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  #1  
Old 09-13-2010, 06:08 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Strings for an ALCOA Aluminum

Hi everybody, I am in the process of buying an Alcoa aluminum upright bass. I will be playing bluegrass. What strings would you recommend for this bass? I know that there is a sticky for string selections, but being aluminum won't the sound be slightly different? Thank you for any and all advice.

Marty
  #2  
Old 09-14-2010, 11:03 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Phoenix
I've got an Alcoa, too. I initially replaced the mishmash of old strings with weed whackers, thinking that something non-metallic and low tension would soften the "pingy" sound of the aluminum body. This was a disaster -- the strings had as much volume/tone/attack as limp noodles.

Currently, the bass is strung with D'Addario Helicore Pizzicatos. ( http://bit.ly/belwtY ) Bob Gollihur describes them as being similar to Spirocores, but they're cheaper, so I gave them a go. I can't say I love the sound -- there's definitely still a metallic character to the tone -- but I don't know if that's due to the strings or is just a characteristic of aluminum basses in general. They are loud, at least!

Because this isn't my main bass, I probably won't spend more time/money experimenting on strings for the time being. I look forward to hearing your and others thoughts/experiences.

Marc
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  #3  
Old 11-13-2011, 09:31 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
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Wink

I run La Bella Supernils on mine... I have had a couple folks suggest Pirastro Obligato's But My budget won't allow that just now... If I was sure I'd go for it but they are twice the money...
Maybe with a regular gig...
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Last edited by Woolfey : 11-13-2011 at 09:40 PM.
  #4  
Old 11-14-2011, 04:42 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Give Fretwell's a call. Jerry has two of them.

http://www.fretwellbass.com
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