Double Bass Tuning Zyex lights up to Solo a bad idea?

[anightintunisia]

My bass absolutely responds better to lighter tension strings both arco and pizz. While Zyex are not my favorite for arco due to pitch instability, they are easier for me to bow compared to Evahs and I've been curious about getting the light gauge set and tuning it up to Solo. Wondering if this is a bad idea and or would it be lighter tension the Spiro solos. Zyex lights are:

G: 58
D: 59.5
A:62.5

Spiro Solos are:
A:70.5
E:72.8
B:72.8

Opinions?

 

[Sam Dingle]

There's a reason there are solo strings. I think it's not worth risking it

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Tuning up a whole tone gives you about 20% more tension and the risk of breaking the string (maybe not immediately, but a lot earlier than you might expect) is rather high.
Since your bass likes lower tension better use lower tension solo strings and tune them down.
And synthetic core strings generally don't like to be detained from solo to orchestra tuning and back.
If you really want to use one string set for both, solo and orchestra tuning, expect a rather hard string for solo and a very soft string with orchestra tuning which might lead to more sinking down than you might like when bowing.

Tune down your lights by a halftone to check that, tune up a halftone to check solo tuning tension.

It is never a good idea to tune strings higher than intended by the manufacturer, specially synthetic core strings.

If they still exist you can try Velvet Compas 180 SUIT or Innovation Braided Solos (140BS). The Braided are easier to bow than the Compas 180 and probably cheaper.

 

[anightintunisia]

Tuning up a whole tone gives you about 20% more tension and the risk of breaking the string (maybe not immediately, but a lot earlier than you might expect) is rather high.
Since your bass likes lower tension better use lower tension solo strings and tune them down.
And synthetic core strings generally don't like to be detained from solo to orchestra tuning and back.
If you really want to use one string set for both, solo and orchestra tuning, expect a rather hard string for solo and a very soft string with orchestra tuning which might lead to more sinking down than you might like when bowing.

Tune down your lights by a halftone to check that, tune up a halftone to check solo tuning tension.

It is never a good idea to tune strings higher than intended by the manufacturer, specially synthetic core strings.

If they still exist you can try Velvet Compas 180 SUIT or Innovation Braided Solos (140BS). The Braided are easier to bow than the Compas 180 and probably cheaper.

I'm thinking I just want to leave that bass in permanent solo tuning, minus my C-ext. No need to tune back to regular. I'd like to do Permamant tops Spiro B, and regular spiro C-ext. But I wish the tension was closer to Weichs instead of a little heavier then Mittels. I do a split of arco and pizz so I need a good hybrid string.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If you like lower tension strings, you might want to check SuperSensitive Sensicore don't know if they have Solo tuning) or Innovation Braided Solo. The Spiros Solos are higher tension than these two synthetic core sets.

 

[LouisF]

Sensicore does have a solo set, which I think is great (except for the G which is too thin; but I use the regular G with the set)

Jargar dolce can be tuned up to solo pitch and are great bowing strings (not so good for pizz); I've had solo dominants, kaplans, perms and superflexibles on at various time on various basses - all better IMO than solo Spiros.

I think I might have one or two old sets you can try if you want to PM me. I'm in LA if you want to try them

Louis

 

[the_Ryan]

Dominant solos sound good and are fairly similar tension-wise to Zyex lights.

EDIT - Dominant solos are

A: 59.5
E: 61.7
B: 63.9

 

[Bisounourse]

I have used Zyex Lights, and they are my backup strings, but I don't really like them for bowing: on my bass, the G string has a nasal honk starting from the high C on.

If they still exist you can try Velvet Compas 180 SUIT or Innovation Braided Solos (140BS). The Braided are easier to bow than the Compas 180 and probably cheaper.

I have used both: really didn't like the sound and feel of Innovations (they had like a 'quack' / 'honk' in their sound) , and they were off in 3 days (so you might want to listen to wat DoubleMIDI says about them, as I haven't given them a real chance).
My set now is a Velvet Compass 180 (Orchestral), and I love them; low tension, soft on the hands, deep and rich tone. You need to adapt a little if you are bowing; a softer, relaxed touch and at the same time focus and control are required (which is more or less the definition of bowing ), because of you play with too much pressure or weight they'll sound awfull and your string will rattle against the fingerboard. There is a Solo set, and I'll be checking those out if my current strings go out (because, if I downtune half a step, my bass sounds even better), but they are expensive...

 

[Mark Gollihur]

G: 58
D: 59.5
A:62.5

Spiro Solos are:
A:70.5
E:72.8
B:72.8

Opinions?

On a side note - be aware that Gauge is irrelevant when comparing two different strings - they are from different manufacturers and use different materials in their construction.