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Hannabach Nylon Strings for Classical Bass Guitar...
- Thread starter TapyTap
- Start date
Nylon multi-filament core strings are rarely discussed here on TB, with a notable exception, the Thomastik-Infeld Acousticore phosphor bronze strings, with which Turner Renaissance basses come equipped.
Then, there's also some discussion on the Pyramid set for the Kala UBass (look for the megathread on the Basses subboard), made like the Hannabach contrabass sets (silver plated copper wound on nylon silk).
I also remembered and've just dug out a post by a Spanish member who put Royal Classics contrabass strings on his ABG: they have a 6 string set but I couldn't find 4 string ones, other than a curious, contra-baritone uke (or "Chicago" tenor guitar) tuning (DGBE) one. bullT's bass itself is interesting: it appears that a number of Spanish and Portuguese makers offer ABGs in classical guitar form.
Some personal experience/relayed info/assorted ramblings from my past posts:
-Acousticores have lower priced competition by Pyramid and La Bella;
-so have Hannabach silver nylons - the aforementioned Royal Classics, Pyramid and La Bella, as well as Savarez (stringsbymail.com sells them in the US for little coin, and also carry Hannabach and La Bella);
-I use Savs on my cheaparse mid-scale ABG, like them enough that I'm gonna buy them again when the current set wears out;
-I suggested Savarez or Magma Transpositor Bass Sound sets as silverwound nyloncore alternatives for sub-short scale basses like the Kala, and a TBer tried the former on a classical guitar, and even tuned it a fourth lower than intended, with good results.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/gold-tone-microbass-talk-1032038/index17.html#post15435147
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/sub-short-scale-talk-644956/index9.html#post15435224 &ff
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/b...-alice-chains-unplugged-1053448/#post15496067
Tell us more about your project:
6 strings?
4?
scaled-up classical like the Arias?
biiig body like the Caldersmith?
long scale, I presume?
Then, there's also some discussion on the Pyramid set for the Kala UBass (look for the megathread on the Basses subboard), made like the Hannabach contrabass sets (silver plated copper wound on nylon silk).
I also remembered and've just dug out a post by a Spanish member who put Royal Classics contrabass strings on his ABG: they have a 6 string set but I couldn't find 4 string ones, other than a curious, contra-baritone uke (or "Chicago" tenor guitar) tuning (DGBE) one. bullT's bass itself is interesting: it appears that a number of Spanish and Portuguese makers offer ABGs in classical guitar form.
Some personal experience/relayed info/assorted ramblings from my past posts:
-Acousticores have lower priced competition by Pyramid and La Bella;
-so have Hannabach silver nylons - the aforementioned Royal Classics, Pyramid and La Bella, as well as Savarez (stringsbymail.com sells them in the US for little coin, and also carry Hannabach and La Bella);
-I use Savs on my cheaparse mid-scale ABG, like them enough that I'm gonna buy them again when the current set wears out;
-I suggested Savarez or Magma Transpositor Bass Sound sets as silverwound nyloncore alternatives for sub-short scale basses like the Kala, and a TBer tried the former on a classical guitar, and even tuned it a fourth lower than intended, with good results.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/gold-tone-microbass-talk-1032038/index17.html#post15435147
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/sub-short-scale-talk-644956/index9.html#post15435224 &ff
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/b...-alice-chains-unplugged-1053448/#post15496067
Tell us more about your project:
6 strings?
4?
scaled-up classical like the Arias?
biiig body like the Caldersmith?
long scale, I presume?
Thanks for the information!
I'm a classical guitarist at heart, so, I'm pondering an actual classical guitar one octave lower. Graham Caldersmith builds some very nice contra guitars, but I am looking into old school, Spanish style construction. This will be a 4-string (E1 A1 D2 G2). Oh yes, as far as scale length goes, I'm thinking about 32"/812.8mm.
About those Savarez strings on your medium scale ABG...Is each string fairly equal in tension when tuned to pitch, or is the E-string rather floppy compared to the rest of the set?
Also, I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Hannabachs might have a slightly brighter/clearer tone compared to the Savarez. Then again, there are only so many reviews that I can find on nylon core strings for contra bass guitar!
I'm a classical guitarist at heart, so, I'm pondering an actual classical guitar one octave lower. Graham Caldersmith builds some very nice contra guitars, but I am looking into old school, Spanish style construction. This will be a 4-string (E1 A1 D2 G2). Oh yes, as far as scale length goes, I'm thinking about 32"/812.8mm.
About those Savarez strings on your medium scale ABG...Is each string fairly equal in tension when tuned to pitch, or is the E-string rather floppy compared to the rest of the set?
Also, I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Hannabachs might have a slightly brighter/clearer tone compared to the Savarez. Then again, there are only so many reviews that I can find on nylon core strings for contra bass guitar!
Hey, I'll get back to you re:tension - I have the bass at the "rehearsal space" (kb player's place). My recollection is that the D and G feel tauter, at least. I'll follow up on this.
I'm playing Savarez on a medium scale abg tuned EADG. To me the tension seems pretty balanced across the neck, as well as up and down the fretboard. I'm a tape/flat guy on all my bass guitars, but these strings just seem right on acoustic, and the price is GREAT. I'm on my second set since I started using them and see no need to try any other strings. I went a year and a half on my first set, playing about 2 hours a week on average. I went longer than I should have, but I'm trying to find a 5 string and was hoping to turn one up before restringing. No luck there, I'm still looking. 
I play in an acoustic group with 4 other guitars. I typically need to be plugged in to be heard because I use a light touch, but if I pull out a fat pick and work at it I can keep up. I find it easier to just plug in. We play stuff ranging from Vivaldi transcription, to Spanish traditional, Mexican folk, AM oldies, liturgical stuff from ancient to modern and even Beatles tunes. I'm mostly playing traditional bass lines, but occasionally take leads up the fretboard and play chords up there as well. The strings have never left me wanting for more, unlike my technique...
I play in an acoustic group with 4 other guitars. I typically need to be plugged in to be heard because I use a light touch, but if I pull out a fat pick and work at it I can keep up. I find it easier to just plug in. We play stuff ranging from Vivaldi transcription, to Spanish traditional, Mexican folk, AM oldies, liturgical stuff from ancient to modern and even Beatles tunes. I'm mostly playing traditional bass lines, but occasionally take leads up the fretboard and play chords up there as well. The strings have never left me wanting for more, unlike my technique...
Bringing this back from the asphodels, since I realised I never answered to TapyTap's question!
IME at least the medium scale set is slightly unbalanced as far as (perceived?) tension, in that the D and A strings are about the same in tautness (or lack thereof), the G has a little more tension, the E a little less.
Sorry about that. Did you go Hannabach in the end, and if so how are they? Forget that, how's the classbass?
Eh... Stuff like food, clothing and shelter needs have the annoying habit of interfering with GAS. What about your Tsiorba? Have you ever posted pics or info about that one on TB? What strings do you use on it?
Someone was just recently posting about using a set of these, or something similar (classical contrabass strings), on a Michael Kelly Sojourn short scale, sounded interesting.
Oops. Had a look at your profile and didn't notice it wasn't under owned gear.
This one, the Stevens bass uke w/ Pyramids?
Yep, they're really made the same as classical contrabass strings AFAIK. Love the tone (I'm not really into common rubberlike bass uke strings by the way).
ITs from that thread, only that someone is really using full scaled contrabass guitar strings on a ukulele bass(albeit with lower tension).
I made a thread about classical (contra)bass guitars a while back: Classical bass guitar | TalkBass.com
I have since then tried the Esteve pscb in a store, and must say i really like it. It really has that low and warm sound which you can hear on recordings.
Oh, yes, SBassman's experiment with the La Bella contrabass 750mm set. Just like howardcano's experience with the 650mm scale Savarez set tuned a fourth lower (here and further on below in the sub-short thread), it confirms how these strings are very usable even in lower tensions than intended.
I remember that thread of yours. I've never seen let alone laid hands on a classical contrabass guitar, I'd love to. Heck, an acoustic Bass VI, what's not to love?
I've got a birthday coming up and am interested in the Savarez 860 set for one of my ABGs. But no info I have turned up so far on the web offers anything definitive regarding whether any of the Savarez
sets have a total length sufficient to load onto a 34" scale instrument.
sets have a total length sufficient to load onto a 34" scale instrument.
IIUC you're looking at this set, the 4CB640RL 4 string set for 860mm scale instruments:
Invalid Link Removed
I don't have experience with this particular set but I can help you by extrapolation if anything. The E string from Invalid Link Removed (the one for 810mm scale instruments) on my 32" ABG sits on the bridge saddle about a half inch past where the wrap wire starts being wound tight; there's about 2.5 inches between the nut and the tuner; the strings is wound twice around the tuning post before the wrap comes loose around the nylon core and the strings passes through the hole in the post (the tuner is of the smallish type, but the string is really elastic - and the winding grips fast to the core - so it's shown no sign of unravelling from being wound on the post full-wrap, so far at least); all of the other strings reach the tuners with their full thickness and are wound to them some, with no ill effects that I'm aware of.
In short: my strings would fit a 34" bass just right, so if the 860mm ones don't I'll eat my hat. My advice is to try them with confidence, then let me know if I have to think about recipes...
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Thanks for the prompt reply, HaphAsSard. I will give them a try. I see that Strings by Mail has a toll-free number, so I may give them a call for more specifics. On their site they have the set you link to and also a 660RL (86 cm) set. Two different item numbers, but the specifics indicate no difference between the string sets. Don't know what to make of that.
