Double Bass Gut Strings: Are They Worth It To Try? (part II)

[Gearhead43]

I had a chance to grab a couple LaBella guts lately for cheap, a D&G string. I had always used Lenzners mostly, and have some beautiful Red o Rays and Artones tucked away for a rainy day or recording (great, great strings).

Anway, I actually like the LaBella D&G quite a bit. The main thing I like about them is that they are heavier gauge, higher tension feel. They are a little thumpier, maybe shorter "sustain" than the Lenzner.

For the Roots music I play, they match up well with my Olive E&A. I slap a hell of a lot nowdays too and they sound great for that. Short sustain and thump works for amplified slap bass and I am able to get that old-school woody slap tone I dig.

It would be cool if the Lenzners and other "garden variety" guts were offered in different gauges. I believe the old-school guts back in the day often gave you a choice of gauges. My NOS guts have different diameters written on the packages.

 

[Francois Blais]

This thread is the follow-up of part I here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=521280

François
Strings forum co-mod.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

What hath Gearhead wrought?

I for one am really happy for this thread. It sure worked out well for me.

 

[MR PC]

We're on the sunny side of the street now. If we could bottle the perfect climate and pass it around, the whole world would be a better place for gut strings!

 

[davidAaronCarte]

Been listening to too much Scott LaFaro and I want my guts back
BUT I just dropped a bunch of cash on new Spiros earlier in the month
If anyone has a used Pirastro Pizzicato or two lying around though...

 

[MR PC]

Of course it's more about Scott's playing than the gear.

Still there is magic in the sound of the gut strings. My favorite bass recordings are mostly by players with gut setup. Listening to Ernie Shepard solo with Duke on "Satin Doll" intonation issues and all, sends me every time.

Right now though, I'm going back to Spiro's.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

On last night's piano duo gig, I jumped into "Tricotism" at some point, and I was thinking, "Damn, this sounds pretty good (for me ). Then I realized it was the first time I'd played that tune since I switched to guts. The whole thing just had that nice gut bounce, that ping, that whole "from the bottom up" thing. The guts work well for any style I encounter, but they really shine on a bop head like that one. I'm trying to think of a better jazz pizz string than Gamut guts. Can't think of one..... YMMV, etc.

To put it another way.... it takes a helluva string to make me want to practice. I do not practice. But lately.... a little bit. I just like getting my hands on the bass more now.

 

[Uncletoad]

I just like getting my hands on the bass more now.

Girlfriend has lost a couple pounds and bought a new sexy outfit and now you can't keep yer filthy mitts off her.

 

[MR PC]

Rufus Reid recorded a very convincing version of Tricotism with steel strings......I don't remember listening and thinking, "damn, excellent, but that would of been so much better with guts!"

Technique. Experimenting with guts has changed my approach to using steel strings.

 

[Mark Perna]

Rufus Reid recorded a very convincing version of Tricotism with steel strings......I don't remember listening and thinking, "damn, excellent, but that would of been so much better with guts!"

But it would have (even if you didn't think of it)

mark

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Rufus Reid recorded a very convincing version of Tricotism with steel strings......I don't remember listening and thinking, "damn, excellent, but that would of been so much better with guts!"

Technique. Experimenting with guts has changed my approach to using steel strings.

Of course. That's why I said .....as always...."YMMV".

 

[MR PC]

But it would have (even if you didn't think of it)

mark

Well, probably.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

To be honest, most people (except for Sal Godinez, my regular duo partner) probably wouldn't notice or care whether I'm playing on guts, Spiros, or whatever. Most of the good stuff is probably happening in my head and in my hands.

 

[Mark Perna]

Agreed. If I didn't irritatingly talk about it to everyone I know, they probably wouldn't know or care that I'm playing with gut strings either.

mark

 

[Uncletoad]

That's a fact!

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Okay, another week's gigs gone by, still waiting for the downside, but nothing yet. Everything's there. Sorry about the love fest. No, I don't work for Gamut strings.

I guess the main thing that's surprised me so far is the balance and clarity. I just didn't expect that. I don't think I've sacrificed anything in the process of Getting Around The Bass. The sound and the feel make me really happy that I play bass for a living. I look forward to trying a new full set at some point. In the meantime, I just look forward to going to work every night.

Stop me if it gets too boring. Maybe the point in my case is; if you're on the fence regarding playing guts, there are some good modern options that can make the transition painless at the very least, and downright inspiring if you're like me. I've begun to answer that nagging question. Good guts on a good bass can really be a great thing.

IMHO.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Got the "turn it down" signal from the room manager at the Four Seasons Wailea last night. Big open room. Big. I was unplugged. I picked up the cable and showed it to him as he passed.

That was fun.

 

[Uncletoad]

Gotta love that.

Reminds me of when I was playing at some dump years ago. Loud rock gig on Fender Bass with an SVT. I was a fill in and they specified the rig.

Bar owner was bitching before I played a note...to loud. I turned down everything 2 or 3 times during the first set until finally I turned off the amp and unplugged everything from the PA. I just faked playing. That went on for three more tunes and as I looked back at the soundboard he was still jumping up and down screaming at me to turn the bass down.

I packed up my **** on break and left. Told him and the bandleader to ****off and never call me again.

 

[Gearhead43]

Gotta love that.

Reminds me of when I was playing at some dump years ago. Loud rock gig on Fender Bass with an SVT. I was a fill in and they specified the rig.

Bar owner was bitching before I played a note...to loud. I turned down everything 2 or 3 times during the first set until finally I turned off the amp and unplugged everything from the PA. I just faked playing. That went on for three more tunes and as I looked back at the soundboard he was still jumping up and down screaming at me to turn the bass down.

I packed up my **** on break and left. Told him and the bandleader to ****off and never call me again.

****ing bass-haters! *** is up with those types? No soul at all I think.

 

[Kevin Hsieh]

Got the "turn it down" signal from the room manager at the Four Seasons Wailea last night. Big open room. Big. I was unplugged. I picked up the cable and showed it to him as he passed.

That was fun.

Ouch! I'm not getting as big of a sound as I'd like, but don't we all wish we had bigger things?

wow i didn't even know we broke 1000 posts.

anyways. i came back looking for this thread because I'm looking for recommendations for the gut G and D. I have a Gotz G and Gamut D at the moment (the Gamut G shriveled up for some reason after incident involving flash thunderstorm, bought the Gotz at Gage's and slapped it on). The Gotz seems not to have as much body as I'd like. There's a lot of snap to it and the feel is nice, but I'm missing that tone that I hear in my head. I've been eying the Dlugolecki's and constantly hear praise about the Gamuts on TB (funny no one at Gage knows about them).

lay em on me. (this one's going to break my bank).