Double Bass Sonores Gut Strings by Gerold Genssler

[Selim]

I know one common thought is that a light tailpiece is better for pizz and a heavy one is better for arco (generally speaking of course), so maybe this will make your bass happy

That was my experience trying out the Rubner (composite, carbon fibre?) tailpiece. Pizz was louder with the Rubner (due to more mid frequency information I think). But something was "missing" with the bow, less fundamental maybe. I stayed with my original ebony TP.

 

[WynstonMinckler]

i have one for sale - pm me.

If the inside of your bass is loose (ie soundpost has some give) then usually the outside of your bass can compensate ( ie heavy tailpiece, tall bridge, low saddle). If you have a very tight soundpost then sometimes adding significant weight on the top can make your bass sound worse.

Thanks for the info Calvin! My bass has kind of a weird soundpost, short but very wide. I asked my luthier about getting a new one but because there's a very large crack on the top over the soundpost he was concerned about damage to the bass. There was a pretty good restoration done on the bass within a few years of my buying it so he figured the post was intentional.

It is fairly short though. I had the post slip the same day of a gig back in the summer and a different luthier complained about how hard it was to get in place.

I know one common thought is that a light tailpiece is better for pizz and a heavy one is better for arco (generally speaking of course), so maybe this will make your bass happy

Thanks for the tip Brent! I actually have a Marvin tailpiece on my bass that my bass seems pretty happy with. I need to replace it because one of the wires is failing. I could just replace it with another Marvin and might end up doing that. Just curious if there might be a better option since I've gotten more into a gut setup.

 

[bassmanbrent]

Thanks for the tip Brent! I actually have a Marvin tailpiece on my bass that my bass seems pretty happy with. I need to replace it because one of the wires is failing. I could just replace it with another Marvin and might end up doing that. Just curious if there might be a better option since I've gotten more into a gut setup.

Hey Wynston, I have a Marvin here if you're interested... It's slightly longer than most, but you're welcome to check it out if you like.

 

[Thomas88]

Is larry playing AP over spiro here?

They don't look like his usual WRAPS to me but definitely genssler

 

[chilensko]

Is larry playing AP over spiro here?

They don't look like his usual WRAPS to me but definitely genssler

I think so!!
thanks for sharing !

 

[oliebrice]

I have a set of APs arriving on Monday - including the stupid additional Brexit tax they've cost me more than 4 years worth of spirocores so I don't know whether I hope I love or hate them! I'm normally really good at ignoring GAS so I guess I've got some credit stored up...

 

[Thomas88]

I would like to hear your thoughts. I nearly bought a set a few weeks ago. Lockdown in the UK can do this to you!

 

[peteswanson91]

The APs are amazing strings! I have been playing much more arco, and now have the 2021 BASSO... which I would marry if it were
Legal

 

[oliebrice]

First impressions of the APs extremely positive... I'm using them on my travel bass, and the main reason for the experiment is the bass doesnt seem happy with spirocores, which I've been using for most of the last 15 years. This bass prefers lower tension, and is very young, bright, punchy but lacking bottom end compared to my big, dark, old German bass...

So the sonores have been on for a few hours, and first thoughts - they're incredibly fun to play! Really loud, comfortably as loud as spiros on this bass, really warm rich tone. Wonderful to bow, really addictive playing Bach on these... the pizz sound is v gut, more old school than I expected, I hope to develop a way of pulling more sustain out of them but they're great for pretending to be Mingus and Garrison on!

We'll see how things develop, I've only had them for about 3 hours, but so far very happy and already forgetting about the extortionate extra tax bill...

 

[Thomas88]

First impressions of the APs extremely positive... I'm using them on my travel bass, and the main reason for the experiment is the bass doesnt seem happy with spirocores, which I've been using for most of the last 15 years. This bass prefers lower tension, and is very young, bright, punchy but lacking bottom end compared to my big, dark, old German bass...

So the sonores have been on for a few hours, and first thoughts - they're incredibly fun to play! Really loud, comfortably as loud as spiros on this bass, really warm rich tone. Wonderful to bow, really addictive playing Bach on these... the pizz sound is v gut, more old school than I expected, I hope to develop a way of pulling more sustain out of them but they're great for pretending to be Mingus and Garrison on!

We'll see how things develop, I've only had them for about 3 hours, but so far very happy and already forgetting about the extortionate extra tax bill...

That is great to hear. Maybe I will cave in soon... hopefully sometime this year i can hear you play them on a gig!

 

[chilensko]

Hi! I did a very quick recording with APs, sorry for the sloppy playing.
There is no EQ so is a bit boomy.
So far I like the strings but they are thick fat strings, probably not for everybody.

 

[crd]

Sorry for the necro bump, but I am curious if anyone has any idea what the current turn around time is for Sonores strings? Does anyone here have any experience with the rain-worm version?

 

[peteswanson91]

The Helix’s sound pretty amazing!

 

[crd]

What was the turn around time like for the helix?

I just went ahead a put my name in for the temperas. I'm hoping to find a string that is a little easier to play in thumb position than the guts I have on now. Also, after bowing gut's for ten years, I'm curious how I sound with

 

[Ben Rolston]

and @peteswanson91 how do the helix compare to the temperas in general?

 

[peteswanson91]

and @peteswanson91 how do the helix compare to the temperas in general?

I just heard the samples on gerolds site

 

[jesperthorn]

I just heard the samples on gerolds site

I made the switch from Tempera’s to HELIX about 6 months ago. I love the Tempera’s for Arco, and they have a good pizz sound also, but they are thin like a steel string. They don’t feel like your typical steel string. They are more loose feeling.
I enjoyed them but was missing some of the percussive ping on the top two strings. My bass was wearing Sonores B-rouque’s before (gut D&G).
I changed to Temperas because I had a lot of arco-heavy gigs, and the Tempera’s had just come out so I was curious. The B-rouqe’s had been on my bass for about 4 years and I felt it was time for a change.
So I used the Temperas for about 8 months, and still have them in case I will need them again.
The HELIX is a wonderful string, and perfect for my needs. Strong and loud with a great feeling. They have the percussive attack of a gut-string but more sustain, and they are very bowable. Not like the Temperas, but very, very good. I can play the same things that I could on the Temperas, but the arco-sound is a little more “gutty”. And the pizz sound has the percussive attack of a gut string.

 

[juusokasperi]

Sorry for the necro bump, but I am curious if anyone has any idea what the current turn around time is for Sonores strings? Does anyone here have any experience with the rain-worm version?

I too would be interested to hear any experiences with the rain-worms! My 2016 basso ap E string just broke and I'm looking into getting a new Gennsler set..

 

[Billy Mohler]

I've played Gerold's WRAPS, HELIX and J-ROQUES. On my bass the J-ROQUES are hands down the best strings I've ever played! I came from playing Pirastro Chorda guts, which I loved until I put the J-ROQUES on. They have the best qualities of gut strings - playability, tone and feel, while being as stable as steels with tuning. They also have a top end/midrange articulation that guts always lacked for me. As far as string tension goes on my bass from tightest to loosest - WRAPS, HELIX (smaller gauge) and J-ROQUES. Hope this info helps someone on the string quest!

 

[Decomposer]

Well said Billy!