar to the next softer string (medium to light or light to orchestral tuned solos).

So a recommendation of a Spiro in conjunction with other strings in a mix or for a certain tension is useless if the size (4/4 or 3/4) or the weight (heavy, medium, light, solo) is not specified.

S42 (Spiro medium/Mittel 4/4) are popular in the US for 3/4 size basses for sound strength with a bit lower tension. S42W (Spiro light/Weich 4/4) for easier bowing and loose feel.

Some players might not even know that and therefor may omit important information.

My excel file in my Dropbox (link in string sticky) recalculates string tension for a given scale, so you can compare string tension better.

It's great information, and if the strings you are looking at don't say 4/4 or 3/4, you can assume it is 4/4 because that is the default option. I would assume anyone recommending Spiro weichs or mittels is referring to the 4/4 scale. I would think of it in terms of "I like my weichs, but I want a tad more tension, so I am going to hunt down a 3/4 set."

 

[Jason Sypher]

Put on some spiro mittels and never change your strings again! You will drive yourself crazy and broke chasing strings. It's not the strings, its you. Don't play the game. Get the Spiros and play the bass. I do agree with getting a really good set up from someone who is great. What part of the country are you living?

 

[squeally dan]

Put on some spiro mittels and never change your strings again! You will drive yourself crazy and broke chasing strings. It's not the strings, it's you. Don't play the game. Get the Spiros and play the bass. I do agree with getting a really good set up from someone who is great. What part of the country are you living?

Huntsville, Alabama

 

[squeally dan]

Put on some spiro mittels and never change your strings again! You will drive yourself crazy and broke chasing strings. It's not the strings, its you. Don't play the game. Get the Spiros and play the bass. I do agree with getting a really good set up from someone who is great. What part of the country are you living?

My bass is a 3/4 but I should get 4/4, correct? Would it be these:
https://www.amazon.com/Thomastik-In...=1691270452&sprefix=Spirocore+,aps,211&sr=8-9

 

[DoubleMIDI]

These are the 4/4 Medium.

An alternative some players like is the 3/4 Light/Weich. A bit more consistent and a bit easier to bow. Also closest in tension distribution to Dominants.
The S42 (4/4 Medium) on 3/4 scale instruments are popular with jazz bass players.
S43 (4/4 Solo) at orchestra tuning are popular with Slap players if they accept steel core at all.
The S42W (4/4 Light) are popular for basses that like lower tension and are easy to bow (for Spiros).

Your bass determines what tension draws the biggest sound and your hands which strings you can handle.
But if you have Dominants now and don't feel that the sound is choked, 4/4 Medium or 3/4 Light Spiros should work as well.

For a setup you should first know what kind of strings (gut, synthetic, steel core) you want to play, because that determines more or less how the bass needs to be set up. Then let a luthier let setup the bass for you and apply the strings. Gut and steel core are at opposite ends of the scale and not only bridge and nut but also fingerboard camber is very different. No truss rod on a DB, if the wood is gone, it's gone.

You can simulate lower tension strings by tuning your strings down. Typically one halftone for the next lighter string set of the same family. The bass needs to adjust a few days up to two weeks to the different top pressure until you can decide if it is better or worse.

Just a warning with Dominants:
They are unpopular because of the breakage problem, often when detuning a larger amount or being taken down and up again (i.e. for a repair).
It happens with some basses really often and less to never for others.
So detuning Dominants for simulating lower tension strings is not seriously recommended.

 

[Jason Sypher]

You will do yourself the biggest favor of all to get in the car and take your bass to Nashville for an expert set up. I'm sure that sounds extreme but I guarantee it is nothing compared to years of stagnation and struggle.

 

[squeally dan]

You will do yourself the biggest favor of all to get in the car and take your bass to Nashville for an expert set up. I'm sure that sounds extreme but I guarantee it is nothing compared to years of stagnation and struggle.

Doesn't sound extreme at all. I'm about 90min from there. Any particular shop?

 

[Jason Sypher]

Doesn't sound extreme at all. I'm about 90min from there. Any particular shop?

I'm actually here so let me ask around.

 

[John Chambliss]

You will do yourself the biggest favor of all to get in the car and take your bass to Nashville for an expert set up. I'm sure that sounds extreme but I guarantee it is nothing compared to years of stagnation and struggle.

In no particular order - Dustin Williams, Randy Hunt, or Jim Ferguson in Nashville.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I'm actually here so let me ask around.

I live in Nashville, Randy Hunt is the only guy worth going to

 

[marcox]

I have secondhand experience with a Dustin Williams setup -- bought a bass from Nashville refugee who was weathering Covid here in AZ. Bass plays really nicely.

 

[squeally dan]

How much is a set up going to set me back?

 

[Don Hergert]

Last month I took a 3 day workshop with Edgar Lauderback. He's a remarkable DB player, singer and front man for his band, and he also does session work in the studios. He swears by Zyex medium strings. The bass he had brought to the workshop was a ca 1900s European carved DB (probably German if I remember correctly) which is light and responsive. It's loud. Zyex on his DB seemed comfortable for playing, had good tone and sustain.

Having heard them in the hands of a pro, the Zyex mediums are tempting. But the DB itself, how it's setup and the hands that play it can make a huge difference in how strings sound. I loved the volume and tone Edgar brought out of those strings, but I don't think they're for me on my Alcoa.

 

[Dave Leighton]

Last month I took a 3 day workshop with Edgar Lauderback. He's a remarkable DB player, singer and front man for his band, and he also does session work in the studios. He swears by Zyex medium strings. The bass he had brought to the workshop was a ca 1900s European carved DB (probably German if I remember correctly) which is light and responsive. It's loud. Zyex on his DB seemed comfortable for playing, had good tone and sustain.

Having heard them in the hands of a pro, the Zyex mediums are tempting. But the DB itself, how it's setup and the hands that play it can make a huge difference in how strings sound. I loved the volume and tone Edgar brought out of those strings, but I don't think they're for me on my Alcoa.

I have a 1990 East German Musima plywood DB. I had Zyex Med. on it for several months. Great even projection and tone across all strings. Very stable once broken in.

I switched to Innovation Golden Slaps only to try something different. But do love them as well…

 

[squeally dan]

I live in Nashville, Randy Hunt is the only guy worth going to

Thank you for the recommendation. I took the bass to Randy and not only did he bring my bass to life, but I also learned a ton about these instruments. Can't say enough good things about Randy. Already planning a return trip to get a bridge upgrade at some point.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

What strings did you end up with?