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Double Bass Jazz string HELP!!!!

M

misterda1

Jan 16, 2010
6
0
London (United Kingdom)
#1
Im about to buy my first upright bass and i want to make sure that i buy the right strings for what the style i wanna play.

I know that its the feeling & spirit of the player that makes the sound but strings are important too. My favourite players include Paul Chambers and Jimmy Garrison, i also like Ray Brown.

Any advice on strings?
 
#4
You can't really get a Jimmy Garrison or Paul Chambers tone without playing gut strings. That said, I wouldn't recommend that as a starting place. I would say start with Spiros because they will last you a very long time, and you can forget about the strings and focus on just playing the bass.

As for as the other suggestions, I haven't had very good luck in terms of longevity with Obligatos, once you take them off the bass they don't hold up too well to being restrung. They seem more prone to breakage than other strings I have tried. I don't care for Evahs (orchestral gauge, I found them too tight), though I still have them on my backup bass. The Evah Weichs come highly recommended though, sounds like they are quite a bit different than the orchestral gauge, though still relatively high tension compared to other stuff thats out there.

In the beginning though, I would say that strings don't matter so much and you are better off putting that energy into learning to play the instrument. Any of those would be fine, though Spirocores are usually the default string.
 
#5
I agree about the tension on the Evah's, but I must say that I'm really starting to get used to it. (after one month).
They were on the bass I bought, when i'm going to put new ones, I think i'll go for Obligato or the Evah Weichs.

@ topicstarter: do you play arco as well?
 
#6
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Evah Weichs for your needs, misterda1. Spiros are the usual "go to" string for most new players, and I agree with that sentiment. But with your set of influences, I think the Evah Weichs could be a viable alternative. They're darker and a little more damped than the Spiros, and they may give you a little bit more of that old school vibe that your post suggests you might be looking for. BTW, those guys are all my main influences as well.

My Evahs are a year old and going strong. They're combined with Gamut guts on the top two strings, and it works really well.
 
#7
Marcus Johnson said:
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Evah Weichs for your needs, misterda1. Spiros are the usual "go to" string for most new players, and I agree with that sentiment. But with your set of influences, I think the Evah Weichs could be a viable alternative. They're darker and a little more damped than the Spiros, and they may give you a little bit more of that old school vibe that your post suggests you might be looking for. BTW, those guys are all my main influences as well.

My Evahs are a year old and going strong. They're combined with Gamut guts on the top two strings, and it works really well.
Click to expand...
thanks for the advice, i heard samples of guys playing with spirocores and i didn't like the sound, they sounded too bright, and i want to get a deep sound like P.C.

These are strings i can choose from:

Invalid Link Removed
 
#10
clink said:
I believe Ray's bass was quite dark though, and don't forget his hands! As much as I like Spiros, I don't think the odds of getting a warm, fat sound with them on a NEW bass are very good.
Click to expand...

Don't forget the other great strings Ray used (see my avatar).
 
#13
Misterda1,

Since you are in the UK you could also consider getting Innovation Jazz strings, which are nylon-core like Obligatos and Evahs and very good value in the UK. They also have a fairly dark sound. I think a set will cost you 69 quid - hard to beat!

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#17
I just read that thread. I don't know what you are looking for that you didn't get there.

Nobody can tell you "do this". To many different variables to consider including stuff we don't know on the internet.

From that list I like spirocores. Others may suggest obligato or Innovation pizz.

Pick one, take lessons and practice. The later two will get you much closer to your idols than any string you pick.
 
#18
I guess I suggested Evah Pirazzi Weichs in your other thread... I'd still go that route as a beginner. From the London Violins link you provided, the Velvet Garbo set might be another option for the sound you're describing... but arco is not really happening on those strings, if that's an issue.

As Uncletoad said.... Spiros are a great starting point for anyone. If you can get some used ones, the sound will probably be close to what you hear in your head. New ones are pretty zzzingy, and you have to play them in for awhile, but the payoff is great and long-lasting.

I still don't know if I would suggest gut strings for a beginner.... but some people (like me) take to them like a duck to water. I just can't imagine playing anything else at this point. I have plain guts on top, and Evahs on the bottom at the moment. For that PC, Wilbur Ware, Mingus type thing, they really work for me. If those guys are your influences, there's a good chance that you'll eventually try some gut strings. I've found that they're also fine for playing more contemporary styles on my bass. Maybe you could persuade a gut player to let you try his or her instrument, just to see what they feel like.
 
#19
Uncletoad said:
I just read that thread. I don't know what you are looking for that you didn't get there.

Nobody can tell you "do this". To many different variables to consider including stuff we don't know on the internet.

From that list I like spirocores. Others may suggest obligato or Innovation pizz.

Pick one, take lessons and practice. The later two will get you much closer to your idols than any string you pick.
Click to expand...

+ 1,000,000 but if I did have to recommend a string choice I'd say Spirocores. They are a good place to start if you're interested in playing jazz.
 
#20
Marcus Johnson said:
I guess I suggested Evah Pirazzi Weichs in your other thread... I'd still go that route as a beginner. From the London Violins link you provided...
Click to expand...
Having just put a set of the Evah Weichs on my ply bass I'd agree except they aren't on the list.

There are Pirastro Chordas and Lenzer Guts on that list. Frankly I think they are a headache but perhaps if you don't know any better it wouldn't matter. Back when those guys started playing that's what they learned on, so why not. Chordas are better than Lenzer in my view.
 

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