I have a 1937 Kay, Serial # 789, that I play every weekend in a Bluegrass Band, & was interested to know what strings may be the best for sound & easy on the fingers. I have Tamastic Steel on it now, but since my job is Appraisal & Computer work, my fingers will get blisters if I don't tape them up.
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Double Bass String advice for Kay bass
- Thread starter Walleye
- Start date
Walleye,
Any strings will put blisters on your fingers until you build up callouses from playing.
The ultimate decision will depend largely on the sound you're looking for. I have a combination of guts and Garbos on my '42 Kay, but that's not for everyone.
I know other folks here who swear by Silver Slaps. I found them too floopy and couldn't wait to get them off.
Any strings will put blisters on your fingers until you build up callouses from playing.
The ultimate decision will depend largely on the sound you're looking for. I have a combination of guts and Garbos on my '42 Kay, but that's not for everyone.
I know other folks here who swear by Silver Slaps. I found them too floopy and couldn't wait to get them off.
I like to tell people to get the Picato Innovation strings (140B). There perlon core and wound with steel. They are soft and kind of fat and feel great under the fingers.
The Wino (< G >) has given good advice. The upright bass is a physically challenging instrument to play. Get yourself a good setup (if you don't already have one) by a luthier who regularly works on upright basses.
For now, my suggestion would be to stay with the Thomastic strings and practice. That's what will build callouses and physical strength needed to play your piece of furniture.
Practice is your friend.
For now, my suggestion would be to stay with the Thomastic strings and practice. That's what will build callouses and physical strength needed to play your piece of furniture.
Practice is your friend.
i have a 39 Kay. and these were some strings i tried. everyone is different. hearing and feel and bass wise..
tried Guts. great sound, but always adjusting (tuning)
and they tore up my fingers quickly!! the price you pay for that sound!
Supernils. cheap. but have good sound. really low tension.. but they really like to roll under your fingers.. and less volume.. but if you use a mic or pickup, volume wont matter. but in jams it may..
D'dadario Hybrids- i like the lower tension feel and these were not. and i didnt like the sound of them.. my 2 cent
Innovation Rockabilly Blacks. low tension, but sounded plasticy. had a weird tone. only reason i tried these cause Lemur was out of Silvers.
Inno Super Silver Slaps. smooth string. love the sound and love the feel of these, the other night i let a kid bassist play it at a jam, and i liked the sound even better. he was good!
i would think the Super Silvers would be a lil more tension and a lil more volume than slaps. but i havent had to many issues with volume, except being stuck between 2 BANJO'S
the next ((string quest)) strings i am going to try are the Spirocore Weich's/lights. or superflexible solo's. because i miss messing with the bow for fingering practice!! but im still sold on the SSSlaps....
"wineaux" said--> "Any strings will put blisters on your fingers until you build up callouses from playing."
true and so true..
i get more calluses from this frikin KEYBOARD than strings. 
tried Guts. great sound, but always adjusting (tuning)
and they tore up my fingers quickly!! the price you pay for that sound!
Supernils. cheap. but have good sound. really low tension.. but they really like to roll under your fingers.. and less volume.. but if you use a mic or pickup, volume wont matter. but in jams it may..
D'dadario Hybrids- i like the lower tension feel and these were not. and i didnt like the sound of them.. my 2 cent
Innovation Rockabilly Blacks. low tension, but sounded plasticy. had a weird tone. only reason i tried these cause Lemur was out of Silvers.
Inno Super Silver Slaps. smooth string. love the sound and love the feel of these, the other night i let a kid bassist play it at a jam, and i liked the sound even better. he was good!
i would think the Super Silvers would be a lil more tension and a lil more volume than slaps. but i havent had to many issues with volume, except being stuck between 2 BANJO'Sthe next ((string quest)) strings i am going to try are the Spirocore Weich's/lights. or superflexible solo's. because i miss messing with the bow for fingering practice!! but im still sold on the SSSlaps....
"wineaux" said--> "Any strings will put blisters on your fingers until you build up callouses from playing."
true and so true..
i get more calluses from this frikin KEYBOARD than strings. 
Walleye,
You might give Obligatos a try. Wineaux's entry is spot on especially about the silvers being floppy. The only drawback i found with the Obligatos on my '52 Kay is that they have to be changed every 9 months or so. Good luck.
Jim
You might give Obligatos a try. Wineaux's entry is spot on especially about the silvers being floppy. The only drawback i found with the Obligatos on my '52 Kay is that they have to be changed every 9 months or so. Good luck.
Jim
Keep in mind that Kays made before the late 50's were designed for gut string tension. The top lamination was beefed up in the late 50's to handle the higher tension of steel strings. You can read a little more detail at Roger Stowers site; Invalid Link Removed
I've seen dozens of pre '57 Kays with steel strings on them & they seem to be going strong. I've also seen several with the top caved-in at the bridge, perhaps from steel strings? I don't know the cause, just thought I would share the info.
I play Innovation Super Silvers & I love them (1952 Kay M-1). Easy on the hands, low tension, big volume (I play mostly bluegrass). The Innovation 140H is also a good string, but I get more finger-to-string friction with the 140H. I've played Piastro Obligatos also, & like them OK, but I had problems with windings separating at the bridge. They don't seem to last as long either. They are great for bowing.
I've seen dozens of pre '57 Kays with steel strings on them & they seem to be going strong. I've also seen several with the top caved-in at the bridge, perhaps from steel strings? I don't know the cause, just thought I would share the info.
I play Innovation Super Silvers & I love them (1952 Kay M-1). Easy on the hands, low tension, big volume (I play mostly bluegrass). The Innovation 140H is also a good string, but I get more finger-to-string friction with the 140H. I've played Piastro Obligatos also, & like them OK, but I had problems with windings separating at the bridge. They don't seem to last as long either. They are great for bowing.
+1 on the Super Silvers. I put a new set on my '37 Kay and played my first gig last weekend and found them to be great. I have guts on my other bass but when time comes to change I will use the Super Silvers on it too.
Bill Miller
Bill Miller
- Apr 6, 2007
- 777
- 538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fishman Transducers, Aguilar Amplifiers, Ear Trumpet Labs
Mike is exactly right. If the bass has not been PROPERLY set-up since you bought it, you should take it to a good luthier whose focus is on basses. That luthier can make sure your bass plays easily and sounds its best. They may also be able to make suggestions about string choice.
Every bass is different, strings that sound great on another bass may not work for yours. Be prepared to experiment, swap strings and replace them one at a time until you find a combination that you like. It's common practice to break up string sets, and it's not unusual to see a bass with three or four different brands/tensions.
Best of luck with your bass, play a little every day and those callouses will develop in no time.
Jeremy
I've got a '42 Kay as well as an older carved bass.
I've got Obligato G,D,A and a Spirocore E on both.
The Obligato E is a little too flabby for my taste.
I've got Obligato G,D,A and a Spirocore E on both.
The Obligato E is a little too flabby for my taste.
I'm using Evah Pirazzi Weichs on mine and like it pretty good, but I do lean toward a more refined/defined sound than most bluegrass players. I tried a couple of basses this weekend with Supernils, they had a strong fundamental boom, but lacked clarity and definition....a lot of bluegrassers like that, I'm just not one of them. The EPW (to my ear) get great tone, moderate volume and feel good with no rolling...........Supernils are really bad about rolling.
My bass is a pre-WWII German ply, not a Kay.
My bass is a pre-WWII German ply, not a Kay.
I have owned two Kays and tried many different strings. I found that Obligato's and Spirocore Weichs (lights) gave me the full sound I wanted. After that Corelli 380TX (nickel) worked OK too.
The only problem with the Obligato's is that they don't last very long. The Weichs and Corelli's last for a long time.
Make sure your Kay is set up properly and the soundpost is in the best spot...ie full sound and the best volume your bass can produce.
The only problem with the Obligato's is that they don't last very long. The Weichs and Corelli's last for a long time.
Make sure your Kay is set up properly and the soundpost is in the best spot...ie full sound and the best volume your bass can produce.
