Gut String Alternate

hawnbassplaya · #1 09-30-2009, 03:55 PM

Aloha,

I play only Hawaiian music pizzicato style (I think I spelled that right), no bowing, and currently use Gut Strings. I am looking for something new to try that will have a warm round tone that is kind of softer on the fingers. The guts I use are good for tone but the tuning slips (especially in hawaii), and they are slightly harder to the touch, not compared to steel strings, but I believe I have tried string that are softer on the fingers. My action is medium-low.

Any suggestions

Hwnbassplaya

jrlynch · #2 09-30-2009, 04:25 PM

Evah Pirazzi Weichs ... they sound great, are reasonably soft and stay rock solid in tune.

Michael Glynn · #3 09-30-2009, 05:34 PM

Well, there's not much out there softer than gut strings. That is, if it's the tension/stiffness you are referring to. If you want a string that feels somewhat similar to gut, you might want to look at the Eurosonic strings. The Ultralight gauge should feel pretty soft and stay in tune well. I think the Innovation Silver Slaps might be a similar low tension faux-gut string that you could look at.

These two brands are probably some of the closest to plain gut in sound, which is to say, not all that close.

Bofee · #4 09-30-2009, 05:45 PM

Innovation Rockabilly (RAB) strings are soft on the hands and stay in tune well. I did some gigs in Hawai'i with them last year without any problems.

hdiddy · #5 09-30-2009, 06:13 PM

I never played gut but Animas have always sounded the most gutlike for me.

Jake deVilliers · #6 09-30-2009, 09:23 PM

The Innovation Super Silvers are a good substitute for gut. They are medium tension - easy on the fingers with a nice 'poom' to the note.

ctxbass · #7 09-30-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

The Innovation Super Silvers are a good substitute for gut. They are medium tension - easy on the fingers with a nice 'poom' to the note.

+1

Marcus Johnson · #8 10-01-2009, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

'poom'

Jake, please watch your language.

How about the light Garbos?

Jake deVilliers · #9 10-01-2009, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Jake, please watch your language.

How about the light Garbos?

I've not played those strings yet but if there's slapping involved the nylon wrap on the Super Silvers and the Silver Slaps makes a kinder, gentler 'click'.

The new Psychobilly strings are like giant Super Silvers - its like they moved the D, A & E strings up one position and added the .148 bottom string - they're pretty serious!

Marcus Johnson · #10 10-01-2009, 10:22 AM

hawnbassplaya- one of my students, who plays mainly Hawaiian music, used those LaBella Supernyls for quite awhile, until he recently switched to the La Bella guts. He seemed to like them.

Of course you could also go the weedwacker route.... I've seen a few Hawaiian players using those.

I'm a jazz player myself, and I use Gamut guts on the top two, and Evah Pirazzi weichs on the E&A. The guts do slip a little, but once they've stabilized, they stay in tune pretty well.... and the Evahs help to keep the whole bass from sliding out of tune by providing an accurate baseline to tune to.

ERIC A · #11 10-01-2009, 01:27 PM

I have tried numerous gut substitutes (Silver Slaps, Euros, Innovation RAB etc..). Some come close, but I always go back to the Gut strings. Their is no substitute.

walkin · #12 10-01-2009, 02:06 PM

velvet garbo

lucas vigor · #13 10-04-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

hawnbassplaya- one of my students, who plays mainly Hawaiian music, used those LaBella Supernyls for quite awhile, until he recently switched to the La Bella guts. He seemed to like them.

Of course you could also go the weedwacker route.... I've seen a few Hawaiian players using those.

I'm a jazz player myself, and I use Gamut guts on the top two, and Evah Pirazzi weichs on the E&A. The guts do slip a little, but once they've stabilized, they stay in tune pretty well.... and the Evahs help to keep the whole bass from sliding out of tune by providing an accurate baseline to tune to.

I like the weedwhackers for traditional hawaiian music. I have been using them for a long time, though I went back to steels about a year ago.

AndreasH · #14 10-04-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

The new Psychobilly strings are like giant Super Silvers - its like they moved the D, A & E strings up one position and added the .148 bottom string - they're pretty serious!

.148!?

That's crazy!

Non-gut strings that comes closest to gut is Velvet Garbos in my experience. They're pretty damn close.

Jake deVilliers · #15 10-04-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndreasH

.148!?

That's crazy!

Maybe, maybe not! I have some old wound guts here (Red-O-Ray?) that have a .129 E and another set with a .144 E.

For what its worth the rockabilly player who agreed to install that trial set of Innovation Psychobillies loves them and wants a set for his other bass when they become available here.