Double Bass GUTS ARE SO MUCH FUN!!!

[DoubleMIDI]

I recently played on a bass with Goetz (Götz) strings. Not bad and I heard they are rather inexpensive guts. But I have no idea how long they last (specially for you).

 

[SteSte]

The only inexpensive option is propably a heavy gauge Efrano ordered directly from the factory. A reqular gauge Chorda is fat gauge, stiff feeling and extremely projective and powerful, but it`s expensive and not most durable. I have now a med gauge Efrano in it`s settling in -stage on my bass, but have used a reqular Chorda for the last 11-ish months. It`s still playable, but I wouldn`t completely trust it anymore. I`ve come to terms with that I wear a plain gut G string out in approximately one year. Not a big deal in my book when the plain D and A strings seems to be practically eternal if maintained properly.

Thank you very much!
I have the same experience, if well mantained all other strings but G seems eternal and...are improving the suound with the age!
I will try this Efrano G string, i see that from their web is 48 Euro and they have three "tension" i suppose that you are referring to the "strong" one, right?
48 Euro per year should be acceptable to me to have gut sound, at this time i'm really not able to change, gut its the real organic sound of the bass and affect the way i play.
Thanks for helping me.
ciao from Rome, Italy.
Stefano

 

[SteSte]

I recently played on a bass with Goetz (Götz) strings. Not bad and I heard they are rather inexpensive guts. But I have no idea how long they last (specially for you).

Thanks!
I seen that their web site Invalid Link Removed does not mention any string and that David Gage is selling "Gotz" strings especially made "Made especially for Götz by Lenzner Strings" so i think that are Lenzner strings.
Thanks
Ciao
Stefano

 

[Reiska]

i suppose that you are referring to the "strong" one, right?

Don`t know what they call it, but yes I mean the heaviest gauge of their three options.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I have a Medium and Strong Efrano G, the difference is not that much and for me they are all on the lighter side (Slappers). I might have a look if I measured the tension of both, but that might not mean too much to you if you don't know the tension of your current strings.
Medium G: diameter: 2.11 mm, tension on 105 cm: 19.1 Kp
(sleeve says 2.15 mm diameter)
Strong G: diameter: 2.22 mm, tension on 105 cm: 20.8 Kp
(sleeve says 2.25 mm diameter)
The strong fits better to Silver Slaps, the medium is a bit too light.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

I have several times read, that the hardest good gut string to find, is the D. I have found it true, regarding other string types as well. To the point, that I believe the solution is/could be, to have the D a bit higher relatively than the other strings. Lets say a typical string height could be 8-9-10-11 mms (G to E), I would end up with something like: 8-10-10-11. It is just something I have found through trial and error, that the D needs a bit extra height, to not sound a bit flat.

 

[DrayMiles]

voice recognition software

I like this guy already! He's quick on the draw....

 

[Jmilitsc]

Just acquired a 6-month old used set of plain Dlugolecki’s, Installing them on my 46 Kay this weekend, can’t wait!! This bass has been yelling at me for real guts for months now... kinda liked the Polychromes I have on it but the real deal is where it’s at.

This thread took me all of last weekend to read, great education thanks!! Lots of relearning to look forward to next, but very psyched to join this club.

 

[Jmilitsc]

Well, guts really are a blast! These strings are kinda dead even after trimming, sanding, oiling. The E is completely useless actually. I do see how it’s going to take a lot of getting used to to produce nice pizz tone and volume without digging in. But man this is the way to go for my Kay. Can’t wait to play them with the band soon and see how they fit in the mix.

I’m gonna order the Chorda CH’s and keep these Dlugolecki’s as spares I think.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Don’t you dare. Give them at least a month to stretch and settle. If you play every day to track their progress, you’ll be amazed at how they change.

 

[Jmilitsc]

Don’t you dare. Give them at least a month to stretch and settle. If you play every day to track their progress, you’ll be amazed at how they change.

Ha! Ok ok...

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I’ve seen this movie before.

If you *do* decide to go the wound E&A route drop me a note and I’ll trade you my spare set for your plain set. I happen to prefer plain gut for stability.

 

[Jmilitsc]

I’ve seen this movie before.

If you *do* decide to go the wound E&A route drop me a note and I’ll trade you my spare set for your plain set. I happen to prefer plain gut for stability.

Wisdom... thx. It’s only a couple weeks but they are settling in nicely, and as many have also said in this thread I’m learning how to play differently on them in order to produce sound well. They are awesome, can’t help smiling playing these strings. The A and E still don’t have the huge volume the D and G do, but I’m getting there.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Ok I’m seriously thinking about taking the plunge.

I have a juzek, a Shen willow and a hybrid bass all with spiros.

Thinking about giving guts a go and throwing them on the Shen for a while. If anything to say I played them for a bit and to know about the differences playing them.

But which set? I may make my own thread but i’d Like to have a good experience and not look back saying “well, I only tried lenzners so maybe...”

I’m thinking a full set with wrapped E and A or maybe a velvet E if I can be convinced.

So what to get?

Gamut? Pistoy or lycon? What gauges for all 4 strings?

Maybe chordas either Carlos or normal?

Thoughts?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Get Spirocores.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Get Spirocores.

View attachment 3258619

You’re right.

 

[lrhbass]

After the olivs..I tried Gamut Pistoy D-G....and Velvet Anima E-A.. a good combination,or entry combination...I would get the varnished also...
Give it a go ...for a few weeks at least.

 

[Nathan Levine]

Go all in. Gensslers 2018 AP. Don’t take them off.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Go all in. Gensslers 2018 AP. Don’t take them off.

Interested in plain gut though

 

[Jason Sypher]

If you have to do it, go with Gamut Pistoys medium guage. I prefer varnished. But, as others have stated, many of us who have been through this for many years have come to the conclusion that a classic steel string is the most practical, sound choice for almost anything unless you are playing a very specific kind of music where gut strings are absolutely essential (as in trying to capture a sound from a period of time or certain player). As fascinating as they are, they are not industry standard, and the times have changed, the demands on bass players have changed. We generally need to play almost everything these days, and dare I say, play it well. If you have a special sound concept that you believe in which demands the characteristics of gut then, go right ahead. But if you are out there working, trying to get, and keep, gigs while trying to use your time wisely, to maximize your potentials, not waste time with gear but putting in the hours and focus you need to become a great player, get some old spiros and get to work. There is no answer outside the basic tried and true that will change your playing or situation...in music...in life. That said, if you have extra basses to mess with throwing gut on one can, I said CAN, get you playing more, experimenting more, which ultimately affects the whole of your playing. But you gotta be honest with yourself, is this just a diversion to keep you from tackling the fundamentals and extended fundamentals that will actually make you a better player than you are now, on any string, in any situation?