Double Bass String suggestion, for old laminated bass

[mortar]

Sorry I'm sure this topic has been brought up ad nauseam. The bass in question is 1939 Kay C-1 I have never played an upright bass I have a electric P bass that I keep in my music room.
I don't seeing getting too serious with this bass but you never no, so I would be looking for something on the cheap. I can see buying something from the classified section slightly used. I would most likely lean towards learning jazz style.

 

[wathaet]

I would get something not too hard on the hands, but elegant sounding.
I suggest Evah Pirazzi lights (weich)

 

[Sam Dingle]

I suggest Spirocore Weich strings. Regarded as the standard jazz string and some people wait 10 years to change them so they'll last you a while. Allow a few weeks of playing for them to dull down a bit. They are easy on the hands too.

 

[Francois Blais]

You may look at Corelli strings.
They are affordable, easy to play, and are good at both pizz and arco playing.
You can find some as well in the Classifieds as well from time to time.
As suggested earlier, if you want the most durable strings, get some Spirocores.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Spiro Weichs, Rotosound RS4000, Evah Pirazzi Slap or go whole hog and string it with gut.

That bass was made before steel strings existed so high tension steel strings may choke the response or, worse, cause structural problems.

 

[Bigbassguy]

Evah lights are very nice!

 

[mortar]

That bass was made before steel strings existed so high tension steel strings may choke the response or, worse, cause structural problems.

The top was pretty sunken, I've got it back very close to where it was there are still the slightest of dimples. I am thinking a low tension string for now .

 

[Bigbassguy]

I used evah e and a guts d and g.
Low tension great sound. Bass 1 calin wulter 15 years old ( big bass) 1961 KAY S1 ( very dark finish) cracks in the finish up and down the front plate. Again, low tension.
All the best
Oh, another bass i have, upton hybrid with Zyex strings. Very cool bass.

 

[Jon Mush]

I agree with all the above suggestions. Although I’ve never played Rotos. It all depends on what sound/feel you’re going after. Spiro Weichs are the best all around choice. They’re indestructible. The cost amortization over the decade or more yours get out of them is the cheapest option in the long run. Used off the classifieds is another option, and I wouldn’t hesitate. There’s no way some on/off in their history will alter their performance.

Evah Weichs are darker and lovely both pizz and arco, and another great choice. Zyex Lights may also be a good choice for a slightly more Spiro, but darker, tone, with even less tension.

I’ve recently stripped off my Spiro Weichs and put on the Evah Slaps again. I kinda like them for the old-school vibe and like the change in tension. (Recent gigs haven’t had me playing arco at all—although I remember them being somewhat less fun than the Evah Weichs and Spiros.) Some have commented on the fragility of the windings, and I agree, but some photos sent to Pirastro got me a new string and they said it shouldn’t be happening.

 

[daddarioorch631]

Spiro Weichs, Rotosound RS4000, Evah Pirazzi Slap or go whole hog and string it with gut.

That bass was made before steel strings existed so high tension steel strings may choke the response or, worse, cause structural problems.

Hey there! A medium tension steel string only exerts about 5% greater tension (between 1 and 3 pounds) than a synthetic string would, which isn't nearly enough to compromise the instrument compared to a synthetic string. Even light tension strings exert 55 - 65 pounds of tension per string, so definitely run it by a luthier if you suspect the instrument may not be able to support that.

Based on your interest in playing jazz and going for a cheap string, a set of Helicore Pizzicato strings in light tension may suit you well. Feel free to message us if you have any questions!

 

[Ludwig]

The cheapest playable metal string would be the Stagg EDB strings, around €40.- in germany. From advertising for electric upright, but I like them on an acoustic bass as well. Another useable choice is Daddario Prelude, around € 80.-. If you are more into gut sound with somewhat less tension, I would recommend Gut-a-like Swingmaster (around € 120.-), if available at your location. The recommendations from the earlier posts are good, but more expensive. If your bass is sunk in,let it be checked by a luthier. Even the bass strings with the least tension exert a lot of pressure...

 

[Bigbassguy]

Evah slaps with gut string will work will!

 

[Don Hergert]

If you're thinking of low tension leaning toward synthetic gut, you might want to try Superior Bass Works Deluxe (dirty gut color) strings. In my experience, they work very well either pizz or arco, with or without a piezo.

 

[Bigbassguy]

Thanks

 

[wathaet]

Hey there! A medium tension steel string only exerts about 5% greater tension (between 1 and 3 pounds) than a synthetic string would, which isn't nearly enough to compromise the instrument compared to a synthetic string. Even light tension strings exert 55 - 65 pounds of tension per string, so definitely run it by a luthier if you suspect the instrument may not be able to support that.

Based on your interest in playing jazz and going for a cheap string, a set of Helicore H=Pizzicato strings in light tension may suit you well. Feel free to message us if you have any questions!

As a longtime user of daddario strings (kaplan, and helicore orch), I do not recommend them given the budget restraints described by the original poster. The G strings never lasted me or my colleagues more than 6 months before the winding came apart and in one case it lasted one week. It was like playing on 200 grit sandpaper on certain notes. Such short life makes a reasonably priced string quite expensive in the long run.

 

[daddarioorch631]

As a longtime user of daddario strings (kaplan, and helicore orch), I do not recommend them given the budget restraints described by the original poster. The G strings never lasted me or my colleagues more than 6 months before the winding came apart and in one case it lasted one week. It was like playing on 200 grit sandpaper on certain notes. Such short life makes a reasonably priced string quite expensive in the long run.

Yikes, I'm sorry about that! This sounds like an issue our Product Development team will want to look into. Look out for a direct message shortly so we can collect a few details about the breaks.