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Double Bass Oiling gut strings

P

ProfChris

Mar 1, 2024
44
52
#1
I bought my cheap hybrid bass a year ago, and for the last 6 months I've been playing a very cheap D & G pair of gut strings bought via eBay (something like US$70 for the pair). They play surprisingly well - I thought I'd see if I liked the feel and general sound before investing the big money, but for the playing I do (in pubs) these are quite good enough so they're staying on. E & A are Aquila Red Springs if anyone is wondering what made a good match for me.

I'm pretty sure they're just raw gut, and I read about oiling strings. Should I be doing this? If so, what oil and how often?

I do know enough not to soak them in oil, but that's all :)
 
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#2
I know some oil their guts, but I've had the same D and G on my ply for the 20 or so years I've had it and never done it. They sound great and seem ok. None of the hairs people talk about and they feel nice with both hands.
 
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#3
lurk said:
I know some oil their guts, but I've had the same D and G on my ply for the 20 or so years I've had it and never done it. They sound great and seem ok. None of the hairs people talk about and they feel nice with both hands.
Click to expand...
You most likely don't sweat much and live in a not too humid climate. Your strings may also be varnished.
 
#5
Am I correct that if I do oil, I want to use a non-drying oil (ie one which doesn't polymerise)?

And does oiling have a purpose beyond slowing moisture absorption? I haven't had humidity or sweat issues so far, and I guess I could check the effect on feel by oiling a non-speaking part of the string.
 
#6
Oops, I didn't search - this thread tells me that some like to oil and some don't, which I guess is what I should have expected.

J

Double Bass Thread 'Gut strings. To oil, or not to oil.'

Regarding care of plain, raw gut strings.

Gamut recommends no oil. They believe it's an old wives tale. They have no evidence or reason to believe it is necessary, that it is better for the gut to remain dry, that it may be harmful for the strings to be oiled.

Pirastro, on the other hand:
"As a part of our production process - at the finish - we oil our gut strings. So the gut strings you buy from us are already oiled. Gut strings are a natural product and of course gut react to changes in humidity, other than synthetic or steel core strings. With the oil we protect the strings from...
 
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#9
If you have reasonable ph, you shouldn’t need to oil them much if at all. Wipe them down regularly with a clean dry cloth and clip any hairs. If you’re getting a lot of hairs/shedding, that is a sign you should oil as needed after cleaning.
I’ve always used mineral oil.
Apply the oil with a paper towel and let it sit for a few minutes then wipe it off with a soft cloth.
(I have a three pack of chamois I got from the hardware store for like 4 bucks that work great. I just toss them in the laundry when they need it.)
 
#10
Yep - lots of discussion in past threads.

When I first got guts a couple of years ago, I was trimming, sanding, and oiling them more often than I needed to. Just out of the novelty. Not sure I've touched them over the past year.
 

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