Double Bass Bass Strings for Playing Bluegrass music

[tsolo]

I've used spiros, obligatos, 7710s, eudoxas - my personal favorite, but expensive - and others. The band I'm with now likes the quick decay and percussive sound of guts, so that's what I use.

 

[Whit Townsend]

I use Supernils and high action on my old Kay.
I have never gotten a deragatory remark from anyone over my tone, only compliments.
Sound almost as good as gut at 1/3 the price.
Once they strech out in a few days, very stable tuning in all weather conditions. Unlike gut, no maintainance.
Cheapest string on the market. I think they get passed over cause they don't cost 50 bucks a string. Can be had from 65-80 a set. A set will last me a year of playing 4-6 hrs everyday. In reality I chage em every 2-3 yrs, whren the windings start commin undone.
Soft, easier on the fingers that gut even.
The only downside is you can't bow em, but hey your playin bluegrass.

 

[mesmithnm]

I've used helicore hybrids (mediums) on both my Kay and my carved German bass, although I'm back to spirocore orchestral (mediums) on my carved bass. I've also use Corelli Fortes, but I don't like them as much as the helicore or spirocore - they just never sounded really "alive" to me. I play both basses in my bluegrass band and I use both basses on jazz and casual gigs (and occasionally I even use the bow!), so I need versatility. I've never used gut and don't plan to, but that's just because I'm happy with the acoustic sound I get (my sound using pickups is a whole 'nother can of worms). I personally prefer a string that sustains and I mute the string as required if I want more definition between notes. For a point of reference, if you want to hear what my carved bass sounds like with the helicores, check out any of the sound clips at [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Mark

 

[Steve Killingsworth]

On my current bass I love the sound of spirocore orchs (although curiousity is leading me to try something different). I think the spiros add depth to the music--not just a percussive thud. My old bass sounded best with Obligatos. I also tried spiro orchs and 7710s on it.

But I also believe it is more than just the box and strings. A lot of the sound comes from hands, arms, and shoulders. I have heard many guys who can only get a fraction of their bass's sound because they try to play it like a guitar.

I wonder what we would sound like if we were as obsessed with technique and hearing as we are with equipment?

 

[JJBluegrasser]

Good point Steve. I think that's one of the reasons I'm so adamant about Spiros. They work for me and I've been playing them for 2 years. Especially in bluegrass where there are so many opportunities to play, it's better to 'get good' than to 'buy good.'

Not try to start a fight guys, so I mean no offense.

Jason

 

[Uncletoad]

I wonder what we would sound like if we were as obsessed with technique and hearing as we are with equipment?

Oh yea.

 

[simpleybass]

I'm currently playing La Bella pure gut on the D&G, and Innovation Super Silvers on the E&A on my 1946 Kay.

As I wrote in another thread, I am really happy with the combination. The Super Silvers match the guts amazingly well, sound as well as playability.

I tried spirocores on the E&A with the gut D&G, they did not match well at all.

For a while I had a full set of the La Bella guts. The E&A are guts with a fine metal winding, basically a roundwound string. Really harsh on the fingertips and the fingerboard. The sound wasn't that great either.

Ironically, the E&A Super Silvers match the pure gut Labella D&G better than the metal wound gut E&A Labella includes in the full sets.

 

[airtight willie]

Hey I am thinking about trying the helicores on the E and A and the weedwhackers on the D and G for playing bluegrass with ocasional slapping. Has anybody tried this and have an opinion? I have heard there may be an issue with too great a diference in tension between the steal and plastic?

 

[jb6884]

Hey all just my .02.. this should probably be a poll rather than a question because it's obvious that every type of string is suitable for bluegrass.

Anyhow, I use spirocore mediums orchestra guage on my '39 kay, and am extremely happy with the top 3 strings. I believe the E string will follow suit shortly (new strings). Slapping is definitely different on steel strings, but it's definitely doable... I struggled and struggled, and struggled and then one day I got it. Now I'm much happier with the slap sound of the spiros than I was with the gut or nylon setups of the past.

As for hurting your hand slapping steel strings - yeah - blisters are in your future at first, but after calouses form it's fine. Unless of course you're one of those guys that slaps every note, on every tune, all day & night at the bluegrass festivals (BARF!). In my opinion, Mike Bub is the master of slapping because he hardly ever does it, and when he does it's very tastefully done.

Oops, that was more like .03...

 

[Jim Henderson]

Born2glf,
Just returned from a three day bluegrass venue(Cabin fever in Hampton Va.) and have been dealing with your problem of correct string choice. Two weeks ago I installed Velvet Garbos on the N.S Cleveland and they were huge,( size and tone). The low tension made them a blessing to play during long sessions without sacrificing the big tone (truely huge pizz). Before leaving, Mike Childree suggested Obligatos for the bluegrass sound. Having heard Big Mike's cuts on TB, I respect his opinion, Additionally, a fellow bassist had a 40 Kay with the obligatos on it and Mike was right. The only solution was to buy a 52 Kay that was for sale at the festival and install obligatos. As usual, this string and the newbie links, have excellent help and suggestions for killer bluegrass strings. However, like three fellow bassists told me, your bass will tell you which strings will give you the tone you are seeking. Good luck on your quest. Had no idea the dog's house was this cold in March.
Jim

 

[JJBluegrasser]

What a missed opportunity. I was at Cabin Fever as well. I just got home... I'm sorry I didn't see who was going first.

Jason

 

[MusicAli]

I think a lot depends on your style and playing situation. If you plan to go to alot of jams where there are 4 mandos, 6 banjos, countless guitarists, some fiddlers, accordians (!) etc, and you plan to last more than an hour, softer strings might be for you. If you slap at all, softer strings will help you avoid injury. If you play with a tight band, or a polite bunch of folks, spirocores might be the way to go.

Years ago I ran into my favorite bluegrass bassist on line. He recommended spirocore E and A and golden spiral D and G. At the time it sounded pretty esoteric to me, but I really trusted him and wanted to sound like he did on the recordings. If he'd told me to stand on my head an hour a day, I would have done that. My bass responded well to that combination. It suited my playing well, and has likely had impact on the development of my style. It allowed me to play in 8 hour outdoor jams without injury and sounded good on stage.

Go to some festivals this summer. PLay some basses. Check out strings, set up options etc.

I'd like to find out more about your suggestions for bass strings. One of the strings on my main bass had the red string like stuff unraveling. I asked someone who said to not worry about it but then one day before a jam I unzipped my case and the coating popped off. I just want to start with a whole new set of strings. In the meanwhile I have a cheaper back up bass to use. I play A LOT as I am the regular bassist for several jams and I go to festivals and will play for hours straight and people have to convince me to take a break. So I need strings that will be easy on my fingers and also ones that will project inside and out. I do everything from campground jams to performing with a bluegrass band at a deli. Since I have only been playing a year and a half, I know NOTHING about strings. Eurosonics were recommended. What do you think? Thank YOU! Alison from Lompoc, CA

 

[Max George]

Do you slap much?

 

[boombloom]

I'd like to find out more about your suggestions for bass strings. One of the strings on my main bass had the red string like stuff unraveling. I asked someone who said to not worry about it but then one day before a jam I unzipped my case and the coating popped off. I just want to start with a whole new set of strings. In the meanwhile I have a cheaper back up bass to use. I play A LOT as I am the regular bassist for several jams and I go to festivals and will play for hours straight and people have to convince me to take a break. So I need strings that will be easy on my fingers and also ones that will project inside and out. I do everything from campground jams to performing with a bluegrass band at a deli. Since I have only been playing a year and a half, I know NOTHING about strings. Eurosonics were recommended. What do you think? Thank YOU! Alison from Lompoc, CA

Wow! I wrote that a long time ago! For the past couple of years I have been playing Innovation Silver Slaps. They make my bass come alive. I can play them all night long without injury or fatigue (why would you let anyone convince you to take a break?), they are easy to find and reasonably priced. They are holding up well.

 

[Silverface]

I recently switched to Eurosonics on my Upton and I'm absolutely sold. They have a wonderfully soft, smooth feel with a strong tone and nice growl. I had tried several nylon blends all sounded muddy and indistinct, and the feel ranged from weirdly sticky to slippery, and steel strings I tried all felt far too stiff.

Sets show up in the classifieds periodically - that's where I found mine. But knowing what I do now if I was string shopping I'd pay full price for them.

 

[byrdzeye]

Another choice may be Zyex strings (synthetic). A bit of the gut sound without the problems, easy one the hands, and not very expensive. Had them on my Shen SB88 ply bass and they played and sounded great.

 

[justholler]

I have a full set of used Zyex that I just bought off TB to try against my Super Silvers. I've put them back in the classifieds for a low price. My bass (Englehardt) liked a couple of the strings but a couple others had a much more steel sound than the Silvers. They're likely a good choice for someone. They were loud and I'm sure they would cut through in a jam. I liked them better than Spiros for bluegrass.

 

[Steve Killingsworth]

In the 12 years since my original post, I've discovered Velvet Animas. Not cheap and not immortal like spirocores but what a tone. They have, to my ear, a perfect mix of thrum and growl. They have plenty of sustain if I'm playing something a little more contemporary or jazzy and a solid thump if I play with someone who prefers a more traditional sound.

I'm still working on that technique thing.

 

[Holdsg]

I recently switched to Eurosonics on my Upton and I'm absolutely sold. They have a wonderfully soft, smooth feel with a strong tone and nice growl. I had tried several nylon blends all sounded muddy and indistinct, and the feel ranged from weirdly sticky to slippery, and steel strings I tried all felt far too stiff.

Sets show up in the classifieds periodically - that's where I found mine. But knowing what I do now if I was string shopping I'd pay full price for them.

+1 on the Eurosonics (and Upton, for that matter) for Bluegrass

 

[Zbysek]

Is there somebody using EUB for bluegrass? What strings do you use? Do you have any tips to get rid of the EUB sustain? Thank you...