New Gamut Gut strings

[NielsDale]

Hello - I am new to gut strings and I just ordered a hole set of Gamut gut strings medium Gauge. Is there anything in particular to look out for when setting them up ?
Thanks - NielsDale

[Mark Perna]

First, congratulations.

Second, prepare yourself to be tuning every couple of minutes for the first couple of days until they stretch out.

Third, they will probably be a little thumpy at first, particularly the D, -don't panic or get discouraged-they will open very nicely over the next couple of weeks.

Fourth, when the weather gets hot or cold, the wrapped A and E will go out of tune very quickly. You can easily learn to deal with it but it does take some getting used to particularly when it gets cold and the A and E go REALLY sharp.

Mark

[Gearhead43]

Also, be absolutely certain that there are NO sharp edges at the nut and bridge, taipiece holes, etc on your bass.

If you aren't sure, run your finger over these areas and check for sharp edges, then smooth them out with very fine sandpaper.

If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, see a luthier.

These things should be taken care of during a luthier's setup, but often are not. I have seen very sharp points where the nut grooves meet the fingerboard area left on a few basses. The sharp points can snag the windings (while tuning up) on roundwound gut strings especially.

[NielsDale]

thank you so much.
I read somewhere about using something for the strings to attach better on the head-screws ?
Do you know what i mean?
Thanks -

Niels

[NielsDale]

I mean so the strings dont slip so easy when they are wrapped around wood !

[Marcus Johnson]

Do you mean on the tuners?

[Gearhead43]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Do you mean on the tuners?

I'm thinkin' that's probably what he meant, Marcus.

NielsDale,

You don't need any thing on the tuners to tune up gut strings, just make sure you have a good amount of string wound around the tuning pegs.

Also, I never clip my bass strings, always leave the extra on and wind it up - this is crucial if you end up selling them later as alot of basses have a different need for string length.

[Mark Perna]

Excellent followup points. As an additional followup point, use copious amounts of graphite (either pencil lead or loose graphite which you can buy in an art supply store) over the nut and bridge grooves. Unlike steel strings which stabilize after stretching, gut will stretch and contract with the weather which means considerable movement on a routine basis over the nut and particularly the bridge grooves. You want the least amount of friction possible so the strings don't wear too quickly.

mark

[NielsDale]

Yes that what i meant !

How long do they last these Gamut Gut strings ?

Thanks again for these answers !
Thanks -

Niels

[Mark Perna]

No one seems to know how long Gamut strings last because none of us has ever worn one out and some of us have years-old strings on.

mark

[NielsDale]

Interesting !
Well I cant wait to put these strings on and play them !
Thanks again -
Niels

[M Ramsey]

I know some cats who are playing 40 year old gut strings. For real. I changed out my A and D during Christmas, but only due to the fact that I was having serious winding problems with both.

The A was a Red-O-Ray and the D was a Labella Goldentone, which had a nylon or tynex overwrap on a gut core.

They had been on the bass for 4 years, still sounded good, but the winding issues took their toll.

BTW, my G (Labella Goldentone, same tynex winding) broke during this time as well. Down where the knot was coing out of the tailpiece. I just took it off, retied the knot and strung it back up. It's still working fine, over 4 years down the road from installation.

The Red-O-Ray E is still installed and has NO issuses at this point.

[Gearhead43]

If you are patient enough - when the windings go, you can unwind them and use an E as a D, and an A as a G. Depends on the gauge of the gut underneath though whether they work well. Good enough for backups.

I've done it. I keep my old fubar'd wound E&As around as backups for D&Gs. Alot of E&As are varnished gut underneath, the Gotz set I had were.

With Gamuts though, he will re-wind your E&A strings for 50 bucks each good as new, from what I hear.

[Mark Perna]

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

With Gamuts though, he will re-wind your E&A strings for 50 bucks each good as new, from what I hear.

Yep. Actually, they're better than new as they are already stretched out and broken in.

mark

[William Hoffman]

Niels, one further setup point : you may want to consider adjusting/raising your string height (clearance off fingerboard). i don't know if you are used to playing steel strings or what, but i find guts need a bit more height in order to resonate fully. the additional height does NOT affect their playability because they are so supple. enjoy!

[Phil Rowan]

Also, check the grooves on your nut and make sure they can accommodate the thicker gauge of gut strings. IF, and only if, they're too thin (which may not be the case) it's a quick and easy job for a luthier to widen them a little (if need be).

[salcott]

I ordered a set today-we'll have to compare notes.

[William Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Phil Rowan

Also, check the grooves on your nut and make sure they can accommodate the thicker gauge of gut strings. If they're too thin it's a quick and easy job for a luthier to widen them a little.

right, Phil. if it's your first time using Gamuts or any gut string, it's good to pay attention to how they sit in the nut grooves.

but i would add one thing: don't jump to any conclusion until you've played them a bit in the nut grooves as they are. for one thing, you might decide you don't like guts and want to go back to whatever your tried and true string is.

for another thing, you may not need to widen the grooves. when i put Gamuts on for the first time two years ago, i was surprized to find out that all the nut grooves on my bass fit the Gamuts with the one exception of the D string nut groove, which needed a bit of widening.

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by William Hoffman

you might decide you don't like guts and want to go back to whatever your tried and true string is.

That's just crazy talk.

[William Hoffman]

there i go again, bein' way too logical about things... nope, never heard of nobody not likin' guts either, except one Phil in Ohio who ultimately decided it wasn't his thing. he is the rare exception there.

...and then there was Montana Bob who needed nut therapy in the bass spa after playin' on a Pistoy A...