Steel String/Gut String Basses

[bassist1962]

I probably already know the answer to this one, but I have a guitarist friend that asked this question. There are guitars that require nylon strings, and guitars that require steel strings to make them sound their best.There are definite structural differences in these instruments. Does the same hold true for basses? Are their basses that require steels, and basses that require guts to sound their best? If so are their structural differences to them?

My answer to him was 'No, I don't think so. It is actually a matter of trial and error to find the strings that work best for a given bass.'

Am I on track, or does my friend have a point?

[Jason Sypher]

Most basses were made to play with gut until after the 40's. Steel strings can be too much tension for some basses but most handle them fine. There may be some that simply sound better with gut over steel or vice versa.

[drurb]

Indeed, it is a matter of finding the strings with the tension that a particular bass "likes." I don't think any modern builders would construct a bass such that it could not safely sustain the tension of modern steel strings. Still, given the thickness of the top, the type of wood, and probably a host of parameters of which I'm not even aware, individual basses seem to "speak" best with a certain range of tension. For example, some do better with Spiros than synthetic core strings; some are the opposite.

[Dilbertisme]

Actually, no one knows the answer to this question. Indeed, it doesn't matter whether the bass is new or old, carved or laminated: bass players are cursed like the Flying Dutchman to spend all eternity swapping one perfectly good string after another in a quixotic quest to find the ideal combination.

Most of us start off with a perfectly good set of steels -- usually Spirocores. Then one day, in a moment of weakness, we decide to experiment with gut. We dip a toe in the water and swap just the G for a plain gut string. That sounds and feels good, so we swap the D for gut, too. Now the Spirocores on the lower strings don't blend well, so we try a gut A, both plain and wound. Uh oh, now the E doesn't match! Maybe swapping the mittle for a stark will help? It doesn't so we give up and just put the full set of Spiocores back on. Then we read about something new and exciting on this forum that we simply have to try, like Obbligatos or Velvets, and round and round it goes. The permutations approach infinity, just like the threads on this topic.

[drurb]

...until you discover the perfect steel string such that pizz. and arco are a dream. The heavens open up, rays of warm sunlight illuminate your musical soul. Then, they stop making the string.

[tomshepp]

Evahs come close..... IMHO of course

[bassist1962]

So, I guess I gave an accurate answer.

Originally Posted by Dilbertisme

Actually, no one knows the answer to this question. Indeed, it doesn't matter whether the bass is new or old, carved or laminated: bass players are cursed like the Flying Dutchman to spend all eternity swapping one perfectly good string after another in a quixotic quest to find the ideal combination.

Most of us start off with a perfectly good set of steels -- usually Spirocores. Then one day, in a moment of weakness, we decide to experiment with gut. We dip a toe in the water and swap just the G for a plain gut string. That sounds and feels good, so we swap the D for gut, too. Now the Spirocores on the lower strings don't blend well, so we try a gut A, both plain and wound. Uh oh, now the E doesn't match! Maybe swapping the mittle for a stark will help? It doesn't so we give up and just put the full set of Spiocores back on. Then we read about something new and exciting on this forum that we simply have to try, like Obbligatos or Velvets, and round and round it goes. The permutations approach infinity, just like the threads on this topic.

Love this!

[drurb]

Originally Posted by tomshepp

Evahs come close..... IMHO of course

I really do like the Evahs. They are, of course, not a steel string and have a synthetic core. Not that there's anything wrong with that! Good as Evahs are, they're not...