Spirocore Red's, Orchestral ??

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Ken, is it true that the Kaplans have a fast response under the bow? I'm wondering if Spiro Reds would have a fast response too. The EP weichs are a bit slow. I've been thinking about Spiro reds too as a good classical/jazz string.

Fast response? I am not sure they do for all set-ups and playing styles. They feel a bit light and I now have the 2nd set on my Marconcini school bass which I hardly use outside of the office. They sound fine but I only played them on three concerts in 3 weeks back to back and one was mostly Pizz. I did the Beeth. 9th first, then the New World and last the Pops thing. Three concerts, three Orchestras. I had my work cut out for me. The 3rd venue was Pops and I used the Amp on a few tunes as well. I just don't know how they will work for Orchestral players that dig in hard as if they are using Original Flex's or the like. So far, I have no complaints. I just have to use them and see what happens.

Spiro Reds are fast and have more tension. For a lower action set-up like I use, I think you can play them harder. The 9th was such a workout, I don't know within a section of 7 basses how the bass itself did. My focus was on the 25 pages of DOTS they call music.

Like I said above, the next set I want to try on my Hart are Spiro reds. I know they take time to break in but I will just have to see. It all depends on how well these Kaplans work and last before I change sets again.

A few years ago I had a French Bass here with Reds on it. It was a screamer of a Bass and the Reds put a spotlight on that as well. Then with a customer here, we switches strings and put the Reds on a 5-string with a high C. Hearing him Bow that bass with Reds was impressive. Even on the bright French bass, the sound under the ear is not the same you hear in the next room. They do deserve some merit. I am just not sure I want to sound like that. I am the one that hears me before anyone else does and being the closest to the sound than any listener is, it can't put me in a panic mode on the first note!

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Fast response? I am not sure they do for all set-ups and playing styles. They feel a bit light and I now have the 2nd set on my Marconcini school bass which I hardly use outside of the office. They sound fine but I only played them on three concerts in 3 weeks back to back and one was mostly Pizz. I did the Beeth. 9th first, then the New World and last the Pops thing. Three concerts, three Orchestras. I had my work cut out for me. The 3rd venue was Pops and I used the Amp on a few tunes as well. I just don't know how they will work for Orchestral players that dig in hard as if they are using Original Flex's or the like. So far, I have no complaints. I just have to use them and see what happens.

Spiro Reds are fast and have more tension. For a lower action set-up like I use, I think you can play them harder. The 9th was such a workout, I don't know within a section of 7 basses how the bass itself did. My focus was on the 25 pages of DOTS they call music.

Like I said above, the next set I want to try on my Hart are Spiro reds. I know they take time to break in but I will just have to see. It all depends on how well these Kaplans work and last before I change sets again.

A few years ago I had a French Bass here with Reds on it. It was a screamer of a Bass and the Reds put a spotlight on that as well. Then with a customer here, we switches strings and put the Reds on a 5-string with a high C. Hearing him Bow that bass with Reds was impressive. Even on the bright French bass, the sound under the ear is not the same you hear in the next room. They do deserve some merit. I am just not sure I want to sound like that. I am the one that hears me before anyone else does and being the closest to the sound than any listener is, it can't put me in a panic mode on the first note!

Thanks for that Ken. Ha! I know what you mean about what you hear. I might go with those reds instead of the Kaplans - I don't want Kaplans if I don't get that fast response. I've got my second bass set up with a high C (C G D A) for some solo work I have coming up. I've got an old set of Corelli TX strings on (fairly stiff). The C string certainly sings! Who knows, maybe I'll finish up with reds on both basses (still with one high set)?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Thanks for that Ken. Ha! I know what you mean about what you hear. I might go with those reds instead of the Kaplans - I don't want Kaplans if I don't get that fast response. I've got my second bass set up with a high C (C G D A) for some solo work I have coming up. I've got an old set of Corelli TX strings on (fairly stiff). The C string certainly sings! Who knows, maybe I'll finish up with reds on both basses (still with one high set)?

Richard, I am not saying that the Kaplans are not fast. I just did Beeth. 9th with them on my Hart bass. There are some major fast parts in that piece. They worked great. I was only saying that I don't know what the hard core Orig.Flex. players will or do think about them. They are too new on the market to have all the opinions in. I like them and would be glad to stick with them if nothing else was available. What one string has, another string might lack and visa versa. Not every string does everything. I think they are worth the try. The tone is sweet. My bass likes them!

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Richard, I am not saying that the Kaplans are not fast. I just did Beeth. 9th with them on my Hart bass. There are some major fast parts in that piece. They worked great. I was only saying that I don't know what the hard core Orig.Flex. players will or do think about them. They are too new on the market to have all the opinions in. I like them and would be glad to stick with them if nothing else was available. What one string has, another string might lack and visa versa. Not every string does everything. I think they are worth the try. The tone is sweet. My bass likes them!

Thanks Ken, I'll keep them in the equation. The Corelli strings are doing a good job on the 'solo' bass. What are the Kaplans like at pizz?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Thanks Ken, I'll keep them in the equation. The Corelli strings are doing a good job on the 'solo' bass. What are the Kaplans like at pizz?

The Hart is more of a dry sounding bass Pizz wise. Until last month, it was always used as an Orchestral bass, never for Jazz. It took me almost 5 years before I touched the bridge to fit it for my pick-up. Amplified, it did quite well as a jazz bass. Un-amped, I had 3 other basses playing with me in unison but it seemed to work well.

[Scott Pope]

Ken, I know that you know, but for the rest of the crowd interested in Spiros, everyone needs to remember that there are five different sets of orchestra tuned Spiros, and then there are two solo sets, the quint tuning sets, and the fractional sets after that. Most people only talk about the S42 4/4 sets. For the standard tuned sets, in ascending order of tension, if all were fitted on the same bass:

S42W 4/4 Weich
3885W 3/4 Weich
S42 4/4 Mittel
3885 3/4 Mittel
S42 4/4 Stark

So that I could make an informed decision about fit on my particular instrument, I contacted Connolly about the differences in speaking lengths and silk lengths between the S42 4/4 and 3885 3/4 sets. They sent me a very explanatory email with a chart, but the chart is coded into the email, and I don't know how to reformat the chart so it is clear, and not just linear data. When I try to cut and paste the chart out of the email, I just get strings of numbers. I'd like to forward that to you. Please let me know either here or by PM how you would like me to send you that information.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Scott Pope

Ken, I know that you know, but for the rest of the crowd interested in Spiros, everyone needs to remember that there are five different sets of orchestra tuned Spiros, and then there are two solo sets, the quint tuning sets, and the fractional sets after that. Most people only talk about the S42 4/4 sets. For the standard tuned sets, in ascending order of tension, if all were fitted on the same bass:

S42W 4/4 Weich
3885W 3/4 Weich
S42 4/4 Mittel
3885 3/4 Mittel
S42 4/4 Stark

So that I could make an informed decision about fit on my particular instrument, I contacted Connolly about the differences in speaking lengths and silk lengths between the S42 4/4 and 3885 3/4 sets. They sent me a very explanatory email with a chart, but the chart is coded into the email, and I don't know how to reformat the chart so it is clear, and not just linear data. When I try to cut and paste the chart out of the email, I just get strings of numbers. I'd like to forward that to you. Please let me know either here or by PM how you would like me to send you that information.

Forward me the email to support@kensmithbasses.com

I think there is one set of Reds for a normal size bass that I consider mediums aka mittels. These other names and gauges are newer to me than what we had 30-40 years ago. That's all I know. Whatever a 4/4 is in their language, I have no idea. The modern 3/4 bass is a small instrument as compared to the manageable 7/8th which is actually a 3/4 or Orchestra Norm with and average body length of about 45 1/4". From 46-48" bodies, you are in the 4/4 range in my world. Maybe they need to make a 7/8th length? I will wait for your chart in my email.