In search of alternative strings...

Lokire · #1 06-12-2006, 06:35 PM

I figured people on the DB side of Talkbass would know more about this, since you deal with Gut strings:

I have a short scale (30" string length), fretless Kinal Kompact bass:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v1...nal%20Kompact/

And I've been thinking about the possibility of trying some light gauge (maybe cello?) gut strings on it. Right now it has TI Acousticore's (Brass wound nylon core strings), and I like the tone, but I really want to bring out a little more of an upright characteristic, and thought gut strings would be perfect for that. Would this be feasible? Any suggestions or thoughts?

Thanks!

jlilley · #2 06-12-2006, 07:55 PM

I've never tried gut on ABG, but I really like the sound Rotosound TruBass 88's on my Rick Turner. I used it a lot in jazz contexts before I got my upright.
John

mje · #3 06-12-2006, 08:43 PM

Try the the Thomasik Jazz Flats or the Fender Nylon Filament wound BG strings- I've used both on a Fender Precision Acoustic/Electric, which is similar.

Lokire · #4 06-12-2006, 09:07 PM

Thanks guys, but I'm really just looking for info on Gut strings specifically. I'm already well familiar with all the other string types. Tapewounds, nylon-core, flatwounds, roundwounds...etc.

WillBuckingham · #5 06-12-2006, 09:46 PM

Why don't you give it a whirl and let us know how it goes?

Lokire · #6 06-12-2006, 09:53 PM

I would, but I know next to nothing about gut strings. That's what I'm asking, what brand or gauges would be best? For this bass, I like having a lighter gauge than standard that I can tune down, like right now I have ADGC acousticore strings (.068 .053 .041 .035) tuned down to EADG. I like that lower tension, but I don't know what 'standard' is for upright gut strings. Would Cello gut strings be better? They would be shorter scale length (= less string that I would have to cut off, and probably cheaper too). Or are gut string lower tension to begin with, so I should stick with a bigger gauge? It's all very confusing. Gut strings seem to be pretty expensive anyways so if I do this I want to get it right the first time...

Bobby King · #7 06-12-2006, 10:47 PM

Dan Larson's Gamut Strings come in a wide variety of gauges. He makes them for lutes, gamba, and all sorts of other stringed instruments. Send him an email for a recommendation.

Be prepared to drop a bundle though.

Lokire · #8 06-12-2006, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby King

Dan Larson's Gamut Strings come in a wide variety of gauges. He makes them for lutes, gamba, and all sorts of other stringed instruments. Send him an email for a recommendation.

Be prepared to drop a bundle though.

Thanks! There's a lot of good info on that website. I'll do some reading...

Lokire · #9 06-12-2006, 11:36 PM

Yep, about $105 for a set of Gamut Pistoy Gut strings, at the same gauge that's on the bass now. I guess that's not that bad though. Only twice as much as the TI Acousticores.

In another month or so, when I have a little more cashflow going, maybe I'll buy just one of the strings at first to see how it sounds/feels compared to what I have one there now

Randy Ward · #10 06-13-2006, 07:29 AM

Lokire

I have one of those old ampeg 'scroll' bass guitars and you can use upright strings on them. I believe it is a 35 or 36 inch scale. I used all guts on it for a long time. The tuning was unstable and the sound wasn't really like an upright but it didn't sound like Jaco either.

From my experience I can tell you that guts have low tension on an upright and with the shorter scale of the ampeg they were really soft and I had to crank 'em up high. (can you do that on a Kinal)? Also you might have to alter your nut on the Kinal because guts have a large diameter. Guts have loop not ball ends and you should keep that in mind when dropping this kind of money, be sure they'll mount on your bass. I also have a fretless six string acoustic bass guitar w' a 34 inch scale and I tried a combination of 'Guitarron' strings by GHS and La Bella and regular black tape flat wounds but ended up with the six string set of TI Acousticore. Maybe look at eurosonics for upright, they are 'like' gut but more stable and have ball ends. Plus the eurosonic ultra lights are about the same diameter as bass guitar strings. Good luck on your quest.

boombloom · #11 06-13-2006, 05:08 PM

In search of "the Sound" I shaved down the frets on my Guild B50. All the way. Made it fretless. Put on some softer strings--tape wound, lower tension. Overall I lost alot of the attack and half the volume. I'll bet most of the folks here know the end of this story. I bought an upright. Got the sound that I wanted. And the volume. Got a good price for the Guild too....

Lokire · #12 06-13-2006, 05:23 PM

Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm just not ready to fully delve into the realm of upright (as much as I really want to). Eventually, yes. But not now. I'm too poor thanks to my custom electrics for now

I'm rethinking gut strings now too. I think I'm just going to wait for a while and let these TI Acousticores mellow out. I've always hated that 'new string' sound. Too much zing

Marcus Johnson · #13 06-13-2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lokire

I'm too poor thanks to my custom electrics for now

Sell 'em. They're useless.

Whoops, did I say that out loud?

PS....I know Ken Lawrence, he'd probably try to kick my ass for saying that....

Lokire · #14 06-13-2006, 07:18 PM

Hehe. Well, the Ken Lawrence will be with me for a long long long time. It's just an incredible bass.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...n/DSCF0100.jpg

And I've got a Stambaugh custom being built now that I'm very excited about. After that, I don't plan on buying any more electrics. I've been telling myself that for a while though

Marcus Johnson · #15 06-13-2006, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lokire

Hehe. Well, the Ken Lawrence will be with me for a long long long time. It's just an incredible bass.

Yeah, he definitely knows his way around electric basses. He's a great player as well.

Lokire · #16 06-13-2006, 08:27 PM

So I hear. But I haven't actually heard him. Do you know if there's any CDs that he's played on?

Marcus Johnson · #17 06-14-2006, 04:40 AM

I'm sure there must be, but I don't know. I haven't seen him since the early 80's, when he was playing with a fusion band called "Dream Ticket". He was building basses for himself at the time, including some crazy doublenecks and so on. The stuff he's building now is really mind-boggling.

Lokire · #18 10-29-2006, 09:27 PM

Either for my electric or acoustic (non-upright) basses. I really want to find a compatible set of gut (plain or wrapped) strings, but there's two problems:

Scale length: The electric is 35", and the acoustic is 30". I'm pretty sure Double-Bass strings would be too long, so what else would work? Cello strings maybe?

And the other is with the string ends. Most orchestral strings have ball ends right? How big are they exactly? Are they smaller with Cello strings, like maybe they would fit into a standard top-load bridge?

hdiddy · #19 10-29-2006, 11:10 PM

Gut strings on a slab? Wouldn't you have problems with getting a signal since the strings are not metal? I guess you could use a piezo transducer but I don't get it.

Lokire · #20 10-29-2006, 11:13 PM

Yeah, they would be going through an RMC piezo setup.