• 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 GoldenSlaps won't bow, what like that will?

BeowulfKingsley

BeowulfKingsley

Nov 9, 2010
259
87
Ann Arbor Michigan
www.beowulfkingsley.com
#1
Well, clearly Innovation GoldenSlaps aren't a string for arco. They're really nice for a lot of other reasons though...nice gut-esque tone but more defined, slaps easily, and I really like the diameter and tension. What strings with similar characteristics are also bowable? I know guts are, but I'd like to avoid the attendant problems of maintenance and tuning issues if I could...plus, at this stage, I can't really afford to feed the gut string habit. Any other suggestions?
 
#2
Either Evah Pirazzi or Belcantos in Solo gauge would be a good start. Or if you go with a blended thing with Helicore Orchestral - light or solos and gut up top, you save some bucks, still get gut, and have a mostly bowable setup. (Evah's balance nice with guts too, but that's a little more $$.)
None of these will have the same diameter as the Innovations, but you can't have everything ;)
 
#3
I have gut (Gamut), Evah's, and Golden Slaps on various Basses at the moment. Can't imagine bowing on the Golden Slaps.

Evah Pirazzi Weich (lights) might work for you. A joy to bow, but a lot of front-end punch to the note pizz, a good decay vs sustain, and a strong fundamental component to the note. All characteristics "similar" to gut. No roll like Obligatos. Stable, sturdy, and affordable. Mine seem to need a week or two to settle in after being strung though, so don't make any hasty decisions when you put them on. If I had one Bass and one set of strings to do everything, EP would be my choice.

Your mileage may vary....what do I know....I'm new here...etc ;)
But I do use all 3 types of string at the moment.

...Lyle
 
#4
Keep in mind, with the solo gauges especially, the crossing from gut D to "other, much smaller diameter synthetic" will take some getting used to. Also you'll probably have to alter the bow speed and pressure some. I'd try to get to know it well before passing judgement, at least a week of solid effort.

My ultimate solution was to use wound gut on the bottom. I'm actually using well worn Efrano wound E & A with even more well worn Damian Dlugolecki plain D & G. The Efranos are not too expensive and they sound really good on my bass.

-Jeff
 
#5
Have you tried Innovation 140B? Same kind of core, maybe a bit more tension.

You can also get Innovation 140BS Solo strings, they have a lot less tension if tuned to orchestra tuning (which is one whole tone below the intended pitch).

The 140B bow very well. The A and E may have a bit less sustain for pizz, but you can try downtuned Spiro Solos for A and E instead (or Spirocore Weich S42W 4/4 strings which are much softer than the 3/4 Weich).

Personally I use the 140B on the higher strings and Spiro Weich S42W A and E on the lower.

Evah Pirazzi (even the Weich) have more tension than the Innovation 140B.

Jörg
 
#6
While I think all of the synthetic core/metal wrapped strings mentioned here are great choices, I don't think they will give the OP what he is looking for as they are quite different than the Golden Slaps in feel, tension and sound.

Personally, I feel that all of the gut string maintenance worry is blown out of proportion. If that's the sound and feel you really want, you should give gut strings a try and you may find that the extra maintenance and tuning is not a big deal. You will have to adjust to the arco response which is quite different than a metal string, but people have been bowing plain and wrapped gut strings for centuries and some players fall in love with that distinctive sound. Leznzer and Efrano guts are relatively affordable and should last a while with a little care. If you don't like them, you can always sell them easily on the TB classifieds and recoup some of your expenditure. Anyway, that's my $.02.

- Steve
 
#8
You might try to use very fine sandpaper to rough up the strings just a little bit between the end of the fingerboard and the bridge. (Don't ruin your windings, use very little pressure when you do this.) Maybe other rosin (soft rosin like Nymns or Pops), probably putting some rosin directly on the string, may help to make the Golden Slaps more bowable too.

You might want to contact daflewis here on talkbass for advice. He knows a lot about Innovation strings, what you can do with them and how.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back