Hello everyone, I am asking for your advice because I would like to fit the double bass with strings that are “easy” to play i.e. very soft and elastic to the touch. I know this can be at the expense of volume especially. But this is not a problem. I only play pizzicato. I don't care about the bow. The point is that I don't play very much and the strings I have on now are very hard for me and I have a hard time relearning tendons and joints every time. I have a big but thin hand with a small wrist. I'm certainly not Charles Mingus. So I am asking for advice from you in this regard. Searching with AI I found some possibilities: Thomastik-Infeld Dominant, D'Addario Helicore Hybrid, Pirastro Obligato, La Bella 7710, GHS Precision Groundwound Deep Talkin' Bass, D'Addario Prelude, GHS Precision Groundwound, Innovation Honeys, Rotosound RS4000. There are so many and I don't know which way to go. Can you help me out? Thank you very much!!!
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Soft strings for double bass
- Thread starter musicainbasso
- Start date
I can’t decide if the A or the I in AI is more ironic. At any rate, Dominants are some of the stiffest strings you can buy - I know this because I have been playing them for 20 years - and a few of the others on the list above are either bass guitar strings or strings made by primarily BG string manufacturers. I’m sure you’ll get much better help here from live humans!
Of course in fact I write here for this very reason, you are human.... the AI I used it to investigate a little but, as is often the case, the results are of poor quality
Thankyou very much
It might help to know what's on your bass now. My guess is you'll want a low tension string with a synthetic core. That could be a down-tuned solo string, or maybe something made for pizz like EP slaps or something, but I'm an arco guy so I can't offer much more beyond that.
Corelli 370s are pretty light tension.
Earl
Supporting Member
Thomastic Superflexible Solo strings or Spirocore Solo strings.
I'll second (third? Fourth?) the recommendation to try solo tuning strings tuned down to regular tuning. I have Perpetual solos on my EUB and it's night and day over regular Spiros. Also try Spirocore Weichs Solo...a friend uses them and his bass plays easily and sounds great.
- Aug 1, 2005
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Before you spring for a new set, how confident are you that you don't have setup issues? Excessive board scoop, and excessive nut and bridge height will contribute more to making the bass hard to play than your string choice.
+1 on the Perpetuals, but I am now using Tempera on my orchestra bass, and still love Obli as well.
+1 on the Perpetuals, but I am now using Tempera on my orchestra bass, and still love Obli as well.
Aquila Gold Springs or Red Springs are very easy on the hands and not too expensive if you're interested in something sort of gut like.
When my hands are having a rough go of it, I lower my strings. Even half a turn of the bridge adjusters makes a noticable difference.
Rotos are the lowest tension strings on the market except for weedwackers. If the standard gauge is too much, they sell a “bump” set including a high C string. You “bump” the strings over and tune them down a fourth.
That’s the set Kim Nekroman uses and he plays like a maniac.
That’s the set Kim Nekroman uses and he plays like a maniac.
Spirocores are not available in weich solo.
It’s either one, or of course mittels or starks.
