Type of Strings for "Growl" Sound?

[JJD]

Hello!

I currently have an inexpensive, Jim Laabs Hamburg model 3/4 bass, its not plywood, but I believe Spruce,with a curved back.

Anyway, I have the strings that came with it on there now.

I am looking for a real "growly" buzz sound. What kind and type of strings are best for this type of sound?

Thanks for any replies!

[Francois Blais]

Thomastik Spirocores
Pirastro Jazzers
LaBella 7720 (steel)
LaBella 7710 (black-nylon tapewound)
D'Addario Helicore Pizzicatos

This list isn't exhaustive. These are the ones to check out first, IMO.

François

[TroyK]

Helicore Pizz are really growly.

[Randy Ward]

What about obligatos?
I am mostly a spiro but sometimes Helicore Pizz or hybrid guy but whenever I play someones bass with obligatos, the F through Bb on the E string......... GRRRRrrreat!

What I want to know is:

¿como qué secuencias bajas es la mayoría del banjo?

wie welche Baß-Zeichenketten sind der meiste Banjo?

comme quelles cordes basses sont-ils la plupart de banjo ?

che stringhe basse sono la maggior parte del banjo come?

or maybe most sitar-ish

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by univac jr.

comme quelles cordes basses sont-ils la plupart de banjo ?

This must have been translated with an on-line language translator as it doesn't make any sense at all!

[Randy Ward]

Originally Posted by francois

This must have been translated with an on-line language translator as it doesn't make any sense at all!

Francois;
Before 9/11 and the dot com bubble burst I had a job as an animator in the American branch of a Germany based media company. One particularly tough project was a 3D visualization of a proposed German air craft that needed to be visually accurate but the specs were constantly changing as the engineers worked things out. They sent very technical data and I communicated with them via e-mail in English but as a curtesy I always included the text in German using Babel fish. When the project was finally completed I got to go to Germany and visit the facilities. When I met the engineers they showed me a wall with all of my 'German' e-mails, one was even framed! they told me it was the funniest stuff they had ever read and when they realized I wasn't doing it on purpose they put them on the wall as entertainment! I don't know what possessed me to do it again!
But what is the most banjo-ish or sitar-ish string? It seems to me that after they calm down this type produces the most growl even on basses that don't growl easily.

[Francois Blais]

Very funny story, shopvac jr.!


As for your string question, I'm thinking of the Corellis right now.
On my EUB they sound very metallic, nasal and twangy.

[nicklloyd]

Originally Posted by JJD

Hello!

I currently have an inexpensive, Jim Laabs Hamburg model 3/4 bass, its not plywood, but I believe Spruce,with a curved back.

Anyway, I have the strings that came with it on there now.

I am looking for a real "growly" buzz sound. What kind and type of strings are best for this type of sound?

Thanks for any replies!

Thomastik Spirocore Orchestra are very growly. If they feel too "tight" on your bass, you might want to try Spirocore Weichs (pronounced vikes)

[jonas]

Originally Posted by nicklloyd

you might want to try Spirocore Weichs (pronounced vikes)

No, "ch" is not "k". It's rather like "sh", but with less "s" and more air ;-)

[nicklloyd]

[jonas]

Originally Posted by nicklloyd

or like the "c" in Cincinnati, but with less "t" ...
Wow, it's nice to have something the Americans don't have. I really like the "ch".

[abaguer]

I think Danny Thompson uses Thomastik spirocore starks and he's the king of growl.