Gut string help!

I have tried almost every alternative, especially since Covid as most of my playing is outside, but there is nothing (nothing!) like real gut, and I always return to it at least for the G and D (Superflexible solos on the E and A)

 

Did you try Evah slaps, Eric?

 

If there was a good sub we'd know by now. i think if you can find a nice EAD to deal with thats your best bet. Buddy of mine is into the eurosonics right now with the blue wraps, they have a nice oomph and bounce to them.

 

If the room in which your bass rests most of the time is climate-controlled, you shouldn't have a huge tuning problem. It takes some time for a humidity change to affect strings (temperature change has quicker effect).

That said, the beneficial aspects of gut aren't as great with the E and A strings, and wrapped-gut strings are more prone to tuning issues. Most of us gutsters use steel strings for E and A.

 

These are the light gauge. according to this chart, on Gollihur's website:

Silk Winding Color Codes:

• Ultralight: yellow with red stripe at ball end, solid yellow with red band at headstock end
• Light: yellow with aquamarine stripe at ball end, solid aquamarine at headstock end
• Medium: yellow with black stripe at ball end, solid red with black band at headstock end

 

It seems nicer, better finished (more expensive) gut in my experience seems to be less susceptible to the flux. (ie -Carlos Chorda v. 'Global Gut') ... also, maybe try nylon wrapped gut?

 

Spiro solo E, A, D, tuned orchestral with gut G may be an option for you.

 

I've been playing Goetz plain gut GDA with a Jargar forte ext E/C for the entire home/pandemic period. The studio is stable, the guts are stable even in the crazy LA weather we've been having. The bass sounds GREAT with those strings, but...

Unless we go back into full lock down (a possibility here) a couple of the orchestras I'm involved with are starting up again next month and I am slowly freaking out about taking the gut-stringed bass into over/under air conditioned halls and practice rooms (I am not freaked out by using guts in a community orchestra section; I think they work very well bowed etc). When I had Eudoxas on the bass, the pitch problems outside the studio were insurmountable - no stabiltiy at all.

I'll see how it goes the first couple of sessions, and then...? To be continued.

(PS: I have down-tuned Spiro solos on the other bass -1880s German 5/8 - and may just use that one if it all goes bad)

 

I'd like to hear how it works. My concern with guts in the orchestra are more about the arco sound than about tuning issues, because my bowing isn't quite to the point where I can avoid rude noises.

 

Eric, you might want to check out the Gamut Red Diamond strings. I play similar styles of music and use their G & D mixed with Spiro med. A & E. They are nylon wrapped, good tension, stay in tune pretty well. The String Emporium sells single strings of that series which is where I got mine. The G is really sweet sounding to me. The D is good though not as good as the G. The prices are reasonable and the Gamut strings are red!

 

My personal experience is that plain (unwound) varnished D & G with steel or synthetic E & A are the most stable.

 

I enjoy the Innovation Super Silvers on my bass but maybe one should start the try out with Innovation Golden or Silver slaps for less tension...

 

So far I've avoided most rude noises -- at least coming from my strings!

 

Then Super silvers are great if you liked the sound!