gut or nylon strings on a solid body EBG?

[Shoewreck]

Yes, I know that elecromagnetic pickups require steel or nickel strings, but my bass has a piezo pickup and I like it's tones with TI flats. I would like to try something even smoother and darker, probably more exotic.
Any suggestions?

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Well, T-I Acoustic Bass Guitar Strings are Nylon Core wrapped with Phosphor Bronze. They state they are ideal for your instrument and instruments with Piezo pickups.

LaBella also has a Nylon core Bronze wrapped string, but I am not 100% sure they are still made.

Black Nylon Tapewounds would also be a good choice and much more economical. While the Nylon Core strings will be a more unique tone. Both will sound great though!

 

[darkstorm]

Its gonna be hard to get gut strings for a bass. Gonna need more then the ole standby from old of cat intestines. Gonna need bigger animal whom isnt going to want to cooperate. Also is kinda slimmy and yucky strings in the end to which dont last long. Id stick to nylon or other synthetics if not using metal strings. Lol.

 

[tstone]

Its gonna be hard to get gut strings for a bass.

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[SLaPiNFuNK]

(electric bass guitar not double bass)

 

[Shoewreck]

Well, T-I Acoustic Bass Guitar Strings are Nylon Core wrapped with Phosphor Bronze. They state they are ideal for your instrument and instruments with Piezo pickups.

Thanks, that's probably what I'd try. I like the samples I've found - thumpy with bright sweet highs, very similar to the tone I'm looking for.

Black Nylon Tapewounds would also be a good choice and much more economical. While the Nylon Core strings will be a more unique tone. Both will sound great though!

It seems like tapewounds sound like very dull rounds. Too much sustain. I'd look in a different direction.

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The strings I like are generally on expensive side, but that's TOO much. I'd better be kind to poor little kitties. So, a nylon core would do that to me.

 

[JtheJazzMan]

If you really want gut strings, locate a manufacturer and they can do whatever gauge you want. Gut has been used on many types and sizes of string instrument. Off the shelf double bass guts will probably be too thick for a BG length string, and the lower strings will sound awful. Theres a whole host of issues to consider - reliability, whether theyll fit your tuners, whether the gauge will fit the bass at all...

In short: probably try the other suggestions before going with gut.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Thanks, that's probably what I'd try. I like the samples I've found - thumpy with bright sweet highs, very similar to the tone I'm looking for.

It seems like tapewounds sound like very dull rounds. Too much sustain. I'd look in a different direction.

I'm sure you could toss a mute on there to kind of kill the sustain, but if the TI's are to your spec right out of the box, then you've just saved a step.

I'd be inclined to go with the tapes because then the magnetic pickup can still be functional for times when you need it.

 

[Shoewreck]

Finally, I bought a set of Acousticores. Haven't tried 'em amplified, but already like their higher midrange and feel. Very good response to fretting hand muting - it seems like I'm going to get enough thud whenever I want. Low tension delivers much fun, not a problem since my action is a bit on a higher side. These strings even slap well.

 

[Jim Carr]

Viola Da Gamba strings?

BTW, gut strings are not made from feline intestines, they are made from sheep intestines. The "Cat Gut" story is at times claimed to be a misdirection from 18th century string makers protecting trade secrets, and sometimes claimed to be from the sounds of bad violin playing. I love the image of an enterprising new string maker trying to catch and gut cats. The cats would win! I suppose the Cat Gut Society would know the real answer...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catgut

 

[darkstorm]

Viola Da Gamba strings?

BTW, gut strings are not made from feline intestines, they are made from sheep intestines. The "Cat Gut" story is at times claimed to be a misdirection from 18th century string makers protecting trade secrets, and sometimes claimed to be from the sounds of bad violin playing. I love the image of an enterprising new string maker trying to catch and gut cats. The cats would win! I suppose the Cat Gut Society would know the real answer...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catgut

Lol. Mfg one: "We pamper our sheep for the smoothest tone possible. Hand petting them daily....
Mfg two: "Pffffff, we like our sheep wild and gnarly, for that agressive tone so many like....

 

[SAlcott]

You would be very unhappy with gut strings on an acoustic bass guitar. They are sensitive to changes in temp and humidity, and probably would not stand up very well to metal frets, not to mention the expense of getting them custom-made in the required length and gauge. Just to give you an idea, a quality set of double bass strings for a 41" mensure is close to $500.

 

[Tele295]

If you really want to trio down the "exotic" nylon path, how about some guitarron strings? I believe they are nylon filament wound. I would recommend calling Guadalupe Strings and see what they recommend for a guitarron/ABG set. They are good folks to deal with, and love making custom string sets. Link Removed

 

[Shoewreck]

Yesterday I tried Thomastik Acousticore strings in a band. I'm starting to feel like a convert.
They're much softer and lighter than any strings I tried before. The low mass makes them much more responsive to touch variations. They have a wider tone range of both roundwounds and flatwounds: from growl and twang to dull thump with fast decay. No foam, no twiddling with EQ, just different touch. They're very easy to tap and even slap well. They lack just a bit of that roundwound high end snap and harshness - no big deal for me.