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Double Bass Can I get synthetic gut strings that bow well?

O

OfCourseYouAre

Guest
Aug 20, 2014
11
2
Camp Hill, PA
#1
Hello all. Long time lurker here. I have read most of the stickies and can't quite find what I'm looking for, so here goes. I play bluegrass, I have a mid-90s Czech Strunal, set up very well by Shank's Strings in Elizabethtown, PA. It has flatwound steel strings on it, unsure of the brand, fairly high action, I'd say about medium tension. They are starting to wear out, they've been more susceptible than normal to temperature and humidity fluctuations, and I've found myself tuning much more often, especially when playing harder, i.e. at a loud gig, plus they're almost 3 years old. My bow is made by K. Holtz, and I use Nyman rosin. I use the bow for one full song and bits and pieces in a couple of other songs regularly at gigs.

At a festival over the weekend, a fellow bass player let me play his bass, an Engel with Eurosonics on it. I REALLY liked the feel of them, how they didn't beat up my fingers so much, and it was so much easier to do the slap stuff that I've been trying to do more of. Only problem is I have done some research, and the consensus is they don't bow well. I'm also not keen on real gut, as they seem tempermental, especially outside...and a majority of our gigs from April-September are outside.

So my question is, can I get a set of synthetic gut strings that have that low tension, "slippery" feel to them along with the punch and drive (I don't care much about sustain) I need for really quick grass tunes, but also sound halfway decent with a bow?
 
#2
Pirastro Olivs would be an option. Some people like how they bow. They are a wound gut core string, but very pricey (about $600). Pirastro Eudoxa are another choice, also very pricey. Pretty much any wound gut string will be expensive, because of the cost of making them. A less expensive alternative to try is the Pirastro Obligato. I have talked to a number of bluegrass players who really like them. They emulate gut with a synthetic strand center and steel winding. Soft to the touch, and they are excellent under the bow. Much less expensive. Here's a site that will provide a lot of info: Invalid Link Removed
 
#5
Eurosonics are low tension and have a synthetic outer wrap. I think the latter feature is what you are looking for (rather than Olivs or Velvets which have a metal wrap), but is also what makes this type of string difficult to bow. Bob and Mark Gollihur sell several different strings of this type from their website including newer products from Innovation and La Bella. Since they are both bassists who test many of the products they sell, they might be able to offer a suggestion for string that is similar to the Eurosonis that is more arco-friendly.

- Steve
 
#6
I have innovation super silvers on my bass right now as a summer experiment. Although I'm planing to go back to steal strings when I get a new bridge in a few weeks, I do like these strings. I'd say try them out. Bow wise I wouldn't play in any orchestra with them, but they get the job done in the practice room. There might be a used set in the classifieds in a few weeks...
 
#7
Thanks for the replies. Sounds like either the Innovations or the Obligatos are in the neighborhood of what I'm looking for- soft on the fingers, OK to bow, but still punchy enough for grass. I've ordered from Gollihur before, I'll e-mail them and see what they think.
 
#10
I just took off a set of Zyex mediums after about three months of use. I wound up putting a Spiro mittel on the E because I found the Zyex E to be weak and floppy. I found them to be good strings, but not the greatest and really didn't suit my needs. I play jazz and classical, not bluegrass, so you may have a different experience with them. For arco, they are okay. They have a bit of a scratchy sound to them but can also be very vocal if played right. For pizz, they are bright. I don't know if after a year they settle in more and become darker, but they were far too bright for my bass and my liking. I don't know how they will fair with slapping since I don't slap. This is all my experience, so other people here may have a better experience. Right now, I have Evah Weich on the G, D, and A and I kept the Spiro Mittel E. I really like this set up. Maybe you might have a good shot with Evah solos tuned to normal tuning, but I don't know since I've never tried it but other people here have, so maybe you all can chime in.
 
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#11
+1 to Jazzcat's Evah solos suggestion.
I had solo Obligatos tuned down to regular pitch, but switched to Evah solos tuned down to regular pitch as soon as they became available. I based my choices on the sound I wished to achieve and lots of research and reading, since I was not at liberty to $pend time, money & effort trying every string under the sun. I was not disappointed.
*NB: I've not tried other strings apart from Supernils on my semi-solid, and some Hellcore on my Shen.
 
#12
+1 to rosin on the string for synthetic wrap strings (including the Eurosonics = Presto Nylonwound).

Other options: Innovation Braided or Braided Solo downtuned, Presto Balance Hybrid Medium or Light (bow like a dream and still with pizz punch), if your bass sounds bright, Evah Weich or downtuned Evah Solo. If your bass sounds rather dark, downtuned Dominant Solo.

My first recommendation: Presto Balance Hybrid Medium or Light. You might need to mailorder from Jonas Lohse in Germany.
My second recommendation: Innovation Braided (Solo).

I used Nymans before but I'm a bit happier with Kolstein All-Weather or Petz Premium now.
 
#13
The arco sound for the Super Silvers sounds a lot like listening to PC play an arco solo. My problem with Obligatos is that they have always had durability issues. Let me be clear I've not tried them but I can think of 3 friends who have had them and they fell apart after a few months. One even had his G string completely unwind.
 
#17
Innovation rockabillys are the easiest bowing nylon wound i've found. Still not as easy as steel wound nylons like evah solos tuned down or Innovation 140B solos tuned down but usable. silver slaps are a little harder but doable under the right conditions. I would not recommend eurosonics for bowing, they are the most difficult nylon wounds!
Eurosonics and rockabillys are very similar in feel tone and sustain but in my opinion the rockabillys sound and feel a little better and are easier to bow. the Innovation 140Bs (solo tuned down) and the Evah Pirazzis (also solo tuned down) are really great strings for bluegrass mixed with slap and bowing. If you are more into slap try the rockabillys. The evahs or 140Bs if you are more into bowing.
 

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