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

#121
I like the Garbo E better than the Gamut wrapped E (although I like that string too). The Garbo is 1) much cheaper 2) stays in tune 3) has a bit more focus without sounding like a Spiro 4) has a very nice subtle growl that works well with gut and 5) the metal wrap doesn't sound 'clicky' on the fingerboard like most metal strings do.

I was using the Garbo A for a while and tone-wise it was good; I could certainly use it again but it felt like a compromise. I think the Gamut wrapped A is a truly great sounding string and a bit of a better match with the Gamut D/G. The Garbo is more growly however that's something I'm not really looking for in an A string. The metal wrapping on the Garbo A was a little 'clicky' sounding which annoyed me to no end although I was probably the only one who heard it. It did stay in tune like a champ though which is making me think right now that my other issues with it are minor. It wasn't that good up the neck though. The Gamut sounds great all of the way up to thumb position. The Garbo is great up to D and was nothing to write home about above the D. I tried to stay away from it in thumb position. The volume of each string is comparable; neither was noticeably louder than the other. The tuning issues with the Gamut have to do with the wrappings expanding or contracting at a different rate than the gut pulling it sharp when it gets cold and flat when it gets hot. Flat I can deal with but having to detune when it goes sharp drives me crazy. On a couple of gigs I've had to detune so much the bass doesn't sound or play right.

Even given my complaints, I might put the Garbo A back on for the winter as not knowing where 'C' is going to be from minute to minute is more annoying than a little metallic growl or a few clicks on the neck from the metal wrap.

mark
 
#122
Here are a few pictures of the string on my bass. I will post sound clips either here or on my Myspace page later today or tomorrow.

Alas this string is not going to work for me. It is not coming into focus how I want it to. I think it sounds pretty balanced overall but from the player's POV I really notice the difference in attack and it changes the way I play. It sounds and feels slow and unfocused.

The other thing I've noticed is that Damian's strings are much smoother than any other gut strings I've seen in person. They are almost glassy. I don't know what it means but I like it better.

FYI- all these strings are unvarnished.

-J
 

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#125
Man I bet I'd love that fat A string. I play mostly slap, so plain As work for me. I have been using Olives on bottom and they blend very well with the plain D&G - for slap they are great. Maximum thump. :)

Have you played any other plain As, Jeff? - or is this a first for you? The fatter the gut string, the longer it takes to settle in and develop tone, IMO. All plain sets like alot of slappers use take months to develop some times.

Probably not ideal for Jazz, haha. (unless you play the kinda Jazz I like)
 
#129
There is something that doesn't get discussed much here.The sound of the guts is the main reason I play them. But maybe I'm not alone in feeling that the tactile effect of playing guts something that is essential to some of us as players. Same as when tenor players search out that good reed in the box. I get stuff back from guts when I play them. They just feel good to me, and i think i play better because of it.

I know lots of people feel the same about steels and hybrids. Just musing.
 
#130
Marcus Johnson said:
There is something that doesn't get discussed much here.The sound of the guts is the main reason I play them. But maybe I'm not alone in feeling that the tactile effect of playing guts something that is essential to some of us as players.
Click to expand...

Good point, Marcus. I'll chime in and admit that this, along with sound, is a big reason I play them. It's also one of the big reasons that I prefer roundwound guts on the E and A. Many prefer to pair plain uppers with steels, synthetics, or flatwound gut core strings. To each his or her own. I love the feel (and the sound) of my roundwound guts!

TPugh
 
#131
TPugh said:
Good point, Marcus. I'll chime in and admit that this, along with sound, is a big reason I play them. It's also one of the big reasons that I prefer roundwound guts on the E and A. Many prefer to pair plain uppers with steels, synthetics, or flatwound gut core strings. To each his or her own. I love the feel (and the sound) of my roundwound guts!

TPugh
Click to expand...

I'm going there, T, believe me. I'm halfway there. Next string change.
 
#132
I'm mostly there with the all gut thing too. I still have all gut on my back up bass with a wrapped A and E. I'm still loving the Garbo E on my main bass too much to put the Gamut E (that is sitting on the shelf waiting for duty) back on though.

I would love to have a plain A that has enough focus. The wrapped A on my main bass is the perfect sounding A for me. The only problem is it is very fickle in cold weather. The last bunch of gigs, the thing went really sharp and never came down. I detuned it every couple of tunes all night which reaked havoc on the tension on the table which then changed the sound and feel of the bass drastically for the worse. I'd bring the bass back home. After sitting all night, I'd get it out, tune the A back up to pitch (as it goes way flat in the warm, humidified air of my house) and it sounds great again. It's no fun sounding great at home and progressively lousier during the gig (nothing like playing "where's the wandering c" all night). A plain A with the focus of the wrapped A would solve all of my problems.

mark
 
#133
Marcus Johnson said:
There is something that doesn't get discussed much here.The sound of the guts is the main reason I play them. But maybe I'm not alone in feeling that the tactile effect of playing guts something that is essential to some of us as players. Same as when tenor players search out that good reed in the box. I get stuff back from guts when I play them. They just feel good to me, and i think i play better because of it.

I know lots of people feel the same about steels and hybrids. Just musing.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#134
I've gotten used to the tuning issues with my Olive E&A, but they are the worst at staying in tune. They go flat as my hands warm them up when I start playing.

I got used to tuning them quickly between songs though, haha.

Plain unwound gut isn't bad though, my D&G stay in tune pretty well.
 
#135
Marcus Johnson said:
There is something that doesn't get discussed much here.The sound of the guts is the main reason I play them. But maybe I'm not alone in feeling that the tactile effect of playing guts something that is essential to some of us as players. Same as when tenor players search out that good reed in the box. I get stuff back from guts when I play them. They just feel good to me, and i think i play better because of it.

I know lots of people feel the same about steels and hybrids. Just musing.
Click to expand...

I hear you, Marcus. I'm playing on a bass strung with Evahs right now because i'm visiting family back in LA. My hand was sore for the first couple days and I'm developing new blisters. It doesn't "bounce back" like the guts do. My friends sitting on my bass described playing my gut bass as playing on butter.

Oh i wish i was back in NY righ tnow:bawl:
 
#136
Marcus Johnson said:
There is something that doesn't get discussed much here.The sound of the guts is the main reason I play them. But maybe I'm not alone in feeling that the tactile effect of playing guts something that is essential to some of us as players. Same as when tenor players search out that good reed in the box. I get stuff back from guts when I play them. They just feel good to me, and i think i play better because of it.

I know lots of people feel the same about steels and hybrids. Just musing.
Click to expand...

I got ya. Playing on gut strings makes me feel like I am more connected to my instrument, somehow.
 
#137
Gearhead43 said:
I got ya. Playing on gut strings makes me feel like I am more connected to my instrument, somehow.
Click to expand...

Yup. I guess we're preaching to the choir a little bit now, and that's what this thread is about. But that describes the sensation for me too. The interface between the player and the bass is important, and we all need to find the best conduit, I think. Remember that I was a Spiro guy for a long time.... but things change. As my hands and ears and soul age, so do my string requirements.

IMHO :cool:
 
#138
Gearhead43 said:
I've gotten used to the tuning issues with my Olive E&A, but they are the worst at staying in tune. They go flat as my hands warm them up when I start playing.

I got used to tuning them quickly between songs though, haha.

Plain unwound gut isn't bad though, my D&G stay in tune pretty well.
Click to expand...

Going flat isn't such a problem. The wrapped guts go flat when it gets warm. Crank on the tuners and you're golden. When it's really cold and the wrapped gut goes sharp and you have to detune sometimes 4 or 5 times during the gig, the feel and sound of the bass changes drastically and not for the better. And you also have to hope you have enough graphite on the nut and bridge so they detune without snagging or you're in for a intonational surprise after you crank the first note on it.

I agree about plain gut. They move a little either way but stabilize pretty quickly. This is why I'd love to have a plain A that has the focus of a wrapped A. I'd like a billion dollars too. I just ain't gonna get either one. On a totally unrelated side note (and while we're talking fantasy), if I did have a billion dollars, I'd be just like Tiger Woods-cheating on my smokin' hot wife with 12-14 super models none of whom would know about the others until I, inevitably, got caught.

I'm going to keep trying with the wrapped A for a while longer but if it keeps doing what it's doing, I'm probably going to slap a Garbo or Anima A on for the Winter and put the wrapped A back on in the Spring.

Marcus: I covet your climate.

mark
 
#139
I guess none of us have New Year's gigs this year, huh? I was offered one but turned it down. So many gigs are "pretzel gigs" nowadays anyway (you know, the band is about as important as the pretzels on the table--nice if it's there but not missed if it isn't). New Year's is always the ultimate pretzel gig. People pay even less attention to the band than usual and then you have to dodge the drunks on the way home. And if you live in a northern clime, you frequently get to dodge the drunks on the way home in a snowstorm. It's just SO much fun.

mark
 

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