Double Bass Gamut gut string questions

[drivin5string]

Considering trying the Gamut guts on my G and D, and I know a popular combo is the Lyon medium G and a light Pistoy D. The questions: how is that combo for a short sustain? How is the Pistoy for slap? And how is varnish vs. no varnish for slap? Strictly a pizz player in the high-humidity south.

 

[AGCurry]

Considering trying the Gamut guts on my G and D, and I know a popular combo is the Lyon medium G and a light Pistoy D. The questions:

how is that combo for a short sustain?

Sustain is roughly typical of most gut strings. You may find the sustain a little longer than that of other brands. The Pistoy sustains a bit longer than the Lyon.

How is the Pistoy for slap?

Wonderful, but if I were slapping a great deal of the time, I might consider the additional cost of Pistoy to be wasted. IMO much of the "Pistoy advantage" is realized in playing with the bow.

And how is varnish vs. no varnish for slap?

No difference, but the varnish can prevent the strings from sprouting hairs, thereby prolonging string life.

 

[Jason Sypher]

Considering trying the Gamut guts on my G and D, and I know a popular combo is the Lyon medium G and a light Pistoy D. The questions: how is that combo for a short sustain? How is the Pistoy for slap? And how is varnish vs. no varnish for slap? Strictly a pizz player in the high-humidity south.

I think you will love them. Pistoy is not necessary. Varnished is a nice way to go.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

If you’re even the least bit careful, varnished Lyons should last for a couple years at least.

 

[JBarz]

oooft, it's just a matter of time before I try these out... I just switched back to a Oliv G on my American Standard (with Sprios) and it brought back my gut lust in a big way. Would one use Pistoy D&G over spirtocore E&A if you were a heavy arco gut nut? I get confused shopping for these strings and the choice paralysis keeps me wallet safe.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The bowing of plain gut and metal wound strings is very different.
You might dislike changing the bowing with a string crossing from plain gut to metal.

 

[Jason Sypher]

oooft, it's just a matter of time before I try these out... I just switched back to a Oliv G on my American Standard (with Sprios) and it brought back my gut lust in a big way. Would one use Pistoy D&G over spirtocore E&A if you were a heavy arco gut nut? I get confused shopping for these strings and the choice paralysis keeps me wallet safe.

Yes. That is a great choice. Pistoy varnished D and G with Spiro A and E. I went with Medium Light or Light Plus. Great sound. Versatile. Upper register playing is, while not as sustained as steel, very nice.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

The bowing of plain gut and metal wound strings is very different.
You might dislike changing the bowing with a string crossing from plain gut to metal.

I've actually found Spirocore to most closely resemble gut in terms of the extended harmonics and overtones. Most of the synthetic core strings I've tried have been noticeably duller and more one dimensional. Silver/copper wire wound gut is the best match in my experience. YMMV.

 

[Eli Brockway]

Gut and Spirocores are the same under the bow in the sense that they'll pick up every last little bit of information you give them and send it out for everybody to hear, whether you intend it or not.

Where they're different is how they actually feel under the bow for the user, the level of rosin and bow speed they'll like, things like that. It's not a matter of sound that he's commenting from.

 

[jmpiwonka]

Yeah I didn’t really like the feel of plain gut next to spiros for arco. I wanted a heavier bow for the spiros and if i did tge same for the guts it would make them go sharp.

 

[crd]

oooft, it's just a matter of time before I try these out... I just switched back to a Oliv G on my American Standard (with Sprios) and it brought back my gut lust in a big way. Would one use Pistoy D&G over spirtocore E&A if you were a heavy arco gut nut? I get confused shopping for these strings and the choice paralysis keeps me wallet safe.

For arco, just go with the academia set Dan L recommends. If you do any pizzing at all I think you will regret the pistoy G. The pistoy D is just right but I think it would be too floppy for a jazz G string.

 

[Jason Sypher]

For arco, just go with the academia set Dan L recommends. If you do any pizzing at all I think you will regret the pistoy G. The pistoy D is just right but I think it would be too floppy for a jazz G string.

This is a good point. I had forgotten that I used to use a Chorda G with a Pistoy D

 

[DoubleMIDI]

The difference with (plain) gut strings to steel or synthetic core strings is that the core diameter differs from string to string of a gut set whereas for synthetic or steel core strings the core is the same for all strings of a set.

So a plain gut D of the same construction is a lot stiffer and less flexible than a plain gut G. Therefor often a lighter (and thinner) D is used, but it often sounds a bit weak.
To get the flexibility of a plain gut D closer to the flexibility of a plain gut G the construction of the plain gut D can be changed by using a much higher twist. This is what the Pistoy does, but also Aquila makes high twist DB strings.

Of course there is a limit of twisting that might be reached with the D, so you cannot twist a plain gut A high enough to get as close to the flexibility of a normal twisted G.
So, you often find plain gut G and D and wound A and E (regardless of the core and winding metal).

Regarding my last comment:
It was only a warning that not everyone can or wants to handle the change of bow pressure needed when crossing the gut/metal border.
Sound becomes irrelevant if you cannot handle the playing.

 

[juusokasperi]

For arco, just go with the academia set Dan L recommends. If you do any pizzing at all I think you will regret the pistoy G. The pistoy D is just right but I think it would be too floppy for a jazz G string.

I used to play Lyon D&G and switched over to Pistoy D&G. For me, the pistoys work just as well for pizz, and are great with the bow

 

[JBarz]

Cool, that’s exactly what I need to know - thanks gang. Usually I like my gut strings thick and beefy so I can really dig in (pizz). My instincts say try the “heavy+” academia full set. Is this too extreme for optimum arco response?

 

[jmpiwonka]

Regarding my last comment:
It was only a warning that not everyone can or wants to handle the change of bow pressure needed when crossing the gut/metal border.
Sound becomes irrelevant if you cannot handle the playing.

this is exactly what i was referring to in my post.

 

[AGCurry]

Cool, that’s exactly what I need to know - thanks gang. Usually I like my gut strings thick and beefy so I can really dig in (pizz). My instincts say try the “heavy+” academia full set. Is this too extreme for optimum arco response?

I find arco easier with lighter guts. Heavies don't start as well, giving more false notes.

 

[JBarz]

I find arco easier with lighter guts. Heavies don't start as well, giving more false notes.

What gauge are you using or have used that you like as a pizz/arco balance strang?

when I eventually cave and give into a full set of guts again, I want to make sure I don’t miss the sweet spot with these cause they’re so dang ‘spensive.

thank ye, and sorry for hijacking the thread with my own gamut questions. Appreciate ya’ll

 

[Jeff Kissell]

For Gamuts, light plus D - medium plus G is the sweet spot for me. Mediums on the E and A if’n you go all in.

 

[AGCurry]

What gauge are you using or have used that you like as a pizz/arco balance strang?

when I eventually cave and give into a full set of guts again, I want to make sure I don’t miss the sweet spot with these cause they’re so dang ‘spensive.

thank ye, and sorry for hijacking the thread with my own gamut questions. Appreciate ya’ll

Zoot,
Pistoy G medium
Pistoy D light+
copper-wound A, medium
silverplate-wound E, medium

If I were made of money, I would try a medium+ G and a light+ A. I think the slightly-heavier G could start as well as the medium, and a lighter A might start easier. I took my gut-strung bass to orchestra rehearsal last night, and aside from tuning instability in the lowers, it did fine ... a little reluctance from the A string.