These strings came with my bass. I would really like to know what brand they are so I can compare their characteristics (tension etc) when looking for possible replacements. Many thanks in advance from Holland
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Double Bass Please help with string ID
- Thread starter Herr
- Start date
Innovation SilverSlaps. By the tailpiece anchors I'd guess an early UK version, but I'm not sure what the current GHS version uses for anchors.
(Recent history: GHS purchased Innovation and began doing their string production in the USA in 2019. SilverSlaps and GoldenSlaps are basically the same string with different metal foil inner wraps; they are Innovation's lowest tension strings.)
(Recent history: GHS purchased Innovation and began doing their string production in the USA in 2019. SilverSlaps and GoldenSlaps are basically the same string with different metal foil inner wraps; they are Innovation's lowest tension strings.)
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Thank you for your quick reply. May I ask how their tension compares to gut-a-like for example? I would like to try some strings with lower tension (aspiring psychobilly 
)
)
I haven't tried Gut-A-Like strings, but I do play a mix of Innovation SilverSlaps E and A with Superior Bassworks Deluxe "Dirty Guts" D and G, and the tension, gauge, stiffness and tone mix is excellent. The Dirty Guts E and A were acoustically too quiet and unclear on my DB, so I mixed in the SilverSlaps E and A. I've since done some soundpost work and may try all Dirty Guts again in the future when I need to change strings. I have never used a full set of SilverSlaps.
Worth noting, there have been a number of posts here and elsewhere sighting less than positive differences in Innovation strings since moving to GHS. My SilverSlaps are the earlier UK version so I cannot provide a comparison.
Worth noting, there have been a number of posts here and elsewhere sighting less than positive differences in Innovation strings since moving to GHS. My SilverSlaps are the earlier UK version so I cannot provide a comparison.
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Do you think there is anything to be gained to replace the SilverSlaps for low-tension fake gut strings in terms of playability?
The old UK Silver Slaps have a similar tension to medium Efrano Elite gut strings (two plain, two wound).
The Efrano lower wound string had a bit short sustain for my taste, but mixing Efrano G and D with Silver Slaps A and E worked well for pizz, but not too well with the bow.
The Efrano lower wound string had a bit short sustain for my taste, but mixing Efrano G and D with Silver Slaps A and E worked well for pizz, but not too well with the bow.
I've seen winding flaws in my UK-vintage SilverSlaps E and A strings -- I actually bought 3-As and 3-Es back in 2018, before the move to GHS, and at that time out of those three each, only the windings of one of the As and one of the Es were what I would consider nearly perfect -- and winding flaws is what people have mostly complained about related to the newer GHS Innovation strings. So I cannot really say GHS SilverSlaps are worse or better than the UK SilverSlaps, I can only say that the UK SilverSlaps are rare now so it's hard to judge. To be fair though, I have heard similar, albeit isolated, complaints about other makers' wound synthetic strings too.
I'm on my 2nd slightly winding flawed UK SilverSlaps E and A now, having gently retired the previous imperfect but still very usable E and A last year at the age of 4 while trying out some other strings that unfortunately didn't work out on my DB. The brand new much more perfect UK SilverSlaps E and A sit waiting for me to decide it's their time, which I really don't expect to have happen for more like a total of 6 to 8 years using the current strings.
But, having the much more robust Dirty Gut D and G means I'm not using SilverSlaps D and G -- which of the full SilverSlaps set are the decidedly more finely wrapped, fragile and probably more likely to fail SilverSlaps strings -- and I suspect that is why I've never developed any serious problems with my use of SilverSlaps.
If I move back to using a full set of Dirty Guts, it will be primarily because my soundpost work has allowed their E and A to sound acoustically clear and loud. But Dirty Guts (specially treated Kevlar core gator line, aka wackers) are remarkably simple, robust and long lasting, which is especially important to me since I slap as well as playing pizz and arco. So if I go back to Dirty Guts E and A, I'm sure I would enjoy not worrying about the design complexities and potential weakness of the SilverSlaps.
FWIW, Dirty Guts are very very popular among slappers in the USA. They also sound excellent amped by piezo or mic. They also have an amazing affinity to the bow, something SilverSlaps do not have. The D and G I've been using sound and feel great, so yes, I'm sort of anxious to try a full set again.
DB strings are a rabbit hole though, just one of many associated with DBs. If your SilverSlaps are working well now, I'd suggest using them until they aren't. If I were you, I'd probably get a new full set of Dirty Guts, or if easier to get for you, Gut-A-Likes, to keep in your DB bag for use when and if the time comes to move on, but I'd wait until something clearly says it's that time, to change them. You might get a large number of years out of the SilverSlaps.
Best of luck with this!
Thank you very much for your extensive reply. I have been lurking and reading TB for many years (long time electric bass player). Usually my owns questions had been asked and answered before, and it’s very nice to get my “own” answer when needed.
Gut-a-like is easier to get over here, and I’ll include a set next time when I am ordering some other stuff at Thomann
Gut-a-like is easier to get over here, and I’ll include a set next time when I am ordering some other stuff at Thomann
Very welcomed!
Possibly worth additional mention, I just looked at Gut-a-Like strings online; I have never seen them new or in use here in the USA...
Just my observations in comparing...
The D and G with Dirty Guts might be close, from the description it looks like they are a monofilament of some kind, but the E and A strings appear to also have a polished "copper braid" exterior, an interesting technique in contrast with winding. The braid being copper, by weight, might improve the acoustic tone and clarity and possibly even the longevity of the E and A.
Dirty Guts (Deluxe version), as mentioned earlier, are a Kevlar core monofilament for all the strings, plus they all have a spiral cut for the length of the string that audibly pushes air and also makes the strings extremely easy to grab for slap or pizz, or also to bow. With their texture they also don't tend to get "sticky" like smooth wacker strings do. They also have special integrated anchors which seem work well with just about any tailpiece (even my custom tailpiece ).
For better or worse, Gut-a-Like E and A strings are a more complicated design of string than the Dirty Guts E and A. It appears there are only the 4 strings in the full set, so unlike the Dirty Guts there is no ability to "bump" the set for higher or lower tension. Gut-a-Like strings appear to be only rated for 3/4 double basses; Dirty Guts come in a long length and can be trimmed anywhere, so they are rated for installation on 4/4 down to 1/2 size double basses (for smaller double basses it may be challenging to achieve concert pitch at a useful tension).
I'd like to see and hear the Gut-a-Like strings in person someday. Like Dirty Guts outside of the USA, I can find no distributors of Gut-a-Like strings in the USA, which is sort of odd considering that so many other strings distributed in the USA for double bass are made outside of the USA. A person can even get Dirty Guts on Amazon.
Possibly worth additional mention, I just looked at Gut-a-Like strings online; I have never seen them new or in use here in the USA...
Just my observations in comparing...
The D and G with Dirty Guts might be close, from the description it looks like they are a monofilament of some kind, but the E and A strings appear to also have a polished "copper braid" exterior, an interesting technique in contrast with winding. The braid being copper, by weight, might improve the acoustic tone and clarity and possibly even the longevity of the E and A.
Dirty Guts (Deluxe version), as mentioned earlier, are a Kevlar core monofilament for all the strings, plus they all have a spiral cut for the length of the string that audibly pushes air and also makes the strings extremely easy to grab for slap or pizz, or also to bow. With their texture they also don't tend to get "sticky" like smooth wacker strings do. They also have special integrated anchors which seem work well with just about any tailpiece (even my custom tailpiece
).For better or worse, Gut-a-Like E and A strings are a more complicated design of string than the Dirty Guts E and A. It appears there are only the 4 strings in the full set, so unlike the Dirty Guts there is no ability to "bump" the set for higher or lower tension. Gut-a-Like strings appear to be only rated for 3/4 double basses; Dirty Guts come in a long length and can be trimmed anywhere, so they are rated for installation on 4/4 down to 1/2 size double basses (for smaller double basses it may be challenging to achieve concert pitch at a useful tension).
I'd like to see and hear the Gut-a-Like strings in person someday. Like Dirty Guts outside of the USA, I can find no distributors of Gut-a-Like strings in the USA, which is sort of odd considering that so many other strings distributed in the USA for double bass are made outside of the USA. A person can even get Dirty Guts on Amazon.
Very welcomed!
Possibly worth additional mention, I just looked at Gut-a-Like strings online; I have never seen them new or in use here in the USA...
Just my observations in comparing...
The D and G with Dirty Guts might be close, from the description it looks like they are a monofilament of some kind, but the E and A strings appear to also have a polished "copper braid" exterior, an interesting technique in contrast with winding. The braid being copper, by weight, might improve the acoustic tone and clarity and possibly even the longevity of the E and A.
Dirty Guts (Deluxe version), as mentioned earlier, are a Kevlar core monofilament for all the strings, plus they all have a spiral cut for the length of the string that audibly pushes air and also makes the strings extremely easy to grab for slap or pizz, or also to bow. With their texture they also don't tend to get "sticky" like smooth wacker strings do. They also have special integrated anchors which seem work well with just about any tailpiece (even my custom tailpiece
For better or worse, Gut-a-Like E and A strings are a more complicated design of string than the Dirty Guts E and A. It appears there are only the 4 strings in the full set, so unlike the Dirty Guts there is no ability to "bump" the set for higher or lower tension. Gut-a-Like strings appear to be only rated for 3/4 double basses; Dirty Guts come in a long length and can be trimmed anywhere, so they are rated for installation on 4/4 down to 1/2 size double basses (for smaller double basses it may be challenging to achieve concert pitch at a useful tension).
I'd like to see and hear the Gut-a-Like strings in person someday. Like Dirty Guts outside of the USA, I can find no distributors of Gut-a-Like strings in the USA, which is sort of odd considering that so many other strings distributed in the USA for double bass are made outside of the USA. A person can even get Dirty Guts on Amazon.
I believe you can order the Gut-A-Like strings from Thomann Music’s U.S. website. They’re still shipped from Europe, but everything is U.S. currency.
