Double Bass The Bow--String Recommendation

[gypsydjango]

What strings do you use & recommend mainly for arco? for best tone / volume--complete sets or do you use mix & match sets?

 

[wathaet]

No problem mixing, but for arco only, I would start with Passione medium, or for a brighter sound flexocore deluxe. Bel Canto also works well, but in my opinion they only last 6 months.

 

[Michal Herman]

For arco I use Kaplans and they are working quite good.

 

[Sam Dingle]

From what I understand Belcanto and Flexocore original is the standard. 3 of the 4 guys in the LPO use belcanto, 2 with a spiro light long E because they like the low C on it better. Other guy uses spiro mediums on a SUPER dark bass so they sound the same. I would get a set of those, or a set of whatever your teacher has.

 

[wathaet]

I would not start with flex original. I use this string a lot, but the g and e only work on really good basses and it is harder to play than what I suggested. It is also not the greatest string in the upper register.

 

[Cory Palmer]

Bel Canto - G, Flexocor Original - D and A, and Helicore - extended E is a somewhat standard combo. I love the Flexocor Original D and A strings but like wathaet said the G and E strings aren't good for most basses. The G string tends to be too tinny and the E too tubby. For the Bel Cantos the only Bel Canto string that I've liked is the G string. The Helicore extended E has enough tension to hang with the Flexocors. I love the Evah extended E but it feels and sounds very different than the Flexocors.

These days I'm using all Feloxocor Deluxes which are pretty easy for bowing.

The easiest strings for bowing that I've used are Bel Cantos. I'm not crazy about the sound but on some basses they sound great.

 

[Phil Rowan]

I'm a big fan of Flex92s (medium ADG with a heavy E).

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Recently I’ve been wondering how many orchestral players use Spiros, or whether those strings are now mainly used by jazz players. Are they as difficult to bow as some claim?

 

[Sam Dingle]

Recently I’ve been wondering how many orchestral players use Spiros, or whether those strings are now mainly used by jazz players. Are they as difficult to bow as some claim?

Nope. They are fine on some basses. Dave anderson used them on his bass for a bit. I think he may have superfleixbles now on one of them.

Alex Henna of chicago symphony principle uses them. It depends on the bass. Theres a guy here in the BSO who uses them after they are 2 years old. They aren't bad to bow, but belcantos on the same bass may be easier.

 

[Sean Riddle]

Recently I’ve been wondering how many orchestral players use Spiros, or whether those strings are now mainly used by jazz players. Are they as difficult to bow as some claim?

I'm not a true orchestral player, but I've done some chamber music concerts recently with a set of Spiro Weichs and they've done great! They are fairly new, but once a year or two passes by I'm sure the arco tone will be a lot better! I wouldn't advocate them as the end all arco string but they can be bowed. You just need really solid arco chops and a bass that likes them. Black hair and Pops does help though.

For strict arco though Flexocore Deluxe, Belcanto, and Superflexibles have been my favorite.

 

[gypsydjango]

Thank you everybody for your replies--most helpful. Has anybody tried Evah Pirazzi Weich?--especially for Arco. Do orchestral players use them?

 

[wathaet]

Thank you everybody for your replies--most helpful. Has anybody tried Evah Pirazzi Weich?--especially for Arco. Do orchestral players use them?

Fairly common in certain parts of the EU, although the heavier set is more common in orchestra. You have to work them a bit differently for orchestra playing depending a bit on the bass. Tone is superb and they do not do ugly at all. For american punchy playing they are not my first choice allthough I work with two guys who get exceptional punch with them.

 

[Selim]

Recently I’ve been wondering how many orchestral players use Spiros, or whether those strings are now mainly used by jazz players. Are they as difficult to bow as some claim?

I think I read it here on TB that Spirocores were designed as an orchestral/arco string (naturally) for old, dark sounding basses.

 

[PaulCannon]

No problem mixing, but for arco only, I would start with Passione medium, or for a brighter sound flexocore deluxe. Bel Canto also works well, but in my opinion they only last 6 months.

Funny, I had the opposite feeling. Passiones are dead after six months. I can get about a year out of BC’s.

Been on the Spiro train for the last five years. They’re great, and last longer than anything else.

 

[wathaet]

Funny, I had the opposite feeling. Passiones are dead after six months. I can get about a year out of BC’s.

Been on the Spiro train for the last five years. They’re great, and last longer than anything else.

Maybe, I am closing in on a year with my passiones, but the bass is very earm and mellow and may be filtering the edge out. Never had belcanto on that bass. So I could be in error. When I bought it had over a decade old flatchrome originals on and sounded great.

 

[what the pluck]

I think I read it here on TB that Spirocores were designed as an orchestral/arco string (naturally) for old, dark sounding basses.

I have an old French bass that is very dark, I have always used Belcantos up until recently and tried Spiro Mitts and absolutely love them on my bass. I find them easier to start with the bow as well as having a wider palette of sound... They definitely have woken my old bass.