Help. Bass Guitar Strings for a primarily Upright bassist

[rickwolff]

I play Jazz on a Double (Upright) Bass is a trio with piano and vocalist.

Last night I also brought my Ibanez SRX XXX along and played that for the last set.

No, I won't waste your time asking how I can make this sound like my Upright bass.

I'm fine with the sounds I get but I would like it to feel more like my DB. I'm thinking HEAVIER, HIGHER TENSION FLATWOUND STRINGS. I've got some kind of round or half-round strings on it now. I could also raise the action and put a little more curve in the fingerboard if necessary.

I don't want to go 'thuddy', my DB isn't thuddy at all - has beautiful sustain and I like that. But I'd like some strong fundamental, but with decent mids or highs and I'm guessing higher tension so it will feel more like my DB. I feel like I'm overpowering the strings now.

Am I asking too much? Oh, and less expensive is better. I don't care to drop $95 on a set of TI Jazz Flats.

Thanks in advance.

PS Just for reference here's a little clip of me on DB:

 

[Gorn]

You can put heavy gauge flats on the thing and raise the action and bow the neck, but I think that'll make for a playing experience that sounds terrible and feels awful more than sounding like an electric bass and feeling like an upright.

 

[Barry Vestal]

Anything Labella 760 will get you the sound your looking for I believe.... I use the 760fx set but I would suggest the 760fl set first and see if you like that tension

 

[Riff Ranger]

As a bass guitarist having dared to ask a question out of curiosity in the double bass strings forum, I hope you continue to receive only friendly and thoughtful replies as you have here thus far. I have used flats and tapes only sparingly, and started with La Bella as has already been suggested. It didn't make me into a flats/tapes person, but it didn't turn me off, either. I wish you luck

 

[rickwolff]

As a bass guitarist having dared to ask a question out of curiosity in the double bass strings forum, I hope you continue to receive only friendly and thoughtful replies as you have here thus far. I have used flats and tapes only sparingly, and started with La Bella as has already been suggested. It didn't make me into a flats/tapes person, but it didn't turn me off, either. I wish you luck

Riff, I apologize if you received less than a cordial reception on the other side. If you ever have any DB related questions you can feel free to msg me directly and I'll be happy to share whatever information I have.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Riff Ranger]

Riff, I apologize if you received less than a cordial reception on the other side. If you ever have any DB related questions you can feel free to msg me directly and I'll be happy to share whatever information I have.

Thanks for your reply.

To be clear, we've got some jerks on the BG side, too—but they probably won't do jerk stuff specifically because an upright player took an interest in bass guitar and they will certainly tell you to buy yet another bass

 

[Rocket Queen]

Maybe ask @Jon Moody? GHS makes both double bass and bass guitar strings.

 

[iiipopes]

What strings do you play on your double bass? For example, if you play Spiro Weich, then to get a similar growl and sustain the Fender 9050L would be an analog, and if you play Spiro Mitts, then the Fender 9050M set would be similar. If you play Pirastro Jazzers, then the La Bellas would be an analog. Hmm...do I see red silk on the E string? Everything goes with a dead Spiro E string.

 

[sean_on_bass]

I play Jazz on a Double (Upright) Bass is a trio with piano and vocalist.

Last night I also brought my Ibanez SRX XXX along and played that for the last set.

No, I won't waste your time asking how I can make this sound like my Upright bass.

I'm fine with the sounds I get but I would like it to feel more like my DB. I'm thinking HEAVIER, HIGHER TENSION FLATWOUND STRINGS. I've got some kind of round or half-round strings on it now. I could also raise the action and put a little more curve in the fingerboard if necessary.

I don't want to go 'thuddy', my DB isn't thuddy at all - has beautiful sustain and I like that. But I'd like some strong fundamental, but with decent mids or highs and I'm guessing higher tension so it will feel more like my DB. I feel like I'm overpowering the strings now.

Am I asking too much? Oh, and less expensive is better. I don't care to drop $95 on a set of TI Jazz Flats.

Thanks in advance.

PS Just for reference here's a little clip of me on DB:

Daddario Chromes are probably what you would like. But it aint gonna sound/feel like your upright Personally i use TI Jazz Flats and play with my thumb, keeping the strings muted with my right hand palm. But at the end of the day? On electric bass the strings you use are far less important compared to the same rabbit hole with upright. The pickups/technique are where the secret sauce is. Oh, and try not keeping the volume knob on the bass dimed out all the time. Roll it back a bit, warms things up.

 

[rickwolff]

Update: I had some GHS Pressurewounds on my ABG and I am moving those over to the Ibanez SRX 500. It looks like it's going to be a winner.