bluegrass bass strings?

[Brett from Bama]

I'm new to playing bass, I bought a 4/4 orchestra model Czech flatback that belonged to a mentor who died a few years ago. He was a mentor to most young bluegrassers around this area and I thought alot of him, so another close friend and I each jockeyed to ensure we bought an instrument each from the family as they were selling them off after his death. Anyhow, I'm a bluegrass banjo player and not a bassist but have been trying to teach myself how to play bluegrass, older country and some rockabilly.
The bass is so old it's varnish and original finish and has been black wooden spool like tuners. It's being rebuilt by a place in Nashville right now, they have to remove the back to fix the collapsing footpeg area and needs neck reset.
It sounded fine before but was hard to play. I can't find anyone to give me good recommendations on strings, which will be next after it's rebuilt. My hands aren't tough, like a real bass player, so I need something that won't blister me up too bad. the bass was so rough to play before, I had to use leather gloves. Suggestions for strings? Remember, I'm not a bass player and can really only slap, so bowing and jazz technic and things like that aren't in my limited vocabulary.

[Martiluk]

Have you thought about nylon weed whacker strings? If you do a search on eBay it'll bring up a few different sets. Cheap, easy on the hands, and very slapable.

[swingingoodtime]

I play bluegrass & use guts. They're very easy on the hands & have a wonderful organic sound with a bit less sustain than steel strings which, I think, is of benefit in bluegrass. You don't even need to go super-expensive; Clefs/Efranos/Lezners/Emersons will be fine unless you've the cash & tonal-inclination to chase Gamuts. They require more maintenance than steels (trimming the occasional hairs, periodic oiling with almond oil) and they take a reasonable time to stabilise to pitch (you'll be regularly re-tuning for the first few weeks!) but they're so worth it. (Metal) wound guts for the E & A will make for a thinner string compared to plains, but they're more sensitive to humidity changes.

I chose nylons over gut-esque strings like the Weed Whackers for tonal reasons & the fact that I slap infrequently (just percussive punctuation, as opposed to the playing technique of 'slapping' (does that make sense?)). I've also heard Obilgato's working well on other basses in bluegrass settings, but when I had a play they weren't as easy on the hands. There's also gut-cores (ie, Olives or similar), but I've not used, those, sorry.

[superman]

Get you some Innavations Super Silvers,,not slap silvers,,just plain ole Super Silvers,,they have the deep punch for Bluegrass/Country,,easy on the hands,,alot like guts,,only draw back is they dont amplifiy as good as guts,Kent

[anightintunisia]

Don't get guts. Get a steal solo set and tune down to concert pitch. I use Evah Pirazzi.

[JayB]

Getting the bass set up / a neck reset is going make it easier to play regardless of whatever you string it with. Just something to consider.

It it were me, I'd get something like Spiro Weich (a home base string) and see how they work.

[Tejano Bass]

+1 on the Innovation Super Silvers - but - don't listen to me . . . listen to Superman 'cuz the man knows of what he speaks . . .

I had a set of Super Silvers on my ol' 42 Kay & luved everything about 'em . . . got many, many un-solicited compliments on their sound from lots & lots of folks who should know . . .

[swingingoodtime]

Originally Posted by anightintunisia

Don't get guts. Get a steal solo set and tune down to concert pitch. I use Evah Pirazzi.

Originally Posted by JayB

If it were me, I'd get something like Spiro Weich (a home base string) and see how they work.

What's the thinking behind specifically not getting guts (ANIT) as well as what worked for you with the ones you recommended? (Not invalidating your suggestions; I don't mind either way what they get but, as they're new to DB, the information may help the OP decide...)

Brett (OP), I guess it's worth pointing out a couple of things at this point: (1) any recommendation you read of here will be valid in that it's worked for someone at some stage and will be a useful place to start; at least you'll have options in refining your choice down to something that works for you AND your bass (which is point 2: some may sound better (tonally) than others. Aside: given we're talking low tension strings here, choking your instrument's sound shouldn't be an issue).

+1 on JayB's recommendation for getting your bass set up properly, too. (EDIT: Oops just re-read your original post; you're currently having it rebuilt right now. Sorry 'bout that (duh!)).

[RichardL]

I have Gamut guts, purchased used here on TB, one at a time as they came up for sale. They go for about half price of new. I use a wound E, the other three are plain. The people I played with last weekend at my first festival really liked the sound of the guts and sought me out for jams. If you are going to be on-stage and miked or use a pickup it will not matter as much. Every bass sounded nearly the same in those cases and all had steel strings. You will have to pull harder to get the volume of steel strings--no fingertips for guts if you want to be heard or felt. However, you will need to develop your tuning skills and learn to do it fast if you play outside...

[swingingoodtime]

Originally Posted by RichardL

You will have to pull harder to get the volume of steel strings--no fingertips for guts if you want to be heard or felt. However, you will need to develop your tuning skills and learn to do it fast if you play outside...

Re volume: I think it varies from bass to bass. Mine's a fairly young hybrid (ply ribs, solid top/back) and responds very favourably to low tension strings, to the point that some other bass players have said it's the loudest bass they've heard (although see the following thread on the subjective nature of 'loudness': What makes a double bass loud?)

Absolutely +1 on the tuning issue, though, particularly with wound guts as mentioned above. Funnily, the plain D & G that I use are surprisingly stable under humidity fluctuations (whereas the wound E & A have literally changed pitch during the course of a song under extreme conditions!)

I currently use Emerson DG & Clef EA; in spite of their limitations, I haven't had as much fun playing my bass with any other string, they being:

Helicore Hybrids (med)
Helicore Orchestral (med)
Spiro Mittels
Spira Weichs
Spiro Solo's (tuned down)
Corelli 370TX
Innovation 140H EADG
Innovation 140B DG
Velvet Anima's

I know that's nowhere near every string out there, but (other than trying plain EA) I feel that my string safari is happily over, hence my vote (YMMV).

[Brett from Bama]

Originally Posted by superman

Get you some Innavations Super Silvers,,not slap silvers,,just plain ole Super Silvers,,they have the deep punch for Bluegrass/Country,,easy on the hands,,alot like guts,,only draw back is they dont amplifiy as good as guts,Kent

Superman feel free to swing by Big Joes Guitarworks to see my bass, you can see Roy Husky autograph on it. Brett from bama

[superman]

I will try to do that,,is it one of Roy's old basses?

[martinc]

Originally Posted by superman

Get you some Innavations Super Silvers,,not slap silvers,,just plain ole Super Silvers,,they have the deep punch for Bluegrass/Country,,easy on the hands,,alot like guts,,only draw back is they dont amplifiy as good as guts,Kent

kent: What type of pick-up do you use?

[Brett from Bama]

Originally Posted by superman

I will try to do that,,is it one of Roy's old basses?

I don't know for sure, but I am positive you will be so pleased with your time spent in the drive to view it. I'll leave the rest for a surprise for you, but you'll be glad you spent a little time looking at it.

[superman]

Martin ,I mainly use a Underwood pickup,,but just one of the leads,,other one I just leave out of the bridge wings,,this gives the bass lots more punch,,when you use both it's like having mics out of phase,,they cancel each other out,,kinda weird,,but it works..I do use a Realist on Joe Zinkans bass,,It works great on that bass,it's a 150+ yr old german,and very responsive,, I dont get the same results out of plywood with the realist,,so the Underwood works best on plywood,,Kent

[martinc]

Originally Posted by superman

Martin ,I mainly use a Underwood pickup,,but just one of the leads,,other one I just leave out of the bridge wings,,this gives the bass lots more punch,,when you use both it's like having mics out of phase,,they cancel each other out,,kinda weird,,but it works..I do use a Realist on Joe Zinkans bass,,It works great on that bass,it's a 150+ yr old german,and very responsive,, I dont get the same results out of plywood with the realist,,so the Underwood works best on plywood,,Kent

Kent: Thanks!
I asked because you had mentioned earlier about the Super Silvers not amplifying as well as guts. I was wondering if there was any difference in the type of pickups you had used.
I remember trying an Evah Pirazzi G and D with the BassMax and noticed that they did not amplify as well as the steel and guts did.
I used a Super Silver G one time with my BassMax and it amplified fine. I am using a Schatten RB-1 now and am thinking about trying a Super Silver G and D with my E and A Spiro Weichs.

[Gasocaster]

Red label..(spiracore) around $125 a set if you are really planning to play. Weedwhackers otherwise. There is an angle difference on the set of the neck between high tension (metal) and low tension ( nylon-gut) Best of luck there. I rebuilt a dozen old "Kays" from the Nashville flood. Some "Luthiers" some "Hacks" around there. Jazz (fools) often set a string height at less than 1/2" at end of fingerboard. I use a minimum of 11/16ths". But been playing since '66 and known as "the loudest" around the Winfield Ks. bluegrass festival since '74. I picked to play the instrument, I don't complain about blisters, doors, or fitting it in my car. (just a thought) Best wishes. (it's the space between the notes that is important. you can worry about the right note when you get the spaces right)

[wallawallabob]

Corelli 370 here. Seem to work for me just fine.

[HLJ]

I use Thomastik-Enfeld Spirocore "Red." They produce a good sound, and stay in tune better than gut or nylon.
The action can be set lower without strings rattling or buzzing.
They'll also work better (with good sound reinforcement) for folk-rock and country.
Never tried them but Thomastic "Blue" are being used by several major label bass players too.
These strings work well with magnetic pickups...FWIW..
JR

[kg4muc]

Super Silvers here..for now... but I plan on some mix and match later. Probably a plain gut G and D for now.. I think that will give me a tad more response given that I normally shoot for the full fat old school country sound ..playing mostly that and bluegrass