| Core | rope steel |
| Winding | chrome |
| Line | Superflexible |
| Instrument | Double Bass |
| Size | 3/4 |
| Gauge | medium |
| Supplied as | Set |
| Item number | ST-SF28870-SET34 |
Pizzicato players benefit from a full, sustained tone, arco players from a comfortable response with enough substance for symphonic applications.
The construction of the string (string length, tension, cross section, material properties) keeps its overtones close to the harmonic series; the higher partials lie only fractionally above the exact multiples of the fundamental. In wound strings this is achieved by the composite design of a thin, flexible core with one or more windings of metal ribbon or wire, which puts a lot of mass on the string with little bending stiffness.
A string tuned to the same pitch on the same string length carries proportionally more mass per metre (linear mass density) when it is under higher tension.
Under the bow the travelling kink of the Helmholtz motion (the string sticks to the bow hair and slips back) stays sharp on the flexible string, and the bridge receives a sawtooth force that contains every overtone of the fundamental.
The double bass is tuned in fourths; in orchestra tuning with A = 55 Hz the open strings E, A, D and G sound at about 41.3 Hz, 55 Hz, 73.3 Hz and 97.8 Hz. For solo tuning, F sharp, B, E, A, a whole tone higher, there are dedicated sets; an orchestra set would carry about 27 per cent more tension there.
In pizzicato the plucking point shapes the tone colour: plucked near the bridge more high partials remain, towards the middle of the string the tone becomes rounder.
Superflexible is built on a rope core with chrome winding, with an aluminium end and a crimped ball; the orchestra set is made in 3/4 and 4/4. At 121.5 kg in 3/4 it sits, among the five Thomastik bass lines in orchestra tuning we compare here by their 3/4 set figure, Belcanto, Dominant, Peter Infeld, Spirocore and Superflexible, between Dominant at 118.0 kg and Spirocore at 126.5 kg; the 4/4 set has 132.0 kg.
A rope core of many twisted steel wires is considerably more flexible than a single wire, and steel holds its tuning for a long time and regardless of temperature and humidity. Chrome nickel steel protects itself from corrosion with a self healing chromium oxide layer.
For us, Superflexible is the classic in our bass range and a partner a double bass can rely on for years. We experience a full, brilliant tone in the classic layout, and its great strength is stamina: it lasts a long time and stays dependable in its response. We recommend it in daily orchestral work wherever a great deal is played and a set has to carry over long stretches.
If you are looking for more colour and finer modulation than Superflexible brings, you will find both in Belcanto or Peter Infeld. For solo playing and auditions we recommend Belcanto Solo, and for jazz pizzicato Spirocore.
The winding adds mass to the string without making it stiff. On the same string length a low note at similar tension needs a much higher linear mass density, and the metal of the winding supplies it.
From 440 Hz to 442 Hz, as many orchestras tune today, tension rises by about 0.9 per cent, and to 445 Hz by about 2.3 per cent.
In orchestra tuning with A = 55 Hz and pure fourths they are about 41.3 Hz (E), 55 Hz (A), 73.3 Hz (D) and 97.8 Hz (G).
We recommend a dedicated solo set for that. Tuned a whole tone higher, an orchestra set would carry about 27 per cent more tension.
In 3/4 the orchestra set has 121.5 kg, in 4/4 132.0 kg.
G 2887,2, D 2887,3, A 2887,4 and E 2887,5.
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