Double Bass Re-using old strings???

[jkallen83]

im by no means new to music/instruments/luthier or anything else to do with music, BUT, the upright bass seems to be a whole new animal..

when playing guitar/bass, i like to experiment and find the strings that sound/play the best for "ME". simple enough...

BUT, the upright bass strings at their prices, its basically impossible to experiment. i got Innovation Rockabilly strings by recommendation from a local upright bass player who plays bluegrass music mostly. read they are medium tension...they sound great but they are pretty firm.

i have always played light and easy on all instruments, so getting that "tick" from slap style bass is basically impossible for me on these strings, i just dont slap that hard.

SO, i want to try other strings, Weedwackers are appealing due to the price, but just wondering how their tone is and if they can be played without slapping for smooth country sounds.

second is Innovation Silver/Gold Slaps that are light tension. but they are pricy as well...

question is....IF i tried the Weedwackers and didnt like them, COULD i re-use the Innovation Rockabilly strings that I remove or would i HAVE to buy a new set of something else?


of course i "know" its always best to replace with new, but due to price and the fact that i dont play the upright as a main instrument, trying to keep cost down and experiment also.


Suggestions on re-using old strings? or on the Weedwackers?

 

[Bijoux]

I have a few sets of my favorite strings. Such as spiros, Obligatos, Ep's, Helicores.
and they are several years old. some of them might be close to 10 years and I still use them.
Unless they start to play out of tune or really sound completely dead I won't buy new ones.
I personally think strings last a lot longer than most people tend to think.

 

[jkallen83]

yeah, these strings are not old, maybe a year old...question is, if i REMOVE these strings to try another kind, and dont like the new kind, could i put these old strings that i have removed from the bass back onto the bass?

 

[Jake deVilliers]

yeah, these strings are not old, maybe a year old...question is, if i REMOVE these strings to try another kind, and dont like the new kind, could i put these old strings that i have removed from the bass back onto the bass?

Yes, you can. Weedwacker line doesn't make for a very good DB string. The Silver Slaps are a very comfortable string to play. Bear in mind that DB is much more physical than electric bass guitar.

 

[jkallen83]

it is ALOT more physical than electric bass. been watching videos to learn different techniques and watching some of the guys making slapping look effortless, so i try it they way they do, NOT to play, just to get the slap down and the strings are too hard to slap for me, i DID make it work once, but i LITERALLY BEAT my bass, and i will NOT treat my instruments that way.

people on video's dont treat their basses that way, im not either. most are done with simple wrist movements.

i understand strings are different people use different strings same as guitar, BUT, i always use light gauge strings on all my instruments because i play light and gentle....this upright bass i "LOVE". sounds EXCELLENT. plays excellent, just need some lighter strings to work back with me.

i was thinking the Weedwackers due to price and the fact that i do no play this bass out really since i play lead guitar, i just always wanted an upright and i do plan on playing it out some also. hard to convince the wife of $140+ for strings when she is the only one who hears them lol.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

i DID make it work once, but i LITERALLY BEAT my bass

Something's off here. Playing slap makes it LOOK like you're beating your bass, but in truth you're barely touching it.

Let's start from the beginning: Steel or medium tension strings like the RABs should be set at the following heights off the end of the fingerboard -- G 6-7mm, D 7-8mm, A 8-9mm, E 9-10mm.

Especially for a newer player, there's really no reason to have them up much higher. Consult a luthier if the strings are uncomfortably high. If you elect to switch to a lower-tension string, you can run them a little higher to counteract the low tension and allow the string enough room to vibrate freely.

Hold the bass straight up and down, so the strings are perpendicular to the floor. Relax your right hand completely and place it over the strings so your index and middle fingers are at a 45-degree angle to the strings.

Gently draw your fingertips across the string until the little balls on the pads of your fingertips catch the string and start to pull it outward away from the body of the bass. Allow the string to slide off of your fingertips and smack against the fingerboard.

That's a single slap.

For a double slap, repeat the above but follow up by patting the fingerboard with your palm or fingers. There are also techniques called triple and quadruple slap which involve the thumb and heel of the hand. Don't worry about those yet.

Weedwackers are barely OK for slap playing and are kind of feeble for pizzicatto, but myself and others can make them work. They are at their best amplified, which is not something you should be worried about now. Learn to pull a good strong sound from the bass by itself.

Part of pulling a sound is intonation, stopping the note on the fingerboard properly and at exactly the correct spot. Whackers make it difficult to hear your intonation on the higher strings, and damn near impossible on the low notes.

 

[jkallen83]

KUNGfuSHERIFF,
that is an EXCELLENT instruction on the playing. intonation and tone is my strong-point. i have a great ear for that. i do instrument work on all my own instruments as well as others. im very picky. some musicians HATE to play with me because if their instrument intonation is off, i hear it and tell them they are either out of tune or need some adjustment, but they refuse. some ask me if i will adjust for them and they are very happy afterwards.

my bass setup is great, to me...BUT, my strings are "hard" they do not react to "slapping". for clean tones, this thing is a DREAM for tone and playability. im just looking for the slap-back...when i slap the strings with my palm, it catches them solid, no chance of slapping the fingerboard.

i watch the strings while playing. my technique looks good, but the strings deliver GREAT tone, but are not light or loose enough to snap the fingerboard. its close tho...im pretty sure a lighter gauge string will do the trick.

as far as amplifying the bass, no problem there. i have multiple ways. reason i went with these strings is since it was new to me, i let the other player pick out the strings, but he plays un-amplified alot and needs the volume of the medium strings, he said lighter strings would not be as loud which is fine by me, i like tone and playability, i can always amplify that sound later.


thank you for that description though, lets me know my technique is good. that produces an amazing tone, but no slap.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Try tuning the strings down a full step and see what happens. What are your string heights? Do you have an adjustable bridge?

 

[jkallen83]

so in the end....if i remove the strings i have now...put on new/different strings, then i should SAVE the old strings i just took off so i can put them back on later right? in other words, old strings can be re-used.....unless they are completely wore out of course.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Absolutely. Many of us have a drawer full.

 

[jkallen83]

well today i got my dremel out and i worked on the bridge for my bass. i lowered the strings ALOT. it made a HUGE difference. playability is AMAZING, was before but its almost like electric bass for me now the action is so low. i got my slap in there. cant get the strings to snap on the fingerboard without really pulling on them, just aint natural...i CAN but it dont feel natural. i TRULY believe a lighter gauge string is my answer. i cant go no lower or i'll buzz, im on the verge of it now.

for pizzicato playing, it plays like butter tho.