This is probably been asked, but....Have any of the talkbass brethren switched from Gut (i use lenzner Wrapped E and A/plain D and G) to silver slaps and have been happy? I am playing everything from Jazz to Roots. Thanks!
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Double Bass Guts to Silver Slaps
- Thread starter ERIC A
- Start date
If you have problems with gut, Silver Slaps might be a way to get rid of them, but only gut sounds like gut.
No problems, do not change.
Problems with gut, Silver Slaps are worth a try, even if you only replace A and E at the end. But do not expect bowing to work well with the Silver Slaps.
No problems, do not change.
Problems with gut, Silver Slaps are worth a try, even if you only replace A and E at the end. But do not expect bowing to work well with the Silver Slaps.
You are absolutely right. ....nothing sounds like guts. I am looking for more sustain and tuning stability.
Both cases: Yes!
Tuning stability takes a few days, but is quicker and with less stretching when tuning up than with other synthetic core strings.
Innovation strings are good at this.
For bluegrass to swing really good. But I wouldn't use them for modern jazz styles regularly.
I'm expecting to go the other direction sometime in the next few years... I'm using SilverSlaps EA and SBW_Deluxe DG. I expect to keep the SilverSlaps EA and go with gut DG.
But it won't be soon, I've got 2 spare new sets of SilverSlaps and 2 spare new sets of SBW_Deluxe waiting for my current set to wear out enough to replace them, and my current mixed set (going on a year for the SilverSlaps and 18 months for the SBW_Deluxe) is showing no sign of wear yet...
And really, I'm quite happy with this mix, so I'm not in a hurry -- but yes, the gut mystique calls to me.
Regarding bowing on SliverSlaps, I've had pretty good luck with them for my 10% arco after a couple of weeks of generous rosin, a tight bow and a little technique evolution. I enjoy playing them a lot, but with a couple of goose honks every once in a while, I probably would not select SilverSlaps if I was playing 90% arco.
But it won't be soon, I've got 2 spare new sets of SilverSlaps and 2 spare new sets of SBW_Deluxe waiting for my current set to wear out enough to replace them, and my current mixed set (going on a year for the SilverSlaps and 18 months for the SBW_Deluxe) is showing no sign of wear yet...
And really, I'm quite happy with this mix, so I'm not in a hurry -- but yes, the gut mystique calls to me.
Regarding bowing on SliverSlaps, I've had pretty good luck with them for my 10% arco after a couple of weeks of generous rosin, a tight bow and a little technique evolution. I enjoy playing them a lot, but with a couple of goose honks every once in a while, I probably would not select SilverSlaps if I was playing 90% arco.
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I really, really like my Silver Slaps. I had a bass many years ago with old guts, the projection is much more focused and tuning stability is really good, even in the goofy conditions that I play. I don't like the sound of SS arco at all and they take a cloud of rosin to start. They're the worst in that arena that I've ever personally played. I don't practice with the bow anymore.
That having been said I have had this set on for like 6 years and I'm only taking them off to put Spirocores.
That having been said I have had this set on for like 6 years and I'm only taking them off to put Spirocores.
Thanks for the replies! I tried silver slaps when they first came out and found the tension to be even lower than guts and had to really jack up the action to get them to feel even close to the lenzner guts. Did anybody else have the same experience?
i think the silver slaps are what you're looking for... if the tension is too low then try the super silvers. also, the black rockabilly strings work well for pizz (ive only tried the E and A so far but expect that the rest would be good too) and just because they're black, dont expect them to sound like the ron carter strings! really quite different
depends on the bass. i'd say dont risk it. buy a super silver and silver slap EA and see. sell what you don't like
If you saw @Neal Miner's post on facebook, on his backup bass he uses super silvers he wanted a gut alternative and he sounded happy with them.
Yes!!!
I think I've gotten away with a string mix on my Alcoa that just works right but may not be as good on more conventional basses, nor for other players' musical preferences; as always, YMMV.
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The Super Silvers are a lot higher tension than Silver Slaps. The lower strings are also roundwound (cannot remember about the upper ones).
Silver Slaps have too less tension for me, but Super Silvers were too much.
The Rockabillies might be better.
But the A and E of the Silver Slaps are OK, almost the same tension than Efrano Medium A and E. The higher strings, specially the D is a bit weak for my taste.
For a bit more tension the Polychromes might be worth a try.
Silver Slaps have too less tension for me, but Super Silvers were too much.
The Rockabillies might be better.
But the A and E of the Silver Slaps are OK, almost the same tension than Efrano Medium A and E. The higher strings, specially the D is a bit weak for my taste.
For a bit more tension the Polychromes might be worth a try.
Until they wore out I had Lenzner guts on G and D, and Golden Slaps (same as Silver Slaps) on A and E. Worked well. Now I have SBWs with a Eurosonic E.
What's "just because they're black, don't expect them to sound like Ron carter" supposed to mean exactly? Check your privilege.
Ron Carter plays black Labella nylon strings, and has for years. I just sat in the second row and watched him play a trio set in June, and those strings have a very unique and distinctive sound. Maybe don't be so quick to assume the worst about a post if you don't know what strings Ron Carter plays. I'm pretty sure the point was not to assume the strings will sound the same because they look similar.
Also, editing another member's post in the quote from "just because they're black, don't expect them to sound like the Ron Carter strings" to "just because they're black, don't expect them to sound like Ron Carter" and then attacking the edited wording looks really bad.... but not on the person you quoted.
Also, I believe the point was comparing strings not persons. The LaBella black nylon tape wound (Ron Carter) strings have a braided steel core and are often referred to as Ron Carter strings because he uses them and was instrumental in their developement. The strings referenced in the post (Innovation Rockabilly) have a synthetic core with a black nylon wrap. They look very similar but sound quite different.
Oh boy... The reason I said that was because even when I had my bass at david gage for some setup work he saw the black strings and said oh you have Ron Carter strings, I guess you like that sound. but they really sound and feel nothing like those strings. They're more like a tape wound super silver.
Oh wait... I see what's going on here
