Most like an acoustic upright

rank_amateur · #1 05-22-2006, 09:31 PM

I am a totally newb here - this is my first post. But I have been lurking for a LONG time and I do know how to use the search function and have done so. Quite a lot, actually. I've seen several threads that touched on the question I'm going to ask, but always in a broader context or in relation to something else.

So with all that crap out of the way, I'm getting a Godin A4 fretted in the next few days. I've narrowed my string choices to

1) Rotosound black nylon tapewounds
2) Labella black nylon tapewounds
3) TI Acousticore bronze wound nylon

Of these three, which do you guys think has the most "upright" sound? By that I mean woody/thunky attack, relatively rapid decay and medium/short sustain.

I'm going to be backing a vocalist and one or maybe two acoustic guitars in VERY small coffeehouse-type venues. Any advice will be gratefully apreciated.

Coelho · #2 05-22-2006, 09:46 PM

LABELLA

7flat5 · #3 05-22-2006, 09:54 PM

I do not have a piezo bass like the Godin, so I don't have direct experience here, but I do have a fretless with the Acousticores. For a fretless, I think I might go that route, but with frets, I think the tapewounds might be better. It'll never have the upright note development, but either of the tapewounds will do the warmth with short sustain thing.

richnota · #4 05-22-2006, 09:57 PM

I've been playing with the same issue for my Turner Renaissance.

Tough call. I've been switching between TIs and LaBellas. The TIs have a bit more bite (theyre roundwound) while I think the LaBellas offer a bit more "wood". Sorry if I sound like a wine critic. Never played the Rotos.

I think i'd start with the LaBellas but should try both if you can afford it (neither is cheap).

Lokire · #5 05-22-2006, 10:11 PM

I'd say start with the LaBellas. You can get them from Carvin's website for pretty cheap (compared to anywhere else). Though I think the LaBellas have more of that roundwound zing, with a bit more smoothness to the overal sound. Haven't tried the TIs (will be soon though

), but I think the nylon core strings might get you closer to an upright tone, even if they are roundwound (though so are the LaBellas, underneath the tape).

OnlyMe · #6 05-23-2006, 01:45 AM

I first tried the roto's black nylon on my ABG, but discovered they were too thick for the nut and the bridge.

Right now the TI Accousticore's are on. Their sound in itself is great, very much like an URB. But I'm having a hard time with the low tension. Since their gauges are so low, so is the tension and that results in a bit clattering against the fingerboard. Another drawback is that they're very expensive
strings.

I've ordered a set of the Labella's and I'm eagerly awaiting delivery. I hope they fit...

DavidMP · #7 05-23-2006, 12:22 PM

I have tried Labella Black Nylon Tapewound and Rotosound TruBass on a fretless 5 string ABG. I found the Rotosound to be more evenly stiff (the labellas g was really stiff compared to the B) and to have a darker, muted sound with the piezo pick-up in my bass. Both my girlfirend and a drummer friend chose the TruBass strings as a better approximation to DB when I played them a recording of the same progression with each of the strings (without them knowing which one was what, of course).
Never tried the acousticores although I use TI flats on my fretted slab and feel TI is really good quality.

rank_amateur · #8 05-23-2006, 12:57 PM

Thanks for all the great input I've received so far. I see a recurring issue being raised here, one that I've already encountered - that of string diameter not working well with a given nut.

So now I have more dumb newb questions:

I have an Olympia OB3 (the Chinese plywood version of the Tacoma Thunderchief) and based in part on good things I read here on talkbass I bought a set of TI Acousticores to try on it.

They were a disaster. The D'Addario bronze roundwounds that are OEM'ed on the Olympia have an E string that is .100. However the E string with the TI set was only a paltry .086. It buried itself in the nut and I had to contend with horrible fret buzz and rattle. I tried adjusting the neck but even after loosening it as much as I dared the action was still way too low.

Now I'm hearing here that the tapewounds are too big for some basses. I have no idea what the nut is like on an A4, nor do I know what Godin OEM's on them. Can somebody provide that info?

And, more generally, on ABGs and semi-ABGs that don't have adjustable bridges, what is the solution for strings that are either much larger or much smaller than spec? A new nut every time you change strings?

Thanks again for all the help.

richnota · #9 05-23-2006, 07:42 PM

i strung my tacoma with labella nylons and they worked fine (when i strung it with TIs I hand to really work the neck to handle the low tension...sorry I forgot to mention that prior).

most strings aren't that different in gauge.

evan_phi · #10 05-24-2006, 05:28 AM

go with the LaBella's.

but why did you get a fretted Godin?!?!

rank_amateur · #11 05-24-2006, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evan_phi

but why did you get a fretted Godin?!?!

Short answer: Because I've been playing bass for less than six months.

Longer answer: I was forced to admit to myself that my left hand accuracy simply isn't there yet - at least under performance conditions. I have an SX fretless p bass just for practice. And I have practiced and practiced... But these gigs are starting in just a few weeks. Plus it's a lot of original material that is being arranged and in some cases rewritten on the fly. It's not like I can just commit fingerings to rote memory.

Someday if I decide that I actually am a "bass player" rather than the "brass and keyboard player who got talked in to playing bass for awhile" that I am now, I hope to get a fretless Allen mb-2 or a fretless Turner Renaissance. But for now I'm just trying to be realistic.

bgavin · #12 05-24-2006, 07:46 AM

I never played upright, but I did acquire a Fender J fretless on a lark. I have no difficulty at all playing fretless to the lines on the board.

IMO, fretless will get you far closer to the upright sound.

As for a woody, ka-chinky sound, I found my 5 year old set of TI Flats on a P-bass does this for me. My idea of close to upright, is this combination with a fretless neck.

As an experiment, I want to swap necks between my P and J fretless, so I can have a fretted J, and the upright-ish P with a fretless neck.

rank_amateur · #13 05-24-2006, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgavin

I never played upright, but I did acquire a Fender J fretless on a lark. I have no difficulty at all playing fretless to the lines on the board.

What can I say, dude? You're better than I am.

Sure, if I'm sitting down, hunched over staring at the neck every second, I can do just fine. But under real performance conditions that level of attention just isn't possible (at least it isn't for me).

Snarf · #14 05-24-2006, 10:38 AM

Nothing will get you close enough to upright sound on electric. Being a player of both, and having tried to get the upright sound on a couple different electrics, absolutely nothing else sounds like a double bass. Even if my upright strings are thinner than all my electric strings (Corelli strings are crazy thin :P ).

Lokire · #15 05-24-2006, 11:38 AM

To address the high string gauge problem; if you're looking for black nylon tapewound strings, check out status-graphites' strings. They're simmilar to the LaBella tapewound strings except that the gauges are basically the same as your usual roundwound strings. I've got a set on my Ken Lawrence right now and I love them. Nice low tension (simmilar to DR Hi-Beams) and they fit in the nut without any modifications. I like their tone better than the LaBella's too. Perfect

tonequixote · #16 05-24-2006, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rank_amateur

So with all that crap out of the way, I'm getting a Godin A4 fretted in the next few days. I've narrowed my string choices to

1) Rotosound black nylon tapewounds
2) Labella black nylon tapewounds
3) TI Acousticore bronze wound nylon

Of these three, which do you guys think has the most "upright" sound? By that I mean woody/thunky attack, relatively rapid decay and medium/short sustain.

I'm going to be backing a vocalist and one or maybe two acoustic guitars in VERY small coffeehouse-type venues. Any advice will be gratefully apreciated.

The Rotosound's will be your best choice for your application. String gauge is a consideration, but any tech can quickly (cheaply) solve this.

If filing a nut is a deal breaker

then using a flatwound string with a string dampner at the bridge will work.

Hope this helps.