Double Bass Strings that growl

[Sam Dingle]

i have a friend who is looking for more growl on his bass. Has played Labella steel strings for years and is enjoying obligatos at the moment but wants more string growl. Spiros didn't do it for him. Any suggestions?

He wants that 70's sound. Got an underwood and everything.

 

[Francois Blais]

Pirastro Jazzers?

 

[CaseyVancouver]

The bass has a lot to do with growl. Some basses just don't have it.
Spiro's are the growliest strings. Dominants growl too if your bass is up to it.

Some basses will not get the growl sound on the E,A no matter what the strings are.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

Your friend may need his fingerboard dressed. On my bass I've never met a string that wouldn't growl including Obligatos.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

The

Your friend may need his fingerboard dressed. On my bass I've never met a string that wouldn't growl including Obligatos.

Fingerboards with little or no 'scoop' will growl more than those with more. I did last spring which put the string heights at a little over 1mm on the G and 4mm on the E using Helicore Pizzicato strings. The owner wanted that Brian Bromberg thing and he sounds great on it.

How much scoop? Normally, I dress the fingerboard for the maximum amount of scoop being equal to the diameter of the string halfway between the nut and bridge. This bass had almost none on the G and about a mm on the E string. Height at the nut can be negligible if the board is right.

For orchestra use, I'll do more. More scoop gives a stronger, clearer note.

Sorry, just wanted one photo.

 

[sean_on_bass]

I tend to see growl as caused largely by the setup of the bass, not just the tonality of the strings. When fingering a note, he probably has too large an angle between string a fingerboard, originating from the stopped string down to the bridge.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I tend to see growl as caused largely by the setup of the bass, not just the tonality of the strings. When fingering a note, he probably has too large an angle between string a fingerboard, originating from the stopped string down to the bridge.

Yep. It's all about the angle. The more parallel the string and fingerboard are the more growl.

 

[Don Hergert]

What kind of string tension is the friend after?

I'm staying low tension, and have recently moved to Innovation SilverSlaps for my E and A strings. These are a synthetic core nylon wrapped string. These strings produce very clear loud low tones and have remarkable growl on my bass. From what I've read others say, they tend to do that on all basses. For higher tension in the same Innovation string design, SuperSilver would be the next step up, probably the equivalent of medium tension.

I play a combo of pizz and slap for bluegrass, old jazz and general roots music, with some arco for special occasions. For my D and G strings I currently prefer the spiral-cut "dirty-gut" Deluxe wackers by Superior Bassworks because of their tone, touch and for their excellent arco playability. The SilverSlaps weren't ideal for arco when new, but they are actually getting better with a bow each time I play them that way, possibly as my touch with them gets better, but also possibly because of rosin effectiveness.

 

[Sam Dingle]

He's a Labella artist and is hoping to find something there. I'll let him know about the fingerboard dressing

 

[Matt Ides]

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Fingerboards with little or no 'scoop' will growl more than those with more. I did last spring which put the string heights at a little over 1mm on the G and 4mm on the E using Helicore Pizzicato strings. The owner wanted that Brian Bromberg thing and he sounds great on it.

How much scoop? Normally, I dress the fingerboard for the maximum amount of scoop being equal to the diameter of the string halfway between the nut and bridge. This bass had almost none on the G and about a mm on the E string. Height at the nut can be negligible if the board is right.

For orchestra use, I'll do more. More scoop gives a stronger, clearer note.

Sorry, just wanted one photo.

Greg has got it, Spiros set very low on the finger board = growl.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

I love a bass that growls.

There are alternative opinions on the growl sound though. Illustrious bassist and bass maker Ken Smith goes on record saying 'the [upright] growl is mostly noise instead of the fundamental note tone and [a bass] should not sound like a buzzy guitar'.

A lot of classical players may agree. For jazz I love that growl. Only bringing this up as I have heard a number of bassists comment on dislike of the growl sound.

 

[sean_on_bass]

View attachment 3096136

I love a bass that growls.

There are alternative opinions on the growl sound though. Illustrious bassist and bass maker Ken Smith goes on record saying 'the [upright] growl is mostly noise instead of the fundamental note tone and [a bass] should not sound like a buzzy guitar'.

A lot of classical players may agree. For jazz I love that growl. Only bringing this up as I have heard a number of bassists comment on dislike of the growl sound.

I think any sort of traditionalist will not be keen to the growl. It's really the product of a "modern" instrument setup. Technically, it is true that it can be considered noise/buzz as it is an interaction between the string and fingerboard. For instance, a setup that creates a growl might not be valued by a classical player...probably setting up a situation where the string can't take a hard bow before truly buzzing against the fingerboard.

But like you say, for jazz, i love the growl. Partially because i am originally an electric player and it reminds me of a fretless bass guitar growl. Same concept really. Different strokes for different folks..maybe Ken can't handle those sorts of grey area concepts, hence him being banned, haha.

 

[lurk]

How about those"Ron Carter" black LaBellas?

 

[stefaniw80401]

Necro thread, I know, but I think darker arco strings on a growly setup sound great pizz...like Kaplan lights for instance.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Growl is also a function of technique, as well. Pads growl more than tips.

 

[bassmanbrent]

Growl is also a function of technique

For sure! And setup too.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Necro thread, I know, but I think darker arco strings on a growly setup sound great pizz...like Kaplan lights for instance.

I have EP mediums on my Rodier which has a fairly flat fingerboard; a 'jazz' setup. It is good under the bow but has a purr down low that is nice when played pizz. Purr? There is aggressive, metallic growl and much warmer version that darker strings can bring to a similar setup.