Chorda Guts - initial impressions & questions

[LarryR]

I recently picked up a new set of Chorda's from a fellow TBer. I've been through a handful of string types since I started playing 4 years ago (after a 23 year hiatus). I know some guys use the same set for years and years but, I felt inclined to experiment. I gravitated toward the gut-like strings such as Obligatos since this is what I hear in my head. I'm going for old skool tone. Lot's of air and that elusive organic pizz tone you hear on records that I want to try and bring in a LIVE setting. So, for now, I'm using 2 Mics (AMT and an Isomax IIH) into a Focus head with either a Bergantino HT112 or Epifani UL110.

To the Chordas. I've only had them on a week. I agree with what guys have said, the G is amazing. The D doesn't sing as much, but, I've found that with a light touch it'll work out - just my initial opinion. Hard to get used to round wound on the E & A. Crossing strings from organic to metallic is gonna to take some getting used to.

One thing I notice immediately: STICKINESS! I presume this is the varnish on the D and G? It seems to be creating havoc of cross string noise - my main peev so far. The only way for me to have fun is to keep the right hand pizz in check - light touch. Can anyone comment on the stickiness specially in regards to shifting positions, which has been a real challenge. Lot's of clacking and noise.

I've yet to bring my setup out LIVE. Dialing in tone and volume with 2 mics (in the bedroom) is one thing.... whence I do, I'll report back.

[Adrian Cho]

Originally Posted by LarryR

To the Chordas. I've only had them on a week. I agree with what guys have said, the G is amazing. The D doesn't sing as much, but, I've found that with a light touch it'll work out - just my initial opinion. Hard to get used to round wound on the E & A. Crossing strings from organic to metallic is gonna to take some getting used to.

One thing I notice immediately: STICKINESS! I presume this is the varnish on the D and G? It seems to be creating havoc of cross string noise - my main peev so far. The only way for me to have fun is to keep the right hand pizz in check - light touch. Can anyone comment on the stickiness specially in regards to shifting positions, which has been a real challenge. Lot's of clacking and noise.

I've said this a lot around here but I'll say it again. The Dan Larson's Gamut strings are far superior to the Chordas and offer many, many more options. I am using his light gauge Lyon strings in varnished form. The tone is much nicer than the Chordas and the intonation is much clearer. Additionally the varnished strings are better under the bow and fingers. I use the G and D with Pirastro Permanent A and extended C and the blend is great.

[LarryR]

No disrespect Adrian. I appreciate your time and experience and willingness to share both, but, thing is, I have a zipper that's stuck. You respond with..... I told you to buy buttons!

Is this stickiness normal with Chordas? If so, does it go away? How do you guys deal with it? I searched the forum but did't find the "What to know about Guts" thread, so, any pointers are appreciated.

[Adrian Cho]

Originally Posted by LarryR

No disrespect Adrian. I appreciate your time and experience and willingness to share both, but, thing is, I have a zipper that's stuck. You respond with..... I told you to buy buttons!

Is this stickiness normal with Chordas? If so, does it go away? How do you guys deal with it? I searched the forum but did't find the "What to know about Guts" thread, so, any pointers are appreciated.

The stickiness you're referring to is to do with the whatever substance they cover the Chordas with. It's definitely a difference substance to what is on the Gamuts for example. The feeling never went away in the time I used the Chordas.

[LarryR]

Originally Posted by Adrian Cho

The stickiness you're referring to is to do with the whatever substance they cover the Chordas with. It's definitely a difference substance to what is on the Gamuts for example. The feeling never went away in the time I used the Chordas.

not the answer I was looking for. sunofabiotch. all that dough for all that gook? Did you ever try a rub-down with alcohol?

Anyone else out there with Chorda stories?

[GriffithLea]

Beware, I know nothing about these strings, but...

I wonder if the goo is some sort of protective layer, to prevent their drying out. So cleaning it off might not be the right thing to do from the standpoint of longevity.

Have you thought about contacting the manufacturer, and getting their reaction?

[Jake]

I've heard that vegetable oil works good on plain gut.

[LarryR]

Originally Posted by GriffithLea

Beware, I know nothing about these strings, but...

I wonder if the goo is some sort of protective layer, to prevent their drying out. So cleaning it off might not be the right thing to do from the standpoint of longevity.

Have you thought about contacting the manufacturer, and getting their reaction?

Yes, I shall...

[Adrian Cho]

IMO, oil does nothing for the Chordas or any strings with any kind of varnish. I bought a bottle of the Pirastro gut string oil and it didn't seem to do anything useful for the strings except make them oily.

[jmpiwonka]

i got a gamut gut g string from adrian and he is right, those are nice varnished gut strings.

[svenbass]

Originally Posted by Adrian Cho

IMO, oil does nothing for the Chordas or any strings with any kind of varnish. I bought a bottle of the Pirastro gut string oil and it didn't seem to do anything useful for the strings except make them oily.

Howdy folks,

Is the gut oil sold on the premise of general string care, playability, or longevity? Also, when oil is discussed, it seems only to be among unwrapped gut users. I've used Pirastro Eudoxas for years, had some longevity issues here and there and would like to do everything on my end to keep 'em going.

Anyhoo, would oiling wrapped guts be of any benefit?

cheers - Sven

[bassdogEmer]

from my experience, the gut oil was very helpful when using cheaper plain guts. Adrian, can I ask a favor? I am going to buy some Gamut varnished guts - a D and G for my bass. Can you detail which ones you like and have tried and why? I am looking for a gut thats not too thick or thin if that makes any sense - and it's a lot of bread to fork over so the more info I can get the better. any wise words you can offer?

[dfp]

Originally Posted by bassdogEmer

Adrian, can I ask a favor? I am going to buy some Gamut varnished guts - a D and G for my bass. Can you detail which ones you like and have tried and why? I am looking for a gut thats not too thick or thin if that makes any sense - and it's a lot of bread to fork over so the more info I can get the better. any wise words you can offer?

ditto, or at least i'm considering a G and D from Gamut too... i'd appreciate hearing Adrian's thoughts too

[Bobby King]

I know Adrian has more experience with Gamuts but here's my 2 cents:

I recently bought D&G Gamut Lyon varnished gut and I've been very happy with them. I bought the D in light gauge and the G in light+. The D is perfect, not too thin and excellent tension. The G is fine tension-wise, but I still wouldn't mind if it were a little thicker in diameter. So my advice would be: get varnished Lyon gut, D light gauge, G medium gauge.

[Uncletoad]

Perhaps even more discussion here about the Gamuts. Since a hijac is in progress maybe a moderator could split this into another thread.

Bobby, I see you like the light D and med G. How do they compare tension wise with something we'd be more familiar with. Like Spiro or what have you?

Why not heavy or both medium?

[Bobby King]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Bobby, I see you like the light D and med G. How do they compare tension wise with something we'd be more familiar with. Like Spiro or what have you?

Why not heavy or both medium?

Hey Uncletoad.

Well, I'd say that any plain gut string is going to have less tension than Spirocore Orch. Maybe similar to a low tension steel like Corelli 370 medium or a synthetic like Supernil or some of the Innovations, etc. Compared to cheaper plain guts (Efrano, Labella, Gotz), Gamuts are much better, pitch and tension-wise. But they're still gut, which is a different animal than steel.

Some plain gut Ds can get pretty huge which I don't like (although they may be good for arco). Gamut's light D is hardly the narrowest plain D I've seen, and it has good tension too, so it works for me. The cheaper plain Ds in particular can really suck. As for the G, compared to Efrano or Gotz, the Gamut light + is still fairly thin so I'd go heavier. Still, the light + tension is fine, I just ideally would like a little more string under the finger.

I'd love to try out different gauges of Gamuts, and varnished versus unvarnished, but man, you need some serious dinero for that!

I have never tried Chorda, I've heard mixed reports on them but I'll agree with many here that Gamut is worth the money if you want plain gut.

[Bobby King]

Another gut issue to discuss: Since gut gauges can vary quite a bit, and since they are considerably thicker in any event to steel, this can create some setup issues as far as string heights. When you get a huge gut D, you may have to file down your bridge slot so the string doesn't sit way high. Even with adjusters on your bridge, it can be hard to get good balance from string to string without some individual filing. Then if you change back to something else, you're left with a slot that's too deep.

So, one trick I learned from my luthier (Jim Ferguson in Nashville) is using Super Glue Gel and an instant hardener like ZipKicker (available from hobby shops). You can raise an individual slot by filling in a little gel, applying the hardener and then filing with a narrow, rounded file. Make sure to round the edges of the slots and then apply pencil graphite. I've raised and lowered individual slots many times this way to accomodate various gauges and there's no adverse effect on the sound at all.

[LarryR]

I stopped playing upright last September after my bad Chorda experience. Brought out my electric for gigs. Couple weeks ago I was tired of looking at my URB in the corner. I decided to raise my bridge to (what I felt) was an unG-dly height.

My guts sang! I found a comfortable height where they ring and I can still play fast. I play in a hardbop to ballad trio so speed is always a consideration. Bottom line: I'm loving the guts. Exactly what I had in mind - heard in my head. One day I'll get the Gamuts, but for now I'm happy with the Chordas, though they do have somewhat of an unfocussed sound on the A and E. Their thickness I'm ok with.

My problem is the E. Now, on my Christopher bass I've not been happy with ANY E string. It just sits their flat. Never balanced with the A. I've tried Obligato's, Spiro Weichs and now the Chorda. Even 2 luthiers in LA can't seem to do much for it as far as setup.

Any recommendations or ideas?

[greitzer]

Originally Posted by LarryR

My problem is the E. Now, on my Christopher bass I've not been happy with ANY E string. It just sits their flat. Never balanced with the A. I've tried Obligato's, Spiro Weichs and now the Chorda. Even 2 luthiers in LA can't seem to do much for it as far as setup.

Any recommendations or ideas?

I had exactly the same experience, every E string I tried sounded dead (Helicore Orchs, Spiros, Flat Chromesteels, Corellis, Jargars) except the Dominants, but the Dominant E was too flubbity (Dominants).

But recently I tried Thomastic Superflexibles for the first time, and PRESTO . . . the E rings out loud and clear with good sustain. I don't know why it does, when all the others didn't. You might wanna give it a try.

[LarryR]

Originally Posted by greitzer

But recently I tried Thomastic Superflexibles for the first time, and PRESTO . . . the E rings out loud and clear with good sustain. I don't know why it does, when all the others didn't. You might wanna give it a try.

West Coast chimes in! Thanks man. Not too expensive of a string, so, def worth a try. 'ppreciate it. Btw, what bass are you using? What are your other strings?