Double Bass GUTS ARE SO MUCH FUN!!!

[JLubinsky-Mast]

I've been using Gamut Pistoy's on my GD&A for the last while, with a copper wound E on the bottom. On a whim I put on a beat up old Re-O-Ray I had lying around. Good lord, it took about a week, but it sounds amazing. The tension is a bit different, but it sounds great. Now comes the search for some NOS Red-O-Rays

 

[Povl Carstensen]

I've been using Gamut Pistoy's on my GD&A for the last while, with a copper wound E on the bottom. On a whim I put on a beat up old Re-O-Ray I had lying around. Good lord, it took about a week, but it sounds amazing. The tension is a bit different, but it sounds great. Now comes the search for some NOS Red-O-Rays

How was the tension different, and what is your pistoy gauge? And what string did you change, and how did it sound different?

 

[Reiska]

I`ve grown to like the Efrano medium GDA / Evah slap E. They`re very dark unlike Pirastro guts for example, but they sound and feel balanced. They`re still very technically challenging for me to play pizz, still fiquring out the right hand stuff, but they sound good. There`s enough sustain, and they can be played everywhere on the fingerboard. Arco is great, especially after getting a new bridge last december. They have sounded great acoustically, amplified and recorded.

Heaviest part for me is the plain GDA pizz playability overall, low tension and reasonably high action needs different stroke and strokes. I`ve had muscle problems with plain GDA / E string -combo before and still have, but I`m working on it. I`ve ended up with lowering my bass 5-ish cm and letting go the dogma of playing in certain area, like the end of the fingerboard. I play where my right hand falls naturally, or where I get the sound and feel I need, and try to do everything as relaxed as possible. Part of it all is my big bass, but on the other hand it`s pretty light and resonant, that`s why it works so well with guts, I quess. Anyway, even when it`s hard, that`s the way I hear the DB and that`s the sound I wan`t to make.

 

[JLubinsky-Mast]

How was the tension different, and what is your pistoy gauge? And what string did you change, and how did it sound different?

I'm using The Heavy plus guage. I find the red o ray might be a bit stiffer. It's definitely lossening up over the past two weeks.
I just changed the G string. Hard to describe but it sounds woodier. Maybe, the Pistoy had too much of a zing to my ears.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

So I did a "tour" of the G's, I had lying around, to complement my (3-4 year old) E-A-D Lenzners. The Velvet Garbo gut G sounds great, but is quite a lot more trebly than the Lenzners. Rotosound and Velvet Garbo reg G felt and sounded too far off gut. I have never been quite happy with my particular Lenzner G, a bit stiff, and not so much sound.
So in the end it was Efrano. I have the G in all 3 gauges. And allthough the stark and medium does give more punch, the tension difference was too much for me.
If Efrano was my best compromise, why not put on the new Efrano E-A-D weich I bought around christmas. Ofcourse they took a week or so to stretch and settle in. Initially they had a deeper sound than my Lenzner set, almost making my bass sound a bit more "classy", if you understand what I mean. But now, a good month later, they are becomming a bit closer to the Lenzners in that respect. I suspect it could be because they come sealed in a plastic bag, so they are well oiled out of the package. Now when they dry out a bit, they become closer to the Lenzners. Also with the Efranos, mixing a medium G with the weich set did not work, so that experiment is over for me. But the weich G mixes seamlessly with the rest of the set, which makes the change worthwile for me for now.
Edit: All of the above is plain gut.

 

[AGCurry]

I have never been quite happy with my particular Lenzner G, a bit stiff, and not so much sound.

Hmm. I actually prefer the Lenzner G (and D) to the Gamut Lyon. Different strokes (and basses).

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Hmm. I actually prefer the Lenzner G (and D) to the Gamut Lyon. Different strokes (and basses).

Actually, I am almost happy to hear that, because it can put to rest my idea of trying out Gamut for a while more. The availability of Pistoy and Lyon, plus al the gauges make my head spin...

 

[Thomas88]

Beautiful behind the scenes video.

 

[Tom west]

Hi guys I have been using an oliv g for a year and a half and I am thinking of replacing with another or changing to a chorda g. Which string is more powerful for straight ahead walking? Chorda or oliv?thanks!

 

[Reiska]

As a plain gut / low tension string Chorda needs a bit more room under it than Oliv. Depending on what your lower strings are, you can play with the string height if you have adjusters on your bridge. When set at right height, Chorda G is a beast.

 

[SamuelHarris]

I find the Oliv and Chorda are both awesome and it's really hard to choose which I like better. For jazz pizz I'd say Chorda but the Oliv is no slouch and nicer under the bow. But if you love that PC arco reedy sound then the Chorda wins. But if you like some of the quickness of steel with the warmth of gut then Oliv.

See what I mean?

 

[Jason Sypher]

I also think both are superior strings however Oliv G's never lasted more than five months or so while the Chorda could last years if well-maintained. Oliv is a hybrid and it sounds it, more stability but less organic. Chorda G is a somewhat tighter G than some of it's competitors but I found that very useful for lower action, quick speaking and faster bowing. At this point in my playing I don't like compromises. If gut is the sound you love, go unwound gut. If steel is preferred go Spiros. The middle ground cheats you out of what makes each so great.

 

[ericsmith]

I've played a Chorda G (and D) for about four years now. Very durable! It's been on and off also quite a few times.
I guess a lot of it comes down to how your hands sweat aswell.

Have to agree with above, it's either spiros or real gut!

 

[Don Hergert]

How do the Evah Pirazzi Slap G and D (plain gut) compare with the Chorda G and D for tone, touch and durability? Any experiences?

 

[Reiska]

How do the Evah Pirazzi Slap G and D (plain gut) compare with the Chorda G and D for tone, touch and durability? Any experiences?

My experience is based on E.P slap D only, simply put, I hate that string. It`s low twist rate like Chordas are but very thin gauge and that makes it a hopeless noodle without tone and playability. Can`t really compare the two. Don`t go cheap if you`re into plain guts @dhergert , get Carlos gauge Chordas ( reqular gauge Chorda D doesn`t pizz well ), Gamuts or Dlugoleckis!!!

 

[Thomas88]

Thanks for all your feedback. I am using oliv d and g atm and they have been on 18 months and seem fine for a lot longer. Pirastro have given me a good deal on C.H. chorda so I think I will give them a go. I would love to try the american gut but by the time postage is included it gets very expensive to UK

 

[Povl Carstensen]

I am at a "good enough" plateau with my full set Efrano plain gut weich on my longish scale (106,5 cms) 3/4 hybrid bass. And "good enough" is for me pretty huge.

 

[Don Hergert]

My experience is based on E.P slap D only, simply put, I hate that string. It`s low twist rate like Chordas are but very thin gauge and that makes it a hopeless noodle without tone and playability. Can`t really compare the two. Don`t go cheap if you`re into plain guts @dhergert , get Carlos gauge Chordas ( reqular gauge Chorda D doesn`t pizz well ), Gamuts or Dlugoleckis!!!

Thank you @Reiska, I appreciate your shared experience about this. I'm just feeling the waters related to guts, but I do think plain gut D and G strings are in my future, and I will seriously look at Chordas, Gamuts or Dlugolekis when that time comes. I had been seriously interested in Gamut Red Diamonds, but I know now I want plain guts and better durability.

 

[Reiska]

@Thomas88 I`ve played Chorda G earlier and have now C.H. GD on my bass. They`re louder, more projective and richer in complexity than any plain gut pair I`ve ever tried. Sound directly out of late 50`s Miles record. If you like that you wont be disappointed. I feel you on the U.S imports, I hopefully get my new Gamut Pistoy plain A delivered tomorrow, but i ended up paying the string + taxes and customs. I could get a full set of Velvets for that price in EU.

@Povl Carstensen You know I tried! I`m pretty much converted now With that said, I still have and will keep my no-name cheapo GD for backup.

@dhergert You have Dan Larson and Damian Dlugolecki just around your block, so you`re pretty well set

 

[Peck_Time]

Lots of great info in this thread. I just thought i’m add my gut experience.

I’ve been playing plain guts on G and D with spiros on E and A for 5 years now. I tried the red diamonds 6 months ago but couldn’t get along with them.

Last month i put the plain guts back on G and D with the red diamonds on E and A a and Wow! Once I got past the learning curve, playing all guts is awesome!

The difference between 2 gut/ 2 steel strings and 4 gut strings really is enormous- and it took me a long time to be ready for it, but I can’t go back now.

Just from an ergonomic perspective, my hands and body feel great after playing a gig acoustically on guts, where as before with the two steel strings I would be done for.

Anyway the red diamond A unwound at the octave , so i’ve splurged on a set of Lenzners. Very excited to try them.