Those Spiros are just getting broken in. I’m sure Brandon would appreciate your $70 but there’s simply no way those strings will work on a five-string EUB. At most you could use them for a D&G but even that’s pushing it.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Superior Bassworks Dirty Gut strings
- Thread starter GKon
- Start date
Both. I’ve tried, and on a bass that’s much more like a real bass than an NS.
I would add a Spiro S42 low B to your wonderfully played-in existing Spiros.
you mean, keep my 10 years old set of spiros, and get a spiro low b?
I hope you're not worried about that. It is only meant for encouragement.
KFS is right about that (experience-based wisdom). Many people here consider 10 years old Spiros to just be getting into their prime. If they are dirty, they can be cleaned, unlike many other strings. If their silks are getting tattered, it doesn't matter for how they sound. The only reason to get rid of them is if they have windings that are broken, but that should really only happen if there's been an accident of some kind.
Going back to the thought of using SBW Deluxe Dirty Guts on your NXT5, setup and tuning is going to be the issue. The thickest and highest tension Deluxe Dirty Guts bump set are already low tension (like a little higher tension than Silver/Golden Slaps or Sugar Slaps) on a 3/4 DB with ~41" ~42" mensure. The higher tension of these strings get dramatically thicker as the tension goes up, and your tuner post string holes and tailpiece string holes will probably have to be enlarged in order to use them. As KFS said, you might be able to use some of the bump set for D and G strings, but then there's still nut / bridge slots and fingerboard relief that will need to be addressed.
With your old Spiros you don't need to worry about tension or setup. If it were me, I'd just take KFS up on his offer for the low B and call it a day.
I'll add this just for clarity... I am really enjoying SBW Deluxe Dirty Guts in their fattest, highest tension set on my DB. But my DB is a 3/4 size acoustic double bass with 41 3/4" mensure and standard double bass tuners, which was already setup for fat low tension strings. And I was going after the old school sound that these strings produce. But I don't think I would recommend these strings for any instrument that is not setup for them or for any player who wants a more modern tone.
Last edited:
Exactly. Get the low B from KFS and be happy. My set retired when it was over 20 years old. But I still kept, just in case …
IME, and contrary to popular belief, Thomastick Spirocores ( we used to call them red screamers!) do wear out after about 5 years or so. At least they did on both my basses. I used them for over 30 years. So IMHO you’re overdue due for a new set. The low B in a set of Thomastick Spirocore Mitten’s is pretty heafty, it would overwhelm the NS XT. I think your NS D’Addario plus Heliocore B is well suited to that instrument. Just my take however.
Really interesting subject here Don really appreciate all your knowledge. Is your Bass really aluminum?
Thought I’d throw the link to the dirty guts in… I was confused in the other thread when you mentioned them because I wasn’t sure if they were really Gut or not.
Superior Bassworks Deluxe Upright Double Bass Strings Dirty Gut
Perfect strings for Rockabilly, Bluegrass, Psychobilly, Country/Western, and more! Fits most 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, and 4/4 scale basses. 6 string options included in every pack. .170, .155, .130, .105, .095, .080 (sizes in inches) 100% 'synthetic gut' nylon/kevlar construction to simulate the tone...
www.superiorbassworks.com
Hey Bob, yes, my DB is really aluminum... A ~1930 Alcoa aluminum double bass that has been functionally restored/repaired and hot-rodded. There are a handful of us here who have and play aluminum double basses, if you're not familiar with them you might want to visit this thread here in TB/DB:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/aluminum-acoustic-double-bass-club.1397760/
And yes, those are the "Dirty Guts" strings. They are reported to be actually made of a Kevlar core "gator line" which is sort of a heavy duty wacker line. But the Deluxe Superior BassWorks strings are textured with a spiral cut for the length of the strings, and that changes their touch and tone dynamics tremendously. Visually they are very convincing -- I have lots of folks ask if they are real guts, and they also feel like guts. Tone wise, to be fair, no synthetic sounds exactly like gut, but "Dirty Guts" come very very close, at least on my DB. And their price is about 10% of what a nice plain gut set would cost. I'm pretty sold on them.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/aluminum-acoustic-double-bass-club.1397760/
And yes, those are the "Dirty Guts" strings. They are reported to be actually made of a Kevlar core "gator line" which is sort of a heavy duty wacker line. But the Deluxe Superior BassWorks strings are textured with a spiral cut for the length of the strings, and that changes their touch and tone dynamics tremendously. Visually they are very convincing -- I have lots of folks ask if they are real guts, and they also feel like guts. Tone wise, to be fair, no synthetic sounds exactly like gut, but "Dirty Guts" come very very close, at least on my DB. And their price is about 10% of what a nice plain gut set would cost. I'm pretty sold on them.
