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Double Bass Low tension UB steel strings
- Thread starter billiard
- Start date
Quoted from Read this before asking string advice !
Thanks!
Your question is very wide, and giving more information will help us.Hi.
We get questions about which string to use everyday.
More often than not, the poster doesn't provide enough information, and/or their profile is empty, so we know very little about them and their gear, tastes, etc.
Another member came with this checklist, which I edited a bit:
1. What are you using the bass for (arco, pizz, 50/50, 10%pizz/90%arco ?...)
2. What kind of sound are you looking for (bright, dark, long sustain, thumpy, gut-like, etc.).
3. What kind of feel are you looking for (high/low tension, thick/thin gauge, etc.)
4. What strings have you used in the past and what did you like/dislike about them (If you don't know what was on your old bass, try to find out what strings they were by providing the silk colors at both ends).
Help us to help you!
Good luck!
François
Thanks!
Looking for a gut type tension and steel string tone.
What's the best low tension steel string?
What's the best low tension steel string for the money or bang for the buck?
If your looking for gut like tension the Superflexible Solos are great. I had them on my bass recently but I didn't like the sound I was getting for pizzicato playing. Once I had the steel strings on, I felt compelled to play more pizz but I took them off when I became disappointed in the tone and now I'm back to guts. I might try Spirocores Wiech(light?) next.
Perpetual are relatively light tension and good versatile tone
Just a thought that may not be relevant, but if you are looking for a low tension string because you play a Kay M1, my experience says you don't have to worry. I played three Kay basses over a period of 35 years and each one wore Spirocore mittels. Never did any harm to any of the instruments.
Spiro Weichs, I think, are the baseline here. I had a great run for years with a Spiro weich E, and the rest of the set Dominant solos tuned down. So, my recommendation would be to try a Spiro weich E below tuned down solo strings, and see if that's the vibe you're looking for.
My gigging bass is a heavily modded C-1 with Spiro solos. It also wears a first gen Realist which darkens the amplified tone considerably. Very easy on the hands.
No, they are not. At least if you mean steel core. Eurosonics which are Presto Nylonwound and Presto Jazzicato have a steel core with an outer synthetic winding. All Innovation strings have a synthetic core.
Blast Cult "Low Life" strings are all steel flatwound and very flexible as they are made to be slapped. Very affordable too.
I hand tried them all and nothing feels like gut. If the Superflexible strings work please let us know and have heard that Percy Heath used them.
