• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Budget Gut/Gut and Steel Combo Sets

W

will_b_vinson14

Sep 16, 2020
19
4
22
Denton, Texas
#1
Hey there,
I've been looking at three different affordable gut/gut and steel string sets online, but I'm not sure which is best. Here are the three sets with prices and where to buy them:
1. Blast Cult Tone Mongers - $235 USD - Blast Cult website
2. Pyramid Double Bass Strings - $93 USD (+shipping) - Thomann Music
3. Global Gut Upright Double Bass Strings - $90 USD - Etsy
I mainly play slap and pizzicato, but I just got a bow about a week ago, so I'm just learning arco too. Thanks for any help/recommendations.
 
#2
Bro, I got you on this one!

Global Gut or whatever they call themselves these days (the cheap strings on ebay) are great to have in your case as a back up, and sure - a great introduction into gut. Buy. Cons are they are inconsistent, a little thinner on the D and G than I'd like, and require you finish them to the super smooth glossy finish (no big deal). I have a buddy who loves the plain gut A and E for his country western stuff. Says they project just fine through the amp - and they do!

Pyramid I think are the same things.

I don't know blast Cult, but I suggest you get the strings from Gollihur's that used to be Gotz, now called Lenzner, I think. Get the set with the wound E and A. They will last about a year an a half of heavy slapping, but when the winding busts - joy! - they become my all time favorite plain gut D and G strings.

Arco is going to be a little trickier on (plain) gut, but that makes going to nice arco strings feel like transitioning from a bike to a motorcycle. I just switched to Pirastro Eudoxa/Oliv set and feel like I "get it" in terms of arco now...

Good luck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Keith Rawlings, eerbrev and AGCurry
#3
JBarz said:
Bro, I got you on this one!

Global Gut or whatever they call themselves these days (the cheap strings on ebay) are great to have in your case as a back up, and sure - a great introduction into gut. Buy. Cons are they are inconsistent, a little thinner on the D and G than I'd like, and require you finish them to the super smooth glossy finish (no big deal). I have a buddy who loves the plain gut A and E for his country western stuff. Says they project just fine through the amp - and they do!

Pyramid I think are the same things.

I don't know blast Cult, but I suggest you get the strings from Gollihur's that used to be Gotz, now called Lenzner, I think. Get the set with the wound E and A. They will last about a year an a half of heavy slapping, but when the winding busts - joy! - they become my all time favorite plain gut D and G strings.

Arco is going to be a little trickier on (plain) gut, but that makes going to nice arco strings feel like transitioning from a bike to a motorcycle. I just switched to Pirastro Eudoxa/Oliv set and feel like I "get it" in terms of arco now...

Good luck.[/QU
Click to expand...
JBarz said:
Bro, I got you on this one!

Global Gut or whatever they call themselves these days (the cheap strings on ebay) are great to have in your case as a back up, and sure - a great introduction into gut. Buy. Cons are they are inconsistent, a little thinner on the D and G than I'd like, and require you finish them to the super smooth glossy finish (no big deal). I have a buddy who loves the plain gut A and E for his country western stuff. Says they project just fine through the amp - and they do!

Pyramid I think are the same things.

I don't know blast Cult, but I suggest you get the strings from Gollihur's that used to be Gotz, now called Lenzner, I think. Get the set with the wound E and A. They will last about a year an a half of heavy slapping, but when the winding busts - joy! - they become my all time favorite plain gut D and G strings.

Arco is going to be a little trickier on (plain) gut, but that makes going to nice arco strings feel like transitioning from a bike to a motorcycle. I just switched to Pirastro Eudoxa/Oliv set and feel like I "get it" in terms of arco now...

Good luck.
Click to expand...
Sounds good, although, how's the tension for slapping with guts and how much of a good, sticky sounding pop do you get with guts?
 
  • Like
Reactions: oldNewbie
#4
Slapping and guts are like the chicken and the egg. You won't find a better choice for slapping than plain gut. Sticky sounding pop aside, whatever that means, make sure that you don't take your gut strings off for 3 months before making a "slap" judgement of them. They change a lot as they get used to being bass strings. If you don't love them, I'll eat my hat. Also, make sure you get some 400 or finer sandpaper and fingernail clipppers for loose hairs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doggie Hauser and Keith Rawlings
#5
JBarz said:
Slapping and guts are like the chicken and the egg. You won't find a better choice for slapping than plain gut. Sticky sounding pop aside, whatever that means, make sure that you don't take your gut strings off for 3 months before making a "slap" judgement of them. They change a lot as they get used to being bass strings. If you don't love them, I'll eat my hat. Also, make sure you get some 400 or finer sandpaper and fingernail clipppers for loose hairs.
Click to expand...
Alright, thanks so much for all the help, I really appreciate it!
 
#6
JBarz said:
... I suggest you get the strings from Gollihur's that used to be Gotz, now called Lenzner, I think. Get the set with the wound E and A. They will last about a year an a half of heavy slapping, but when the winding busts - joy! - they become my all time favorite plain gut D and G strings.
Click to expand...

Yes, Lenzners are good. Just some advice:

I broke the wound strings (E and A) installing my first set of Lenzners. It's critical that the nut and bridge grooves be prepared properly for these strings!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sam Reese
#9
will_b_vinson14 said:
That's true, I'd be a bit surprised if they had used steels.
Click to expand...

Steel strings did not exist AFAIK until the 1950s and were not in widespread use until the 1960s. Just to name some well-known slappers - Willie Dixon, Wellman Braud, and Bill Black were in the pre-steel-string era.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doggie Hauser, Keith Rawlings, eerbrev and 1 other person
#14
will_b_vinson14 said:
Hey there,
I've been looking at three different affordable gut/gut and steel string sets online, but I'm not sure which is best. Here are the three sets with prices and where to buy them:
1. Blast Cult Tone Mongers - $235 USD - Blast Cult website
2. Pyramid Double Bass Strings - $93 USD (+shipping) - Thomann Music
3. Global Gut Upright Double Bass Strings - $90 USD - Etsy
I mainly play slap and pizzicato, but I just got a bow about a week ago, so I'm just learning arco too. Thanks for any help/recommendations.
Click to expand...
i can fully endorse the global guts ... D+G are stellar imo and i LOVE the feel too (SLIGHTLY more rough, not as much the "pasta" feel of chorda's)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back