Double Bass GUTS ARE SO MUCH FUN!!!

[jfv]

... My guts are getting hairy...

Damn, doesn't it find some strange places to show as you
get older

 

[jfv]

Ahem... on a more serious note. Do the wound Gamut
A and E discolor your fingers like the Velvet?? Was
debating between a new set of Garbo with the G gut,
or Gamut G and D, or just a full Gamut set....

If I get silver wrap, does that tarnish and come off on
your fingers also?

Thanks,

 

[Marcus Johnson]

I've played both extensively. No, the copper wound Gamut guts that I use now do not discolor my fingers. The Velvets did, a whole bunch.

I loved the Velvets... but I vastly prefer the full Gamut set. They are on another level, easily the best set I've owned. But I live in a place where the weather/humidity just never really changes much from day to day. Some people have had issues with wound guts in variable climates. If tuning stability is likely to be a concern for you, you might want to consider the mixed set.

 

[MR PC]

Is today Ground Hog day on Maui, Marcus?

 

[jfv]

Oddly enough, although it rains like the dickens
in Portland the humidity is not generally very high,
and I would say its quite stable, summer can get
warm but nothing like the misery of the midwest
or south. So I think it shouldn't be an issue.

Do you prefer copper wrapping to silver?

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Hey PC... we grind everything here...hogs, chickens, deer, fish.... even tourists.

Jack... I've only played the copper wound Gamuts, and I like them very much. I would have a hard time switching from them at this point, because they've worked so well for me. They're really the only gut bottom strings that I've encountered with the focus and clarity that allow for great pitch definition and sustain, even into the higher positions. I can do more things horizontally, across the fingerboard, than I've ever been able to even attempt on other gut strings.

I've played other guts wound with silver, but not on my own bass, and they weren't of the quality of the Gamuts, so the comparison wouldn't really be fair I guess.

 

[jfv]

Hey PC... we grind everything here...hogs, chickens, deer, fish.... even tourists.

Jack... I've only played the copper wound Gamuts, and I like them very much. I would have a hard time switching from them at this point, because they've worked so well for me. They're really the only gut bottom strings that I've encountered with the focus and clarity that allow for great pitch definition and sustain, even into the higher positions. I can do more things horizontally, across the fingerboard, than I've ever been able to even attempt on other gut strings.

I've played other guts wound with silver, but not on my own bass, and they weren't of the quality of the Gamuts, so the comparison wouldn't really be fair I guess.

Remind me to avoid the sausage next time I'm there

Thanks for the advise Marcus, I'm sorely tempted, have a
gig tonight and then about a month til the next, so would
give me some time to attempt the transition.

 

[MR PC]

Hey PC... we grind everything here...hogs, chickens, deer, fish.... even tourists.

Leave the Koa alone!

BTW, Marcus, how much are those wound guts grinding your fingerboard?

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Not much at all.

 

[engedi1]

subd

 

[engedi1]

I have an opportunity to pick up an UNUSED Eudoxa D and G string for $100. Does that seem like a good deal? I have never used these, and have used obligatos for the last several years. However, I want something that thumps like gut when plucked, but sings when bowed? Any comments from the users out there? Could I resell the Eudoxas if they don't work out for $100 do you think?

 

[bassist14]

I have an opportunity to pick up an UNUSED Eudoxa D and G string for $100. Does that seem like a good deal?

YES

I have never used these, and have used obligatos for the last several years. However, I want something that thumps like gut when plucked, but sings when bowed?

eudoxas will do this

Any comments from the users out there? Could I resell the Eudoxas if they don't work out for $100 do you think?

i don´t konw, but you won´t sell them

 

[Mark Perna]

Ahem... on a more serious note. Do the wound Gamut
A and E discolor your fingers like the Velvet?? Was
debating between a new set of Garbo with the G gut,
or Gamut G and D, or just a full Gamut set....

If I get silver wrap, does that tarnish and come off on
your fingers also?

Thanks,

I've used Garbos, Animas and silver wrapped Gamuts and none of them discolored my fingers.

Am I odd that I've never had a hair problem? I've put thousands of hours on guts over the past 2+ years and I've seen, maybe, a half dozen hairs. I clip them and they're gone never to return.

I've got really dry hands though.

I didn't have any trouble with the wrapped guts grinding the fingerboard at all when I used wrapped guts.

mark

 

[jfv]

You must have dry hands if the Velvet's never rub off
on you. I don't think my hands are that sweaty however.

The more I think it over I believe I'll buy the full Gamut
set with copper wrapped E and A, just go for it, otherwise
I'll just wonder about it anyway

Cheers,

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

So the double knot on the tailpiece knot on my Chorda A is now a single knot, and after soaking it in warm water the string end is pliable but I don't have enough material to re-do the second knot.

I put the string back on the bass, slack, to dry in the position I want in hopes the single knot will hold tension. If it doesn't my best idea to save it is reinforcing the knot with a felt washer from an old set of strings.

Any other ideas? I really like these strings, and would rather pay a bill than replace the A. Thanks.

 

[Mark Perna]

You must have dry hands if the Velvet's never rub off
on you. I don't think my hands are that sweaty however.

The more I think it over I believe I'll buy the full Gamut
set with copper wrapped E and A, just go for it, otherwise
I'll just wonder about it anyway

Cheers,

I tried the full Gamut set and it was fabulous in the Spring, Summer and early Fall. It was a nightmare starting the late Fall and through Winter. When the temperature drops, the strings go sharp which requires detuning. I had one gig where I had to detune the A string two full steps before the end of the night. The C on the A string was never in the same place twice and I had taken so much tension off of the table by the end of the night that the bass sounded like a washtub bass. That was the worst night with them but most of Winter was a continual fight. Once I went to Garbo E/A, the problem went away. I eventually ended up with Anima E/A and have been happy ever since. I don't know what the winters are like in Portland but keep that in mind. If you are going to put them on, now would be a really good time since you'll get 7-8 months before the temperatures drop.

mark

 

[Marcus Johnson]

The more I think it over I believe I'll buy the full Gamut
set with copper wrapped E and A, just go for it, otherwise
I'll just wonder about it anyway

Cheers,

There y'go. That process of "wondering about it" drove me nuts for a long time, along with everybody on Talkbass, who listened to me waffle about it for months in these forums. They finally shut me up by GIVING me a full set of Gamuts, which is the set that I'm still happily playing every night. If it absolutely falls flat (or sharp ), you shouldn't have any trouble selling used Gamuts.

I've drunk the Gamut Kool-Aid, clearly. My bass just works very well with the full set. Ken Smith was the guy that first told me that full gut was really the only way to get the full experience.

Now the question is... which Gamuts? With all the different possibilities in the individual string gauges, Lyon vs Pistoy on the tops, etc... it can take some thought.

 

[Jason Sypher]

The only way to know is to try. You can always sell....

 

[jfv]

There y'go. That process of "wondering about it" drove me nuts for a long time, along with everybody on Talkbass, who listened to me waffle about it for months in these forums. They finally shut me up by GIVING me a full set of Gamuts, which is the set that I'm still happily playing every night. If it absolutely falls flat (or sharp ), you shouldn't have any trouble selling used Gamuts.

I've drunk the Gamut Kool-Aid, clearly. My bass just works very well with the full set. Ken Smith was the guy that first told me that full gut was really the only way to get the full experience.

Now the question is... which Gamuts? With all the different possibilities in the individual string gauges, Lyon vs Pistoy on the tops, etc... it can take some thought.

Damn, maybe I better waffle a bit longer, see if someone
will save me 500 bucks

Seriously though, I was thinking Pistoy medium G, light + D,
and copper wrapped medium E and A, any comments on
the choice? Its a fully carved Hungarian that has had a
full set of Anima on it for over 2 years.

I don't bow a lot, but there are just a couple numbers in
the big band book that I do use a bit of bow, will this
be a problem with the Gamut? Anima are quite pretty
bowed, well by Jazz standards anyway

 

[Marcus Johnson]

To be honest, I don't even remember what the gauges are on my bass. I do remember that Bill Hoffman, who gave me the copper wound lower strings, recommended going a little heavier on the bottoms. The tops are varnished Lyons, and maybe Mark Perna could remind me exactly what the gauges are. I'm going to give the Pistoy D a try next time, but I may stick with the Lyon on top. It's epic.

Bowing is not a problem for me, I really enjoy the Gamuts under the bow. The main thing that I've noticed is that they like a fairly high bow speed and a rather light touch. The copper bottom Gamuts are wonderful under the bow. You'll get it in time. I've had a lot more success with them than I ever did with the Animas.