The feel of gut strings

[thejumpcat]

I finally pulled the trigger and put on a set of used Labella (980) gut strings Friday. I've only played guts once before, and those were Lenzners on a friend's bass.

My question is: Is the feel, or texture, of the Labellas what most guts are like? I don't remember the Lenzners feeling this smooth. The Labella D and G almost feel (and sound) plastic; the A and D are wound.

I recall the Lenzners feeling more like rope.

I realize they're not guts, but is the texture of Velvet Garbos similar to either of these brands or is it more like the Animas I just removed?

[Gearhead43]

LaBellas are different than European guts, they are not as "porous" for lack of a better word. I like em though, but wouldn't wanna pay full price for them. Lenzners are a bit better quality IMO. LaBellas are also slightly higher tension than Lenzners.

Might as well let them play in good though - guts sound better as they settle in on a bass, as do most strings.

I have not played Animas, but the Garbos E&A I have on right now are smooth, but not totally smooth. Not like the roundwound gut strings though.

[stephencoxbass]

I played (pizz) on a bass with gut strings at a jazz jam yesterday and liked them. I can't afford them, so what is a cheaper alternative that actually feels like gut strings?

[Gearhead43]

Originally Posted by stephencoxbass

I played (pizz) on a bass with gut strings at a jazz jam yesterday and liked them. I can't afford them, so what is a cheaper alternative that actually feels like gut strings?

Nothing does.

There are strings that get you somewhere in the ballpark-ish though. Look at the Innovation line of strings like their Super Silvers and Silver Slaps. They don't sound or feel like gut but come close in an O'Douls near-beer kind of way (shudder) .

Velvet Garbos come closer, but are almost as expensive as gut.

[salcott]

I'm having pretty good luck so far w/ the Clef guts from Upton.

[moles]

That's actually a pretty compelling metaphor you've got going there.

O'doul's gives me a hell of a headache.

...much like trying to find strings to replace guts does.

[thejumpcat]

Originally Posted by salcott

I'm having pretty good luck so far w/ the Clef guts from Upton.

Are those wound or unwound E and A? How are they?

[salcott]

It's the set with the wound E&A. They have more sustain than I expected, and show no sign of the dreaded loose windings across the bridge, even after being on and off a couple of times.