Double Bass Spiro A&E alternative for bowing?

[Jesse Dietschi]

I'm currently using Flexo Deluxe G/D and Spiro mittel A/E on my early 20th C 7/8 German bass, and while I love the sound and feel for jazz, and love the sound for orchestra, I'm starting to think I need to find something hover tension with faster bow response for the bottom two strings. Does anyone have recommendations for strings with similar tone/bite to Spiro A/E's but higher tension? This is strictly for orchestra playing (not jazz or solo)

 

[Sam Dingle]

Try permanents or passiones

 

[Eric Hochberg]

How about Spiro Starks?

 

[Sam Dingle]

Oh higher tension. Yes try Starks

 

[Selim]

What didn't you like about the Flexocor Deluxe A&E?

 

[Jesse Dietschi]

What didn't you like about the Flexocor Deluxe A&E?

They sounded muddy and undefined on my bass, which is quite dark. The brightness of the Spiros was a great remedy, but the sluggishness of their response is making my Mahler 5 preparations even more grueling lol

 

[Jake deVilliers]

They sounded muddy and undefined on my bass, which is quite dark. The brightness of the Spiros was a great remedy, but the sluggishness of their response is making my Mahler 5 preparations even more grueling lol

You might want to try Evah Pirazzis. They are pretty stiff and quick to speak though quite dark on most basses.

Spiro Weich are also quicker than Mittel. Have you played Permanents?

 

[Jesse Dietschi]

You might want to try Evah Pirazzis. They are pretty stiff and quick to speak though quite dark on most basses.

Spiro Weich are also quicker than Mittel. Have you played Permanents?

I've tried Evah GD on my Chadwick and hated them- really weird time under the bow, and actually felt super low tension (actually twisted under my fingers). I feel like Weichs would be even softer, which would make the issue worse. Haven't tried Permanents yet- might be worth a shot!

 

[Jesse Dietschi]

Oh higher tension. Yes try Starks

Do you think there would be an issue combining two different gauges of string if the upper two are still medium Flexo D's?

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Do you think there would be an issue combining two different gauges of string if the upper two are still medium Flexo D's?

There may or may not be, you just have to try. Any combination can give different results on different basses, and of course your personal preferences are the deciding factor.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Possibly. I would say try the Starks on the E/A and see how it sounds. I use a full set of spiro mediums and the Stark E choked my bass. The same combo sounded great on my teachers bass. You may like the low strings and want to try a heavy d/g after.

 

[JoeyNaeger]

Does your bass like it if you tune the strings up a quarter step? If so Spiro starks may work well. Also, if your mittels are the 4/4 size, the 3/4 Mittels will give you more tension that the 4/4 mittels but less than the starks.

 

[Jonny Mah]

Hi Jesse
In my experience the Chadwick is not the best barometer of how strings will feel / sound on a real bass. I have an old set of Evah Weich's if you want to try them on your bass to see how they feel - my bass is a 3/4 German of similar age to yours and it really seems to like the Evah's for both arco and pizz playing. For the Chadwick the only logical option (in my experience) seems to be spiro mediums as I can't think of another string that can withstand the constant detuning. I'm in the west end of the city if you want to come by and try the EP's.

 

[Jesse Dietschi]

I've tried Evah GD on my Chadwick and hated them- really weird time under the bow, and actually felt super low tension (actually twisted under my fingers). I feel like Weichs would be even softer, which would make the issue worse. Haven't tried Permanents yet- might be worth a shot!

*weird tone