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Double Bass Salsa Strings

Elias_Mohr

Elias_Mohr

Mar 2, 2017
11
2
#1
Hello,
I've lurked this forum for quite a long time but I cant seem to find any information about upright bass in Salsa music, hence my question..
- What kind of strings do you use and why?
- What gauge serves you best? What effect does the mass and tension achieve?
I really dig the Cachao sound and I think he uses guts but there's probably many more options out there.

Thanks
 
#4
It depends what kind of sound you like. The type of bass has a large impact on the sound as well as the string.
For a short sustain, which is typical for salsa, either a shorter sustain string like orchestra string made for bowing is nice or on a baby bass EUB with a diaphragm pickup, a longer sustain string like a Spiro might be better because the diaphragm pickup shortens the note by itself.
But I have played salsa on Spiros on an acoustic double bass with a rather long sustain. You can always shorten the sound with your fingers/hands if you feel the sustain is too long. Just pizz as a double bass should be pizzed, not like playing an electric bass guitar.
 
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#5
DoubleMIDI said:
It depends what kind of sound you like. The type of bass has a large impact on the sound as well as the string.
For a short sustain, which is typical for salsa, either a shorter sustain string like orchestra string made for bowing is nice or on a baby bass EUB with a diaphragm pickup, a longer sustain string like a Spiro might be better because the diaphragm pickup shortens the note by itself.
But I have played salsa on Spiros on an acoustic double bass with a rather long sustain. You can always shorten the sound with your fingers/hands if you feel the sustain is too long. Just pizz as a double bass should be pizzed, not like playing an electric bass guitar.
Click to expand...

I'm currently using spiro mittels con my acoustic and they sound alright although they have reached their golden age yet. I think the tension of the strings is a bit stiff for that bouncy bass feel I hear so often in the music. I'm trying to get more of a bloom out my pizz and I think sideways playing has quite a bit to do with that.
 
#6
I hung out with Cachao a few times before he passed away. He also rented my bass for a few recordings. Cachao used guts back when they were the only thing available. The basses that were rented for Cachao had steel strings. Most people who play double bass in salsa/latin jazz bands use steel strings. Luques Curtis (Eddie Palmieri) plays Zyex or Helicore strings. Boris Kozlov (Brian Lynch) uses Spirocore or helicores. I think steel strings will help you cut through in a dense mix. On ampeg baby basses the spirocore solo 3/4 is the most commonly used.
 
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#10
Elias_Mohr said:
I heard light gauge strings can give you a sound with more air similar besides being easier to play.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about that. I assume that's because it is easier to set the strings at a higher action thus creating more air? I know Light strings on my bass set really low sound very thin. Obviously different basses respond to different things. You just gotta try everything.
 
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#12
I recently picked up a 1965 Baby Bass off eBay. It has the oldest gut strings in the universe on them. I’m having trouble finding the sweet spot where the action is not too high but also not so low that the strings buzz and click when you play. I have to have the action considerably high to avoid this. Anyone have experience with this?

Also, I told a salsa bandleader friend of mine that I was considering switching out the guts for LaBella black nylon strings and he told me not to. Said that in those circles, nylon strings are a sign that you can’t really hang. Has anyone else heard of this?? I mean technically I can afford to put NEW GUT STRINGS on my baby bass while having to keep Evah Pirazzi’s on my regular bass, but...bruh...LOL
 
#13
Contrabbasso76 said:
I recently picked up a 1965 Baby Bass off eBay. It has the oldest gut strings in the universe on them. I’m having trouble finding the sweet spot where the action is not too high but also not so low that the strings buzz and click when you play. I have to have the action considerably high to avoid this. Anyone have experience with this?

Also, I told a salsa bandleader friend of mine that I was considering switching out the guts for LaBella black nylon strings and he told me not to. Said that in those circles, nylon strings are a sign that you can’t really hang. Has anyone else heard of this?? I mean technically I can afford to put NEW GUT STRINGS on my baby bass while having to keep Evah Pirazzi’s on my regular bass, but...bruh...LOL
Click to expand...

How high is too high for you?

Guts need more room to vibrate, and a different technique to steel.

However if they're buzzing they might need a trim if they're plain gut, or the windings might be broken if they're wrapped gut.
 
#14
I bought the bass from an 80 year old woman who's late husband was the original owner so the strings are really old but they keep their pitch well. Honestly, the biggest concern is the summer humidity with tuning. The E and A are wound, the D and G are plain. They all buzz but the G buzzes the most. I don't need the action too low, so I will raise it some more until I get most of the buzz to go away.

Have you had any experience with the Clef Gut strings from Upton Bass?
 

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