Double Bass Synthetic strings

[Mandobassman]

Can some of the more "knowledgable-about-strings" people shed some info about what DB strings are available that are all synthetic construction. I've read about some string sets, such as Zyex, that are called synthetic but are mostly steel, but I'd like to know about any that are all synthetic.

 

[Francois Blais]

Without any metal, you'd probably only get weed-wackers, or gut-a-likes. (I have the Swingmasters D&G which are pure synthetic, but the bottom strings are metal wound AFAIK. But maybe they have other models without metal.)

 

[Sam Dingle]

I think of synthetic strings as strings that have a synthetic core (Evah Pirazzi (including slap), Zyex, Innovation braided and honey(?), Velvet) as apposed to a metal/steel core (Spirocores, Belcantos, felxocore) and gut core (Oliv, Eudoxa). Then I think of Nylon strings that are typically nylon wrapping on a steel core (most innovation strings, eurosonics). I may be wrong on some of these.

 

[Co.]

Pirastro Obligato and Thomastik Domiant are also synthetic core strings.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Only Velvet Blue have synthetic cores. The others have silk cores IIRC.

 

[Michael Glynn]

Some of the Innovation strings like the Silver/Gold Slaps and the Rockabilly set have a nylon core with nylon winding. They may have a little metal in there as well. The G and D of the LaBella Supernil and Rotosound RS4000 have a similar nylon core and nylon winding. The A and E of those sets are metal wound.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I think of synthetic strings as strings that have a synthetic core (Evah Pirazzi (including slap), Zyex, Innovation braided and honey(?), Velvet) as apposed to a metal/steel core (Spirocores, Belcantos, felxocore) and gut core (Oliv, Eudoxa). Then I think of Nylon strings that are typically nylon wrapping on a steel core (most innovation strings, eurosonics). I may be wrong on some of these.

Honeys have a monofiber synthetic core.
Innovation strings are all synthetic core, Honeys are monofiber all others are braided.
Eurosonics/Presto Nylonwound and Presto Jazzicato are steel core with a synthetic wrap.

The reason that almost all lower strings have metal in one of the winding layers is to add mass to reduce the diameter of the string. A thick string is rather stiff and that leads to a very short pizz sustain.

 

[Mandobassman]

Thanks for the responses everyone. Whenever I had read about synthetic strings, I had just always assumed that all of the strings in the set were synthetic. I can understand the need for metal windings or core, especially for the lower strings.