I'm a believer

msprong · #1 05-03-2006, 04:16 AM

Hi,

To follow up on my previous thread about my search for new strings (Strings for slapping/pizz/bowing)

In January I had a set of Obligatos installed since I felt I should try them. While they sounded sort of ok, I had the problem that the windings on the D & G string came loose at the bridge. They were correctly installed by a luthier but I reckon that I've been plucking too hard to get a bit more thump. Also they were a bit thin to my taste.

Yesterday I decided to invest a bit more cash and purchase a set of gut strings. In the past (15 years ago) I wasn't really impressed with gut. On my old 3/4 bass they sounded a bit soft and also the E & A plain gut were too thick and did not have enough tension. I got a set of Lenzner Supersolo (not solo tuning, just plain orchestra, what's in a name). E & A are gut with silver winding, D & G are plain gut.

I just love them! My current bass is a big bass with a big sound and these strings just seem to be made for for this bass. I love the organic thump, the sustain is actually quite good and my fellow musicians tell me that the acoustic projection (on the other side of the room) is better than ever before. I am quite used to playing fat strings so that feels like coming home, I just need to get used to bowing the plains since that feels totally different.

I feel lucky that I have found such a good combination. To me, this is what a bass is supposed to sound like and it is well worth the slight drawbacks of playing gut. Therefore I am proud to enter the Gutplayers Anonymous and say: Hi, I'm Mark and I'm a believer

Cheers, Mark

ToR-Tu-Ra · #2 05-03-2006, 03:14 PM

Hi, I'm Jorge and I'm an alcoholic too... ooopps... sorry, wrong message board. What I meant to say is that I too play on guts (the strings). I don't really like plain E and A guts and I'm planning to get me some Olivs hopefully (them darned strings are so expensive!).

I've a question for y'all gut players out there:

I feel like my D string is a bit too high, all the others are ok, but the D is a pit hard to pull, tho'...

G is about 9mm high and its perfect there, I know the others need to be a bit higher, but the D is around 13mm.

No adjustable bridge, so if I decide to bring the D down a bit, that means a trip to the luthier (no worries, it's like 25 mins from home).

So, how high do you play your stings?

PS:

We should turn this into a Gut strings lovers' thread and show them animas and dominants players we're not afraid of them!

**Adrian Cho** · #3 05-03-2006, 07:54 PM

I play mine a little lower than you do. However I do get some buzzing on my fingerboard around the crook of the neck and I have considerable scoop on the fingerboard.

I've played gut strings for most of my bass playing life. They are great especially for duos and trios and other all-acoustic situations. However for high volume situations and other situations where the acoustics of the room and/or the other instrumentation make it hard to cut through, they can be pain. There are some situations where I regret having them but then I go and try steels or synthetics on another bass and I hate it.

Can't live with 'em; can't live without 'em.

msprong · #4 05-04-2006, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToR-Tu-Ra

I don't really like plain E and A guts and I'm planning to get me some Olivs hopefully (them darned strings are so expensive!).

Hey Jorge,

I got the Lenzners, set with silver wound E & A, for EUR200 - 10% discount= EUR180 at my local dopedealer so I figure you could get them around USD200 at your side of the pond (don't know what the peso does nowadays). It's about half the price of Olivs.

I figured it was worth a try.

ToR-Tu-Ra · #5 05-04-2006, 12:33 PM

I had forgotten 'bout the Lezner. Maybe I'll try those, thanks. Flatwound? I hope so. The peso's not doing very good (has it ever?), but certainly better than a few months ago. I'll try n' get me the wound strings and adjusters for my bridge to play a bith with the string height. I don't like them too low 'cause they loose some of the good ole "thump", but seems 13mm is a bit too much.

Gotta love them guts (or hate them sometimes)

msprong · #6 05-04-2006, 02:01 PM

They're roundwounds actually, which is to me the only sensible choice for a gut core. Easy on the hands however.

The only online merchant I could find that sells them is actually mr. Bob Gollihur. http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/strings.html

ToR-Tu-Ra · #7 05-04-2006, 02:29 PM

Actually, I'm more worried about the windings being rough on the fingerboard. I see Bob sells individual strings... hmmm... tough call...

mje · #8 05-05-2006, 08:41 AM

I'm tempted to try the D and G Lenzers with the E and A from one of the sets of steel strings I have around- maybe the Helicore Orchestras that are on the bass now. Anyone mix and matched the Lenzers?

simpleybass · #9 05-05-2006, 03:55 PM

I'm a believer too! Ohhhhhhhhh yeah.

I never tried Lezners, but I did try a full set of the La Bella 980s. Pure gut D&G, and the E&A are roundwound silver coated copper wire.

Man, the roundwounds were rough on my fingerboard. I only left them on for a few weeks before the damage became significant. It may have been especially bad on my Kay, I think the fingerboard is "ebonized" rosewood. But I imagine they would eventually eat into ebony as well.

I do however, still play the D&G pure guts from the 980 set, I love them.

Now I'm using Innovation Super Silvers on the E&A (synthetic core, metal wrapped, synthetic wrapped on the outside), and I am very happy. In my opinion, they are a WAY BETTER match (feel, tension, AND tone) for the pure gut D&G than the roundwound gut E&A from the 980 set.

Also.....I find it curious that msprong says roundwounds are "the only sensible choice for a gut core".

A lot of guys playing various styles like the flatwounds, like Eudoxas or Olivs. I wanted to try them, but decided to try the much more affordable Super Silvers first.

Maybe someone who has used flatwound guts could give us some advise.

greitzer · #10 05-06-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simpleybass

I do however, still play the D&G pure guts from the 980 set, I love them...Now I'm using Innovation Super Silvers on the E&A (synthetic core, metal wrapped, synthetic wrapped on the outside), and I am very happy. In my opinion, they are a WAY BETTER match (feel, tension, AND tone) for the pure gut D&G than the roundwound gut E&A from the 980 set.

Do you play arco and pizz both? If so, how do the Super Silvers bow?

simpleybass · #11 05-06-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greitzer

Do you play arco and pizz both? If so, how do the Super Silvers bow?

Can't help you there, I'm only playing pizz. Maybe somebody else can comment on the Super Silvers arco performance.

Also, Innovation makes a few other sets, http://www.innovationstrings.com/inncat.htm.

I think if you search the forums here you can probably find some good info about them.

msprong · #12 05-08-2006, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simpleybass

Also.....I find it curious that msprong says roundwounds are "the only sensible choice for a gut core".

I'm just the curious type

To me, or it may be just my imagination, it seems that roundwounds produce more volume than flatwounds. And volume is something you'll need with these fat gut strings to keep the balance. But to be honest I am not really an expert on these matters so perhaps someone else can shed some light on this?

BTW: I did some 6 hours of gigging with these strings last saturday and sunday, still love em to death