Possibly going gut - help?

[nathanmcnathan]

Hey everybody! I've got a question:
my string heights are
G - 4.5-5mm
D - 6mm
A - 7.5-8mm
E - 8.5-9mm
Can anybody reccommend some gut strings that would work with this low action? I only want gut for the G and D, and I'm going to keep my Spiros on for E and A.
Once I get more money, I'll be getting adjusters put on, so I'll be able to raise the height.
Thanks!

[Aaron Cohn]

At those heights I wouldn't recommend plain gut. Olivs or Eudoxas should be ok. Plenty posted here on the advantages/disadvantages of those. If you want the plain gut thing, I'd suggest saving up until you can get the strings and the setup work done at the same time.

[Adrian Cho]

Honestly I don't know how you can not have adjusters in our climates. I know you may be limited by budget but personally I would go with the adjusters first. I also would not recommend the plain guts for string heights that low.

[bonaventura]

That's too low for gut.

[nathanmcnathan]

Originally Posted by Adrian Cho

Honestly I don't know how you can not have adjusters in our climates. I know you may be limited by budget but personally I would go with the adjusters first. I also would not recommend the plain guts for string heights that low.

I know what you mean... I don't know about Ottawa, as I've only been there in summer, but in Barrie, the winters are so cold and summers really hot. I think I will be going for adjusters first, that way I can get used to higher action (excited - I hate the low action!) before I put guts back on. This will probably help when I have to start using the school's bass again in september - it has pretty high action (it was about an inch off the 'board before the school had it set up).

[nathanmcnathan]

So, about how high do I need the string to be for gut on my bass? I want spomething closer to plain gut, or something like goldentones.
Thanks!

[Adrian Cho]

I'd say at least 7 mm on the G.

[nathanmcnathan]

So, does action need to be higher or lower for wrapped guts like Goldentones, or is it the same height? I checked out your website, and you don't really have much to say about wrapped gut - have any experience with it? Thanks Adrian!

[Aaron Cohn]

I think you're still too low for Goldentones. Really, if you want gut it's worth the wait to get the adjusters and then get the kind of gut you want.

[Adrian Cho]

I used to play on Olivs for many years but cannot remember what height I had the strings at. I think probably 7 or 8 mm on the G. However you have to bear in mind that it's different for every bass. It depends on the scoop on fingerboard for example and the exact gauge of the strings. Especially with unwound guts, I don't mind a bit of buzzing but others cannot stand it.

[nathanmcnathan]

I definately don't mind bussing. I have a really ugly buzz on my G right now, but I think that with higher action, it'll dissappear and turn into a nice growl. I'm going to be getting the adjusters for sure, once I can afford it all (I just ordered a new bag from upton this week), and after that I think I'll be getting a D and G from LaBella, the Goldentones, just as a first gut set. If I really like that, I think I'll probably be investing in a well-made set of guts, or maybe just stcik with gut D and G and steel E and A - I love Spiro E and A, but I hate the D and G.

[larry]

Originally Posted by Adrian Cho

I used to play on Olivs for many years but cannot remember what height I had the strings at. I think probably 7 or 8 mm on the G. However you have to bear in mind that it's different for every bass. It depends on the scoop on fingerboard for example and the exact gauge of the strings. Especially with unwound guts, I don't mind a bit of buzzing but others cannot stand it.

I have Olivs on the D&G, a Eudoxa A and a Spiro Orch. E. My bass is very healthy and set up well (by Arnold Schnitzer). My G is about 8mm. I'd consider 6.5 - 7mm to be about as low as you would want to go. Everytime I raise it up a little, it sounds better and better.