• 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 Strings: Are They Worth It To Try? (part I)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#621
Hey guys. I had to go down to Gage's with my bass today, but I got caught in a downpour. I think some of the moisture coupled with the friction of me holding the neck at times while travelling in public transport might have messed the strings up (new-old-stock Gamut Lyons are buzzing). Have had them on for a day. Raised the string height a whole turn.

Maybe they just need to settle in... we'll see

any tips for taking care of new gut strings?

--edit--

the strings are really rough right now from the moisture making the gut strings fray. I read that i could use a light sandpaper to fix this?

help!
 
#623
I use 600 grit wet/dry paper, making sure the strings are very dry first (not freshly oiled). Freshly oiled strings won't let the hairs/rough areas be cleanly sanded off.

Just be carefull to run the little folded piece of sandpaper evenly on each side and make long passes, so as not to sand one area too much.

Only sand a little bit, only enough to do the job, then oil the strings. Over sanding will just accelerate the wearing process.

It's a bit easier to do with the strings off the bass, but I prefer to keep my guts on as long as possible so they stay nice and stretched-in.

I think they sound better the longer they are on. :D
 
#624
I loved my bottom wound guts at the gig tonight. No problem cutting through acoustically. It was alot of people and alot of bar-noise. I don't know what made me think twice about them last week? I guess it's just the way it is with guts.
 
#625
Gearhead43 said:
I use 600 grit wet/dry paper, making sure the strings are very dry first (not freshly oiled). Freshly oiled strings won't let the hairs/rough areas be cleanly sanded off.

Just be carefull to run the little folded piece of sandpaper evenly on each side and make long passes, so as not to sand one area too much.

Only sand a little bit, only enough to do the job, then oil the strings. Over sanding will just accelerate the wearing process.

It's a bit easier to do with the strings off the bass, but I prefer to keep my guts on as long as possible so they stay nice and stretched-in.

I think they sound better the longer they are on. :D
Click to expand...

Or, just buy varnished gut strings and don't worry about all of this stuff for the most part... I have had both, and by far prefer varnished. Its definitely worth the extra coin.
 
#626
Andreas You Sly Devil :D . I like your new description under your User Name .... Gut-nut from a country starting with "Sw" ;) . Where have I heard that phrase before ?? What are you up to Pal ?? Buttering me up so I sell you my used Pistoy D for a big discount ?? In the meantime while I ponder my options, I'm happy to hear that your all-gut set-up is the cat's pajamas and is working well for you :) .
 
#627
Well Bob, your description felt pretty accurate. Thanks! :) I hope you'll sell it to me eventually, it would be great. :D The all-gut set-up is fine, I feel at home with them. But I'm also tempted going back to Velvets...
 
#628
AndreasH said:
Well Bob, your description felt pretty accurate. Thanks! :) .... The all-gut set-up is fine, I feel at home with them. But I'm also tempted going back to Velvets...
Click to expand...
Glad you could use the description .... I'm honored .... And I didn't copyright it so you won't have to pay me any royalties :p .

I'm sure liking my Animas A & E with the Pistoys G & D lately. The Epi bass and strings are settling in real-nice the more I play. Sometimes I wish I could try wound guts A & E but I'm afraid my dry climate (27% r.h. as I type) would wreak havoc on the windings. I play outdoors quite a bit. I just don't need too many more expensive experiments right now ;) .
 
#630
Menacewarf said:
I've been playing on a full set of Anima's for a few weeks and finally have a bow back and feel like I can offer some impressions.

The bow is really not that bad. In fact in thumb position on my bass I'm getting way more volume, and more importantly for me, a rich tone which just rips me back one or two hundread years . The tone is a tiny bit flat from note to note in thumb possition like one would expect from a Stunal hybrid or it may just be technique. Regardless I am impressed. To use the cliche, it's the closest to "the sound I hear in my head" of anything I have tried yet.

While surprisingly good in thumb position with the bow, the Animas are SICK for all the simandl notes on the A, D, and G up to about the first E on the G string. With the bow it is dreamy in this range...The shape of the tone moving from string to string is like watching water move over a rapid. Shifting some in timbre here and there but always zeroing back to a center.

The E string bowing is the only hitch for me so far. The Ab is murder to get good tone, the E is easy and so on...

I think with work I can make the Ab and G sound better. It is only two ugly notes right :)?

The pizz as Ive mentioned is great. I struggle with intonation a bit at times but the solid cutting tone can really help (and hurt :bawl:). Having got a bow back I'm excited to get back to work dealing with the intonation.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna go ahead and back off this a bit. Now that I am actually working with the Animas I am in a different head space than the joy of the 1st time with the bow. It is definately a challenge for me to keep a Big legatto tone through full bow changes. It's fun though and giving me some good work.
 
#632
#640
Jeremy Allen said:
Alex sounds GREAT, Bobby! He already sounded very good when I heard him two years ago at the audition, but now...outstanding!
Click to expand...

+1 dayum!

On another note. I'm finding the Lyon D and G to be a bit tighter than the unknown guts I had on previously. They also are a little more growly. I can get that PC sound when I dig in a little more where as with the unknown guts I was getting a cleaner sound. I'm not sure which one I like better...

Still curious about the origin of my older strings
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back