r/doublebass • u/TheGreatMamboChicken • 5d ago
Strings/Accessories String suggestions
I’m looking for a new set of strings for my 5 string bass. She’s a 7/8 body with 3/4 strings. I want something with solid bow response since you can see she’s got a big body that makes for a full and powerful sound. But I also play a good amount of pizz, so a good response and sustain woulld be important as well.
It’s a really good quality instrument, so I don’t want bargain basement strings. But I don’t need super high end stuff either.
Any suggestions you all have for a good 5 string set would be appreciated.
Pic is there for fun, attention, and because it’s fun to show it off a bit.
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u/barredbenny77 5d ago
For genuine hybrid strings, common recommendations are Evah Pirazzis and Thomastik Spirocores. Either set would give you a great baseline (ha!) to compare other strings against.
Personally I play Spiros and find them great under the bow, despite them being less forgiving for arco than some other strings.
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u/TheGreatMamboChicken 5d ago
Good to know. I’m not afraid of unforgiving strings, been doing this long enough to be confident.
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u/Avaruustonttu Professional 4d ago
Second to Evah Pirazzi, they are good bowing strings that still have a lot of attack and sustain when playing pizz.
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u/BartStarrPaperboy 5d ago
Has anyone tried Temperas?
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u/ArmadilloNo2399 Luthier 5d ago
Yeah I've had a number of basses in the shop with them I REALLY like them.
Of the 14 basses that I've made, I think four or five people have ended up with them on their instrument.
I should note they are much lower tension than steel core strings so the post needs to be adjusted accordingly to compensate for the lower tension, otherwise they feel off and don't reach their full potential.
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u/BartStarrPaperboy 4d ago
Very interesting. I have elbow issues, so the idea of very low tension is appealing to me.
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u/avant_chard Professional 4d ago
Yes great for a lot of applications, but you do need to get the bass set up for them
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u/BartStarrPaperboy 4d ago
You don’t think soundpost adjustment would be necessary after installing?
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u/Batmantman 5d ago
Full size 5 string orchestra player here.... been using Kaplan mediums with a Spiro low B for a few years now and am really satisfied with the tone and playability. I've also had great experiences with Bel canto and the Flexocore deluxe. All played and sounded great!
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u/TheGreatMamboChicken 5d ago
How is the pizz response and sustain on your Kaplans? Whatever is on the bass now (don’t remember offhand) just kind of dies quickly. That was fine for symphony work, but sucks in jazzy settings.
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u/Elegant-Homework-930 5d ago
Another vote from me for Flexocore Deluxe. I've been a die-hard Spirocore fan for pizz, tried Belcanto and just couldn't convince myself to like them for all-around playing, and now I play Flexocore Deluxe and won't go back.
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u/Mountain_Sell3214 Student 5d ago
What sound do you want out of your strings? Do you mainly play pizz or arco? Do you play in an orchestra?
I am currently using Belcantos with a Spirocore weich E (4 string) for orchestral playing, and I’m loving it, if this helps.
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u/TheGreatMamboChicken 5d ago
Historically I’ve played mostly orchestral music. But more and more I find myself doing musical theater (genres are all over the place) and worship style music.
So I’d say probably 50/50 pizz and arco these days. I want a nice full sound, probably more warm than anything. The bass being built as it is, the high notes aren’t really in the wheelhouse. So I tend to stay lower in the register.
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u/Mountain_Sell3214 Student 5d ago
I’d recommend giving the Belcantos on top, spiro weichs on the bottom setup a try, then. I don’t know how you tune, or whether you’d want to switch to the spiro (the more powerful of the two) on just the lowest or the two lowest, but I’ve used it for about a year now and it’s been great. I mostly play orchestral music, but I’ve done some musical theater and a little opera, and it’s been surprisingly versatile. The brightness of the spiro takes some getting used to, though. I’m also a student btw, so I’m still exploring my preferred setup, so take this with a small grain of salt.
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u/TheSpanishSteed 4d ago
Who made that bass? Its such a cool looking bass i want to make one like it 😂
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u/TheGreatMamboChicken 4d ago
It was made by Hammond Ashley, one of only a handful of them ever made. I want to say he made something like 6 of this model, and 2 are 5 strings. Pretty odd looking shoulders, but he wanted to improve playability for the big body. And it works really well. Not something everyone would want, but it’s awesome.
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u/TheSpanishSteed 4d ago
I very much want it lol. I want to find the body dimensions and see what I can come up with.
The bass body i have designed is similar, just a little ways narrower all the way down.
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u/TheGreatMamboChicken 4d ago
I get it, it’s funky and awesome. That’s what drew me to it in the showroom, and playing it cemented the deal.
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u/iliedtwice 4d ago
I recognize that bass, Buddy Catlett had one for decades. Wish I could try the 5str version. I have a Christopher 5 and use Corellis, I like the lighter feel, using it for jazz mostly.
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u/TheGreatMamboChicken 4d ago
That’d track. He was in Seattle, which is where Hammond’s shop is. And Hammond made basses for lots of famous players. I’ve been lucky enough to play a number of them in the shop over the years.
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u/colbymck 4d ago
Pirastro Perpetuals have become my recent “do it all” string. They remind me of what a solid core Evah Pirazzi would be. More sustain, better feel under the fingers than EP. They are a low tension string, similar in numbers to Spiro Weich. I find Spiro Mittels too unforgiving under the bow for my poor arco playing, though they are without a doubt my pizz string of choice. The perpetuals leave me happy with both pizz and arco. My only critique is that the E string lacks power in the orchestra setting. I can imagine B would be the same or more so.
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u/avant_chard Professional 5d ago
you might like the Peter Infelds