which string for sustain and warmth (pizz)

ameuseall · #1 11-05-2003, 07:55 AM

I need advice on which strings to put on my 61 Kay for playing jazz. I am looking for warmth and sustain. Thanks .

**Francois Blais** · #2 11-05-2003, 09:17 AM

Warmth and sustain are most often contradictory in bass strings.
To get a warm tone, they have to put dampening stuff in the string, and that decreases sustain. (typically orchestral strings)
Strings well known for sustain:
Thomastik spirocores
Pirastro Jazzers
D'Addario Helicore pizzicato series
To get both qualities at medium level, you'd probably want to go with hybrid strings, like:
Pirastro Obligatos
Corellis
Kolstein Varicors
Thomastik Superflexibles (blue ends)
D'Addario Helicore Hybrids (only marginally warmer than Pizz series)

HTH!

ameuseall · #3 11-05-2003, 02:55 PM

Thank you for the reply.

greitzer · #4 11-09-2003, 09:42 PM

Ameuseall, let me add one more to the list that Francois gave you. I put on a set of Pirastro's Flat Chromesteels a few months ago, and I'm quite happy with them. They are very warm to my ear (although I realize they may or may not be as warm on someone else's bass). Compared to my previous strings (Helicore Orchestra's), they are a paragon of warmth. And they have quite long sustain. The "E" doesn't quite have the liveness of the other three strings, but they work well for me. I play about 50% arco and 50% jazz pizz, and they're a good combination string for me.