which are the best GUT strings

[BassGreaser]

I'm looking for the best quility all plain gut strings. I have clefts on right now. What do you guys say?

[JimmyM]

Gamut strings are supposed to be the best. I've never tried them, but people who have that I've talked to say they really are great. I have a set of Clefs that I liked quite well when I was playing guts. I guess it's all in what you need. If you're slapping rockabilly, any guts will work. If you're into bowing, maybe the higher quality of the Gamuts would help.

[BassGreaser]

thanks Jimmy I do both slapping and bowing. Where can I buy the Gamut guts?

[KSB - Ken Smith]

If you have time, read this Thread where almost every Gut and Gut like string has been discussed recently;
Gut strings for orchestral needs

[BassGreaser]

thanks Ken

[hdiddy]

The best gut string... probably the ones you can't afford.

[samriley]

I've heard that Dlugolecki gut strings are the best. Friend of mine has the plain G & D on one of his basses. I now have a couple on the way too. Custom made too in whatever gauge you specify, which suits me well cos the bass they're going on has 44.5" string length.

http://www.damianstrings.com/

[JeffKissell]

The Dlugolecki gut strings are top quality, but be prepared to pay!!
A full set, wound E & A and unwound/unvarnished D & G, is about $450.00. Damian does not however make an unwound E string and his unwound A string is in the $240.00 range last time I checked.
If I were a better arco player I would still have them on.
When I can afford to have another bass, I will put a full set of Dlugolecki's back on my Cleveland.
-J

[BassGreaser]

WOW Dlugolecki do look very tasty! too bad he does not make a non wrapped E string

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by BassGreaser

WOW Dlugolecki do look very tasty!

Yes, dogs like Dlugoleckis and they think they're quite tasty. But they have no problem with the Clefs or even those cheapo Emersons at King Doublebass.

[MT Spaces]

If you really want to bust the bank account ...... Try a full set of varnished Gamut Pistoy plain guts. Last I knew, Dan Larson will only make plain (un-wrapped) A & E as Pistoys. Only about $800+ for the set .

I personally think the 3-strand, super-twisted Pistoys are way-better-built than the Gamut Lyons (which are similar to DD's) and will likely last longer as a result of their construction. I have plain Pistoy G, D, A on one of my Kay basses and really like'em. I use a Garbo E and it works real well with the 3 guts but I'm saving up for a plain (and downright huge) Pistoy E at about $350 (for one string ) .... What a Fool ..... I just gotta try it someday.

I think the plain Pistoys give a clearer, more complex sound than the plain Lyons ..... at least I know this to be true on the D string since I have tried both. I don't know anything about wrapped A & E since I'm spooked to try them in my real-dry climate and day-night, indoor-outdoor, hot-cool bluegrass jamming.

With you being situated in San Diego and some reasonably stable humidity, you would probably have decent luck with the wrapped high-society Gamut or DD A & E strings. Plus they are much cheaper and smaller than the plain guts and not-quite-as-many sheep will have to give up their innards .

Good Luck on the Gut Quest .

P.S. I see you arco guts. I'm just a pizz bluegrass thumper. However, for what it is worth ..... I took my Epiphone bass to the luthier awhile back to see if she could get a bit more production out of the A & E strings (Dominants on that bass). She always test-drives for sound by using a bow and when she bowed the plain Gamut Pistoy G & D strings ...... she listened and then looked at me with a big smile and asked what kind of strings they were and who makes them. I don't think she is generally a fan of guts but now I think she may be a Gamut Pistoy convert .