Double Bass Thomastic Spirocore, from birth to death.

[Marc Piane]

Evah Orchestras man. I'm digging these things more by the day. There is so much to can do with the attack on notes and my bass seems to like the tension more or something. I do a church gig sundays the md actually has asked me to play softer several times. These bitches are loud even with a light touch. They bow great too. I did a Christmas party last night with just a mic into my Clarus in the GK extension cab and got plenty of cut too.

 

[Uncletoad]

Evah Orchestras man. I'm digging these things more by the day. There is so much to can do with the attack on notes and my bass seems to like the tension more or something. I do a church gig sundays the md actually has asked me to play softer several times. These bitches are loud even with a light touch. They bow great too. I did a Christmas party last night with just a mic into my Clarus in the GK extension cab and got plenty of cut too.

I have bought and sold 3 sets of those damn things since they came out. I put them on and love them. When I'm playing with a mostly acoustic tone they sound great. I take them on a loud gig and they sound like a swampy mess. As an amped string rather than an amped bass they don't cut it.

I haven't tried them since I had the bass rebuilt, perhaps they'd be different now. I'm reluctant to put on a set and do a loud gig and hate them yet again. That would be the fourth set I'd waste god knows how much $$ on.

Otoh, I loved them acoustically on the Prescott. They were addicting. I couldn't stop playing the thing.

Maybe the weichs would be different too. I dunno. I'm so not into going down that road for the umteenth time. I start changing strings and it's like ****ing crack. 3 weeks later I'm playing Guts and smoking weed and begging for change in the alley behind the bar.

 

[AMJBASS]

I have had the same problem. Spirocores just have a sound that works when you are playing in a louder situation(or a lot of crowd noise). However they were killing my hands when I have double headers etc. Solution, lighter gauge and bring the string height up a bit. Weichs sound good to me.

 

[Don Higdon]

That's our Uncle Toad: as always, graphic.



And accurate.

 

[John Goldsby]

Hey Phil, If you want to take a look/listen, here is a recent video of me playing Spiro Weich (about 2 months old), German carved bass that I've used for years, Fishman p/u, straight into a Galien Krueger MB100 (no pre-amp), Gage Metropolitan bow. It was recorded with the video camera mic from the side of the stage. The bowed bass solo starts at 4:30.

I will be the first one to admit that this would sound better with no amp, or just a mic into a recording board. It's all low-tech, but it is what it is . . .

 

[Nathan Parker]

Very nice. You good.

 

[jazzbasser535]

I'm about to get new strings on my bass, switching from the ones that came on the bass (roughly 2 year old Helicores). I'm going to put on Spirocore Mittels, based on their recommendation as a jazz string. I think this will "rejuvenate" the sound of my bass (the Brian Bromberg signature model Wood bass from Lemur, the cheaper model) because I am sure that it sounded much, much better when I first got it (1 and 1/2 years ago) because the strings were so much fresher then. Any advice for a new Spiro user?

 

[Marc Piane]

I have been pretty loyal Spiro user for 15 years and still are the #1 string I suggest to anyone. That said my Shen seems to really like the Evah's. I've had no problem amplifying them either as some have reported. I have two basses though. I have my basses set up so the Shen is the 'acoustic' and the German ply is the 'stoopid loud' one. I've had a bit of a shift in the way I approach jazz gigs and have been doing most of them either acoustic or with just a mic. The German ply and I have Spiros and a Bassmax on i and use it for rock or blues or whatever.

 

[JtheJazzMan]

I'm about to get new strings on my bass, switching from the ones that came on the bass (roughly 2 year old Helicores). I'm going to put on Spirocore Mittels, based on their recommendation as a jazz string. I think this will "rejuvenate" the sound of my bass (the Brian Bromberg signature model Wood bass from Lemur, the cheaper model) because I am sure that it sounded much, much better when I first got it (1 and 1/2 years ago) because the strings were so much fresher then. Any advice for a new Spiro user?

I dont know if youre into the bromberg sound, but a big part of his sound is the lighter guage strings.

A mittel E with weich A D and G is a nice combo. A weich E will probably have a little less definition and maybe less volume due to less tension, but more sustain, plus the string is a little brighter.

Hell, if youve got the money try a weich and mittel E. I think its good to have both in the string draw.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I'm about to get new strings on my bass, switching from the ones that came on the bass (roughly 2 year old Helicores). I'm going to put on Spirocore Mittels, based on their recommendation as a jazz string. I think this will "rejuvenate" the sound of my bass (the Brian Bromberg signature model Wood bass from Lemur, the cheaper model) because I am sure that it sounded much, much better when I first got it (1 and 1/2 years ago) because the strings were so much fresher then. Any advice for a new Spiro user?

It actually sounds to me like you may be in need of a sound post adjustment

 

[jazzbasser535]

It actually sounds to me like you may be in need of a sound post adjustment

What could have caused the soundpost to move? I've transported my bass in my car a few times, but other than that it's just been sitting in either my bedroom at home or my locker at college. Like I said, I've never changed the strings before, so the bass has had consistent tension on it. Any ideas what might have caused this or how I could tell that the soundpost moved, if it did at all?

 

[Don Higdon]

What could have caused the soundpost to move? I've transported my bass in my car a few times, but other than that it's just been sitting in either my bedroom at home or my locker at college.

Believe me, basses know the differences in the seasons, no matter where they are. It's plausible that weather change caused the top and/or back to swell and arch, loosening the fit of the post. In Europe, I've observed that a large number of players will not use adjustable bridges; they have 'winter' and 'summer' bridges of different heights.

 

[jazzbasser535]

Believe me, basses know the differences in the seasons, no matter where they are. It's plausible that weather change caused the top and/or back to swell and arch, loosening the fit of the post. In Europe, I've observed that a large number of players will not use adjustable bridges; they have 'winter' and 'summer' bridges of different heights.

How would I know if the soundpost moved?

 

[Mark Perna]

Before you start monkeying around with the sound post I'd suggest you do the simplest solution and just put the new strings on. If the sound doesn't get better (giving the strings a few days to settle), then go get the sound post looked at. You may actually have a sound post problem but 18 months is long time on a set of strings if you like the sound of newer strings (and if Bromberg is your inspiration, you probably do). I used to change Spiros every 6-8 months because they lost that zing that I liked in them, they felt stiffer and they got harder to intonate. To be fair, a lot of guys like them old and dead. Not me; I couldn't stand them that way.

Try the strings which you can do at home without having to haul your bass to a luthier. If that doesn't bring it back, get the post (among other things) looked at.

mark

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I need my head examined. Just when I publicly swear to go with mittels until the end of time, they are off.
Although they sound absolutely fabulous, after hearing recordings of several gigs I've come to think they are just too punchy, bright, growly. Arco is a problem and I've tried three bows, white and black hair and different rosin. The Gollihur bow with black hair and oak medium rosin works the best , but I couldn't get a warm arco tone.
SOOO, I put an old set of Obligatos on and played a trio gig tonight. The bass sounded warm and mellow and my playing changed accordingly. Spirocores are capable of so many things dynamically that I would overplay and play in a more aggressive way that wasn't always musical. I'm listening to playback from tonight and it's very, very musical. The bass has a simpler tone that sits in a supportive role so well. I'm really digging the sound in my ears right now. Somebody needs to tell me how to post some clips here. I'm digging this.
FWIW, I tried the EP weichs for about a minute last summer and there was NO definition, but that was with the Focus/Realist. I may have to give them another try at some point.

 

[Paul Warburton]

Hey Phil, If you want to take a look/listen, here is a recent video of me playing Spiro Weich (about 2 months old), German carved bass that I've used for years, Fishman p/u, straight into a Galien Krueger MB100 (no pre-amp), Gage Metropolitan bow. It was recorded with the video camera mic from the side of the stage. The bowed bass solo starts at 4:30.

I will be the first one to admit that this would sound better with no amp, or just a mic into a recording board. It's all low-tech, but it is what it is . . .

What it is, is great john. Like really great.
OT, for a sec, but I love the way you put in snatches of the original melody in your solo. Great sound pizz and arco. You always sound and look so in control....even with that dressy coat on. I'd be sweatin' bullets. Purely musical from all three. We
are lucky to have you around here, man.
I do wish you had put that old tag in there though...."Lover, come back....pretty baby, lover, come back pretty baby, lover, come back to me. (pretty baby.)

 

[Fletcher Lanning]

Gee Paul, for someone who doesn't dig vocalists you sure know lots of lyrics

 

[John Goldsby]

What it is, is great john. Like really great.
OT, for a sec, but I love the way you put in snatches of the original melody in your solo. Great sound pizz and arco. You always sound and look so in control....even with that dressy coat on. I'd be sweatin' bullets. Purely musical from all three. We
are lucky to have you around here, man.
I do wish you had put that old tag in there though...."Lover, come back....pretty baby, lover, come back pretty baby, lover, come back to me. (pretty baby.)

I was singing the "pretty baby" part in my head, Paul Thanks for the nice words.

I put the link up to reaffirm my use of Spirocore Weich's . . . they sound good, play easy, amplify well, last a long time, etc, etc. Plus, you can play 'em with the bow.

 

[jazzbasser535]

Before you start monkeying around with the sound post I'd suggest you do the simplest solution and just put the new strings on. If the sound doesn't get better (giving the strings a few days to settle), then go get the sound post looked at. You may actually have a sound post problem but 18 months is long time on a set of strings if you like the sound of newer strings (and if Bromberg is your inspiration, you probably do). I used to change Spiros every 6-8 months because they lost that zing that I liked in them, they felt stiffer and they got harder to intonate. To be fair, a lot of guys like them old and dead. Not me; I couldn't stand them that way.

Try the strings which you can do at home without having to haul your bass to a luthier. If that doesn't bring it back, get the post (among other things) looked at.

mark

Thanks for the advice, I was going to put on the new strings before getting anything looked at or adjusted or anything like that. Any my strings are really, really dead because they had been on the bass probably for a few months before I bought them, because I didn't buy it directly, I bought it from Shank's Strings in Elizabethtown, PA, and I know he at least did a little work on it because it has a bridge with a "Shank's Strings" mark on it. Point is that the strings were probably about 2 years old. And, just to clarify, I'm not that big of fan of Brian Bromberg (most of his stuff is too "smooth" for me), I just liked the bass and thought it had a great sound and played really well.

 

[Mark Perna]

Thanks for the advice, I was going to put on the new strings before getting anything looked at or adjusted or anything like that. Any my strings are really, really dead because they had been on the bass probably for a few months before I bought them, because I didn't buy it directly, I bought it from Shank's Strings in Elizabethtown, PA, and I know he at least did a little work on it because it has a bridge with a "Shank's Strings" mark on it. Point is that the strings were probably about 2 years old. And, just to clarify, I'm not that big of fan of Brian Bromberg (most of his stuff is too "smooth" for me), I just liked the bass and thought it had a great sound and played really well.

If Mike set your sound post, it's probably fine. I've bought 7 basses from Mike over the years and the only time I've had to have a sound post adjusted or reset on any of them was after repairs that required a top being taken off.

Good luck with the strings and let us know how it turns out.

mark