Double Bass Slap Happy Weed Wackers String-Synthetic Gut Strings

[Bass Man Kirk]

Have any of you experience playing with the Slap Happy Weed Wackers Strings-Synthetic Gut Strings. I just put a set on my upright bass. And the reason is, playing with the steel was causing me to pain in my hands no matter what I tried to correct my technique both with the bow, pizzicato, and the playing the left hand even went to a physical therapist to help try to figure what was going on. But by the switch to the synthetic gut string I can now enjoy playing my bass again and is the difference of day and night. I will never go back to steel after this.

I am also sold on Slap Happy Strings for their cost, affordability without breaking the bank. with these strings I can play not only classical bass but jazz, rockabilly/bluegrass slap bass as well. I play multiple genres of music.

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Kirk

 

[Jay Corwin]

I have some health problems that make steel strings impossible to play. For my tastes, I actually prefer gut tone over the modern steel tone. For those two reasons I've played low tension strings almost the entire time I've played upright.

Glad to hear you that found something that allows you to enjoy playing the instrument. Too many guys will try to convince you that technique is to blame for every ailment when learning upright bass. Some people just can't comfortably pull steel all day.

If you like the feel of weedwackers, you might think of trying some inexpensive gut or pick up some used Innovations or Eurosonics. They make a lot of low tension, synthetic gut style of strings - but they sound light years better than wackers.

 

[Inky13]

I bought a set but I wasn’t comfortable with how much I’d have to file and sand to get them on the bass. Disappointing, as I really wanted to try them.

 

[Inky13]

Just an update that I’m going to go for it and put them on.
Of much to lose at this point.

 

[Inky13]

Not much.

 

[Mister Cbass]

Have any of you experience playing with the Slap Happy Weed Wackers Strings-Synthetic Gut Strings. I just put a set on my upright bass. And the reason is, playing with the steel was causing me to pain in my hands no matter what I tried to correct my technique both with the bow, pizzicato, and the playing the left hand even went to a physical therapist to help try to figure what was going on. But by the switch to the synthetic gut string I can now enjoy playing my bass again and is the difference of day and night. I will never go back to steel after this.

I am also sold on Slap Happy Strings for their cost, affordability without breaking the bank. with these strings I can play not only classical bass but jazz, rockabilly/bluegrass slap bass as well. I play multiple genres of music.

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Kirk

Wich gauge did you choose, standard, heavy, hybrid ?

I think I will try the heavy gauge on my stagg edb. The set are suitable for 3/4 and 4/4, so it will match with the stagg.
Other players use swb strings here on acoustic and electric.
Superior Bassworks

I think the result on a electric double bass could be nice.

 

[Don Hergert]

Other players use swb strings here on acoustic and electric.
Superior Bassworks

A week or two ago these strings were marked out of stock; this year being what it is for small businesses, I was worried. I'm very glad to see these are back in stock.

I've been using SBW Deluxe D (.105) and G (.095) strings for almost 3 years now and love their feel, tone and volume. The amped tone for the whole SBW-Deluxe set is great, but acoustically, volume and clarity of note for the SBW Deluxe E and A was a problem.

I've since swapped to Innovation SilverSlaps E and A for better volume and clarity of those strings. I'm very happy with this SBW-Deluxe/SilverSlaps mixed set.

 

[Mister Cbass]

@dhergert hello,

You said often that the set sounds great amped .
That's why I think it could be a good choice for an electric upright, which is always amplified.
The weak of the e and a must be less important.
I'm also interested by the gut a like swingmaster, a bit more expensive.

 

[Trimmo91]

@dhergert hello,

You said often that the set sounds great amped .
That's why I think it could be a good choice for an electric upright, which is always amplified.
The weak of the e and a must be less important.
I'm also interested by the gut a like swingmaster, a bit more expensive.

I have experience with both the swingmasters and the sbw dirty guts. The dirty guts win hands down. They are easier to play, better to bow, provide a more authentic gut sound and are cheaper. I like the swingmasters but they were higher tension. The copper wound e and a strings chewed my fingerboard and they were poor quality (windings would come apart). I played the swingmasters for 5 years but would never go back after using the superior bassworks strings.

 

[Inky13]

Well, I tried the WW. I liked the lower tension, but there was no volume. Couldn’t dial in anything. And then the bridge imploded.
I have 3/4 of a set of spiro mitts. Starting to run out of options.