• 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 Gut-sounding, non-gut strings for that LaFaro sound

Clarkybass

Clarkybass

Apr 30, 2010
557
132
#1
Hi all, although I have been using Spiros for the past year or so, I still hanker after the Village Vanguard LaFaro sound. I know he used Golden Spiral guts. Are there are any strings that come close to that sound that aren't true gut (for reduced cost and lower maintenance reasons)?

I have had Silver Slaps in the past which I quite liked but were a bit floppy (and the E didn't project well IMHO). I just received some Cordes Lamberts Gut Twins, thinking these would possibly be the ones. But I am so far very disappointed at their lack of tone and volume - fine for slapping but very weak and indistinct/thuddy for pizz. They need to stretch and settle more but it would take a Herculean improvement in tone and volume to persuade me these are the ones I seek.

Any other suggestions people? Can be steels, don't necessarily have to be synthetic gut. Its the warm, medium-sustaining, non-growly LaFaro sound I am after and I'm agnostic beyond that. I know the obvious suggestion is to try guts but - as I mentioned - the cost (especially) and maintenance are beyond me, a hobbyist whose band rehearses and plays a couple of times a month only.
 
#3
Only had them a few days. They have so little volume pizz style and the (unwrapped) A has next to no tone. I accept that strings stretch and settle but - like I say - I cannot see how these will substantially increase their volume and develop sustain/tone from a dull thud!
 
#5
String changing is so time consuming and expensive I will certainly take your advice and leave them for a while! They are on a carved 1880s German flatback. To be fair I do like the G but that has about 30% more volume than the E and D and 50% more than the thuddy dull A.
 
#6
That's the problem. I had the G on the Shen I used to own for a whole three seconds before pulling it off. All plink, no power. Plywood seems to filter out a lot of those unpleasant high-end noises.

And the A, well, that's pretty much what a plain gut A does to my ear.

Have you tried Garbos?
 
#7
You might give Innovation Super Silvers a try if you've liked Silver Slaps in the past. Very similar but they've got just enough more tension to compensate the "floppyness" (stay away from the Inno. RABs)

I've tried the Cordes Lambert deluxe and was also less than impressed.
A better finger feel but really not much better than weedwackers.

Just my two cents...
 
#9
Here's my two cents Clarky,

Recently a luthier friend suggested I try lower tension, than spiro mittel strings on my bass - a christopher hybrid.
I play Americana and Jazz - almost all pizz.
Contrary to fretless55's comment "(stay away from the Inno. RABs)" I've had partial success with RABs as an alternative to metal core strings.
Originally when I tried a set of RABs I loved the D and G.
More of a gut feel and still plenty of tone. However the A, and especially the E were too floppy when I dug in, and the sound was a little too twangy for me - not enough fundamental.
On a hunch I tried Innovation UBs (higher tension, same gauge) on the bottom (E & A) and kept the RAB (D & G) on top. Voila! more response less twang and the balance between strings is good.
Who knows how long this affair will last but I'm happy for now.
 
#10
Thanks for your comments chaps. I have decided to leave the Cordes Lamberts on for a couple of weeks, to give them a proper chance and (possibly throwing away money here) to order a wrapped A to see if that solves the particular problem I have with that string. It would be great if these strings delivered what I hoped so I will give them a fair crack of the whip. If they don't, I will be checking out you advice above. Thanks again
 
#12
Actually, life is too short (well it is when you are 50 this year, like me!). I am going to dump these. They are clearly great strings for some basses/players but I am not one of them. Going to investigate other options (Velvets, Innovation etc)
 
#14
You are a gent! Problem is in I am in UK so I guess it might be $10-20 to send to US. I paid €100 or just over $120. Not sure if that makes it prohibitive for someone in US, even if I drop say $20. I will put up an ad in the FS forum and see!
 
#18
I'm neither a physicist nor a luthier, so I really have no idea why.

All I can do is report that I have an Engelhardt strung with Lamberts that gets that sound, and an elderly German flatback strung with gut that also kills. On the other hand, plastic strings have always sounded bad on a carved top to my ear.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back