Seriuosly, I've taken to haunting the EB side. I can't believe the rockabilly section is so desolate.
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Double Bass res·ur·rect The Dead
- Thread starter DonaldFraser
- Start date
On this section, I sometimes hesitate to ask questions, people get all ill. But I would like to know what kind of strings you use. I'm up for conversation
Man I love talking about setups etc....!!!
When it comes to strings I always default to Jargar Dolces. If I have to use nylon I'll grab a roto D and G paired with a eurosonic medium A and D bumped to A and E.
I found that it's not so much the tension on strings but the flexibility. The Jargar Dolces feel and sound great.
How about you?
It is surprisingly dead here. I was on quite a bit working to get a slappable bass setup. Once I got there I haven't been around as much.
I use Superior Bassworks STANDARD Upright Double Bass Strings Blood Red Color. I believe jasonrp recommended them. They immediately got me slapping. I've noticed they might be getting a little dull. I'm leaning toward a gut set next. I'm getting a new bass that has low-tension strings on it, so I'll try that out first. I'll probably end up with some kind of hybrid E and A, gut D and G.
I use Superior Bassworks STANDARD Upright Double Bass Strings Blood Red Color. I believe jasonrp recommended them. They immediately got me slapping. I've noticed they might be getting a little dull. I'm leaning toward a gut set next. I'm getting a new bass that has low-tension strings on it, so I'll try that out first. I'll probably end up with some kind of hybrid E and A, gut D and G.
I'm more roots, bluegrass, old-jazz, small combo swing, Gospel, but do I slap (or slap/tap) and so I try to watch the rockabiilly side of the world here...
I started about this time last year with SBW Deluxe (the spiral-cut kevlar core wackers) on my Alcoa and I loved their touch and tone. They were great amped, but the E and A weren't clear and loud enough to be heard among my acoustic friends, so about 6 months ago I moved to Innovation SilverSlaps E and A under the existing SBW Deluxe D and G.
This mixed set has been great both amped and acoustically, especially after I made some sound post changes (I'm using a home made adjustable-length wide-support sound post). I now plan to keep using this mixed string combination on into the future. Here is what they sound like on my bass.
That said, my bass is an aluminum bass that presents some interesting acoustic tone considerations which is why I'm staying with non-metal strings for now. It is also more reactive than most wooden basses regarding temperature expansion and contraction, which affects tuning and is why I'm holding off on guts for now.
I'm still thinking about metal and gut strings though... On my list of strings I may try in the future are TI Spiro Solos or SuperFlexibles, perhaps Innovation PolyChromes (or some mix), and perhaps some mix including gut D and G strings.
There is lots of discussion about all of these in the DB Strings forum, which also includes some rockabilly players every once in a while.
I started about this time last year with SBW Deluxe (the spiral-cut kevlar core wackers) on my Alcoa and I loved their touch and tone. They were great amped, but the E and A weren't clear and loud enough to be heard among my acoustic friends, so about 6 months ago I moved to Innovation SilverSlaps E and A under the existing SBW Deluxe D and G.
This mixed set has been great both amped and acoustically, especially after I made some sound post changes (I'm using a home made adjustable-length wide-support sound post). I now plan to keep using this mixed string combination on into the future. Here is what they sound like on my bass.
That said, my bass is an aluminum bass that presents some interesting acoustic tone considerations which is why I'm staying with non-metal strings for now. It is also more reactive than most wooden basses regarding temperature expansion and contraction, which affects tuning and is why I'm holding off on guts for now.
I'm still thinking about metal and gut strings though... On my list of strings I may try in the future are TI Spiro Solos or SuperFlexibles, perhaps Innovation PolyChromes (or some mix), and perhaps some mix including gut D and G strings.
There is lots of discussion about all of these in the DB Strings forum, which also includes some rockabilly players every once in a while.
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After years (basically since day one) of all plain gut, I am going to experiment with the Evah slap synthetic E and A. I ordered them last week, will probably just try the E first.
I am curious how they will feel under the bow primarily, because as far as SLAP goes, there is nothing to want from plain gut E and As.
I dropped my stings a few mm to a now standard 9mm to 11 (ish), again a concession to the bow but after a nice setup this fall, little sacrifice in terms of tone (I was closer to 13-15mm previously - much better for slap in general but awkward with the bow in higher registers). I will creep up again when I get a better feel for the bow up high.
You can't beat high action guts for Blues and Rockabilly IMHO.
I am curious how they will feel under the bow primarily, because as far as SLAP goes, there is nothing to want from plain gut E and As.
I dropped my stings a few mm to a now standard 9mm to 11 (ish), again a concession to the bow but after a nice setup this fall, little sacrifice in terms of tone (I was closer to 13-15mm previously - much better for slap in general but awkward with the bow in higher registers). I will creep up again when I get a better feel for the bow up high.
You can't beat high action guts for Blues and Rockabilly IMHO.
Just reading through all these have me the warm fuzzies... lol.
There's so many variables in tone etc...it's nice to have a living library so to speak.
There's so many variables in tone etc...it's nice to have a living library so to speak.
Running an EXTREMELY low tension setup since the thing I'm starting will be non-acoustic and I need speed that my arthritic winter hands can't deliver. Bumped goldenslaps with a gut C for the G. Still feeling it out but it might work.
Last night I played and purchased my first properly set up DB. It has the Blast Cult Lowlifes on it. First impression is very favorable. I have a bar gig tomorrow and if we get along OK we have a theater show on Saturday I'll be playing them on.
It's another order of magnitude better than my current setup, so it will take a bit to digest. I might end up with one bass set up for acoustic volume (gut), the other set up for stage/amplified volume (metal). I don't know. It's early days, but promising. Some tinkering time involved--to keep me occupied the rest of the winter, I guess!
It's another order of magnitude better than my current setup, so it will take a bit to digest. I might end up with one bass set up for acoustic volume (gut), the other set up for stage/amplified volume (metal). I don't know. It's early days, but promising. Some tinkering time involved--to keep me occupied the rest of the winter, I guess!
Hmmm, yea. I've got old hands that I also need to preserve for playing other instruments, plus I'm sort of trying to keep low tension on my bass due to some repair work on the top (which is also why I installed the custom sound post)... And trying to work an old body with a young (immature???) mind tends to create some surprises, stiff hands being one of them.
I think thickness is one of the reasons I like the feel of the SBW Deluxe D and G so much, sitting over the SilverSlaps E and A. The Deluxe strings are fat, in fact the Deluxe D is only slightly thinner than the SS A, and the Deluxe G isn't much thinner than the Deluxe D. Having tried a lot of other strings on other people's basses lately, that thick D and G is something I think I'm going to want to keep on my bass, with whatever sets or mixed sets I use. Plus, the Deluxe strings have that spiral cut, which makes them very easy to grab and grip both with fingers and bow, and they move a lot of air.
When I first got them, I was actaully amazed at how well the Deluxe strings bowed for me, a definite arco novice with an inexpensive import white-hair bow. In contrast, the SilverSlaps took some serious work to get sounding good with the bow -- a combination of generous rosin, a tight bow and livable but modified technique was required to get them to sing. I have found lately that getting the SS strings started with a level-but-angled bow (using only the lower or upper 1/3 of the bow hair) gets them started with much less growl and more clear note, so that's helping too -- and the Deluxe strings also respond nicely with that, so I can use the same arco techniques on both string types. I'm not going to be playing arco for the NYP any time soon, especially with my bass, but some roots music sounds very nice with those long low bowed notes.
Of course the SilverSlaps E and A have their own charms (which I understand they share with the GoldenSlaps). I love their growl, volume and clarity, and their sound and power mixes very well with the Deluxe D and G strings. I've read some complaints about strange harmonics with the SilverSlaps/GoldenSlaps, but at least with my bass and my string mix, unexpected harmonics are not a problem.
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I really appreciate the string/setup discussion. As of now, I'm not in a position to be able to try out a lot of different combinations, so this is very helpful.
The note about 'old hands' is appropriate, too. Hopefully my new bass will prove to be a lot easier on the hands. I do identify with the comment about preserving the hands for other purposes!
I finally broke down and bought a light gauge set for my EB, with the same preservation in mind.
(Years ago, when I learned that Stevie Ray Vaughan used heavy gauge strings I was determined to do the same, lol! I'm paying for that now, I'm afraid!)
The note about 'old hands' is appropriate, too. Hopefully my new bass will prove to be a lot easier on the hands. I do identify with the comment about preserving the hands for other purposes!
I finally broke down and bought a light gauge set for my EB, with the same preservation in mind.
(Years ago, when I learned that Stevie Ray Vaughan used heavy gauge strings I was determined to do the same, lol! I'm paying for that now, I'm afraid!)
Try some Jargar Dolces. I never slapped the lowlifes, so I can't comment.
I've slapped Corelli's, Thomastick's, Daddario's and I always come back to Dolces. There's just something in the way they flex for me that makes them super slappable.
So I finally got around to installing the E and A Evah slaps Saturday morning.
I hated them at first (they are tiny!), but after 2 days of spal, pizz, and arco, they are growing on me.
As far as slap goes though, besides the higher tension, they really do play and feel like guts. Sound wicked pizz too..they are quite quiet under the bow though.
I will make a final decision after my (rockabilly) gig this Saturday. The E is almost certainly staying...the A has to earn it's keep this weekend.
I see that the Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Slaps can be selected from the following options (from Gollihurmusic.com):
- G (Plain Gut): .085 • 45 lbs tension (20.4 kp)
- D (Plain Gut): .105 • 39.7 lbs tension (18 kp)
- G (Wound Synthetic Core): .080 • 47.6 lbs tension (21.6 kp)
- D (Wound Synthetic Core): .089 • 44.3lbs tension (20.1 kp)
- A (Wound Synthetic Core): .092 • 47.6 lbs tension (21.6 kp)
- E (Wound Synthetic Core): .106 • 45.6 lbs tension (20.7 kp)
Right now I am leaning toward a set of these, with the gut D and G--FYI. Probably going to put my money down on them. I can always add gut E/A down the road. Or fall back to those Jargar Dolces--they do look like a good option.
Went back to my regular set of goldens. I was a speed demon with my bumped setup but tuning was all over the place...very touchy and unstable. Gonna get some psychos for the larger diameter because my biggest problem is slipping off that tiny G after playing guts for so long
Also, I'm thinking of doing a black racing stripe up one side of this bass top. Opinions?
I was wondering if it would give a looser feel. No sense asking, I'll just try it once it's all set up!
I've been playing a half step down on bass since I was 15. It started on electric, and I just carried it over to upright.
