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Spirocore Medium Gauge Bass
String -- RED MITCHELL Set Tunes to A-D-G-C
Fits basses 3/4 to 4/4
size, approximately 41.5" to 43.5" tuning length
Spirocore bass strings
are specially formulated for pizzicato play. They
are an all steel string made to produce maximum volume and sustain. While their
outer wrap feels very smooth to the hand, they are not most players' choice
for bowing. Spirocore is now available more variations than any other string.
Spirocore Bass
Strings In Fifths Tuning (A-D-G-C)
In this tuning, the
double bass is tuned like a cello but an octave lower (A-D-G-C.) Fifths
tuning was once a very common double bass tuning but has been supplanted by
standard tuning in fourths. However, Fifths tuning has been re-adopted by a
handful of bassists, most notably (the late) Red Mitchell who lends his name
to this particular Spirocore sets. Other players who tune in 5ths include Joel
Quarrington, Dennis Mazzuso, Silvio Dalla Torre, Paul Unger, and Larry Holloway.
5ths tuning is definitely gaining in popularity.
The advantages of fifths
tuning seem to be that:
- The bass achieves better intonation with the
rest of the string section due to the uniform tuning with upper strings and
cello.
- It's a very good method of reaching a low
C, without an extension or a fifth string.
- Jazz players find it easier to reach the
major tenth which can be played easily without a position shift.
- Increased resonance, volume and quality of
sound.
- The strings have more common overtones, causing
the strings to vibrate sympathetically.
For years we had to
mix-n-match from a variety of manufacturers to make good 5ths Tuning
Bass Sets. Now we have the Spirocore Red Mitchell 5ths Tuning Set in both Medium
and Weich Gauges. Yipes! Chosing bass strings is getting easier, thanks to Thomastik-Infeld.
This is the RED MITCHELL
Weich set, Tuning in FIFTHS
A (first string)
D (second string)
G (thirst string)
C (fourth string)
Spirocore
Bass Strings In Orchestra Tuning (G-D-A-E)
Spirocore Double Bass
Strings, Medium Tension - Red Wraps is
Lemur Music's pet name for these Spirocores. They are the benchmark for a jazz
string in so many ways: superior volume and sustain, good growl and a true bass
fundamental. Give your Spirocore Mediums a week or so to 'settle down' for the
most long term durability of any steel string we know of.
Spirocore Light Tension -
Weich is the German Word for soft and
that's a good description for these lighter gauge upright bass strings. There
is less mass on a light gauge Spirocore Weich so it's a bit easier in the hand,
without sacrificing any noticeable volume or sustain. Players who want less
tension for the top plate of their bass choose a lighter tension string. This
one delivers all the Spirocore punch you would expect.
Spirocore Heavy Tension
- Stark is the German word for heavy and these strings are much thicker
and heavier than other makers' heavy gauge strings. Use them when you really
need more volume - there is enough mass on a Spirocore Stark to drive a truck.
Your hands need to be stronger to play them, too. That being said, Spirocore
Stark delivers a focused pitch every time.
Spirocore Fractional sizes
- Almost all the Spirocores we sell are considered full size (4/4). We do that
to fit the greatest number of string playing lengths. We also stock Spirocore
3/4 size in Medium & Weich Tension, as well as Spirocore 1/2 size in Medium,
and Spirocore 1/4 size in Medium.
Extra Strings - Lemur
stocks all the extension fourth strings, High C and Low B 5th strings in each
Spirocore Gauge.
Spirocore
Bass Strings In Solo Tuning (A-E-B-F#)
Spirocore Solo Tuning
Strings - The Thinnest Gauge steel strings are made to be tuned up
a step from Orchestra Tuning sets. Because most musicians using solo tuning
are arco players, they prefer Belcanto Solo, which was designed from day-one
to be a bowed string. Still, if you want that Spirocore punch and sustain in
the thinnest possible gauge, then this solo tuning string may be right for your
bass/your play.
Spirocore Fractional
Sizes - We stock the True 3/4 size Spirocore Solo Tuning Bass Strings
as well as a 1/2 size solo tuning set.
Spirocore Extra Strings
- Thomastik Makes and Lemur Stocks an Extension 4th string (F#) as well as a
Low 5th string tuning to C#. We consider both of these strings to
be rare birds (not made by many manufacturers) and so we USE THEM FREQUENTLY
since they have great center of pitch, remain focused, and are readily available.
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