Double Bass Hemp strings?

[Marcus Johnson]

I remember an interview with pops foster where he talked about using laundry line or whatever he could get.

Wow... I'd like to see that interview. Cool.

 

[Big Brother]

Hemp coated strings have been around for awhile

 

[MR PC]

Hemp coated.......you mean ash from drift smoke, or I guess you could use hemp oil to lubricate plain gut strings.......or?

Marcus, I believe the Pops story is in his autobiography.

 

[Tommy el Gato]

Hemp coated strings have been around for awhile

Well I'd like to learn a little bit about those. Got a link or something that can send me in the right direction?

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Marcus, I believe the Pops story is in his autobiography.

Oooh. I think I'd like to check that out, if he didn't censor himself too much.

 

[tehbassist]

Well this thread has inspired me.

I'm going to try to make some hemp strings.

I've got time to kill for a few more weeks before I head to luthiery school, so I'm gonna go down to the hobby shop and pick up different sizes of hemp twine, and try to dig up some hemp based oil and lacquers. However I imagine that hemp lacquer is fairly hard to source here in the states so if anybody (that's you my Canadian bass brethren) knows a way to get a hold of some it'd be much appreciated if you'd send me a pm.

I'll start a new thread if and when I get something going; wish me luck!

 

[DaveAceofBass]

With hemp strings, it would be you wacking the weed.

Actually, you'd be whacking the whacky tobacky!

I think hemp strings would've been attempted a long time ago, but people were too busy smoking the materials!

 

[Tommy el Gato]

Well this thread has inspired me.

I'm going to try to make some hemp strings.

I've got time to kill for a few more weeks before I head to luthiery school, so I'm gonna go down to the hobby shop and pick up different sizes of hemp twine, and try to dig up some hemp based oil and lacquers. However I imagine that hemp lacquer is fairly hard to source here in the states so if anybody (that's you my Canadian bass brethren) knows a way to get a hold of some it'd be much appreciated if you'd send me a pm.

I'll start a new thread if and when I get something going; wish me luck!

In addition, you might try hemp cord. My understanding is it's more processed and smoother and already varnished. I would have tried it myself already, but I don't have a good way to shave down the width of these things.

But then again, I really don't know much about string construction. I don't even know how to widen out my saddles for bigger strings.

Here's hoping the experiment goes well!

 

[MR PC]

Oooh. I think I'd like to check that out, if he didn't censor himself too much.

Not sure about that, code of the road and all, but I don't think he went the way of Jelly Roll Morton with the interviews!

 

[robobass]

Interesting idea. Any idea of its density compared to gut? My impression is that it would be much lighter, meaning you'd need it very thick to get usable tension. I bet it would be a great core under a metal wrapping, though.

 

[tehbassist]

Interesting idea. Any idea of its density compared to gut? My impression is that it would be much lighter, meaning you'd need it very thick to get usable tension. I bet it would be a great a core under a metal wrapping, though.

So far the numbers I've crunched are promising, that is I don't think we will be dealing with telephone cable sized hemp strings...

 

[Dr Rod]

there are already hemp rope manufacturers, the first test would be just to buy some rope and string it up on a bass

naturally, this rope would not be made for playing, so it would have very bumpy windings, but it would give you a tone test

here are some makers that make them in many gauges, the first one in particular seems to have a wide variety:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Natural Fiber Ropes - Cotton Rope and Hemp Rope

Hemp Rope-Hemp Rope Manufacturers, Suppliers and Exporters on Alibaba.com

 

[4001]

Would those be good for the BONGo bass?

 

[Tommy el Gato]

I don't think hemp rope would be a good test for these strings if one plans on taking a bow to them. They'll just be too bumpy for any grip to happen. Not only that, but rope is only available in sizes 4 mm and up, which is probably going to only be good for E strings. That's why I would suggest hemp twine or hemp cord. Tehbassist is way ahead of me in that regard.

 

[Dr Rod]

They'll just be too bumpy for any grip to happen.

you are free to do whatever you want, of course, but I know that in poor countries they use plain metal cable (braided just like these hemp ropes) as substitute for bass and cello strings

it won't be optimal, but you will probably get a grip going

 

[tehbassist]

Well so far I'm having trouble with the low quality craft store hemp twine breaking at the nut while tuning.

I really don't want to give any impressions yet, but the only way I see this going is me buying yarn or even raw fiber, weighing it out, and then twisting it into a string myself. I have no problem with that, but it pushes my time frame for getting a testable product out until late summer after I get back from luthiery school (it's plucked luthiery, not bowed, so no DB access).

All that being said, in theory this should all work very well, and I have high (lol) hopes for a, at very least, unique set of strings.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Animas use (or used) a silk core; as someone mentioned earlier don't use the raw fiber as a string, use it for the CORE of a string....

 

[Tommy el Gato]

Well so far I'm having trouble with the low quality craft store hemp twine breaking at the nut while tuning.

I really don't want to give any impressions yet, but the only way I see this going is me buying yarn or even raw fiber, weighing it out, and then twisting it into a string myself. I have no problem with that, but it pushes my time frame for getting a testable product out until late summer after I get back from luthiery school (it's plucked luthiery, not bowed, so no DB access).

All that being said, in theory this should all work very well, and I have high (lol) hopes for a, at very least, unique set of strings.

What diameter of twine are you using? You may need something 2mm or bigger for a g. Of course, I'm assuming similar sizes to gut strings.

 

[tehbassist]

What diameter of twine are you using? You may need something 2mm or bigger for a g. Of course, I'm assuming similar sizes to gut strings.

It's thin-ish unlabeled twine, just about 2mm and it didn't hold up too well as a G when I finally got it to pitch (washing and working the hemp helped the durability). As I tuned higher than G it stated to sound fairly good with a higher tension, I think I was more impressed by the arco tone than the pizz.

Tuning stability was an issue at least with this cheep stuff, but I'll keep everyone posted as I start working with higher quality materials.

 

[MR PC]

Animas use (or used) a silk core; as someone mentioned earlier don't use the raw fiber as a string, use it for the CORE of a string....

Tynex covered hempcore strings. That would be an interesting synergism, considering the history of Dupont in the rope business.