Double Bass First real foray into synthetic gut strings - WOW

[BlackDog Music]

So, I've been a bassist for roughly 40 years, about 15 of that now on double bass. I had a rehearsal tonight and was able to put my new set of Evah Gold/slaps through their paces - man, I've got to say, not what I was expecting. I've played primarily steels (the usual suspects) and some Silver slaps but this is really my first full session on gut-like strings. To me, they sounded punchy but with a really fast decay and a nice but not huge bottom end. Listening to the recording, though - man, they seemed to REALLY fill up the space and project way more than I was hearing - has anyone else had this experience? I'm talking strictly pizz - I expect Arco and slap to have more volume but this really took my by surprise. Is this a common first impression or am I just tricking my old ears because they felt so much more supple on the fingerboard?

 

[jj.833]

My experience with synthetic strings (Evah, Obligatos, Polychromes) is that these are punchy and warm at the beginning, but after few months they get to lose much of this beautiful fragility, becoming strong, but dull. Cleaning helps, putting them off the bass and on again helps. When I played synthetic strings, I changed them quite often.

On my nice carved bass that likes soft strings, the synthetic strings proved to be not a good option in a long term. On my not very nice laminated bass that likes tougher strings, synthetic strings help to add some character that is missing with Spiros.

Evahs are great. Obligatos are perhaps the best sounding strings I remember playing except they roll under the bow. Polychromes (newer, US made) were technically the worst quality of strings I ever had, just an expensive error.

Evahs slaps are on my need to try wishlist, in the sad case that I would feel need to do some experimenting again.
Good luck!

 

[JazznFunk]

I've been using a mixed set with Aquila Gold Springs D and G synthetic guts for about 3 or 4 years now (same set still going strong) and experienced the same. I love the depth and spread of the low end and how they help to fill the room in a far less 'pointed' fashion than a full metal wrapped set of strings. I was already moving in that direction for years, using synthetic core strings like Kolstein Heritage and D'Addario Zyex, but the Gold Springs really nailed what I wanted. I also like not hitting JUST metal for 3 hours a night during a set. It's far easier on my hands, which is a plus, but the tone is the thing that sold me. My current setup is Aquila Gold Springs D and G, D'Addario Zyex medium A, and Helicore Hybrid E. The ONLY downside is that this setup doesn't bow easily at all, but you CAN bow them if you have a game plan going in.

 

[Jay Corwin]

Gut in general has that type of response in a room mix. There are plenty of times my bass sounds boxy to my ears while I'm playing it, but warm and booming on playbacks - even with some inexpensive room mics catching rehearsals.

 

[bherman]

Great info, thx - I'm mostly playing old-school jazz and brazilian these days, along with very occasional bluegrass gig. With my old fingers, the D & G might be a good idea. I'm already using Zyex, so could keep the E and A and try the synthetic D and G.

 

[Don Hergert]

The acoustic sound of true guts and very gut-like synthetic strings tend to bloom, often unexpectedly to the player. I often get comments from other bassists like "the room got full of bass sound" or "I could hear the bass across the field" and things like that. I've not played EP "Gold" Slaps but they do get excellent reviews.

Welcome to the string rabbit hole!

 

[DeepSouth]

After spending a few years using all of the usual strings sold as having gut like properties I finally started using plain gut on A D and G and was finally happy. The E string still ends up being a synthetic. Still on the quest for a favorite E hah.

A good compromise set I stuck with for about 2 years was the Evah Slap mixed set. Synthetic E and A, gut D and G. From jazz to roots I see that set being used allot.

Now that I've comfy with real gut, synthetics always leave me less than fully satisfied.

At the end of the day it's whatever works best for the individual player is all that really matters.
There's no wrong answer in my book.

 

[Sam Reese]

I've had a long relationship with Evah Slaps (all synthetic). How were you recording (pickup, instrument mic, room mics)? Give the strings some time and you'll likely develop a love/hate relationship with them, too!

 

[JazznFunk]

After spending a few years using all of the usual strings sold as having gut like properties I finally started using plain gut on A D and G and was finally happy. The E string still ends up being a synthetic. Still on the quest for a favorite E hah.

A good compromise set I stuck with for about 2 years was the Evah Slap mixed set. Synthetic E and A, gut D and G. From jazz to roots I see that set being used allot.

Now that I've comfy with real gut, synthetics always leave me less than fully satisfied.

At the end of the day it's whatever works best for the individual player is all that really matters.
There's no wrong answer in my book.

If you ever get the inkling to try the Aquila Gold Springs synthetic D and G, they feel and sound eerily similar to the real deal Kaplan Golden Spiral guts they are designed to emulate... they also made gut versions. Essentially Golden Spiral reissues.

 

[LouisF]

This is slightly off topic, but... I've used Heritage, Dominants, Dirty Guts, Obligatos, Zyex etc. The best synthetic string ever IMO was Super-sensitive's Sensicore (dont laugh). I wish that D'Addario or whoever bought theirRed Labels would relaunch the string. I think it would solve a LOT of our problems. NOS sets still show up from time to time.

 

[Francois Blais]

Since D'Addario already has the Zyex in their catalog, I highly doubt they would reintroduce the Sensicore line, Louis, but good luck!

 

[LouisF]

One can always hope. Having played both Zyex and Sensicores I think the Sensicores were better. But this may just be the fog of old age...

Ou sont les nieges, Mon vieux...

 

[Paul New]

I have had a set of the Evah Slaps with gut tops on my Kay for ten years and they still sound and play great. Just bought a set of the full synthetics and put them on standby, because ten years must be pushing it, right?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

DeepSouth, consider running a medium-gauge Evah A downtuned to E. I’ve used that under plain gut uppers and it worked fine. Enough boom and tubbiness to not stand out, similar tension and enough definition to hear notes.

 

[Earl]

This is slightly off topic, but... I've used Heritage, Dominants, Dirty Guts, Obligatos, Zyex etc. The best synthetic string ever IMO was Super-sensitive's Sensicore (dont laugh). I wish that D'Addario or whoever bought theirRed Labels would relaunch the string. I think it would solve a LOT of our problems. NOS sets still show up from time to time.

Yes, I loved the Sensicores! I have a very old Sensicore A string on my plywood right now.