| I was talking to a local upright player in this area (Albany, NY), to pick his brains about strings (I think I'm becoming obsessive on this subject.) Anyway, he told me that Charlie Hayden had come to town for a gig, and Charlie borrowed his bass. As a thank you, Charlie gave him the strings he used for the gig. Yes, they were a pair, G & D, of the elusive Kaplan Golden Spirals. When I told him that I could not find them anywhere, he called Quinn Violins to inquire since their website says they are "temporarily discontinued." When he told me their answer, I could't stop laughing; they said that "because of Mad Cow Disease in Europe, they are no longer available." OMG, what are these things, still alive????? P.S. The cover of Bass Player, 8/96, has a picture of Charlie and the top 2 strings are clearly unwrapped gut. No living animal tissue for Charlie that day..... | 
