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Double Bass Gut-sounding, non-gut strings for that LaFaro sound

#41
Clarkybass said:
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.
Click to expand...

The real truth is that none of the "gut like" imitation strings sound or feel anything like gut. Just like no electric keyboard sounds like a real piano no matter what the marketers say.
Reduced cost and lower maintenance = no La Faro tone! The thing is gut has highs and lows, not harsh highs like Spiros etc or dead tone like metal orchestral strings made with dampening material, or like synthetic cores such as Obligatos which sound ok new but only get more dull over time. Gut gets better sound ie improves with time.
Want gut sound? Use gut strings!
 
#43
labravajazz said:
The real truth is that none of the "gut like" imitation strings sound or feel anything like gut. Just like no electric keyboard sounds like a real piano no matter what the marketers say.
Reduced cost and lower maintenance = no La Faro tone! The thing is gut has highs and lows, not harsh highs like Spiros etc or dead tone like metal orchestral strings made with dampening material, or like synthetic cores such as Obligatos which sound ok new but only get more dull over time. Gut gets better sound ie improves with time.
Want gut sound? Use gut strings!
Click to expand...

+1
 
#45
As this thread has been resuscitated, I should add an update: I am now on Oliv D/G and Spiro Mittel E/A so I've gone "semi-gut" and I love the tone and playability.

I am tempted to try an Oliv A (not the huge fat E which sounds bad on pizz sound samples) but they are £95/$150 each new so I will wait until a cheap used one comes up for sale.
 
#46
Hey Clarky,

I tried an Oliv A and I didn't like it for pizz- it was really, really dark and had almost no sustain on my bass- ymmv of course.

It slapped okay.

Arco, that was another story- HOLY COW! What a GREAT arco string!!! Not what you're looking for I know, but just thought I'd share my experience.

Good luck!

Joe
 
#49
For pizz only I like the following combination:
G and D naked gut (Efrano) and A and E Silver Slaps. For arco the wound E and A Efranos are better, but the pizz sustain is a bit short (mainly on the E).
But for me the tension of these strings is a bit low. (I might like the higher tension Efranos better but I haven't tried them.)
I'm still happy with my Innovation Braided on my 110cm scale 4/4.
 

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