I'm curious about any who with experience with the Rainworm strings as well. I ordered the RW B set thinking I would flip the helix set I am using now but I have kind of fallen in love with the helix strings. I spent so long with plain gut it took a little bit to get used to them but now I really love how quick they are.
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Double Bass Sonores Gut Strings by Gerold Genssler
- Thread starter Dr Rod
- Start date
Still waiting for the RW's. In the meantime I scored a like new set of Tempera Hybrids and I'm loving them on my Hawkes!! The E and A are like a refined spirocore. Having the RW or JR D and G and the Hybrid E and A could be an incredible setup, as the E has a gorgeous growl reminiscent of a steel string.
Let me know how the RW sound Billy….I haven’t heard these and really know nothing about them
Thank you for listening!!
On the subject of Sonores strings: I recently got to play Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten's bass for 30 seconds. It was strung up with new J-Roques. The pitches were extremely clear and they felt amazing under the hands. Hopefully the carpentry work keeps going strong for a bit so I can afford to place an order for a set of J-Roques for fifths tuning... Or maybe some rainworms...
If anyone is curious about the HELIX set, I just released a new track recorded with a full set of HELIX:
I'm not sure if it's of interest to anyone here but I have more to add to the unscientific, anecdotal information about Gennsler's tailpiece. It seems to really have made a big difference on my bass. I was hoping to open up my E string and darken up my instrument over all and the tailpiece seems to have done that. I also put on a Rainworm E and A at the same time I changed tailpieces. Having the lower two strings be less tension, then the rest of the Helix set may have also helped me achieve my tonal goals. I couldn't be more happy with how my instrument sounds now although it took A LOT of setup work. Shout out to A440 here in Chicago for getting the fingerboard camper just right to play easily and not buzz.
A recent gig for the curious. The stream mix is probably a little bit of the TRS Yamahiko pick-up, a Remic under the tailpiece, and a mic in front of the bass.
A recent gig for the curious. The stream mix is probably a little bit of the TRS Yamahiko pick-up, a Remic under the tailpiece, and a mic in front of the bass.
Thanks for taking the time to check it out! I appreciate it.
I ended up using rainworm E/A and the helix D / G / C. I briefly strung the bass up (as I intended) with Genssler's raw gut D / G / C and sadly the C string instantly snapped at the tailpiece. I think the raw gut didn't like his tailpiece. He is working on a solution for me and replacing the C string. It was a great couple minutes before the C string broke! ha
I have to say I really like the rainworm E/A and helix on top I am using in the mean time. The rainworm E/A have a little less tension which I think helps the bass speak over all and it is super easy to play with the bow. I can't tell if it was changing the bottom two strings, the tailpiece, or both but my instrument now sounds a lot more even and dark. My instrument is only a year old and it is still opening up.
I am not sure what strings Dan was using. (Something more practical and sensible for sure
He does get a great sound!!! I loved his set.
I always round the tailpiece slots to avoid a hard kink at the edge. Usually on top only for ball ends, but for loops it might be helpful to do that at the bottom and the lower upper end of the tailpiece too.
This is usually not done because it is more work and not needed for steel core strings. For more sensitive strings that might be helpful.
BTW, I also round the upper edge and string grooves of the nut towards the pegbox to avoid a hard kink there too.
This is usually not done because it is more work and not needed for steel core strings. For more sensitive strings that might be helpful.
BTW, I also round the upper edge and string grooves of the nut towards the pegbox to avoid a hard kink there too.
Yup!
I was using the tailpiece he supplied so anticipated it work without any modifications. He is reworking the ends of his raw gut strings to work with it better. His synthetic strings have a wrap around the bottom making this a non-issue for them. He does describe his strings as an on going process of iteration and improvement so this kind of thing happens. I've had various things happen over the years with his strings and he has always came through and made it right. I have no complaints and have found his customer service great once you make it through the long waitlist.
The helix strings on top with the A/E rainworm is a great set; I can't say I am unhappy playing my bass as is and I think everyone appreciates my arco sound with this current set up.
I wasn't sure if the tailpiece would be snake oil but it seems to have made a huge improvement on my instrument.
I did. I used the entire helix set for six months or so. They sounded great. It's the most "modern" I've sounded in a long time. The Helix are truly a hybrid string; it's like half Spiro half gut. Very quick, very easy to play pizz and arco. Here is a gig I did with the helix set.
I am sure Gennsler wouldn't recommend mixing his sets like I've done. I'm not sure if it was changing the bottom two strings or using his recommended tailpiece but changing the E and A for the rainworm set made the bass feel little more dark and bass over all. The rainworm strings seem to have a more fundamental. The rainworm's aren't quite as easy to start with the bow. Overall, it made my bass feel more like it did with wrapped gut on the e and a and raw gut across the top. The rainworms feel like less tension so I could bring the action back up to where I am used to. I definitely prefer them to the helix set even though I lose some playability.
It will be a couple years to before I change anything on my setup. At some point, I will put raw gut back on the D/G/C. I am not sure when Genssler get's me the fix for using raw gut with his tailpiece and or when I will feel like doing it cause the mixed set is working great for me. I had a recording session a couple weeks ago which was what was inspiring all this futzing... I've been listening to the roughs and can say now it was all worth the time/money to me but I have no desire to mess with anything further.
Okay I lied and put raw gut D/G/C strings back on my bass. Gerold found a solution that seems to be working well to use his tailpiece with raw gut strings. I have to say it is great to be playing raw gut again. Here is a quick phone video of myself practicing today. This is his "B-ROQUE" set with a high C. These seem to have a little more tension from the Gamut strings I used to use. They bow great! They are still settling in. I couldn't be happier with them.
I had to take the Helix off
The sound was just what I was looking for, but the roundwound windings, especially on E and A, didn´t feel good on my skin. I have acidic skin and I somehow got stuck with the rough windings when doing large shifts. These would be better with dry skin and I got used to the roughness more I played.But there was another thing. Now I understand what @crd and @guillaume94 meant saying the Helix are stiff. The tension is great but the attack right when plucking the string felt strangely stiff. Maybe I would get used to it but I think these rough windings aren´t for me so let´s see.
Hi!! Sorry for the delayed response. The RW's are awesome but nothing can top Jroques on my Czech bass. The Worms are thinner than the Jroques and have more sustain. I'd recommend the RW J which is RW E and A and JRoque D and G, perfect combo!
It has taken a bit of getting used to the windings for sure. I have gotten used to it though it no longer bothers me. Hope they work out for you the sameI had to take the Helix off
But there was another thing. Now I understand what @crd and @guillaume94 meant saying the Helix are stiff. The tension is great but the attack right when plucking the string felt strangely stiff. Maybe I would get used to it but I think these rough windings aren´t for me so let´s see.
I just got a set of Helix. Saw photos and it did look like they were roundwound a bit. But saw comments about how smooth the windings are finished so went for it. I think actually a comment about them being half spiro half gut in a sense is what made me try them. Gotta get some setup work then i will put them on.
I have the Helix on my since since more than 6 months, and the winding feel really much more smooth by now ! Lot of buzzes that I had are also gone now. It took them a good 3 months to sound good for my taste, they are also less and less stiff, and I feel that they keep sounding better the more I play them ! Curious to see how they will evolve in the next few years, also curious to see if it will buzz as day one when a get my new fingerboard.
