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Double Bass GUTS ARE SO MUCH FUN!!!

#1,041
Ok so I don't know if this classifies as gut but I've gotta say that the mix I have on my bass with Evah Weich and an Oliv G is great. I love that oliv sound pizzicato. Not my favorite arco string but I only do that in the practice rooms. When this set dies I'll have to jump on the gamut train. How do plain guts compare to Olivs in terms of sound?
 
#1,042
I've read here and there about people using wrapped gut E and A over raw due to the looseness of the raw strings. I've got the opposite problem in that I'm used to flubby strings so my wrapped E and A have too much tension for my taste. I love the tone I'm getting, it's the best my bass has ever sounded but I'm having to attack the wrapped strings so much harder to get it that my right arm is getting tired fast.

Now I'll get to the questions:

Do the wrapped strings loosen up at all? These are a little over a month old and I play them for about 4 hrs a day in 4 day blocks (4 on, 4 off)
I know that over tuning regular strings can cause instability but what about gut? Are they so stretchy that leaving them tuned a step up for a few days would just loosen them up temporarily?

Also: Does anybody add a little oil to the tailpiece end of the strings? Mine are looking pretty dry by the tailpiece before the silk. I'd think that would be a weakspot if you let it dry out.
 
#1,043
jasonrp said:
I've read here and there about people using wrapped gut E and A over raw due to the looseness of the raw strings. I've got the opposite problem in that I'm used to flubby strings so my wrapped E and A have too much tension for my taste. I love the tone I'm getting, it's the best my bass has ever sounded but I'm having to attack the wrapped strings so much harder to get it that my right arm is getting tired fast.

Now I'll get to the questions:

Do the wrapped strings loosen up at all? These are a little over a month old and I play them for about 4 hrs a day in 4 day blocks (4 on, 4 off)
I know that over tuning regular strings can cause instability but what about gut? Are they so stretchy that leaving them tuned a step up for a few days would just loosen them up temporarily?

Also: Does anybody add a little oil to the tailpiece end of the strings? Mine are looking pretty dry by the tailpiece before the silk. I'd think that would be a weakspot if you let it dry out.
Click to expand...

You might want to consider switching to a plain A. It's about as flubby as you'll get and still have functionality. They are fat though, and may require filing of the bridge and nut.

I can't imagine a wound E being to high tension unless you have some underlying strain injuries or other health issues. I always found the tension of a wound E to be quite agreeable, though I disliked the string for other reasons.

In general I would not say that they "loosen up" over time. My experience with the plain guts is that they are more flexible/responsive after an hour or so of playing. This is probably true of most strings. However the tension is what it is.
 
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#1,044
I'm guessing that they seem high to me because other than my first 2 months playing on rotos, I've run wackers until these. I learned to slap on spaghetti noodles so I might need to build up the arm strength a bit.

What about my oil question? I know that you don't oil the windings but what about the exposed bit before the windings on the tailpiece? Mine are pretty dry/weak looking atm
 
#1,045
jasonrp said:
I'm guessing that they seem high to me because other than my first 2 months playing on rotos, I've run wackers until these. I learned to slap on spaghetti noodles so I might need to build up the arm strength a bit.

What about my oil question? I know that you don't oil the windings but what about the exposed bit before the windings on the tailpiece? Mine are pretty dry/weak looking atm
Click to expand...

Didn't realize that you were talking slap. I don't slap very often so I'm not the right guy to ask about that.

I lightly oil the after length on my plain guts, but keep the oil away from the bridge. I never touched my wrapped gut with any oil.
 
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#1,046
jasonrp said:
I'm guessing that they seem high to me because other than my first 2 months playing on rotos, I've run wackers until these. I learned to slap on spaghetti noodles so I might need to build up the arm strength a bit.

What about my oil question? I know that you don't oil the windings but what about the exposed bit before the windings on the tailpiece? Mine are pretty dry/weak looking atm
Click to expand...
You might try Innovation Silver or Golden Slaps for the E&A. I play wrapped gut E&A and found the Innovation slap strings too low in tension. They could be just what you are looking for.

As far as oil, I do oil the unwrapped part of the E&A strings at the tailpiece. I don't know how much it helps, but in years of doing this it has not hurt anything.
 
#1,050
Last weekend I played three gigs in a row using my German hybrid which is currently strung with an Evah Pirazzi Slap E & A and a Lenzner gut D & G. I've toyed with gut strings in the past and always wound up chickening out, but now that I have two basses I plan to stick with them for a while. Here's my takeaway so far:
  • The dark, boomy character of the gut strings is apparent even when amplified. I know "the tone is in the hands" and all that, but this is a really different sound, feel, and response.
  • You can get a big sound with less effort. I've really had to re-think my right hand approach, but I'm enjoying the results so far.
  • This is the shizzle for older jazz styles. No surprise here. One of my gigs was playing standards in a fancy restaurant with a piano trio and the other was a concert with a six piece band playing traditional and New Orleans jazz. The sound was just perfect for these styles and the low tension allowed me to incorporate some slapping on the trad gig.
  • Some of your old tricks wont work any more. As discussed in this thread. I've had to alter my vocabulary a bit and do more with less. The instrument speaks slower and the strings wont do the work for you, if that makes any sense.
  • Bowing on plain gut is an acquired taste. I'm starting to like it though, and it's not that difficult to do. I keep telling myself that this is what the double bass sounded like for centuries.
  • It's not the best for modern stuff. Again, no surprise. I had to play some rock and R&B on one of my gigs and the reduced clarity and sustain of the gut strings didn't work as well as my previous set up. That being said, no one turned to me and said "Hey, the sound of that bass isn't happening"
Right now the pros outweigh the cons and I'm still having fun. I've been spending so much time with this bass that it feels odd when I play my carved bass which is strung with Zyex Lights.

- Steve
 
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#1,051
I've got a question about putting guts on and break in time. I have a used gamut Lyon D/G coming that I'm gonna put over evah weich e/a.

If they get in on Tuesday I would love to put them on right away, but I've got an outdoor big band gig (jazz fest New Orleans) on Friday and a privet party traditional jazz gig Saturday. So would the strings be settled in on Friday or should I just wait till after my gigs and put them on Sunday?
 
#1,052
Retuning them is one thing, I think you will retune a lot during the first week.
Mixing them with Evah Weich might be a larger tension mismatch. Some don't have problems with that, others do.
You might need to change your technique for gut strings, since they are harder to catch pizzed.

So basically don't do that one or two days before a gig. It might work in some way, but it's risky if it doesn't.
 
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#1,054
They're used... so put 'em on and play them enough before the gig and they will be fine. My experience is plain gut will settle in just a couple of days of playing.

Things that help-
properly sized bridge and nut slots with graphite
arco
slap
getting used to tuning more often during a set

Seriously, plain gut is much more stable than wound gut, go for it!!!!

-Jeff
 
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#1,057
Can you tell me the diameter of the Carlos Chorda G?
And anybody knows the diameter of the Chorda G?
I'm trying to find the plain gut G that works best with my double bass for my purposes.
The last one was a 2,30 mm (.090") Gamut Lyon that Dan Larson made for me. It's beautiful, but after four months playing at home I've find that it's not for me (Currently for sale worldwide at the international classifieds).
 
#1,060
Sam Dingle said:
Any idea the tension? Are the Gamuts about the same?
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Not even close. The plain Gamuts have much more twist to them, which makes them more flexible. The Chorda Carlos are designed and made for pure power compared to the breathier, more delicate Gamut sound.

Late answer, but @Steve Bassman the right hand technique is less of a "pull" and more of a "caress" if that makes any sense.
 
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