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Double Bass Time for a Dead Spiros Club

#201
Ronald Weasley said:
Yeah that sounds like what I'm looking for. What about the spiro solo set and tuning it orchestra? It seems that they have really even tension too, but how do they sound vs weichs?
Click to expand...
Its been a long time since I've used Spiro Weichs but I am LOVING my spiro solos tuned to orchestra. The sound and feel is extremely even from string to string, they have the growl and sustain often associated with Spiros but with a darker, thumpier more 'classical string pizzed' kinda sound. They SING with the bow and are extremely easy to start arco.

My only qualm is that I hear the G as being noticeably brighter/twangier and feels really thin/wimpy in my RH when pizzed. But this is really more of a personal preference thing.
 
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#203
FWIW, I have Spiro Solo 3/4 ADG and a Weich 3/4 E and - despite not being a regular player (I am a hobbyist and only play a few hours a week when not gigging) - my misgivings over the Solo G have lessened as it has aged. Its still a bit brighter than the A and D but the difference has lessened noticeably with time (several months) and playing. So my advice would be to hang on in there with the Solo G and see if your experience is similar to mine.
 
#207
In my experience, the silks at he peg end of all Spirocores have the shortest life of any string I have ever used. They unravel and the string goes bare very quickly after being loosened any more than a couple of times.
Other than leaving them at full tension (except for tuning) from the moment you install them I don't see any way to prevent the problem. Sometimes at the tailpiece end you can crazy glue the red windings if they get loose. But that won't work at the peg end.
You have identified about the only weakness that I have found with Spirocores. They are extremely well made and with normal use will last for years.....even decades. My Weich E has been on for around 10 years now and still has a full sound.
 
#211
There is a plastic tube at least in the D string sleeve that is meant to be used where the D string sits on the lower peg (usually of the A string).

If the silk is already gone, get shrink tube from an electronics store (maybe your hardware store has them too) put it over the string including some wound part and heat them with a lighter. If you have a good fitting tube, 1:2 shrinking will do, but 1:4 shrinking tubes are also available.
 
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#212
I have a very old set of Solos that are on one of my basses...I think I've had 'em three years, and they were bought used here. The G string is down to the core string behind the nut...I'm totally amazed that it still holds up. I have a new older set in readiness for when that one goes, but I kind of want to keep these and see how long until it goes. So far it's held like that for years. Crazy. I don't understand how they do it.
 
#213
Welcome to the club. Update from me:

Evah weich are on my carved bass. They sound and feel good for long gigs and are the most versatile for my gigs right now:

Played with my folk/classical band last night. Lots of groove lines mixed in with some light slapping and plenty of arco
Tonight i play a trio gig at a restaurant in town where the band leader wants the ray brown vibe
Tomorrow night I'm playing in a big band with a string section.

On my plywood however I am using OLD spiro weich for my E A D and a Gamut Red Dimond G. It sounds really good pizz. The bass in general isn't very good for arco so I set it up this way. Those spiros will stay on forever (famous last words?)
 
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#214
Mine aren't "dead", but I'm currently using almost 2-year old Spiro Weich ExtEAD with a Flexocor Deluxe G. I really like the sound of the Spiro G string, but I find that the Flex Deluxe is a little stiffer when I play pizz, which keeps it from bottoming out (I play with kinda low action).
 
#215
What is this you may ask? Well this is the 1st set of spirocores I ever had. Returned to me by their 3rd owner. Let me explain:

I brought my bass to get checked up on after I bought it in 2012. It had hellicores of some kind. My luither in New Orleans said "why don't we throw on this set of spirocores I have lying around. I never liked them on my bass so I took them off right away."

I had them on my bass from October 2012 till January 2014. Then around April I put them back on. Had them till October 2014 when I gave them to my teacher Ed Wise here in Nola. He had them on his bass till maybe may 2015 on one bass then on a different bass till the beginning of this year when we went back to weich strings.

So if I do the math these strings have about 3 years of playing on them...

I'll never let this set go. Does anyone else have their first set of spiro's?
 

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#216
Sam Dingle said:
What is this you may ask? Well this is the 1st set of spirocores I ever had. Returned to me by their 3rd owner. Let me explain:

I brought my bass to get checked up on after I bought it in 2012. It had hellicores of some kind. My luither in New Orleans said "why don't we throw on this set of spirocores I have lying around. I never liked them on my bass so I took them off right away."

I had them on my bass from October 2012 till January 2014. Then around April I put them back on. Had them till October 2014 when I gave them to my teacher Ed Wise here in Nola. He had them on his bass till maybe may 2015 on one bass then on a different bass till the beginning of this year when we went back to weich strings.

So if I do the math these strings have about 3 years of playing on them...

I'll never let this set go. Does anyone else have their first set of spiro's?
Click to expand...


bskts:Three years? Good grief...that's nothing. You will still be using them 20 years for now. If you can avoid the string fever that this forum causes. :D
 
#217
I have 2 full sets of spiros, the 3/4 mitt and 4/4 mitt set. My bass came with the 3/4 mitt set when i bought it back in 2009. That same set is back on with a stark e. What i love most about these strings is that with a good cleaning the growly sound comes right back, but the arco tone still sounds fairly mellow compared to a new set.
 

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