Mexican URB Nylon Strings?

[CrazyZeke]

Ok, this questions is just to cure a nagging curiosity of mine. Here’s the question: I previously lived in southern CA and took occasional weekend trips down south of the border to TJ, Ensenada and San Filipe. I remember seeing numerous street mariachi and rancheros bands with a URB player with nylon colored strings. From very foggy memories, the things sounded Ok at the time. I have never seen these in the states and figured that they must be rather limited in tone and sustain compared to modern steel/gut/hybrid strings. So, has anyone played these things or seen them for sale and/or advertised in the US?.

I play an EG-9 Englehardt with Spiros weichs and love the tone - no need to change the 3-month old beauties at this time.

[doberman]

That is funny, I was just thinking about those strings earlier today. Don't actually know what they are, and its been a few years so I can't really remember what they sounded like...my guess is that they are something like weedwackers though that is purely conjecture.

I also distinctly remember a bass that looked like the neck had been cut short to like a 2/3rd's length or something...the fellow was playing only only in half and first position using the strings in question.

[Bobby King]

The Guitarrón is the favored bass instrument of the Mariachi bands. It is a 6-string, fretless acoustic bass guitar-like instrument, and often is strung with multi-colored strings of nylon or gut.

[CrazyZeke]

Nope, this was a Mexican upright bass - endpeg, and all. The guitarron, as you corectly stated, is a six string bass with a rounded back played in the same position as the guitar. And yes, you see it a whole lot more in mariachi than the upright bass!

ALSO, I remeber that the upright had stings that each string was multi-colored. Any help on this?

[Mazatleco17]

In Mexico is called "Tololoche" is mostly used for folk (Norteño) music, is kind of smaller version of the double bass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHUDI...eature=related

As far as strings go, I will ask a couple of friends from Mexico.....

Edit: Found something http://cuerdas-selene.com/mystore/es...p?idc=34&id=34

[Wallyphonic]

I've seen lots of the mexican bands with upright bass. Usually they are a little smaller like 1/2 size and really rough hand-made looking. I think the multi-colored strings are round nylon wound, kind of like super-nil, but I've never played them and I don't know where you can get them.

[Gearhead43]

Guadalupe Custom Strings in Southern CA makes both tololoche and double bass strings in that (roundwound) style. They can make them in a few different windings / styles.

http://www.guadalupecustomstrings.com/

Johnny Ray Bartel from The Knitters uses a red-copper wound set on his 5-string Kay. The red copper is copper wire coated in a red plastic type coating.

Usually, tololoches are 1/2-size basses tuned ADGC, which works better for a small bass in an acoustic setting.

[CrazyZeke]

That's what I love about TB! Ask a question and you'll probably learn something! Thanks for the insight everybody.

[doberman]

Cool, I had no idea that this "Tololoche" was different than a double bass. Well that explains why the neck looked shorter on the bass I saw, I guess I didn't realize/forgot that the body was smaller as well. As for the Guitarron, those are really cool as well. Always regretted not buying one when I had the chance.

Has anyone played one?

[moles]

When I was in Cabos two years ago for my sisters wedding, I asked one of the musicians who was playing "DB" what strings he was using. (it didn't look any different from a 3/4 size bass to me, although I read otherwise in some posts above...) His bass was LOUD - in a boomy, gutty sort of way - this is in a fairly crowded restaurant, including our table of about 12 yapping away.
Anyway, the answer I got was Prado - (which I originally mistook for my mis-hearing Presto perhaps... but they definately did not look like Prestos). After doing a search when I got back, I found out they are silk core, nylon (round)wound. About the only place I really found them for sale was on EvilBay, and that was one set of "4th of July" coloured Prados. I'm sure if you keep your eyes peeled another set/seller will be on there again.

I wonder how they'd be on a real bass. Sort of Garbos meets Supernils maybe?

[Gearhead43]

Yeah, not all the guys use 1/2 size basses, but the home-built old school Tololoches were typically 1/2 size.

I have seen quite a few guys who just use 3/4 plywood CCBs now. Some 1/2 size internet specials also. I suppose it all depends on your budget, as usual. I know there are some good Mexican builders also, but am not familiar with the names.

[John Wentzien]

I've played those and found them very loose and spongey-feeling.
They have a decent amount of punch, but are lacking in overall tone IMO..

[Eddue]

Originally Posted by moles

When I was in Cabos two years ago for my sisters wedding, I asked one of the musicians who was playing "DB" what strings he was using. (it didn't look any different from a 3/4 size bass to me, although I read otherwise in some posts above...) His bass was LOUD - in a boomy, gutty sort of way - this is in a fairly crowded restaurant, including our table of about 12 yapping away.
Anyway, the answer I got was Prado - (which I originally mistook for my mis-hearing Presto perhaps... but they definately did not look like Prestos). After doing a search when I got back, I found out they are silk core, nylon (round)wound. About the only place I really found them for sale was on EvilBay, and that was one set of "4th of July" coloured Prados. I'm sure if you keep your eyes peeled another set/seller will be on there again.

I wonder how they'd be on a real bass. Sort of Garbos meets Supernils maybe?

I have 2 sets of the Prado contrabajo tololoche strings in the original packaging sent to me from a friend in Arizona but I think they were made in Mexico. All the writing is in spanish (which I don't speak) so I couldn't give that information unless I get it translated. Both are wound nylon with one looped end, not sure of string lengths I have never used them but theyare available in 4 colors or a multi color set, I have a black and a white set. I was told they would fit my 3/4 size bass but can't say for sure. My friend has a number of ampeg baby basses that he says works well with these strings.

[DavidMP]

If you post a clear enough picture I can translate

David

[Jack Clark]

Originally Posted by doberman

Cool, I had no idea that this "Tololoche" was different than a double bass. Well that explains why the neck looked shorter on the bass I saw, I guess I didn't realize/forgot that the body was smaller as well. As for the Guitarron, those are really cool as well. Always regretted not buying one when I had the chance.

Has anyone played one?

Yeah, actually, that's my bass. I play it upright, too, on an endpin, although sitting behind it, much like a cellist. Pizz only, really. The way I've had it modified, it has the same range as a DB, except only up to F4 instead of G4. I'm having a gas learning about jazz with it--which is the main reason I have it fixed up like it is. (A bit more at my profile.) I have no performance delusions, though--too old. (Me, not the guitarrón.)

[Carlos2bass]

This might help:
http://cuerdasprado.com/?mod=product...a%20contrabajo

[ToR-Tu-Ra]

Yep, they're nylon core and nylon roundwound. A couple years ago, a friend of mine bought a tololoche and I had the chance to play it. The thing is that the neck angle on it was a bit weird, making the strings VERY high. Maybe that's why they sound so thumpy. I liked the feeling, except for the roundwound. I don't know if they're long enough to fit a "standard" 3/4 bass, but they're not too pricey, guess it's worth a shot. The same kind of strings are also made by a brand called "victor". I see them all the time around here (mexico city).