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Double Bass Thinking of trying Gamut guts, what gauge?

DeepSouth

DeepSouth

Aug 6, 2008
85
75
#1
I play approx. 50/50 mix between pizz and slap. My group does a mishmash of what I think of as Americana. Country oldies, bluegrass, rockabilly, folk, a swing tune now and then and even a little Latin music.

Since they don't list string tension I'm at a loss as to which set would both sound good for pizz but also slap easy.
I had a less than good experience slapping on the Lenzer wound E and A but the Gamut folks are telling me theirs are not overly buzzy. So I'm open to suggestions. Maybe even Gut ADG and something else entirely for the E. Evah slap maybe?

Tension wise, anything heavier than Evah Slaps start to make my old hand injuries act up.

This is what they have listed on the site for the premade set of most popular strings.

Maybe some Gamut fans can pop in with an opinion.

Table of Contrabass Gauges​
Light​
Light+​
Medium​
Medium+​
Heavy​
Heavy+​
g-1 Lyon Gut​
2.00mm​
2.06mm​
2.10mm​
2.16mm​
2.20mm​
2.26mm​
d-2 Pistoy Gut​
2.80mm​
2.86mm​
2.90mm​
2.96mm​
3.00mm​
3.06mm​
A-3 Gut/Silverplate​
2.52mm​
2.62mm​
2.66mm​
2.70mm​
2.74mm​
2.80mm​
E-4 Gut/Silverplate​
3.12mm​
3.18mm​
3.22mm​
3.28mm​
3.32mm​
3.36mm​
 
#3
EP slaps are not bad strings at all, but they have don't have the dynamic range of gut or the airiness. Again, they are excellent strings, but I always revert back to gut after a while. Been considering a more premium brand as I have an Upton being built and am considering what I want it set up with when its done. Its going be half a year at least before its done so I have time to hunt for my goldilocks string set.
 
#4
I'm not a real-gut user, but have you tried Gamut's Red Diamond strings? They hit TB/DB discussions a few years ago so there are some =1&c[nodes][0]=17&o=date']threads here to read about them. Gamut describes them for "... real gut sound for jazz, bluegrass, blues, rockabilly and other musical forms ...".

I need something more robust for the roots/Americana I play, but Red Diamonds are among the real gut strings in my "tempting" list.
 
#5
Good luck on your search. I have the version of EP Slaps w/ gut D/G. I thought that was a pricey set before I checked out the Gamuts! 😳 Better make sure you like them before laying out that coin! ;)

If not too much of a hijack, which Upton you having built? My 2d bass is a 7/8 hybrid Bohemian. Very nice bass IMO, but once I got it I decided to set it up for arco, and keep my ply for pizz/slap. I enjoy the luxury of having 2 basses set up extremely differently.
 
#6
Don Hergert said:
I'm not a real-gut user, but have you tried Gamut's Red Diamond strings? They hit TB/DB discussions a few years ago so there are some =1&c[nodes][0]=17&o=date']threads here to read about them. Gamut describes them for "... real gut sound for jazz, bluegrass, blues, rockabilly and other musical forms ...".

I need something more robust for the roots/Americana I play, but Red Diamonds are among the real gut strings in my "tempting" list.
Click to expand...
The Red Diamonds are much higher tension than the regular gut strings.
 
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#7
Don Hergert said:
I'm not a real-gut user, but have you tried Gamut's Red Diamond strings? They hit TB/DB discussions a few years ago so there are some =1&c[nodes][0]=17&o=date']threads here to read about them. Gamut describes them for "... real gut sound for jazz, bluegrass, blues, rockabilly and other musical forms ...".

I need something more robust for the roots/Americana I play, but Red Diamonds are among the real gut strings in my "tempting" list.
Click to expand...
I was eyeballing the red diamonds but in other threads its been mentioned that they are higher tension than pain gut. I figured they would be difficult to slap on but can't really say.
 
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#8
Ed S said:
Good luck on your search. I have the version of EP Slaps w/ gut D/G. I thought that was a pricey set before I checked out the Gamuts! 😳 Better make sure you like them before laying out that coin! ;)

If not too much of a hijack, which Upton you having built? My 2d bass is a 7/8 hybrid Bohemian. Very nice bass IMO, but once I got it I decided to set it up for arco, and keep my ply for pizz/slap. I enjoy the luxury of having 2 basses set up extremely differently.
Click to expand...
I've a 5/8 flat back Bohemian w/removable neck in process. I'm a short stack at 5'7 so after speaking with Gary we both agreed the slightly small size would work for me well. I'll keep my current bass and also considered setting it up for arco as well. Its good to have more than one bass!
 
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#9
DeepSouth said:
I've a 5/8 flat back Bohemian w/removable neck in process. I'm a short stack at 5'7 so after speaking with Gary we both agreed the slightly small size would work for me well. I'll keep my current bass and also considered setting it up for arco as well. Its good to have more than one bass!
Click to expand...
What matters for string gauge is mensure, the "playing length" of the string. If mensure is shorter, you want a thicker string.
For my bass with "standard 3/4" mensure of 41-42 inches, the medium-gauge Gamuts are fine. Low tension (compared to any metal string) but not floppy.
 
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#10
DeepSouth said:
I've a 5/8 flat back Bohemian w/removable neck in process.
Click to expand...
Cool. I went with a 7/8. Also flat back. It is a big beautiful bass, but I occasionally wonder if I ought to have given more consideration to a smaller size.

IMO, don't scrimp on the "extras" - whether deluxe top, upgraded tuners, whatever. You are spending serious coin to get EXACTLY the bass you want. I surely did not want to get a wonderful bass and later think, "Man, I wish I has spent the extra couple hundred on..."

IMO, if you can afford 2 basses (in terms of $, space, and SO tolerance), it is a sweet place to be.
 
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#11
Red Diamonds are higher tension than plain gut, which is one of the things I liked about them. They sound great. The reason I'm not using them is the winding came off the G around C after only a few months. I contacted Gamut and their response was something on the order of "That's how it goes sometimes." I am an old jazz guy who doesn't play super hard - no slapping at all - so an aggressive player should look elsewhere IMO.
 
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#14
AGCurry said:
What matters for string gauge is mensure, the "playing length" of the string. If mensure is shorter, you want a thicker string.
For my bass with "standard 3/4" mensure of 41-42 inches, the medium-gauge Gamuts are fine. Low tension (compared to any metal string) but not floppy.
Click to expand...
Good point sir. That will certainly be a consideration on the Upton.
 
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#15
Well now, I feel like a doofus.
On Gamut's web site they list their string tensions.
I'll link it if anyone else finds this thread and has the same question.

Contrabass — Gamut Music. Inc.

www.gamutmusic.com www.gamutmusic.com

I think for now I will order a D and G and see how it goes. I've never met a wound gut string I like so I will just stick with Evah slaps for E and A for now. As a side note I do have the Evah sheep guts but didn't bond with them. I seem to prefer Beef Sarasota for some reason and Gaumts are beef. Gut G strings all seem fine but that pesky D has always been lacking for me. Guess I shall find out soon if the Gaumt G is good as everyone says.
 
#19
Ok! The Lyon G and Pistoy D showed up. Put them on this morning and omg yes. The D in particular is amazing. All the guys raving about the D string are 1000% correct.

I'm officially part of the Gamut fan club.
I went with the varnish option and am really liking the feel. Not sure how long the varnish will last but hopefully won't have to deal with the string sprouting lil hairs for a while.

Once these settle in I'll think about if I want to fool with the E and A or leave the Evah slaps on.
 
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#20
DeepSouth said:
Ok! The Lyon G and Pistoy D showed up. Put them on this morning and omg yes. The D in particular is amazing. All the guys raving about the D string are 1000% correct.

I'm officially part of the Gamut fan club.
I went with the varnish option and am really liking the feel. Not sure how long the varnish will last but hopefully won't have to deal with the string sprouting lil hairs for a while.

Once these settle in I'll think about if I want to fool with the E and A or leave the Evah slaps on.
Click to expand...
Awesome. IMO the hairs are nothing to worry about. I just ignored them and that seems to work just fine.
 
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