Double Bass Gut string aversion

[Jason Sypher]

The two biggest reasons I play gut:

1. Chasing tone I hear on old records.
2. Easy on the hands.

I have some physical issues that make steel a problem for me to play on. The truth is that I love Evahs, but even the Wiechs are impossible on my left hand and connective muscles/tendons. They are the one string that occasionally pulls me away from gut. I'm still considering a set of solos tuned to standard. The reality is that there are things I'm probably capable of pulling of easier on non-gut strings. But at some point I just accept my limitations and get on with enjoying what I'm doing.

The tuning issues with gut I file under YMMV. For the pros here, I can only imagine that touring would be much harder on those issues. I'm not in that world. While I've had a few nightmare gigs related to tuning gut, they have been very few and far between.

I agree they are easier under the hands unless you have nerve issue. The extra vibration of the string bothered me when I was having nerve sensitivities.

 

[jmlee]

Might not work with teenagers. I tried it. Glue is not as much of an issue because you don't touch it. My own kids were the same way.

Ask ‘em if they like Jello…

 

[Bruce Calin]

Ask ‘em if they like Jello…

I don't know about my students but my own kids hated it. My older one said something like it reminded her of the hospital.