Double Bass hybrid gut string choices 2024

[groooooove]

I am jealous. Gerold's work is incredible. (I keep thinking about the string he developed for Rabbath.)

the rabbath string is likely similar to tempera - it's a synthetic core, so they share that.

I received my sonores basso/gut set and installed them yesterday.

I have a minor injury to my right elbow and can't play very much for a few more days, but my initial impressions are that this is nothing like any other string i've used. in many different ways.

once i've played on them for a few days and they're good and stretched out i'll post more thoughts and maybe record them. would be smart to re-record something i've played on tempera to demonstrate how different they really are.

 

[groooooove]

so i've been able to play quite a bit on these since yesterday. they don't seem to be stretching much anymore, they were hardly flat at all this morning.

i'll try and keep it short.

The good:
-they sound AMAZING
-they play AMAZING
-they ARE AMAZING

sound is vibrant, intense, rich. all the way up and down each string is intensely warm. it's bright but with richness, not metallic or harsh in any way. for classical or jazz they sound great. the jazz sustain is as much if not more than spirocore.

the dynamic range is worlds above any other string. it feels like i've unlocked true ppp to fff dynamics, with full expressive capabilities at either end.

the bad:
-? hard to type something here.
-expensive
-so good that they make me want to try more guts.

I think, although this would mean removing and selling these strings, next up for me is to try a "regular" gut set such as gamut. experiencing these has removed all reservations i had about unwound D/G and round E/A. if i need a fingerboard dressing, new nut and filed bridge slots, so be it. as some other members have said in the past, "guts are so much fun!" and i think that justifies the expense of trying many of them.

 

[JBarz]

I’ve been going with gut off and on for over a decade, but just got my first low wound Gamut string (low G) in a couple days ago and feel similarly. I suggest you don’t try anything else, though. Don’t let the joy of discovery give you GAS. Just be happy. It’ll be 3 weeks to 3 months before any gut string, plain or hybrid, finishes stretching and settles into its true voice.

 

[groooooove]

I’ve been going with gut off and on for over a decade, but just got my first low wound Gamut string (low G) in a couple days ago and feel similarly. I suggest you don’t try anything else, though. Don’t let the joy of discovery give you GAS. Just be happy. It’ll be 3 weeks to 3 months before any gut string, plain or hybrid, finishes stretching and settles into its true voice.

try and stop me!

agreed that they will ease in to their long-term voice.

but i am definitely interested in trying others, at least for now, i can always re-purchase at a later date if i'm missing something. i'm not taking any gigs at the moment so i have no obligations other than having fun.

the light-bulb "i should try guts" moment for me was realizing how much i love them on my viola da gamba - which if course, is unwound top strings and roundwound bottom strings.

 

[groooooove]

i was going to start a separate thread with this question, but i'll just put it here:

does anyone know of, or have, audio samples of gamut strings?

i may even order them for my backup bass...

or, better yet, anyone in NY have a bass strung with such strings that i could try?

i was going to sell the sonores set but they're really amazing i don't see why i would. i do want to try other guts, though.

will be bringing my bass to the luthier who made it for a quick check up - he agreed with gerold that for gut sets the soundpost moving away from the bridge a touch is a good move.

 

[crd]

I am using a full set here I think:
https://www.youtube.com/live/E3JN9fiQO4w?si=Ags9l-SLDhwsgU69

 

[JBarz]

i was going to sell the sonores set but they're really amazing i don't see why i would. i do want to try other guts, though

 

[AGCurry]

does anyone know of, or have, audio samples of gamut strings?

Here's a pizz-only performance, for what it's worth. It's long, so you might want to "fast forward" into the middle somewhere.

 

[groooooove]

Here's a pizz-only performance, for what it's worth. It's long, so you might want to "fast forward" into the middle somewhere.

yup... sounds like gut... really nice.

 

[Eli Brockway]

I'd provide you one of the livestreams from the college orchestra I'm playing with, but I'm still on my CH Chordas (except for the A string, the winding on the Chorda split so I replaced it with a mystery, possibly LaBella, plain A that @Greg Clinkingbeard sent me). The Gamuts I have are still hanging out in their envelopes as backups.

 

[groooooove]

my sonores basso strings seem to be settling really nicely. they really sound better than i could have dreamed. they're really full and super rich sounding. it's just a dream come true, honestly.

mr.genssler insists that with his strings, if your bass was set up for steel/typical synthetic strings, a soundpost adjustment away from the bridge is necessary.

the luthier who made my instrument is well versed in gut strings as he is one of the countries leading viola da gamba makers. I gave him a call and he agreed, both due to tension and the flexibility of gut strings, instruments with gut need more room between the bridge and soundpost.

he did not specify exactly the difference, outside it "it lets the instrument breathe." - he did say it makes the bow respond better, though. gerold said it will give more low end and a quicker response.

putting this here since it seems to be reality and not opinion that when trying a gut (or lower tension string such as tempera), the soundpost "should" be moved for everything to work properly.

bringing my bass in for an adjustment later today. will report back and noted differences, since i think this may be a standard part of the "im trying gut strings for the first time" experience.

 

[jmpiwonka]

I need to get a soundpost adjustment for my bass after putting Helix on it. Post is pretty close to the bridge foot currently.
Glad you like the Basso with gut core!!

 

[LouisF]

When you say "away from the bridge" - which direction do you mean?? Thanks

 

[jmpiwonka]

Typically in line with the bridge foot and down towards the endpin. Small movements. Like 1/8” or 1/4”.

 

[LouisF]

Thanks

 

[groooooove]

When you say "away from the bridge" - which direction do you mean?? Thanks

the "healthy range" of where the soundpost should go is between 1/2 to 1 diameter of the post itself, south of the bridge foot. (towards the endpin)

the violinmaker said with guts strings it's ideal to go to the further end of that range, and it's a pretty simple formula. higher tension/metal strings sound better with the post on the other side of that range, which is obviously somewhat standard nowadays.

bass sounds great. it's responding better, and for sure sounds more even.

violin maker seemed pretty impressed with how his (my) bass sounds with these strings.

 

[Billy Mohler]

so i've been able to play quite a bit on these since yesterday. they don't seem to be stretching much anymore, they were hardly flat at all this morning.

i'll try and keep it short.

The good:
-they sound AMAZING
-they play AMAZING
-they ARE AMAZING

sound is vibrant, intense, rich. all the way up and down each string is intensely warm. it's bright but with richness, not metallic or harsh in any way. for classical or jazz they sound great. the jazz sustain is as much if not more than spirocore.

the dynamic range is worlds above any other string. it feels like i've unlocked true ppp to fff dynamics, with full expressive capabilities at either end.

the bad:
-? hard to type something here.
-expensive
-so good that they make me want to try more guts.

I think, although this would mean removing and selling these strings, next up for me is to try a "regular" gut set such as gamut. experiencing these has removed all reservations i had about unwound D/G and round E/A. if i need a fingerboard dressing, new nut and filed bridge slots, so be it. as some other members have said in the past, "guts are so much fun!" and i think that justifies the expense of trying many of them.

I feel the same way about Genssler's! The BASSO's are incredible strings!

 

[jmpiwonka]

I feel the same way about Genssler's! The BASSO's are incredible strings!

I got a Basso soundclip from Gerold and they sound great. I was a bit noncommittal because I also like the Helix I have on my bass.

Just yesterday though, chasing down a little buzz, I swapped the Helix g string out, I clipped the end of a new string and left my dykes on the table. I didn’t see my kid messing around while I was winding up the new string. And the Helix g string which was also on the table is now in three pieces

Now I really want to get a response from Gerold haha.

The Genssler strings have such great feel also.

 

[Earl]

I got a Basso soundclip from Gerold and they sound great. I was a bit noncommittal because I also like the Helix I have on my bass.

Just yesterday though, chasing down a little buzz, I swapped the Helix g string out, I clipped the end of a new string and left my dykes on the table. I didn’t see my kid messing around while I was winding up the new string. And the Helix g string which was also on the table is now in three pieces

Now I really want to get a response from Gerold haha.

The Genssler strings have such great feel also.

Never leave a dyke on a table.

 

[Billy Mohler]

I got a Basso soundclip from Gerold and they sound great. I was a bit noncommittal because I also like the Helix I have on my bass.

Just yesterday though, chasing down a little buzz, I swapped the Helix g string out, I clipped the end of a new string and left my dykes on the table. I didn’t see my kid messing around while I was winding up the new string. And the Helix g string which was also on the table is now in three pieces

Now I really want to get a response from Gerold haha.

The Genssler strings have such great feel also.

Oh no! That's wild! Well, I can vouch for the BASSO25's. Here's a short improvised clip on them....