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Double Bass Sonores Gut Strings by Gerold Genssler

#81
If the DRAGO BASSOS are the same as the ones I have (TWINE Sonores orchestra strings), they are very unlike any kind of Chorda. Look, feel, and sound wise, they make me think of skinny Olivs (which don't unwind or break). They're about my favorite string ever.

The set I bought from Gerold is sitting around unused because my bass (44") is too long for them to really fit. If someone wants to buy them off me I'd send them along for well under half of what they are new.
 
#82
Thought I'd share my recent experience with SONORES strings. I put a set of TWINE strings by Gerold Genssler (SONORES) on my bass on Wednesday. They are pretty spectacular strings.

Resonant - a huge range of harmonic content in every note.

Loud - accidentally played a set with my amp off and only realized it about half-way through (ha!).

They are still settling in on my bass, but I am having a pretty hard time imagining ever using a different string on my bass, unless its another model by Genssler.

Also, dealing with Mr. Genssler has been great. When I expressed interest in his strings, he went and listened to a bunch of recordings of me playing and made recommendations on which set of his would work best based on what he heard.

Finally, here is how Mr. Genssler described the TWINE set that I got from him:

TWINE has 23kp each string ... TWINE includes a gutcore which is a bit thicker than that of DRAGO. So you get a stronger sound. The pizzed sustain is very good, the sound is more open than that of DRAGO solo. Arco you get more overtones and a richer sound image.
 
#84
I wish I could give a more complete review, but I've been too busy saving the world to be able to play the bass much since I put on my Dragos a couple of months back.

They are spectacular strings, though. I'm no gut expert, but I've never heard a tone like this before, and I never believed any gut string could be so easy to bow. (I play classical exclusively, no jazz... not smart enough for jazz... .)

Since I just haven't had that many playing hours yet, you shouldn't consider this a definitive review. I'm also kind of a string slut.

Still and all, I like these strings...
 
#85
Jeremy Allen said:
If the DRAGO BASSOS are the same as the ones I have (TWINE Sonores orchestra strings), they are very unlike any kind of Chorda. Look, feel, and sound wise, they make me think of skinny Olivs (which don't unwind or break). They're about my favorite string ever.

The set I bought from Gerold is sitting around unused because my bass (44") is too long for them to really fit. If someone wants to buy them off me I'd send them along for well under half of what they are new.
Click to expand...

Hello - must have been napping but missed this thread before - did you ever sell these on? If not pls PM me with details - I'd be keen to try these.

Thanks!
 
#87
Reporting back:

I've been running the Sonores "Drago Basso" (standard -- not solo -- orchestra strings) on my Arvi (four-string with a low C) for a couple of months, but I've only really been able to practice a lot on them for the past three weeks or so.

To preface, I'm a confessed string sl.ut -- I've tried almost all of the popular metal strings, though this is my first foray into guts for many, many years. (My first high school bass had strings made out of dinosaur gut, which was very cheap back then.) My "standard" setup on the Arvi is Permanents on C/E and A, and Flexocor '92s on D and G. I've tried a lot of other things, including most recently Evahs (beautifully big, round sound, but uncentered pitch on the lower strings), Bel Cantos (great to bow, but a sound that's not big enough or rich enough for me), and Compass 180s (C string breaks way too easily, strings otherwise interesting -- but weird).

As to the Sonores Drago Bassos, what can I say? I'm in love.

As noted earlier in this thread, the Sonores strings are shockingly thin to those of us who grew up on gut strings the thickness of your pinky. My Dragos are no thicker than standard Evahs, and probably thinner. And while they are expensive, I take some comfort from the 2-year guaranty. When they first arrived, I showed the strings to a bass luthier in the area who specializes in period instruments with gut strings, and he said the quality of the strings is superb.

From a playing standpoint, the strings speak very easily; the tone is rich, deep, clear, and complex; the volume is tremendous, especially on the two lowest strings; and they have a personality unlike any other string I've played -- "guttiness," I guess. I've been playing a lot of baroque sonatas on these -- and it's the most addictive experience I've ever had on the bass. Once I start, I can't stop. When I have to stop, I start playing again as soon as I can.

One specific point -- the vibrato that can be generated on these strings is amazing -- unlike anything possible on any other string I've tried.

It is sometimes said of gut strings generally that they aren’t responsive enough, or that their pitch becomes unreliable in thumb position. To those points, I can only say that there is no responsiveness gap between these strings and metal strings -- except that the Dragos are MORE responsive than almost any metal string I've tried, with the possible exception of the Bel Cantos. In addition, the Drago strings hold pitch reliably all the way up the fingerboard. (If I made my living in thumb position, though, I'd try the solo version that Gerold offers.) The character of the tone IS different from metal orchestral strings, especially on the G string, but not so wildly different that I would contemplate a major problem fitting in with a section that is already using a variety of different strings. (I wouldn't audition on these because of that difference, but once I had orchestral "tenure" I don't think I'd be thrown out for using them.)

My teacher (the principal bassist with an ICSOM orchestra) played these for the first time yesterday and was amazed that any gut string could perform like mine. He comes from a jazz background and also thought the strings would be superb for jazz use (though Genssler makes other strings specifically tailored for jazz).

Bottom line: there isn't any string that's perfect for everyone, and these aren't either. I love playing them, though, and would recommend them subject to the observations above.
 
#89
I've posted a fairly detailed review of the Sonores "Drago Basso" wound-gut, orchestra strings in this thread, and I wanted to provide an update for any who might be interested.

I still love the Drago Basso strings on my 4-string bass -- so much so that I felt compelled to order a set for my 5-string bass, including a low B.

The strings sound even better on the 5-string than they do on the 4-string. The B is loud and strong, reasonably sized (perhaps a bit thicker, but not by much, than the Spiro Mittel B it replaced), and as easy to bow and finger as any low B I've played. The other strings are as good or better on my 5-string than on the 4-string (the 5-string is a better bass).

As I said in the other review, these strings are not for everyone -- it's a very different sound from typical metal strings, and a somewhat different technique is required. But if gut appeals to you, I would recommend you consider the Sonores line.
 
#90
As I know, Genssler advises a synthetic tailpiece hanger rope, before installing his sonores gut strings.

This change is cheap and made my old Evah Pirazzi sound much fresher and louder even in the depths... ;-)

Then I followed the advice of Chuck Traeger, to install an endpin out of titan (for pizz) or carbon (for arco). WOW!

All this improvement without the sonores strings.
 
#93
Ok, so I just got these strings by the mail today and instantly put them on.
First impressions: They really sound promising. Compared to my previous spiro weich E&A/Oliv D&G, they seem louder and deeper, almost as if there's been a small subwoofer attached to the bass. Yet they have plenty of brightness, compared to the olivs, which I've found to be a bit too dark for my taste.
They seem to be a perfect medium of the brightness of say, animas and the gutsy punch and stability of olivs.
I have to get used to the darker sound of the E&A, and the less direct sound that the spiros do so well. But it has more character and a 3D-like quality to the sound that's is intriguing.

As you can tell, I'm pretty excited. But then again I have to be at this price point! :eek:
 
#94
Kaspar Vadsholt said:
Ok, so I just got these strings by the mail today and instantly put them on.
First impressions: They really sound promising. Compared to my previous spiro weich E&A/Oliv D&G, they seem louder and deeper, almost as if there's been a small subwoofer attached to the bass. Yet they have plenty of brightness, compared to the olivs, which I've found to be a bit too dark for my taste.
They seem to be a perfect medium of the brightness of say, animas and the gutsy punch and stability of olivs.
I have to get used to the darker sound of the E&A, and the less direct sound that the spiros do so well. But it has more character and a 3D-like quality to the sound that's is intriguing.

As you can tell, I'm pretty excited. But then again I have to be at this price point! :eek:
Click to expand...

Do you know which set this is? And any description of the makeup of the strings eg wrapping core etc? Bowing , pizz etc? I am sure we all appreciate this info as it's such a big expense. I have a great admiration for whatever Gerold makes based on what i already know.
 
#95
He calls it ORIGINAL. Gerold suggested these, since I play in a Bigband and need the tuning stability, which his WRAPS (pure gut?) don't quite have. It's gut wrapped in some synthetic material. The strings are very smooth, with a grey color, and have a nice loose gut feel to them.
The strings can be adjusted quite low, Scott LaFaro-esque and still put out a nice sound.
I just put on the Sonophil tailpiece wire, Gerold supplies with a set of his strings, and it's made quite a difference. The tone is freer, and the bass seems to vibrate more.
As I've stated earlier the strings seem to me to be a happy medium of velvets and olivs. This holds true also for bowing, where I'd probably prefer olivs for my mediocre skills.
One funny thing is that I hear the sound of the string not only coming from the area of my bow, but also from the fingers of my left hand.
I have a gig tomorrow, will post my opinion after that. I could also post a sound clip, if anybody's interested.
 
#97
Played a casual restaurant gig this afternoon with a piano player and a violinist I haven't played with before, and I must say that these strings smokes!
Here's a soundclip from the gig with goofs, surround noises, children, chatter, cars!
I was amplified (FC thru PJB flightcase), and the action was medium low.
Still I feel that the sound has a nice front pop to it. And I'm really glad about the sound in TP. It's full like Animas, but keeps the sustain.
Lastly, soft as these strings are, it's a real pleasure to play them.
 
#98
That was nice, man. Sounds great.

I think this recording points out why I probably can't play anything but gut at this point. The clarity is all really there for the soloing, and lots of presence. And then, when you go back to walking and playing time, there's that bounce. The sense of the bass lifting the music from the bottom up, rather than from somewhere in the middle. I'm addicted to that.
 
#100
Thanks a lot, appreciate it!
I also really can't see myself going back to steels now.
These strings just have more soul to them.
I had a rehearsal with a big band today, and felt super confident with my tone and groove. Even though I sometimes was drowned in ff-passages, I just knew that it was okay, and the sound was right.
Does this have to do with the high price-tag? That I know, I've done what I could to get the maximum out of my instrument?
Partly, yeah, but that extra confidence doesn't hurt; I can always use more ;)
 

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