Double Bass Need a recommendation for low tension jazz strings

[Spanky123]

[I tried to navigate the string megathread but the links appear to be broken.]

There are no music stores where I live. My choice of stings is limited to what I can find on Amazon, (or Ebay, I guess) with international shipping. I am sort of a beginner and don't know what I should get (though I have been playing guitar for a while). The bass is set up with the cheap factory strings that came with it. They are hard to play.

I looked at these:
Amazon.com: Superior Bassworks STANDARD Upright Double Bass Strings Dirty Gut Color FULL SET: Musical Instruments

I am guessing that they won't have much tone or sustain.

There probably isn't much sense in buying really expensive strings before I know what I am doing, so for now I would like to buy a set that are easy to play, sound okay, and are less than $100. The most important of the three is'easy to play' as my current strings are really discouraging.

 

[Josh Kneisel]

Don't skimp on strings they will last forever (not really but a long time). I play Thomastik Spirocore reds on my upright they have good feel and sound great for pizz (that's what theyre designed for), and you can bow them even if they aren't the best for that.

 

[jsf729]

Well I'll be the first to recommend the TB string classifieds. The used UB strings classified section is the best way to buy quality strings- with varying amount of wear- for a fraction of the price, to see if you like them before spending $$$ for a new set that you may not like. Check the string forum again for info on various strings. Oh- and welcome to the string rat hole.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I think the D'addario Helicore lights (any variety: Orchestra, Pizz, or Hybrid) are wonderful strings to get started on.

I also think a set of Obligatos would be a fine choice - although there are other synthetic brands these days that might work better.

I'm currently using Thomastik Weichs - which can feel a little stiff depending on your setup, but after a year or so they really settle in.

 

[Josh Kneisel]

I used some of the synthetic gut strings at first, but really didn't realize what I was missing in my tone when I switched to spiros

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

SBW are more for slap playing. Lurk in the classifieds until a used set of Spiro Weichs pops up at a price you can live with? A set just sold for $110.

 

[madbanjoman]

[I tried to navigate the string megathread but the links appear to be broken.]



I looked at these:
Amazon.com: Superior Bassworks STANDARD Upright Double Bass Strings Dirty Gut Color FULL SET: Musical Instruments

I am guessing that they won't have much tone or sustain.

There probably isn't much sense in buying really expensive strings before I know what I am doing, so for now I would like to buy a set that are easy to play, sound okay, and are less than $100. The most important of the three is'easy to play' as my current strings are really discouraging.

I just changed my DB from the SBW Gripmax. They are easy on the hands, but just don't sound good for arco. They are mostly thumpy sounding when plucked. They are great for rockabilly slap.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

I wonder what genre OP will be playing mainly. And perhaps tonal preferences...

 

[Lee Moses]

I wonder what genre OP will be playing mainly.

He said jazz.

 

[Francois Blais]

Where do you live?
What strings do you actually have on?
Is the bass properly setuped? (String height at the end of the fingerboard?)

 

[Francois Blais]

He said jazz.

In the thread title.

 

[Sam Dingle]

If jazz is it I recommend finding a set of spirocore medium string and sticking with them for 2 years unless the tension is unbearable. Then get the spirocore weich.

Also bring your bass to a luither to have it set up for lighter play

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I also think a set of Obligatos would be a fine choice - although there are other synthetic brands these days that might work better.

I switched back to Obligatos after using Evah Prazzi and Zyex. The Obligatos compare well to other synthetic core strings in my opinion.

- Steve

 

[Jason Hollar]

If jazz is it I recommend finding a set of spirocore medium string and sticking with them for 2 years unless the tension is unbearable. Then get the spirocore weich.

Tough love!

 

[Sam Dingle]

Just my opinion! I wish I had listened to it! My thought is for freshmen in college (or beginner students) get a set of Spirocores that works with your bass (medium or weich) and learn all the fundimentals on them.

 

[Spanky123]

Where do you live?
What strings do you actually have on?
Is the bass properly setuped? (String height at the end of the fingerboard?)

I live in Oman, near the border to Yemen (not a proper music store for at least 600 miles).
Factory strings on it.
I bought the bass in Beijing. The fingerboard is fine. The bridge is high. I am going to lower it down to 7-10mm with sandpaper taped to the top.
I filed the nut grooves business card-high.

There's nobody to play with here, so tone doesn't matter as much as having a comfortable playing experience. I can buy good strings when I get better.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

In the thread title.

Ah yes, the title....

 

[Reiska]

@Spanky123, how about online shops? Spirocore lights ( weichs ) are very durable and great in that matter, they last forever. Evah Pirazzi weichs are a bit darker sounding and less metallic, great hybrid all around strings that propably work well at the height you describe ( G at 7mm`s ). If lower tension is wanted, Velvet makes great sounding pizz-oriented strings like Animas and Garbos. These are both expensive and fragile, Velvet Blues is more affordable alternative. I have a fresh set of synthetic Evah Pirazzi Slaps on my bass and they are the easiest playing strings I`ve ever tried, but require more height under them to feel and sound good. Good luck for your hunt!!!

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If there is nobody to play with you, you don't need to tune on pitch but can tune a half or wholetone lower (or even a bit more). That makes it easier to play and some strings even have that kind of tension with your downtuned steel core strings.

When you find a nice tension to play with and have reshaped the bridge you might get better string advice if you can give us the kind of strings and the amount of downtuning you like. But this can wait until you can play with somebody else.

In general synthetic and gut core strings (gut maybe not in your climate) are easier to press down as steel core strings due to a stretchier core. They also often need more room to vibrate, so a higher setup is needed for them.

The top sanding method is only used to shape the bridge feet to the top, not for lowering the string height. You do that by removing wood from the top.
7 mm is OK for the G, but you should use a difference of 1.5 mm first, so 7-8.5-10-11.5 mm before you might want to go lower on the lower strings. The E and aa need some room. Also if you go too low, the sound looses quality. If you go too low, you need either a new bridge or adjusters installed by a luthier. So be careful.

 

[Ortsom]

Right, now I can frame your situation.
Nevertheless, if you're in the fortunate situation that you can receive mail, you are not really limited, in 2017. Well, you're limited to what Thomann, Gollihur, String Emporium, TB classified's, ... can deliver, which is pretty much everything there is.
The strings you linked to are for slap, and I (& others) do not prefer them for jazz. Various strings are more suitable & will give a more rewarding sound, but your upper limit of $100 will be a challenge. The other limiting factor could be the instrument that you have, I believe you mentioned somewhere that it came from China and came delivered with cheap factory strings. It might be a cheap plywood bass with a thin top (if it's ply, can you measure the thickness with a calliper please?), in which case running higher tension strings like Thomastik Spirocore medium (a standard for jazz, 127kg @105cm) is not advisable. In that case Invalid Link Removed, de-tuned Invalid Link Removed, or D'Addario Zyex lights would be better, but new those are all above your budget. Within your budget, the Artino's are the cheapest rope core strings (113kg @105cm), and they sound quite good, but can feel a little stiff for their tension. In solid core, the GEWA's are good in their class, and are good value for money, but initially they are quite bright on the bow (106kg @105cm). If you have a ply instrument with a 5.5mm thick top I would recommend those, but if you have a more mature instrument I would raise your limit and choose better strings, or buy 2nd hand (I bought a 2nd hand set of Zyex lights which I like a lot).

Note: I linked to Thomann, but same or similar is available elsewhere. And there are also other makers that produce excellent strings. And in any case you need to set-up the instrument to suitable string heights, as outlined elsewhere.