Hi guys,
i just started on DB recently and i have a czech made carved top, play back and sides bass about 20-30 years old. It has had an intial setup and is strung with helicore hybrids, which seemed ok at first but seem very high tension. The A sounds pretty good but the E seems a bit weak to me, but i've only has this bass for a week and havent had a lesson yet either (next week) but have found my way around it ok.

I play mainly bluegrass type material, and the sound i really like is Mike Bub from del mcoury band. Anyone know what type of bass and strings etc would best achieve that sound?

Ok i know be Mike Bub and play like him, but faling that any tips.

Or should i just wait until the strings settle in a bit more? (how long usually)

Mike Bub uses spirocores. Not sure what gauge though.

Spiro Mittels. If you think those strings are high tension you ain't gonna like the Spiros. :)

You might try a Spiro Mittel E with the D'Addarios to give you some punch on the bottom.

The strings you've got on there now will mellow out soon.

I have to say that I have been pretty impressed with the UB blacks that I put on my new Hawkes. I have been playing a 1940 Kay with Toms on it. After realizing the gigging was killing my Kay I bought a replacement, and decided to put the blacks on it. They have a big mellow sound, but are no where near as floppy as the super low tension strings.

+1 on the UB Blacks! Once they play in a bit they are very organic sounding. Ive been on a bluegrass gig for about 2 months now coming from Helicore pizz and the other players,soundman,etc. think the Blacks are "it".

+2, IMHO the UB are perfect for bluegrass if you like a smooth gut sound with lots of volume and tone.

Smooth mellow sound. Makes me think gut...

Innovation Super Silvers are super; the sound and tension of gut with good stability and life.

+1 on the Super Silvers. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the UB blacks a version of the Super Silvers branded for Upton?

The Upton Blacks are higher tension than the Super Silvers but both are made by Innovation.

The string is made by Innovation and is model:

90140UB Ultra Black Set 140UB Hi Tension black nylon
tape wound set

Jerry
www.fretwellbass.com

About 4 years ago the guys at Hammond Ashley were installing me new strings on my way to Wintergrass and I was playing a blond Kay ES-9 while waiting with white strings on it and it was loud and mellow (It was an older model like the one I play now ) they are Eurosonic a synthotic gut string with less presure (steel core wraped with silk and covered with a clear thick coating). I had some put on and love them and recently bought another set for the future. They are also easier on my fingers even on 2 week long festivals.

If you go with the Innovation Blacks you need to get them from Fretwell Bass as they have the better price on them. I have them on my carved bass and I like 'em lots. Easy on the fingers.

How does the UB blacks compare with the Evah Pirazzi ??
I would like to know about tension (Floppy or not) and feel, which is easier on the fingers? Thanks

Smooth mellow sound. Makes me think gut...

I'm surprised you were the only one to suggest gut strings so far!
Well, I'm the second one!
:)

How does the UB blacks compare with the Evah Pirazzi ??
I would like to know about tension (Floppy or not) and feel, which is easier on the fingers? Thanks

Have not tried the EPs yet but tension on the Blacks are substantial, (in a good way) not floppy. Since I finished the grass gig I put the Helicore pizz back on the E and A for slightly more modern jazz sound, and tension is very similar.

Thanks for the reply. I have a new Bass on order from Upton and they give you a choice of strings. I have read alot about both the UB blacks and the EP's and I am so far going with the EP's unless otherwise convinced by someone who used both.

Not to confuse the issue, but the "percieved tension" on the blacks may be somewhat less after all because they feel very nice on your hands. Very buttery and easy to play.
Now that I've made that clear as mud...I think they are a terrific bluegrass string if your doing plain ol thump or slap. Even when I leaned on them a little hard (which I tend to do when I get excited) they still sounded great amped or unamped.

Let me know what you think of the EPs as I am intrigued by the differing opinions I have read so far!

Well, not to add any more confusion to things but I'm sold on Pirastro Olivs. They are a chrome steel wound on a gut core. They are smooth and thin like steel, and flexible like gut. They were originally recommended for my old carved Phretzschner bass because I was concerned about the higher tension of the steel strings. They're mellow, loud and even in volume, have good sustain, and are easy on the fingers. I've put them on my ES-9and the difference between them and Helicores is like day and night. For me, they are the the best sounding, easiest playing strings that I've found yet.

Innovations strings for sure.. silvers / slaps / blacks . Guts are it(but they can break)ouch). any body try the steel strings - Original flexibles.(not sure if i have this name correct!). i picked up a used G and D here on TB. those had a real good mellow tone to them. they were used alot!maybe thats why they were mellow!lol..! but the innovation rockabillys/blacks are smoooth!! my 2 cent

Bassplayer48: A lot depends on how you play..if you have, or like, a strong sound I would suggest a Spirocore Mittel E, Spirocore Weich on the A and D and Bel Canto on the G (very gut-like) to get rid if the tinny Weich G sound.
I have tried this combination and found it to be very good for pizz. Solid, mellow (once the Weichs wear in), medium-low tension, low maintenance, inexpensive and easy to play on.

In case anyone is interested in my experiment with Gamut gut G & D and Velvet Garbo A & E for my 1940 Kay O-1 "bluegrass special" ..... see here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5193858&postcount=649

Super Nil's are a pretty interesting string. Check out this link:
http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1479-LABELLA_SUPERNIL_UPRIGHT_BASS_STRINGS_SET.html

I had UB blacks - but - to my tone deaf (w/2 hearin' aids) ears, they were just too twangy - too much treble & not enough bass . . . Jerry Fretwell just put on a set of Lenzner Guts - G&D plain/bare with the A&E silver wrapped - I'm happy with 'em. He tried just about every string in his inventory before we settled on the Lenzners to include Eurosonic Lights, Innovation Silver Slaps, Swiss Garbos & I had already tried the Spiros (sounded OK - but - I just don't like steel) & the Blacks. If ya want a gutty sound - best go w/guts - huh ?

But . . . I've never heard of anyone but Jerry who'd go the distance like that just to make ya happy !

Good Luck in your never ending search for the purrfekt sound - remember, it's all in the "ear" of the beholder . . .

I admit the Blacks are very "ticky" somewhat plastic sounding brand new, (Josh at Upton warned me about this) but in about 3 weeks they warmed into a very organic sound and stayed there.

i recently put some ub blacks on my bass and i really love these strings. they sound a lot louder, darker and punchy than the obligatos that were on before. worked really well with my bass and amplified well also. they are fairly thick and feel really good under your fingers. you can really dig into these strings compared to the obligatos. i have not had alot of experience with other strings, but these are great strings for what i am doing.

LaBella Nylon-wrapped rope strings. They're black, look cool, easy to play, sound great and last forever. I have them on my Clevinger, my Kay and I got a set for my fretless Larivee Acoustic Bass guitar. Fat, fat, fat.

LaBella Nylon-wrapped rope strings.

That's the 7710 set.

Nobody plays on Jargar ?
Warmest steel string around!

Nobody plays on Jargar ?
Warmest steel string around!

Francois: I think the Bel Canto fills that role now. A bit less tension than the Jargars too. For me the Bel Canto sounds and plays better than the Jargars for pizz. A more centered note and a bigger, warmer sound.:hyper: Don't know about bowing though.

Francois: I think the Bel Canto fills that role now. A bit less tension than the Jargars too. For me the Bel Canto sounds and plays better than the Jargars for pizz. A more centered note and a bigger, warmer sound.:hyper: Don't know about bowing though.

Belcantos are a dream to bow... I almost sound competent playing them. :hmm:

I just heard Greg Garrison with Punch Brothers the other night, and for me he had the cleanest, clearest, roundest sound of just about anyone I've ever heard amplified (that's quite a lot of players- good, bad and middling). He was playing on EPs on the lower three with an Olive G. I couldn't hear any change in tone from one string to the next. He was mic'ed with an ATM 350 (or 35?) that looked like it just went straight into the house system. Although I don't play any bluegrass, for plucked sound in just about any type of music that's exactly what I'm looking for.