strings for a PYL New Standard

[candyman]

I have a question for owners/players of PLY New Standards. I play Bluegrass and Western Swing, and was wondering what strings other players were using on their N.S. I'm looking for a string that will "cut through" the clang..clang...clang of a banjo.
Thanks,
Candyman

[Chris Fitzgerald]

You'll get a lot of different replies on this one, many of them valid. Some guys will say to use guts for the styles you mentioned, and that's good advice stylistically. I have a LaScala ply and was looking for more "cutting ability" on it, and put on a set of spiro starks last week. Now it sounds like a cannon, and cuts through like nobody's business. If you're a bit more careful about your hands, you could also try regular spirocore reds, which are sort of the standard "cutting" string.

[Uncletoad]

Chris is right. That's a can of worms you just opened.

The reality is that you'll never really know what's right for you until you try a bunch of stuff; Or conversely you'll realize if you use the Spirocores for a long time you'll find the sound you want in them no matter what style you are playing.

I use Gut on top and steel on bottom. The way I play it cuts through nice. I don't recommend that right out of the box though.

I suggest starting with the Spiro Reds that come with the bass and wear them in for at least 6 months.

You may just stay right there.

After that, if you want something different start reading all these string threads and get confused like the rest of us.

[Mark Perna]

My advice: put a set of Spiro Mittels (reds; S42 set) on and never ever come back here again. Never look at another post concerning strings. If one should accidentally pop up on your screen, quickly avert your eyes and hit the back button as fast as you can or turn your computer off. If that fails, smash the computer. Keep a small sledge by your desk for just such an emergency; the computer is a small price to pay. You and your wallet will thank me.

These boards are like heroin except much more addictive. Once the gear lust hits you, your life as you know it is over.

mark

[candyman]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for the response, I sort of figured I'd be getting lots of feedback. I used Golden Spiral's years ago, then switched to Velvet Garbo's...then a set of Kolstein's and finally Spirocores. It does drive one nuts. I inquired about some high end gut strings made out in the midwest.....quite expensive.
Thanks again,
Candyman

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Mark's comments about stringlust are dead on for some of us (Toad, Francois, T-Bal), and kind of N/A for others (Sam Sherry and I would be examples of this group). I won't speak for Sam beyond that, but in my case I like the more "modern" string sound and have only ever seriously spent time with Spiros and Dominants. I consider myself both small-minded and lucky for this. In any case, you can't go far wrong with Spiro reds, so there's a good starting point. What's on the bass now?

[candyman]

Chris,
I have a set of light guage Spirocores on a Kolstein Fendt...Willow back and sides. I needed a brighter string to compliment the darker sound of the Fendt. Quite frankly, I've been very happy with the Spiro's on a carved bass. You may be right about the N.S., perhaps a set of Spiro's and don't look back.
Candyman

[candyman]

Chris,
I guess I never answered your question....nothing on the N.S. I just ordered it. I'll have a few months to waffle back and forth as to what to string it with. I found the Spiro "G" very Zingy, but I used a rubber mute to tone it down until it settled in. I and now starting to enjoy a more modern sound, even in Bluegrass. I guess I could be a Spiro junkie after all.
Candyman

[Francois Blais]

Maybe a darker string like the Obligato?
Something with lots of fundamental but still good volume.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Can't say as I've ever played Western swing, but on the bluegrass gigs I've done (few and far between, but still) it was more about a way of playing to produce the time feel that the band needed than it was about the string or the tone of the string. For 'grass, I like a higher string height, and I like a string that I can really "dig in" to that won't give up the ghost too soon. Spiro mittels and starks fit this bill, weichs a bit less so. Any way you go, I bet you'll be happy with the new NS ply.

[Marcus Johnson]

It's just a great starting point. You can't go wrong with them. One of my students just ordered a NS La Scala Hybrid (second one on Maui!), and I think I convinced him to start with Spiros. Hopefully, he won't get totally ill over strings in the future.

[Mark Perna]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Mark's comments about stringlust are dead on for some of us (Toad, Francois, T-Bal), and kind of N/A for others (Sam Sherry and I would be examples of this group). I won't speak for Sam beyond that, but in my case I like the more "modern" string sound and have only ever seriously spent time with Spiros and Dominants. I consider myself both small-minded and lucky for this. In any case, you can't go far wrong with Spiro reds, so there's a good starting point. What's on the bass now?

You do seem oddly immune from stringlust. I thought I was too. Years ago, I went through a bunch of different strings but always went back to Spiros. Finally, I decided there was little reason to try anything else ever again. Until Paul Thompson told me about Talkbass (curse you, Paul Thompson!). I start reading the string threads. Oh look, the Dominant G might the solution to my chronically whiny Spiro G problem. So I buy it. After all, what's one little string? Right? And with but a small purchase it starts.

Next, maybe I'll try guts on my backup bass. Maybe, I'll give Evahs a try. Maybe, I'll try... Several months and several thousand dollars later, I have a shelf full of strings, pickups, preamps, cabinets etc.

Right now it is looking like Evahs are the Strings of the Gods so I can't complain too much because I never would have tried them without the heroin of the boards. BTW: Candyman, you might want to give Evah Pirazzi strings a shot. There is more detail on the EP megathread so you can go there to check it out but, in a nutshell, they have all of the power and clarity of Spiros without any of the scratchy or whiny sound. They are sonically somewhat similar to Dominants but with a much more powerful low-mid attack. They are also VERY loud acoustically.

mark

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by candyman

Chris,
I guess I never answered your question....nothing on the N.S. I just ordered it. I'll have a few months to waffle back and forth as to what to string it with. I found the Spiro "G" very Zingy, but I used a rubber mute to tone it down until it settled in. I and now starting to enjoy a more modern sound, even in Bluegrass. I guess I could be a Spiro junkie after all.

Sounds like you should go with Spiro reds, then if you get stringlust, replace the D and G with various expensive and addictive alternatives. One thing I can recommend without hesitation - and Toad will back me up on this - is the Spiro stark E string. I haven't me a person yet who has actually played one who doesn't dig it. Last I checked, there was one for sale down in the FS forum... If you wanted to try that, you could ship it to Arnold and Wil and buy the other reds one at a time and probably save a few $$ in the process.

Originally Posted by STRINGSALOT

You do seem oddly immune from stringlust. I thought I was too. Years ago, I went through a bunch of different strings but always went back to Spiros. Finally, I decided there was little reason to try anything else ever again. Until Paul Thompson told me about Talkbass (curse you, Paul Thompson!). I start reading the string threads. Oh look, the Dominant G might the solution to my chronically whiny Spiro G problem. So I buy it. After all, what's one little string? Right? And with but a small purchase it starts.

Next, maybe I'll try guts on my backup bass. Maybe, I'll give Evahs a try. Maybe, I'll try... Several months and several thousand dollars later, I have a shelf full of strings, pickups, preamps, cabinets etc.

The difference is that I've been on the forum the whole time and never got the stringlust. When I hear someone playing guts, I always think, "hmm. That's kinda cool. And kinda....nondescript. I can't tell if that guy is playing in tune or not unless he's bowing. Hmm." And then when I play a gut strung bass, I always think I sound terrible and can't tell if I'm in tune or not. Ugh. Gut is great for the guys who live there, but I think I'm a steeltown boy at heart.

Now you wanna talk expensive gearlust, there's AI amp heads (I still have one from each series), EA speaker cabs (currently have 5 plus the 3 I sold), pickups, preamps, mics....now THERE'S an expensive habit that TB promotes an unhealthy addiction to.

[T-Bal]

You guys are funny. I don't even have a problem, so I don't know what you're talking about.

Candyman, the Spiros work for you on the Fendt but it may be different with the ply. Did you order the Cleveland or the La Scala? I'm currently going through this with my La Scala, looking for that "old dead-guy tone". Follow along here if you dare!

[Marc Piane]

It's funny too because every bass behaves differently with certain strings.

I was immune to stringlust with my old bass. I used Weichs and that's it for about 10 years. Loved em.

I got a Shen Willow and it was strung with D'Addario hybrids. HATED EM. Put on Weichs ok but they sounded thin. Tried Obligatos, sounded good, but I couldn't get used to the feel. Got Eudoxa D and G with Weich E and A, my first trip into the world of the mixed set. The balance of power was off in favor of the Eudoxas. Got a Stark E. Best E string ever made!!! Started stockpiling them in a bunker under the city of Chicago (I bought the one that was for sale). In the words of Marcus Johnson, "You can invade small countries with that string." Finally settled on a Mittel A. And all was well. My stringlust is cured... for now.

The point is you will have to do some experimenting to see what works for you and the particular tree that your bass came from. Keep an eye in the 'For Sale' forum. All four of the strings that I have on my bass now I bought used from someone on Talkbass. You can spend a ton of cash experimenting. Buying stuff used is a good way to try strings out without breaking the bank.

[Phil Rowan]

Dominants might be worth checking out too. I had (and have a G on now) them on my Kay, and aside from the guts I used to have on there, they're probably one of my favorites for that bass. I had Spiro Mittels E and A, and Dominant D and G on my Lang, and it was a good set up. The only problem was that the Dominants were a bit too dark for the already dark bass. That's just my experience with my basses though, so happy search!

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by T-Bal

You guys are funny. I don't even have a problem, so I don't know what you're talking about.

I'm currently going through this with my La Scala, looking for that "old dead-guy tone". Follow along here if you dare!

Oh god. Not There. Anywhere but There. That's the very epicenter of the heart of darkness. Do not go gently into that good thread!

[Uncletoad]

See. You all went and did it anyhow.

Coulda left him with spirocores and a fat wallet. Now you've given him a taste and he'll be off to string hell.

Crackheads!

Ok so I'll just fuel the fire then.

If I was not playing gut strings I'd use Evah Pirrazzi A/D/G and a Spiro Stark E and be pretty darn happy about it.

I may go there someday anyhow when I get sick of gut.

[Eli_Upright12]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald
There[/URL

. That's the very epicenter of the heart of darkness. Do not go gently into that good thread!

on a funny side note, Im playing an arrangement for that poem in one of my ensembles, its a whacko tune, but I love getting to really open up the bass and release the power of the Obligato E and A, they sound nice on my hybrid.

[T-Bal]

Originally Posted by Pix Fitzgerald

...

A picture is worth a thousand words. In your case, a few laughs as well. Those are a bit puzzling, however.