• 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 GUTS ARE SO MUCH FUN!!!

#181
IMO, the Garbo D is still the best non-gut string that will go with a plain gut G. A real gut D can be great, but it comes with all of the usual issues. You're not going to get the same clarity going up the neck that you'll get with a Garbo, but real gut has more power and fundamental, it also bows better, and slaps better.

I'm back to a full Gamut set these days, wound gut on the bottom. Everything is cool unless I try and play higher than an A on the E string :eek: But I love the overall sound and feel, so I'm just going to deal with it. I have this new old German bass that sounds just great with guts.
 
#182
I put on a Gamut D Pistoy light yesterday to replace my Chorda D (Carlos) and it is truly a thing of audible and visual beauty. I'm going with a mixed Gamut (copper wound E, D) and Chorda (A, G) set. The Chorda A and G are awesome, too. The Gamut Pistoy D light speaks better on my Upton standard ply.
 
#183
Bobby King said:
If you want to go plain gut, I highly recommend the Gamut Pistoy gut D. I find it to be clearer than the Lyon. I have a Pistoy D in light+ and I really like it. Really frigging expensive though :rollno:
Click to expand...

I have a Lyon Med D on my bass right now and it is killin. It took almost a month to start sounding good though. Sounded like a big ole puddle of poo when I first put it on. I've had it on my bass since Dec 23 and it is just now really starting to sound good.
 
#187
fingers said:
I have a Lyon Med D on my bass right now and it is killin. It took almost a month to start sounding good though. Sounded like a big ole puddle of poo when I first put it on. I've had it on my bass since Dec 23 and it is just now really starting to sound good.
Click to expand...

That's encouraging. Although the Lyons ain't cheap, Pistoys are another $50. You are using the Lyon with Animas as well so maybe next to a Garbo it would work. Dunno.
 
#188
fingers said:
I have a Lyon Med D on my bass right now and it is killin. It took almost a month to start sounding good though. Sounded like a big ole puddle of poo when I first put it on. I've had it on my bass since Dec 23 and it is just now really starting to sound good.
Click to expand...

I'm sure this is true. The Pistoy gets better over time too. Perhaps it sounded better to me right out of the gate. Gamut strings are all excellent.

I notice that Larson's advertised gut set has a Pistoy D and Lyon G.
 
#192
Plain guts are not too bad to deal with-it's the wound strings that are a pain; whatever effect the weather (specifically, humidity) has on them lasts longer than it does with the plain strings. I keep the humidity in my place a little drier (35-40%) than most luthiers recommend. It's humid enough for the bass, which is a new(ish) instrument, but the shock of going into a drier overheated environment is lessened. I use Gamut Lyon G/D, Anima A/E. In NYC, the summer is worse on the wound strings than the winter.
 
#194
My plain guts aren't horrible in the winter, but they do drift a half-step before the end of the first one-hour set when the bass is coming in from the cold to a warm stage. The wound guts were completely unmanageable. I found that it was too much of a distraction to tune every 15 minutes. For the bass in question, I'm now using a full set of Garbos in the winter and the plain guts go on top with the Garbos on bottom in the summer.
 
#196
I don't have any major tuning issues with either plain or wound gut. It's a given that if you go from a cold car into the heat, or from the heat into air-conditioning, gut strings are going to go flat or sharp. But if I let the bass acclimate for 10 or 15 minutes, and then tune up a few times while warming up, the bass is relatively stable. Not stable like steel strings, you still have to do plenty of tweaking, but nothing major.
 
#197
I just bought the light+Pistoy D and it only cost me $173.88. :rolleyes: At that price, it needs to last a good long time so I went with the varnished version. If that isn't a good idea, please give me your opinions ASAP.
Bobby, the Garbo D I got from you still sounds really nice but the winding at the bridge end was coming undone and I suspect it's time for retirement. The light Garbo D would have saved me $100 and was VERY tempting but I have to try the real thing. If the Pistoy is as good as everybody says, it's worth the money.

The Lyon G seems to be a little funky but still sounds great so thanks again for practically giving it to me. I can live with getting both a D and G for under $200.

The Garbo A and Anima E are really solid. I may pop for the Garbo E in a few weeks or possibly switch back to the Anima A depending on how the D works out. The E really sounds great and has a nice organic growl to it so I dunno what I'll do.
 
#198
Bobby King said:
Not stable like steel strings... you still have to do plenty of tweaking, but nothing major.
Click to expand...

This is where I could heap some love on Spiros but that would derail this thread completely...

Perhaps I'm a little impatient when it comes to this. But the biggest issue I have is when the strings are noticeably flat/sharp in the middle of a tune. Especially during a fast swing where it's impossible to do a quick twist of the tuner and land 440.
 
#199
Trix Miller said:
Perhaps I'm a little impatient when it comes to this. But the biggest issue I have is when the strings are noticeably flat/sharp in the middle of a tune. Especially during a fast swing where it's impossible to do a quick twist of the tuner and land 440.
Click to expand...

Aah, intonation is overrated. :D

Seriously though, my strings never seem to change that much, tune to tune. I always keep a tuner in line, and I just am in the habit of constantly doing little tuning checks so it never gets too bad. But I certainly understand not wanting to put up with this, and when I've used Spiros I surely enjoy the benefits.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back