Double Bass Which strings for a 50 yr old Hofner carved bass?

[jebo]

I have a beautiful sounding 50 yr old fully carved hofner bass. Ever since Ive had it I have always used spirocores on it. I want to try a different string (or different combinations w/ the E & A spiro's) because I feel that a full set of spiros might not be the most suited for this bass.

I really have no idea what to try because I have always just used sprios and that is what I am comfortable with. I have been thinking about trying Evah D & G as I see many people using that combo w/ the spiro's. I also see a lot of Gut G's w/ spiro E, A & D's. I am curious about D'addario strings. I've been wanting to try the Helicore Hybrid's (which I believe are steel strings??) and the Zyex strings were recommended to me today as maybe being a good fit for my bass, but I am not sure if I want to go w/ a full set of synthetic (is that Nylon??) strings as I am used to steel.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions for strings that might work well on my bass?

 

[jebo]

I forgot to mention that I play mostly pizz, and occasional arco.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

Don't be cautious about synthetic core, the difference is small and easy to adapt to (mostly, they feel softer). I really like Evah Pirazzi (which are synthetic cores) on a Wilfer of about that age, they're like softer to play Spiros without the zingy overtones.

 

[Kaspar Vadsholt]

What are you looking for? Spiros w a Pirastro Oliv (wound gut) is a great setup. If you wanna go old-school, Velvet Anima is very popular. The boutique way would be to order a set from Gerold Genssler. Pretty magical mix of gut warmth and clarity.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Beyond the Oliv mix with Spiros, you can mix Obligato with Spiros (at least with the S42).

When trying new strings you might need to adapt to the new sound for some weeks until you shoud decide if you like them or not.

A set of Evah Pirazzi Weich might be nice, not as dark as the regular EP, more sustain.
Personally I like the Innovation 140B, a bit lighter than EP Weich and Spiros with a soft pizz (go down the fingerboard for some attack. If you like a darker old school sound and only bow occasionally the Innovation 140H might what you want. A lot of attack, slightly more tension than the 140B (but less than both EPs) and about as bow friendly as old Spiros.

 

[jebo]

In terms of the sound I am after, I am definitely a ray brown - christian McBride kind of guy.

Has anyone tried out the Zyex's?

 

[Lo-E]

For a Ray Brown kind of sound I really like Obligatos, but they have a pretty short lifespan.

 

[Kaspar Vadsholt]

Both Ray Bron and McBride has uset spiros (weich). Their sound is very much in the hands. A strong right hand attack, and a very active left hand. For walking, they press each note actively down with the left hand.
I never could get obligato to sound properly. Too wimpy onstage and hard to amplify IMHO, FWIW etc

 

[Ed Fuqua]

In terms of the sound I am after, I am definitely a ray brown - christian McBride kind of guy.

Has anyone tried out the Zyex's?

I'm kind of a long term Anima user but when a D string broke, a friend, who has an artist endorsement deal for Zyex, offered me a set and I gladly accepted. They've been on for a little over a year. I play primarily unamplified and I've found that the Zyex gets a big, warm sound out front; they don't have the same immediacy and strong fundamental of the Animas but still project well. They sound very nice under the bow, they are low tension, but don't have the same concerns with "roll" as strings like the Obligato. I played a friends bass last night that had Evah Pirazzis on it and they felt a little thinner and higher tension to me. They had a great dark sound, very warm, and a great cantibile under the bow.

Oh, if you go to my soundcloud page WISE ONE, ISFAHAN and STRAIGHT STREET are the Zyex on my bass, all the others are the Animas....

 

[Medve]

I own a similar Hofner carved bass. It sounds fantastic with the Evah Pirazzi orchestra medium string set. They help in the lower end of the frequency spectrum, since these basses are a smaller 3/4 size - in my opinion. The second best setup on that bass is playing on three thick, quality, unwound gut strings ( A, D, G ) - Dragonetti style. I have enjoyed the EPs, but nothing is like gut. I forgot to mention, that I play 99% bow and 1% pizz.

 

[MrSidecar]

I have a beautiful sounding 50 yr old fully carved hofner bass. Ever since Ive had it I have always used spirocores on it.

[...] I have always just used sprios and that is what I am comfortable with.

I for one, fail to see why there should be any need for change. Of course it's fun to try new things. But then again- you're happy? They feel comfortable? The bass sounds beautiful with them? Why on earth enter a search race that will probably/eventually bring you back to spiros with some serious $$$ spent on the way gathering semi-useful insight?

Hands hands hands. Believe me, I entered the same search race years ago- only to return to spirocore and immediately thinking "What was I missing?" while at the same time getting spontaneous comments by guys I played with saying "You haven't sounded as good as this in quite a while?"

I'll give you this- I changed again, this time to Dominants. But that's more like "Ok, Spiros is paramount, and Dominants do the same only nicer." Would Thomastik discontinue Dominants tomorrow, I wouldn't be worried.

Best
Sidecar

 

[iiipopes]

Hands hands hands. Believe me, I entered the same search race years ago- only to return to spirocore and immediately thinking "What was I missing?" while at the same time getting spontaneous comments by guys I played with saying "You haven't sounded as good as this in quite a while?"

+1!

 

[jebo]

That is some great advice sidecar.,.. why fix it if its not broke? The sipro's do sound fantastic.

Medve: Yes that is exactly the same bass i have. The slightly smaller 3/4 size. I think I am going to try an evah D & G (w/ spiro E & A's). I fI dont like them I can always put the spiros back on, and its cheaper than buying a whole set ; )

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Be careful. Strings are worse than cigarettes. I should know.

If you do order the Evahs, order the Weichs. The orchestra gauge are brutal and too stiff on to of Spiro Mittels.

 

[MrPeel]

I own a similar Hofner carved bass. It sounds fantastic with the Evah Pirazzi orchestra medium string set. They help in the lower end of the frequency spectrum, since these basses are a smaller 3/4 size - in my opinion. The second best setup on that bass is playing on three thick, quality, unwound gut strings ( A, D, G ) - Dragonetti style. I have enjoyed the EPs, but nothing is like gut. I forgot to mention, that I play 99% bow and 1% pizz.

More Hofner basses!?! Here I thought I was one of a rare bunch.
I have a 45-50 something carved Hofner. Would love to hear about other people's... how they sound, condition etc.

I have flat-chromesteel on mine... I'm thinking of switching to Obligatos at some point though.

 

[robobass]

If you've never played anything but Spiro then it would be good to experiment a bit. I used Eudoxa for years until they just got too expensive and now I'm an incorrigible Obli user - both jazz and classical. I've tried EP's but just found them too stiff. They were admittedly brand new and on new basses, though. Tried Zyex at a convention but just didn't dig them. The rolling thing with Obli's is an issue I guess, but IMO it takes about two minutes to get used to. With the bass you describe, I bet a gut or synthetic core string would really open up a new dimension.