Trying to find that salsa sound...

[primusfan314159]

I have just started playing in a salsa band. Does anyone have recommendations for strings to get the best sound for salsa music? I am trying to emulate an ampeg baby bass with my carvin 5 string fretless. I am looking for a warm round tone that decays somewhat quickly.

[chilliwilli]

you can use roundwounds and improve your muting technique(works well with fretless), flatwounds, or nylon tapewounds

depends though. you do want a very contemporary sound or more of an upright sound?

But in all seriousness, it doesnt matter as much as you think. Musicians from the islands and latin america just care if you can play it right. Most dont judge a musician based on his gear and not overly critical about tone, they'll like you as long as you understand the style your playing whether you are using a p-bass, a jazz bass, flatwounds, round wounds, etc.

[Marcus Willett]

I would check out what Dave Wendler has to offer. Very nice acoustic/electric vibe.

www.electrocoustic.com

[m.oreilly]

Originally Posted by Marcus Willett

I would check out what Dave Wendler has to offer. Very nice acoustic/electric vibe.

www.electrocoustic.com

spam?

[m.oreilly]

Musicians from the islands and latin america just care if you can play it right. Most dont judge a musician based on his gear and not overly critical about tone, they'll like you as long as you understand the style your playing whether you are using a p-bass, a jazz bass, flatwounds, round wounds, etc.

[Marcus Willett]

Originally Posted by m.oreilly

spam?

How do you figure?

Do I work for Dave? No
Am I compensated in any way whatsoever by Dave? No
Do receive any money when Dave sells anything? No.

So, what's the spam part again?

Try: satisfied customer who's trying to pass along info about a good product.

[Brad Maestas]

My initial suggestion would be for nylon tapewounds.
I recently got a Rob Allen MB-2 and it reminds me why I like nylon tapewounds so much. I used to use them on my Tobias Signature fretless 6 and even with a modern solid-body bass like that with no piezos, I could get a great salsa tone. It's on a whole 'nother level with the MB-2, though. When I play along with recordings, I sometimes can't hear the difference between a Baby Bass and the MB-2.

I used to play in a salsa outfit in KC/Lawrence named Son Venezuela. Stan Sheldon, Frampton's former bassist, was their original bassist. He was leaving to study languages in South America and I got picked to replace him! I always wanted to get that fat, wide yet shorter sound with a slab bass and the tapewounds were the only thing that ever really satisfied me. With or without piezos, those strings will get you pretty close. Some people don't like the feel of them so they usually get flatwounds, groundwounds or half-wounds instead. Anymore, I prefer the tapewounds since they aren't as stiff and their playing surface is easier on the hands.

One negative, depending on how you look at it, is that when using tapewounds with magnetic pickups, tapes tend to have comparatively lower output than all-metal strings since only the core of the string is metal. It's not much of a difference, though IME. I couldn't say how much of a volume difference they would make on your bass but you should try a set and see what happens!

[Brad Maestas]

Originally Posted by chilliwilli

it doesnt matter as much as you think. Musicians from the islands and latin america just care if you can play it right. Most dont judge a musician based on his gear and not overly critical about tone, they'll like you as long as you understand the style your playing whether you are using a p-bass, a jazz bass, flatwounds, round wounds, etc.

Your point is a valid one but I don't think he's gonna come across very many native Islanders or Central/South American musicians in Indiana! J/K

[chilliwilli]

Originally Posted by VintageBT6Lover

Your point is a valid one but I don't think he's gonna come across very many native Islanders or Central/South American musicians in Indiana! J/K

You'd be surprised where some ppl choose to live, he might even be hispanic himself, but you could be right and ill admit i didnt notice where he was from. The point is valid no matter who he is playing with though. I wasn't trying to teach him how to do as the romans do or anything.

[m.oreilly]

Originally Posted by Marcus Willett

How do you figure?

Do I work for Dave? No
Am I compensated in any way whatsoever by Dave? No
Do receive any money when Dave sells anything? No.

So, what's the spam part again?

Try: satisfied customer who's trying to pass along info about a good product.

lol, the OP was asking 'bout strings

[Marcus Willett]

Originally Posted by m.oreilly

lol, the OP was asking 'bout strings

My bad. You are completely right and I obviously wasn't paying attention.

Still, I would check out Dave's stuff...