what about LaBella Supernills?

Jim S · #1 01-12-2011, 08:57 PM

My 1941 Kay came to me with Helicore Hybrid Mediums. They sound fine but experts tell me they might put to much tension on the bass. A friend recomends LaBella Supernils. Any advice? Is there something better? I'd like to keep the hybrid sound with less tension. Is this possible? I only play bluegrass in jams, and need to be loud.

Jake deVilliers · #2 01-13-2011, 12:46 AM

Hey Jim, I find the Supernils a little flabby sounding on the E & A strings. The Innovation Silver Slaps would work well on your bass - lower tension but a good fat bluegrass sound.

Are you going to Wintergrass this year?

Jason Sypher · #3 01-13-2011, 05:36 AM

Go with the Innovation 140H's, soft but with a real sound. Supernils are ridiculous strings. There's a point when soft is too soft.

Matt Ides · #4 01-13-2011, 05:47 AM

Obligatos might work as well for less tension. I have them on an Epiphone and they feel and sound great.

Bobby King · #5 01-13-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim S

My 1941 Kay came to me with Helicore Hybrid Mediums. They sound fine but experts tell me they might put to much tension on the bass. A friend recomends LaBella Supernils. Any advice? Is there something better? I'd like to keep the hybrid sound with less tension. Is this possible? I only play bluegrass in jams, and need to be loud.

Supernils are not going to sound anything like the Hybrids. Totally different sound and feel. I don't see why Hybrids would put too much tension on the bass. Unless you want the lower tension, keep them.

Jason Sypher · #6 01-13-2011, 08:17 AM

No love for the Helicores....can easily understand wanting to ditch them...

MR PC · #7 01-13-2011, 02:31 PM

Doesn't Missy Raines use use those Hybrids on her old Kay? Not Sure. But she sure gets a nice sound!

Innovations have sounded great to me on the old Kay and Englehart basses, very warm sound. Thomastck Weich are the "go to" string for old Kay basses IMO, though on my Kay I swap the G for either Obligato, or Oliv.

Jason Sypher · #8 01-13-2011, 03:09 PM

nice idea on the Oliv G

superman · #9 01-13-2011, 06:56 PM

What are the Innv 140s?? I have tried supersilver A&E with gut G&D and they sound good acousticly but they loose the punch when pluged in.
Supernyls are not very good stings,,but I have heard basses from far away that leaves you wondering what on earth is on that bass??,,then you find out supernyls,, I have some ideas that the supernyls could be a bit redesigned and make a decent silver wrapped A&E,I think my idea would give them a little more tenison and get rid of that "roll" that they have,,but the nylon wrapped G&D are not much.
As far as Missy s tone I really find her tone to be more of a jazz tone than trad.bluegrass tone,,Hybrids would be on the other end of the scale from supernyls,,

Jake deVilliers · #10 01-13-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superman

What are the Innv 140s?? I have tried supersilver A&E with gut G&D and they sound good acousticly but they loose the punch when pluged in.
Supernyls are not very good stings,,but I have heard basses from far away that leaves you wondering what on earth is on that bass??,,then you find out supernyls,, I have some ideas that the supernyls could be a bit redesigned and make a decent silver wrapped A&E,I think my idea would give them a little more tenison and get rid of that "roll" that they have,,but the nylon wrapped G&D are not much.
As far as Missy s tone I really find her tone to be more of a jazz tone than trad.bluegrass tone,,Hybrids would be on the other end of the scale from supernyls,,

Hey Kent, the Innovation 140H Honeys have a solid nylon core with a very smooth stainless wrap. The solid core gives the strings some stiffness so they aren't floppy while still being lower tension and the metal wrap gives them a little bit of edge and click. They bow really nicely too.

Jason Sypher · #11 01-13-2011, 09:06 PM

The thing I like about the 140H is that they're fatter. If you like those big fat guts you're gonna like these more than skinny Obligitno's. Evah's are similar but I think Evah's sound boxed in to me...

superman · #12 01-13-2011, 09:11 PM

So,,do you think I might get the punch that lacks with the S/S's??but with out the whang of steels?? how would they compair to Eudoxas??,Do they have as heavy tenison as Permanents??

MR PC · #13 01-13-2011, 09:15 PM

I like the big fat guts, so I"ll need to try the 140H strings on one of my own basses. If the G is fat like the Oliv, that would do very well for me. Somehow I think the OP is going to like these Innovations as an alternative to the Helicore.

Jake deVilliers · #14 01-13-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superman

So,,do you think I might get the punch that lacks with the S/S's??but with out the whang of steels?? how would they compair to Eudoxas??,Do they have as heavy tenison as Permanents??

Nope - I have them on my ca. 1860 Bohemian Flatback and it sounds open and warm and the strings are very easy under the hands. They don't have the 'stretchiness' of guts but the tension is easy on the left hand.

I think of therm as being halfway between Spirocore Weichs and Super Silvers - thicker, blunter, warmer but still defined. As they say about wine they are "Muscular yet focused."

superman · #15 01-14-2011, 07:10 AM

Ok ,,how about the 140s and the "roll" factor,,do they have the "roll" that supernyls,and obligotos have??
Sounds like what I've been looking for,,

JayB · #16 01-14-2011, 09:40 AM

So, does anyone have any idea how the 140s might match up with guts? I like my Garbo light E with my Gamut plain guts A-G pizz, but the arco on the Garbo is too quiet in comparison to the guts. I'm thinking the 140B Solo F# might just be the ticket for a more balanced response under the bow......

Jake deVilliers · #17 01-14-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superman

Ok ,,how about the 140s and the "roll" factor,,do they have the "roll" that supernyls,and obligotos have??
Sounds like what I've been looking for,,

No roll at all. You know, I almost compared them with Obligatos in my previous post but the 140H don't have the long sustain - they sound more old school.

Are you wanting to pair them with gut G and D?

Jake deVilliers · #18 01-14-2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayB

So, does anyone have any idea how the 140s might match up with guts? I like my Garbo light E with my Gamut plain guts A-G pizz, but the arco on the Garbo is too quiet in comparison to the guts. I'm thinking the 140B Solo F# might just be the ticket for a more balanced response under the bow......

I think that solo gauge string would be too floppy pizz. Of course I think the Garbo Light would be too loose as well!

What gauge are your Gamuts?

JayB · #19 01-14-2011, 12:21 PM

Jake,

My gauge is a Lyon Medium+ G varnished, a Lyon Light+ D (but sanded a couple of times) unvarnished, a Pistoy Light A varnished. I'll get a Lyon Medium varnished at some point when the D dies (got it used), but the match is good for now.

I think the Garbo light E is a great match for pizz, as it doesn't overpower the plain gut A unplugged or amped. Arco, the string grabs but the output is really low on my bass. The 140B solo seems like the only bowable string I can find without a tension jump. At only 60 bucks, I'll probably give the string a shot sooner than later.

Jake deVilliers · #20 01-15-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayB

Jake,

My gauge is a Lyon Medium+ G varnished, a Lyon Light+ D (but sanded a couple of times) unvarnished, a Pistoy Light A varnished. I'll get a Lyon Medium varnished at some point when the D dies (got it used), but the match is good for now.

I think the Garbo light E is a great match for pizz, as it doesn't overpower the plain gut A unplugged or amped. Arco, the string grabs but the output is really low on my bass. The 140B solo seems like the only bowable string I can find without a tension jump. At only 60 bucks, I'll probably give the string a shot sooner than later.

Seems like you've thought it through! Let us know how it works out, eh?