Double Bass String recommendations for a complete and utter newbie

[Ian Knox]

Hi there, I just got my first AUB last week and it's currently in the hands of my trusty local luthier getting set up. He's asked that I order strings and have them drop shipped to him for use in said setup-- Apparently he doesn't stock them because he can't be competitive price wise, understandable.

Here's the pertinents (many of which I don't fully understand, I'm just repeating what Scott Henrie said when I dropped it off at his place):

Anyone have any recommendations?

The Bass:

• Fully carved very early Wilfer (early 1900s ish?) flatback
• D back and front
• Fairly short scale length (we measured it at just under 41 and might be even shorter when the bridge is reset)
• Picture attached for the curious

The player:

• A relatively capable musician but completely new to UB and un-fretted string instruments in general
• Interested in playing mostly pizz (90%) in folk, indy rock, newgrass, blues styles although I'd also like to be at least familiar with the basics of arco and slap
• Not really sure what kind of sound I'm looking for yet. I spent some time on the audio sample page sticky linked and my favorites were the Velvet Blue and Pirastro Obligato samples-- I didn't care much for the gut-like sounds
  
• I also have no idea what kind of feel I want, since I have no idea how to play the instrument yet (yes, lessons are next!)

Thanks in advance, I know there's not a ton to go on here but any advice would be welcome.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Nice looking bass! I'd recommend Thomastik Spirocore in Weich (light) gauge. I have a pretty serious string addiction, and Spiros remain my favorite do-everything string. They also last for decades.

 

[lcdck]

Looks like you have Spirocore Mediums on there already. Those are great all around strings. Why change? Unless you want less tension.

 

[Ian Knox]

Looks like you have Spirocore Mediums on there already. Those are great all around strings. Why change? Unless you want less tension.

The implication from Mr Henrie was that I would indeed want something with less tension.
The strings are also probably ancient ,although from what I understand age isn't much of a big deal with UB strings, but I'm not sure how far that really goes. These strings are at least 8+ years old.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Eight years of play time = barely broken-in Spiros.

 

[josiah goldfish]

My vote goes to Obligatos

 

[bassmanbrent]

My recommendation would be to play the bass for a while with the old spiros on it. You'll likely form some opinions about string tension and height/set up fairly quickly, at which point you'll be in a better position to pick new strings that meet your current needs. Just my opinion of course, but the choices are almost endless and it can get expensive trying out different options…

 

[bassmanbrent]

Alternately, I think Velvet Blues are a good choice for a low tension pizz string. Just be prepared for a little settling in/playing in time. My memory of them is that they feel pretty rough right out of the package. And it will take several days before they'll stay in tune.

 

[Ian Knox]

Thanks for the advice folks! I think I'll leave what's on there for now and see how things go with some lessons before make a new string decision.
My initial concern was that changing the strings should be done by Scott as part of the setup (hence, what should I buy _now_) but from I've read changing strings seems like a relatively straight forward, if somewhat time consuming, process.

 

[Reiska]

+1 vote for Spirocore weichs ( lights ). They are relatively easy to play, bow well after few weeks / months of playing, have really nice pizzicato sound and they last forever. Spirocores are IMO default double bass strings, there really are only Spirocores and gut. Any other string tries to capture some features from both of these but still leaves the itch for the real deal, Spiros or gut Save your money, nerves and time, do yourself a favor, choose Spirocores and never change them ( only switch to gut if you start to dig THE SOUND )

I`m a string addict and have now Obligatos over Spirocore low string.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I also suggest Velvet Blues. Scott knows them on my basses and can give you his impressions. spiro Wechs are a more traditional steel string and may be better to start on though.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Blues have a great sound, and their synthetic core should make them longer-lasting than the other strings in the Velvet line, but they didn't grab me.

 

[robgrow]

Another vote for Spirocores (probably Weichs). Long ago I decided to spend my time practicing and playing instead of changing strings, and I'm glad I did.

 

[Whit Browne]

Hi there, I just got my first AUB last week and it's currently in the hands of my trusty local luthier getting set up. He's asked that I order strings and have them drop shipped to him for use in said setup-- Apparently he doesn't stock them because he can't be competitive price wise, understandable.

Here's the pertinents (many of which I don't fully understand, I'm just repeating what Scott Henrie said when I dropped it off at his place):

Anyone have any recommendations?

The Bass:

• Fully carved very early Wilfer (early 1900s ish?) flatback
• D back and front
• Fairly short scale length (we measured it at just under 41 and might be even shorter when the bridge is reset)
• Picture attached for the curious

The player:

• A relatively capable musician but completely new to UB and un-fretted string instruments in general
• Interested in playing mostly pizz (90%) in folk, indy rock, newgrass, blues styles although I'd also like to be at least familiar with the basics of arco and slap
• Not really sure what kind of sound I'm looking for yet. I spent some time on the audio sample page sticky linked and my favorites were the Velvet Blue and Pirastro Obligato samples-- I didn't care much for the gut-like sounds
  
• I also have no idea what kind of feel I want, since I have no idea how to play the instrument yet (yes, lessons are next!)

Thanks in advance, I know there's not a ton to go on here but any advice would be welcome.

 

[Whit Browne]

See my post under "Strings for Plywood Bass". Good luck.

 

[daddarioorch631]

Hi there, I just got my first AUB last week and it's currently in the hands of my trusty local luthier getting set up. He's asked that I order strings and have them drop shipped to him for use in said setup-- Apparently he doesn't stock them because he can't be competitive price wise, understandable.

Here's the pertinents (many of which I don't fully understand, I'm just repeating what Scott Henrie said when I dropped it off at his place):

Anyone have any recommendations?

The Bass:

• Fully carved very early Wilfer (early 1900s ish?) flatback
• D back and front
• Fairly short scale length (we measured it at just under 41 and might be even shorter when the bridge is reset)
• Picture attached for the curious

The player:

• A relatively capable musician but completely new to UB and un-fretted string instruments in general
• Interested in playing mostly pizz (90%) in folk, indy rock, newgrass, blues styles although I'd also like to be at least familiar with the basics of arco and slap
• Not really sure what kind of sound I'm looking for yet. I spent some time on the audio sample page sticky linked and my favorites were the Velvet Blue and Pirastro Obligato samples-- I didn't care much for the gut-like sounds
  
• I also have no idea what kind of feel I want, since I have no idea how to play the instrument yet (yes, lessons are next!)

Thanks in advance, I know there's not a ton to go on here but any advice would be welcome.

Hi there! My name's Josephine and I work for the Orchestral strings department at D'Addario! Let me know if you have any questions regarding our strings. Good luck with your new venture into the UB world!

 

[DoubleMIDI]

For a beginner in DB I see a problem to recommend a string for all of this.
It is a good idea to do some arco too, but for a beginner this might not work with strings that are a bit harder to bow.
Synthetic wrapped strings are nice for most of what he wants it for, but not for a beginner in bowing.
Lower tension strings are a good idea, specially with steel core strings.
I would either recommend Spiro Solo downtuned or metal wound synthetic core strings like Obligato, Innovation Braided or downtuned Braided Solo or downtuned Evah Solo (or Zyex Light?), which might be easier to the hands and might bow a bit easier than the Spiros.
It is hard to find a string (beyond gut,which might not be a good idea for a beginner) that can be used for all this styles equally good.
The main problem is that metal wrapped strings are not the best for slap and non-metal wrapped strings are not the best for arco.
I would recommend dropping the slap for some time and start with bowing for better intonation, maybe later change go a more slap friendly string to practice slapping.

 

[iiipopes]

Tension, tension, tension! It's not all about tension! It is about setup. Once the bass is properly set up, (nut clearance, fingerboard scoop, bridge height and contour, proper placement on the points of the soundhole, soundpost, tailpiece, afterlength, etc.) only then can the "feel" of the strings be considered, both from a flexibility, arco response, pizz tone, and then, finally tension (with enough tension to drive the top and not so much it "chokes" the bass).

If he is doing 90% pizz, and the bass already has Spiros on it, then set up the bass for pizz, including a review of the fingerboard scoop to make sure it is not too much, and play it for a few months to then see if a change of strings is actually in order.

Finally, with the slightly shorter mensure than "standard," the strings will feel just the slightest bit softer, anyway, so automatically going to a lighter string is not an answer to this particular bass.

This is not like the purchase of a bass guitar where new strings are an automatic part of the setup. Go through the bass and optimize is already there. Only then can you know where you need to go.