Double Bass Been away from upright for quite a while - why mixed string sets?

[TroyK]

I am a notorious string-mixer.

My opinion/advise/position on this is that you should pick a set that you think will work for you and put it on or better yet, if you've been away for a while, have a luthier put it on and adjust the soundpost and bridge to get it dialed in. Break them in, live with them for a while before thinking about making a change. If it doesn't work for you consider a different set. When you get to know your bass well enough with a few different sets, you could decide that there is some unique gremlin that could be chased out by mixing and matching from different sets.

Having done that and reached my conclusions about my own bass, if I got a different bass, I would put all of those conclusions aside and start over with a complete set. It can be an expensive distraction and isn't always necessary or advantageous.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

And let's not forget the variances from player to player. Every single player who plays my bass - bar none, from Rufus Reid to Lynn Seaton to John Goldsby and on down - sounds completely different. Specifically, they usually sound way darker and/or lighter. We set up our basses and strings for the way we play, and it might have little to do with the bass and more to do with the playing style. There is just no covering all of these variables when other players are concerned except by trial and error.

 

[Don Hergert]

Ahhhh, the touch...

 

[Silverface]

Great stuff - thanks to everyone.

It appears that - at least to point - mixed set use is slightly "style specific", being more prevalent among classical and jazz players than bluegrass. folk, rockabilly and "acoustic alternative" players (that last one is a made up catch-all for acoustic rock, country rock and whatever else I can't think of right now...).

And the more I read the more I'm split personally - and not just about upright bass strings.

Yikes.

For years I've been a "known tone deviant" with catch phrase "No Chops but Great Tone©" who jokes....only slightly...about being more interested in playing ONE good sounding note than a "cool licks". Most of my "playing" instruments we selected for tone - not appearance, name brand, style or even playability (this I can usually "fix").

And I use quite a few string sets that are not found at GC, Sam Ash or any typical music store. So while I simply can't afford to try mixed sets on upright, I have enough inventory of different types to try all sorts of combinations on electric bass and all types of guitars, mandolins, slide instruments etc etc.

And if it ends up costing me a bunch of money or causes extreme mental anguish I will track you all down...be warned...

(And I apologize to all you "double bass" terminology folks, but I never heard that term much until a few years ago. I "upright" because I'm used to it and nobody seems confused anyway...)

 

[RBrownBass]

So maybe, for some people, the string mix-&-match game may be a short-cut to the sound they're after, rather than spending the time to adapt their technique to the string...or maybe not...just a guess.

Not all string sets sound great or even matched on every bass under every player TO every player. That's one reason singles are sold to begin with. Glad you've found your setup.