'61 Kay

[Fletcher Lanning]

I am a longtime jazz electric player who picked up a '61 Kay a few months ago. It is in great shape (was sitting in the back room of a HS that doesn't have a music program anymore, go figure) but the strings have a number of dents and other blemishes on them that I'm sure are doing me no favors. I'm a classically trained vocalist as well so I've started playing in a local orchestra (we'll be accompanying a choir doing all of the choruses from the messiah, I'm a glutton for punishment).

I'm looking for a set of strings that will give me enough punch during jazz trio sessions that I've been doing but also speak clearly enough when bowing to play in a small chamber orchestra. The conductor (who is also a bass player) suggested Spirocores but every post I've read on this forum says that they are terrible for arco. Based on the posts that I've found, I'm leaning towards Obilgatos, but I've never bought DB strings, so I'm not sure.

I don't know what the strings on there currently are but they are red down past the bridge and up near the scroll they are all different colors.

E-Yellow
A-Blue
D-Silver
G-Green

Edit - I also wanted to add that, when bowing on my current strings, the tone seems to get more abrasive as I get higher, I don't like this. They also seem to take longer to 'speak' when bowing, making fast passages sound muddy. I'm not sure if this is a product of the slight damage to the strings or the basic qualities of the string itself. (Or maybe my technique)

[Jake]

I'd recommend Thomastik Bel Canto. They're just about the easiest string to bow (IMO). They also have relatively low tension, which is a very important factor when starting out on the bass.

[Fletcher Lanning]

With low tension, would I get all thump and no sustain when playing pizz? I practice quite a bit so endurance on touch strings isn't as big of a concern for me.

[Francois Blais]

The strings you have on are Super-Sensitive Red Labels.
About the worst bass string in the universe.

Recommending strings is very tricky as you'll get tons of suggestions, since people have different instruments and tastes.

Maybe Evah Pirazzi weichs?

[MR PC]

Thomastik Spirocore Weichs are tried and tru on Kay basses. I purchased more sets than I 'll ever need before I realized that you really don't need to change them very often. You might find a used set in the classifieds.

[davidAaronCarte]

I love Spiros for bowing
I just threw on a D & G Bel Canto (preparing for an orchestra gig) but it still sounded just about the same as my slightly broken-in Spiros
Just goes to show that the sound is really in your hands, not so much the gear (to an extent at least)

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by MR PC

Thomastik Spirocore Weichs are tried and tru on Kay basses. I purchased more sets than I 'll ever need before I realized that you really don't need to change them very often. You might find a used set in the classifieds.

+1 Weichs and Kays work very well together, pizz and arco both.

EPs on plywood - all thump, all the time.

[Jonny Mah]

Evah Pirazzi Weichs should be good - but you need to remember that they take a while to break in. They feel really stiff and don't stay in tune worth a damn for the first few days (a week even) but then they start to open up. A similar string (in both tension and sound) is the Pirastro Obligato, which I've also had good results with.
As for Spirocores, I'm kind of mixed. I had them on my Kay for 10 years because they were the only strings I'd ever used. When I switched to Obligatos I found that a lot of pain I was experiencing (in both hands and in my shoulder) started to disappear. I can only assume that was a result of the spirocores' higher tension, and I noticed that with Obligatos it required much less effort to produce equal results.
Basically, the older I get the less I want to abuse my body for the sake of bass.