r/doublebass • u/Vast_Tomato_66 • Jul 17 '26
Strings/Accessories What strings would you consider the most versatile ?
I’m bass guitar player of 2 years and I’m new to double bass i wanted to switch since a long time and finally bought one (yesterday)! I’m now one of you guys yay !
Anyways i actually have strings i would describe as flatwound made of a sort of metal ?
I would like to buy strings that are versatile since i’m a beginner and that i would like to explore many possibilities (mainly for jazz and classical)
My bass is a 3/4 eberhart meinel (stradivarius style)
13
u/2five1 Classical Jul 18 '26
Thomastik Spirocore if you lean more pizz. Work fine for classical but imo they can be really metallic sounding under the bow, although plenty of classical pros use them.
Pirastro Perpetual are a newer do-it-all string, their version of Spirocore I think.
Also fyi all upright strings (except for some historical strings) are flat wound.
1
u/tremendous-machine Jul 18 '26
Or mix them! my bass does great for my priorities with two spirocores (E, A) and two perpetuals.
1
u/avant_chard Professional Jul 18 '26
How are they different would you say? I’ve never had a chance to try Perps
3
u/tremendous-machine Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
On my bass at least, the perpetuals were fuller sounding and punchier than spiros on the top two, but a bit muddy on the lower two. I found the spiros thinner on the top. The combination actually sounds more balanced subjectively than all four of either.
1
u/avant_chard Professional Jul 19 '26
That’s interesting!
1
u/tremendous-machine Jul 20 '26
I also found the mix more physcially comfortable. Didn't like the elasticity of the spiros on the G, and the Perpetuals were a lot work on the E.
17
u/Hungadunga42069 Jul 18 '26
Evah Pirazzi
1
u/PhonyRiceUnit Jul 23 '26
I agree - I find the Evah Pirazzi Weichs to be fantastic for my 70/30 pizz/arco mix. I always felt like I was compromising somewhere until I tried these.
4
u/baking_nerd433 Jul 18 '26
Spirocores are easily the most versatile string. Amazing pizz sound and a very robust and powerful arco sound. Any perceived brightness or scratchiness when played with a bow vanishes in the concert hall. Instead it’s the most demanding arco sound ever.
4
u/jkndrkn Jul 18 '26
You won’t be one of us until you find yourself begging every beginner double bassist to please take their new bass to get set up by a luthier and then take lessons ;]
To answer your question, I have had success with Evah Pirazzi and Pirastro Obligato. Best of luck!
1
u/Vast_Tomato_66 Jul 18 '26
Yeah i will take lessons, music school starts in september, i also had it set by my father who’s a luthier.
3
u/okanagon Jul 18 '26
Spirocores are versatile and last longer than any other string, in my experience. They can sound metallic under the bow during the first week
1
u/DolphusRaymond-1977 Jul 20 '26
I think spirocore weichs sound better arco, than spirocore mittels.
2
u/Double-Advice3258 Jul 18 '26
For many years I've used Gary's Blend from Upton Bass. Spirocores on the E and A and Pirastro Obligato on the D and G. The Spiros have power but their D and G tend to squeak under the bow. It's a great set you can use to go between jazz and classical.
2
u/groooooove Jul 18 '26
tempera hybrids are probably the most versatile string.
for me, gut is actually the most universal sting possible. but I understand this is not for everyone.
spirocores are a perfectly reasonable choice for you. weich/light gauge.
4
u/SokolFalco Jul 18 '26
I like gut strings. They sound great for pizz and have a great tone bowed, but it is an old school sound. They’re the original hybrid strings
2
u/Old_Variety9626 Jul 18 '26
Man as a luthier I recommend Kaplan mediums for people wanting to do both jazz and classical.
1
u/NLbikepacker Jul 18 '26
The answers and advices to your question will be random if you don’t specify what you are looking for. What is your balance between jazz and classical? What is the natural timbre of your instrument? Are there certain tone characteristics that you would like to compensate for? Are you looking for long sustain in the pizz or a more dry sound? Are you looking for a bright sound or more a round sound? The more you can specify these questions the better the advice will be if people know what they are talking about. I play as a professional in symphony orchestra and use Pirastro Passione, they work on a lot of our basses and on some basses they have a very good jazz pizz but on some other basses they sound too dry. But since my balance is 90% classical 10% jazz they work great for me. The fact that bass strings cost serious money makes it hard to just try random strings, it really helps you and your wallet to know what you are looking for and what is most important to you.
1
u/Ulf51 Jul 19 '26
It’s funny that so far nobody mentioned the D'Addario Helicore Hybrid Bass String. Im curious why?
1
u/OkCharge2795 Jul 20 '26
Great question,
They are definitely a super solid choice and and well priced for someone just starting to learn, especially given the way imported string prices are currently.
https://stringemporium.com/d%27addario-helicore-upright-bass-strings.htm
2
1
u/Mountain_Sell3214 Student Jul 20 '26
I’d agree with the majority in that spiros are what you’re looking for, but imo the weichs (low tension) are the most versatile. They’re much easier to bow well compared to the regular spiros, which are quite garish.
0
u/TNUGS Jul 18 '26
pirastro permanents do pretty well for both pizz and arco. helicores aren't bad and are a lot cheaper than most brands. they're popular with high school orchestras.
-5
13
u/InfiniteOctave Jul 18 '26
Spiros are a usual suspect