Which are the strings with the shortest or least sustain?

[dgelting]

I tried searching titles for "shortest sustain" and "least sustain" but didn't find what I'm looking for.

So, which is it? I'd like a string that sounds like I have a piece of foam on the end of the bridge, but without the high-frequency dampening and dorky look that the foam gives you.

I suspect that gut is the way to go, but I'd like to not use gut. Still, list any gut sets if you think they are the shortest sustain anyway.

Personally, I'd also like something I can bow well too, so please note the bowing quality. I like those Velvet Garbos on a friend's bass, but I've been told that the G is not very bowable.

Thanks!

[Nathan Parker]

I've found the strings with the shortest sustain are those that are the furthest away from the fingerboard. That should give you what you need. But, all things equal, unwound gut has pretty little sustain. I can't think of any strings with little sustain that are easy to bow. Maybe a really dead set of D'Addario (don't know how ta spell that one) Orchestras. Maybe others will have more ideers.

[Phil Rowan]

Flexocor Stark perhaps?

[AndreasH]

Yes, guts is the way to go AND they're bowable!


... ... But as you do not prefer guts, I guess that (as suggested earlier) a set of well broken in Flexocor's or D'addario Orch. would be worth a try.

[Marcus Johnson]

Guts sustain like a mother******* on my bass.

[Francois Blais]

Jargar Dolces!

[Mark Perna]

I have no problem with sustain with guts on either of my basses, either.

mark

[Phil Rowan]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Guts sustain like a mother******* on my bass.

+1. Mine have a good bit of sustain too.

[MR PC]

Old strings. Maybe higher action. Ask your repair person or another player if they have any old strings you can try. Even try mix and matching.

Old Thomastik Super Flexables (rope core) come to mind.

[AMJBASS]

Agreed on all accounts. The higher up you raise the strings the shorter I think you will find the sustain. There is a point however where the bass will choke. Pirastro Flexocore will give you a short sustain with a very deep sound. However, they tend to sound a little bit dead for pizz. You may like that sound. Depends on your bass. I have Superflexibles on my DB right now. They are warm sounding. Similar to Spirocore with less growl... Not sure if thats what you are looking for.

[dgelting]

Thanks guys.

My only reason for "not gut" is because I don't want to be tempted to spend so much money! I have a very old set of guts that came on a bass I bought once - they were even too dead for me (but I am looking for a dead sound for this particular instrument I'm concentrating on). I'd imagine a new set would be perfect but maybe I'll just have to save up.

The bass I'm trying to go this route on currently has Velvet Blues on it. I tried that because another bass that used to fill the same role in my arsenal had an old set of Velvet Animas and that was working very well. I took a chance and thought the Blues may do the job. The Blues sound good and feel good, but have more sustain and growl than I'd like. I bet they would be better when they age - I don't even remember how the Animas were when I first got them - it's been a while.

Maybe I'll just put my old Amima set on there, but I broke the D....

Anyway, I just thought this would be a good thread to have around for anyone else that likes that real short and thumpy sound.

[Don Higdon]

This is the most unexpected question I've encountered.
Original Flexocors are the shortest sustaining string I know of. I love their arco sound - rich and robust, a great section string.

[Doghouse_Oli]

D'addario Prelude.... really dark, very low sustain.... and they cost almost nothing!!!!!

[dgelting]

Originally Posted by Don Higdon

This is the most unexpected question I've encountered.

Yeah, I see tons of posts from people who want more sustain. I like that for certain styles of music, but there's a lot of times where I'd like the note to sound then get out of the way. Left hand technique can do that to some degree (as can a piece of foam at the bridge), but a natural quick decay is nice.

Short notes record a lot better for some styles of music. Longer notes can muddy up things and force the bass lower in the mix, in my experience. I guess this is why I end up with so many basses....one for this, one for that, another for another sound.....

[Gearhead43]

If you want less sustain then changing your playing technique can help get you there. (I could also mention left-hand muting, but I think that may get me into "improper technique" land which is taboo here )

I use gut strings because I like the woody warm tone and punch, and "sustain" isn't too important anyway for the hillbilly music I play , but guts can sustain if you play them to. Of course guts don't naturally sustain as long as some other strings, but I think what leads people to believe that they have "no sustain" is the REALLY big hit on the front of the note you get with guts. With guts you get that big "pow" and then the note decays more quickly, but can still ring out depending on your left hand technique, using vibrato, etc.

For steel strings, Flexocore and Jargars have a cool old-school thump to them.

I think you may be headed down the gut string road though already though, so why fight it?

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by dgelting

I'd like a string that sounds like I have a piece of foam on the end of the bridge, but without the high-frequency dampening and dorky look that the foam gives you.

Personally, I'd also like something I can bow well too, so please note the bowing quality.
Thanks!

It would be helpful if you gave some details about the bass you are using here.

[kurt]

Jargar Dolces are the deadest steel strings I've tried. Deader than most nylons I've tried (innovation rockabilly, eurosonics) too.