Double Bass GUTS ARE SO MUCH FUN!!!

[Jake deVilliers]

Invalid Link Removed are some tracks from a recent session I did in my home studio. The studio is in the basement so it is dubbed 'The Laundry Room'. I'm still tweaking but I thought I'd share the bass sound I got. Personally I'm giddy. We recorded all in one room, mostly sans cans. I used a CAD large diaphragm condenser on the bass about 1' from the bridge. I did use a bit of creative baffling as not to get overpowering amounts of drums in everyone's mics (which we did anyway at times). I did take a signal from my ATM35pro too for the spots where the drums got too loud in the CAD but used very sparingly. Enjoy. Input is welcome too.

Those tracks sounds great SWAMI! The bass is just perfect - fat and supportive and the singer's really good too.

 

[swmmojo]

Thanks for sharing fingers. Really great stuff!

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

On the Olive, although I only gig a couple times a week I didn't have any trouble at all with it in the 7 months I had it on. Before that, I tried an old one and had no trouble with it either before I passed it on to someone else. Tuning issues are a problem.

I've been playing around with different string heights to see how the guts respond. 6mm G to 9-10 E seems to sound best on my bass. Higher up they are louder (to a point) but with less sustain and complexity. This height is the best compromise of volume, puffiness and growl down low.

 

[marvin spangles]

Lovely playing "Fingers". That's one gorgeous beefy sound.

 

[Jason Sypher]

I put the Gamut guts on today. I bought a med Pistoy G and a light Pistoy D. I can see why some might be tempted by a heftier G but I must say it's not a wimpy sound by any means. I recorded my bass through a mic out front with the spiros and then the new guts to A/B them. Interesting results. They're both nice sounds. One is the classic spiro sound and one is the classic gut sound. I know that the guts will get significantly better, however, in the next few weeks. I'm going to record them again in a week, in two and then at a month to hear the difference. I must admit that they already sound great even though they haven't even stretched yet. I also recorded their respective diameters to see how much they change as they stretch and settle in.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

My very well used (by three different players) Gamuts Lyons full set continues to improve. In the arco department in particular... Maybe we've just become friends, but for my purposes, the arco is gorgeous. The tuning's stable, the sound and feel is spectacular. The cost of these strings scares some people away... but if you want to play a full gut set, you should really give them a go. This set is still very strong, and inspiring to play music on.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Agreed on all counts.

 

[Jason Sypher]

They're already better today. The arco sound is starting to get a "core" sound happening. It's incredible how much shading is available under the bow. These strings are so impressive. They make my bass sound 100 years older and $10,000 better. So far so good I'd say.

 

[Jason Sypher]

Sorry to say that I sadly had to bow out of the gut party. There is no doubt that they sounded great on my bass and plucked heavenly with all that 60's jazz sound I adore. But when I played gigs I was feeling lost. They would sound great in the lower registers the disappear on me up the neck. As fun as they were to play (I couldn't believe how fast I could rip on them) I felt self-conscious and in and out of the mix. The Spiros gave me that stand tall confidence that I was ever-present in the room, quick, loud and clear. I couldn't stop playing the guts by myself but couldn't stop worrying about them on the gig...not cool. In addition I have to admit that the arco sound was not happening for quick stuff. Long notes were gorgeous and complex, short fast stuff was scratchy and apologetic. I'm a thumb position bower now and I gotta have that stability and punch. It's rather heart-breaking, really, like loving someone who isn't right for you. Incidentally, I tried a BC on the G and preferred the Spiro which was fatter, lower tension, and had a bigger sound.

 

[Marty Forrer]

My bass reacts just the opposite. The sound in the lower register is good, but blossoms as I go up the neck, and I have no problem sitting in the mix.
Just goes to show, every bass on the face of the planet reacts differently.

 

[Marc Piane]

My bass sounds great pizz all over the bass. Arco is still pretty hard for me on gut. I have a student that is auditioning for a solo competition so I gave him several of the solos I had from college. It's been 15 years since I've played them so I'm shedding them a little. I haven't done a ton of arco 'til now. Certainly a different animal.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I think it takes awhile for guts to develop definition. Mine now cut through as well as any string I've used. Arco improves also, but gut still isn't ideal for that, especially into thumb position. Thankfully, nobody has to endure my attempts there anyway.

 

[Herbie 80's]

I've had a full set of Eudoxa's on my bass for a month or so now.

I feel like if I had lost the guts, I wouldn't be able to play anymore. The feel of guts, the tone, the response.. it's all too much. Every day with them, I'm more impressed.

The more they get broken in, the nicer they are. I was at a symphony rehearsal yesterday, and even though I was the only person in my section for that rehearsal, you could hear my bass cut through everything. My tone was strong, confident, and complex. I loved it.

They're great for pizz too, and especially bloomy when pizzed with my bow in hand (Brahms would be proud).

I tried a set of BelCantos on the Principal's bass and I hated them instantly. He tried my bass, and fell in love with guts instead. Funny how that works.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I've got the G and D Dlugoleckis back on now and they are fun, and fat sounding, overpower the spiro weich E/A somewhat. I think the D will come off once again as it's just too frustrating in thumb position and I really don't want to give up that part of my playing. Last time I tried this I subbed an Evah Weich for it and that worked pretty well. Good arco is pretty tough, too...

 

[Marc Piane]

progris report

Did my first gig where I felt 100% comfortable on guts. I am a pretty strong guy and always pulled pretty hard with steels. I had to do some real work to figure out how to generate that energy, both physical and musical, without overpowering the gut strings. I also feel like working on my touch has begun to bring more dynamics into my playing. It's a good feeling.

end progris report

 

[Marc Piane]

Though if someone told me it was going to take 2 months to get to this point I would have thought twice. Too late now.

 

[timobee4]

Sold my varnished Gamut medium D&G strings in November when they were like 3 months old and went back to Spirocore Mittels, torn between the two sound. I tried all the Velvets, Evah, Obligato, etc. But being a long time Spiro Reds lover nothing else has the balls but for the past couple of years starting experimenting with some nasty Indian gut strings and I loved the tone but after while sold it to a friend and went back to Mittels, reading some of Marks posts got me Gamuts, lasted some months then back to Spiros, now I was given some vintage almost brown, soft very old gut strings and here we go again! I am loving it, dunno if this yoyo thing is common but I love gut sound and I use supersilver E&A and that is just the perfect marriage, noticed that with guts I practice more, my musical taste is somewhat narrow because if not Mingus then Chambers or the other way around. All was going fine until my friend gave me a Red Mitchell CD the other day and now I am itchy to buy Spiros again. Not going back there because my D just getting better every day and I dig it a lot, Drives me nuts. One of these days I sell everything and play tuba and be done with it. How many of you suffer from the same dilemma?

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I have been with Gamuts/Velvets for several weeks. Since the switch my playing has grown tremendously; I think because guts just fit my ideas and style better than steel. I also practice a bunch more so that has a lot to do with it.
Last night another musician gave me a copy of this: http://www.amazon.com/Bossas-Ballads-Sessions-Stan-Getz/dp/B0000ACANQ with George Mraz. His playing is beautiful and I thought about Spiros again, for just a minute.
However, I know switching back and forth will set me back as a player. Gotta have the 'guts' to stick with it.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

How many of you suffer from the same dilemma?

I used to, before I switched to the full Gamut set. No more. I've found it.

 

[timobee4]

I know switching back and forth will set me back as a player. Gotta have the 'guts' to stick with it.[/QUOTE]

And that is the best quote I have ever heard!!!! You in deed hit the nail on the head. I will stick with it because it is inspiring and does make me play more to the point of having separation anxiety when not with it. I wonder what brand these strings are though! No knotted loop like the Gamuts but very cleverly the loop is somehow part of the end I can't describe and painted blue, althoug the strings are thought to be over 20 years old they appear to be varnished!! My varnished Gamut med. D sounded crappy after 3 months my current D settled and opened in a month and a bit and they sound infectious. This D is not as fat as the Gamut D was so I think I will get an Anima E and a Garbo A I used to like. Thanks