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Double Bass String Choices Gut-A-Like Slappers Delight or Prestos

RabbitMurphy

RabbitMurphy

Guest
Aug 16, 2015
8
0
38
#1
Hi Guys,
Ive only been playing a couple of months now and I'm looking to upgrade strings, the CCB i got came with some steel strings thats were impossible to slap because of the tension so i bought some cheap weedwackers, i Found the E and A unbearable sloppy and quite so i put the the A and D steel strings into the E and A position and thats where I've been for the last few months..

Anyway I'm about to invest in the Shadow SH RB-PRO Rockabilly System so i want to put some new strings on along with it and start playing with a Punkabilly band soon.

anyway long story short, I've come across these strings:
Invalid Link Removed

Are they pretty much like the Weedwackers i have already? (useless E and A?)
would i be better off going for the Presto Nylonwound Light? or ultralights maybe?
Thanks for the help!
 
#3
I did a lot of research before plunking cash down on the strings I thought would work well for me. Wackers were a consideration, but I wanted something I could bow and the nylon filaments aren't known for their bowability.

There's a lot of good information I came across at Rockabillybass.com, but alas that website is no more so I can't direct you with any links. I suggest delving into TB's many string threads using the advanced search engine, that will help you weed out the wacked bass-guitar threads and get to the roots of the double-bass threads that you need.

Best of luck finding the strings that are right for you and your bass.


Oh, one more thing, if you are NOT going to do any bowing, I'll suggest trying Supernils, I've got them on my ply and have grown to like them (though initially I hated their tonality! Either they grew on me or they "settled in").
 
#4
Thanks for the input guys, I've had a bit of a think about it and I'm thinking maybe i should stick with the weedwackers and get a innovation E perhaps?

I do like the Wackers on the D & G and the A is Ok its just the E that has no tone at all.

Can anyone suggest an E that would match the sound / feel of the wackers?

Thanks Guys
 
#5
I don't know the tension of the Wackers, but from what I read the tension is really low. Probably a bit too low, specially on he E.
I have tried the Silver Slaps with gut and they are similar in tension (by feel and measured) and mix well with typical slapable naked gut, but sound good as a complete set too. I would rather get the complete set and you can decide for yourself if the Wackers are better.
If money is an issue, the E will do it for now. Also have a look for a set in the classifieds, might not be much more than a single new E string (if you an get that at all).
 
#6
Yeah, a lot of wacker guys and gals will substitute the wacker E for some kind of wound string, and over the years there have even been some wound wackers either on the E or E&A. Maybe use the Internet Way Back Machine to search for DBC/RaBB (DoubleBassChat/Rockabilly Bass.com) posts about mixing wound nylon E string with wackers.

Are Cordes Lambert still being made? Those were popular, but I vaguely recall Nicholas has moved on to Evah Slap sets.

cordes-lambert-upright-bass-strings-15.jpeg

Cordes Lambert( N. .dubouchet strings)

I do love the sound of wackers for slap.
 
#8
Hmmm. Somehow I missed this!

Did you get the psychos?

I haven't tried the slappers delight gut-a-likes but I have tried the blacks, vintage, deluxe, and swingmasters. I like the swingmasters the best. The most usable set, great tension across all 4 strings. More than weedwhackers but less than steels, probably in the ballpark of real guts. And the tone is very even across. The wound e and a are slightly brighter than the plain d and g but hardly noticeable. And the sustain is just slightly more than the plain g. Much more sustain and tension than plain whacker e and a's.

I posted a review and some clips here. The strings were on the bass for a few days only, they sound better now!

Gut-a-like Swingmaster strings

Yeah, I think the lamberts are defunct? Haven't heard much about them lately. I tried the GT-47's and find them similar to the swingmasters but I think the swingmasters sound, play, and feel better. More sustain and better feel.
 

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