Need suggestions for first gut strings

[BFBBass]

I have never had gut strings on my bass and only played them briefly on others. But I have always liked the sound and I really enjoyed the way they played. As you all know they can be rather expensive, so I am looking for suggestions. My old teacher said he likes the Velvet Anima, but I wanted some more opinions.
I play mostly jazz, but I dont want to sacrifice arco playability. Also, I'd like something that is decent for bluegrass and other acoustic folk music. Basically, I want that miracle string that does it all.
Just looking for guidance.

[Jason Sypher]

Go straight to the top. Buy some Gary Larson Gamut gut D and G (medium) varnished. Add them to your existing E and A and then search for a good match. Gamuts are top notch strings, bowable and consistent. Stick with them for a month. If you don't like em, sell em here on TB. Animas are a whole different ballgame but a possible match for E and A. Go for it, buy the real thing and then you'll know...don't waste your time and money buying a ton of strings.

[meandering]

i don't think animas would be considered gut strings, they have a synthetic core. however, they are probably more gut-like than steel strings. For what it's worth, i started using animas about 6-7 years ago after playing spiros for a long time and haven't looked back. They aren't bad for arco, though i don't bow much other than the occasional Ronnie Boykins-inspired freak out.

[salcott]

Jason, I think you meant to say DAN Larson.......

[swmmojo]

+Gamut

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by salcott

Jason, I think you meant to say DAN Larson.......

Yup - Gary Larson is one funny guy though!

When he was living in Bellingham he used to come to all the bluegrass events in Vancouver too. We just knew him as a friend of Cliff's who dug the music, not as a the hilarious cartoonist. Of course, his banjo jokes kinda reveal the inner man...

[BFBBass]

thanks yall. is goliher and lemur the way to go, or are there cheaper places to get the gamuts/amina/or whatever i end up deciding on?

[BFBBass]

nevermind, i see you can order them straight from gamuts site, but i saw they have many kinds of guts (lyons, pistoy, etc). which of these were you talking about?

[JeffKissell]

Dan has a "standard" combination set. I would suggest getting the mediums.
FWIW- I also have had good experiences with Lemur's European gut set (Efrano). I've used the wound strings and they are nice... BUT the tension is a bit lighter/looser overall than the boutique strings from Gamut/Dlugolecki etc.
-J