In the streets....

[stos]

Hello,
I'm playing since 1 year double bass but recently a sound technician fell on my lady and broke it (it was a really cheap chinese one..)

I play mostly pizz in the street with accordeons, guitars, brass but I have also another band with east-european influence in which I amplify the bass with a rev solo.
so I travel a lot with my DB and not always in good conditions.

I 'm living in europe and so I wanted to buy a strunal, but I don't know if in my situation it's a good idea to buy a hybrid? Will a plywood support the travels better? Will the hybrid have more volume but will be more breakable?



aboout strings: I play until now with spirocore (red ones) and I want something a litle less "hard" to play, because I want to play maybe some slap (to have more volume in the street without amp) but the strings have to sound good with pizz too (not like spaggettis..hum )
what do you sggest me? I thought about buying obligatos?


Thanks a lot

[Michael Case]

I have a Strunal hybrid and have been playing in Central Park in NYC when the weather permits and I haven't had a problem. My Strunal has the polyurethaine finish and maybe that helps, but these basses are built pretty well. As for strings you could try Velvet Animas or Garbos, Thomastic Superflexibles, Obligatos, or gut.

Good luck,
Mike

[toman]

I've had my carved Shen outside many times; it's even been rained on, and I've never had any real problems. I know it's probably not the best thing for the instrument, but I figure it's a tool and should be used, and if it breaks, well, I'll get it fixed. I think most newer instruments should be fine outdoors as long as they're reasonably well maintained, but if I had a fragile old bass I'd probably look into getting something a bit more durable as a second bass, just so it wouldn't be such a hassle to keep it together.

[mpoppitt]

I would probably stay with a ply, just for the peace of mind if nothing else. I have seen cracked tops on carved basses in the bluegrass crowd.

As for the strings, if you like the Spiros, get a set in the solo tuning, and tune them down. This will still give you the sound you are used to, and give you less tension, making it easier to slap.

[CamMcIntyre]

You might try Spirocore Weichs. I know the feel of the Weichs compared to whatever the normal was a bit different. I have Weichs on my Cleveland right now.

[stos]

hi,
thanks a lot for your answers,
For the strings I think I'm gonna try the spiro weich or the obligatos

I'm still a bit lost about getting a hybrid or a plywood....
Is the solid top really more breakable? The difference of volume between the two is big?

I'm going to test the two (hybrid and ply) before I buy one of them but the store is in germany and I'm living in belgium so I'm waiting to have the money and with the test and your advices I'm gonna make my choice a this moment
thanks

[TimoMetzemakers]

I wish you all the best with your trip to Germany, but you'll probably find out that a hybrid bass isn't necessarily louder than a ply. There are no rules, it all depends on the individual bass. And try to get a fellow bass player to make the trip with you. When trying out basses, it's important to know how the bass sounds from a distance before making the big decision!

Regarding strings: you really ought to check out Garbos (or Animas), too. They are the loudest strings I ever tried (which is a GOOD thing when you're unamplified) and their sound should be quite appropriate for the music you're playing, IMHO.

[Michael Case]

Like Timo said there are no set rules for basses in terms of sound, but I believe that with a hybrid you get most of the advantages of a carved bass sound wise and less of the hassal maintence wise. With the hybrid bass only the top is at risk with a carved bass the top back and sides are at risk of cracking. Try some hybrids and plys as well as a couple of carved basses and see what you like about each and get one that has the most of what you like tone wise.