Double Bass What do I need to know about nylon strings?

[Chris Paget]

I'm really interested in learning the slap/doghouse style, but don't know the first thing about what strings to put on. Would I be OK using 4 nylon strings? What do I need to know about the difference in sound between metal and nylon and what are any maintenance issues?

I'm considering these:
http://www.gotofmi.com/upbaclkerowe.html

 

[jschall84]

I would try superior brand weedwacker strings. look them up on myspace. We warned though, nylon strings have a pretty big break in period. They will stretch for weeks. After about 2 weeks, they will be nice and stretched. The E will probably sound like crap when you put it on too. It will improve over time, but will always be pretty quiet. Compared to steels, well, you cant get two more different strings. Steels have lots of sustain, defined notes, and very loud and clacky when slapped. Weedwackers lack sustain, the tone is warm and muddy, and have a pleasant "tick tick tick" when slapped.
You aught to mosey on over to www.rockabillybass.com and do some research. A lot of guys are using nylons over there.

 

[Gearhead43]

Yep, and then there are the "in between" sounding strings like Innovation Silver Slaps and Supernils, etc that are somewhere between wackers/guts and steels sound-wise.

 

[jschall84]

Yep, and then there are the "in between" sounding strings like Innovation Silver Slaps and Supernils, etc that are somewhere between wackers/guts and steels sound-wise.

Or my recent string obsession, Eurosonic UltraLights

 

[Jay Corwin]

Can you get any good pizz sounds out of whackers after they break in? I have a fishman full circle PUP I'd be playing through.

Also - does the lack of tension help the left hand as well?

 

[westcoastblues]

Hi, I'm new here, and I too am an electric player just getting into URB. Playing blues and swing, mostly, so I want a good sustained soun d but would also like to be able to slap a little bit, not like the full-on rockabilly double-slap (which I love!) but just a bit of accent here and there.

I bought an old King Mortone which came with weedwackers on it, and I agree they just don't have any kind of sustain on the low notes esp. so I got them off and have some unknown steels, I believe they are a Spirocore E and lighter tension Thomastiks on the rest, they'll do for now, but I am VERY keen on learning more about decent compromises for slap, like the aforementioned Innovation Silver Slaps, Eurosonic Ultralights, etc... anyone else who has comments, please speak up!!

 

[Bass]

Oooohhh, lucky guy, I wish I had a moretone. Innovation makes excellent strings at a reasonable price, and they last a long time. Just pick any of the Innovation nylon strings and stick with it. Ie resist the urge to change strings.

Innovation also makes "Rockabilly" strings which are black and a litter thinner (more like the diameter of steels) than the Silver Slaps.

Innovation also makes Super Silvers which I understand are like the Silver Slaps but a little higher tension.

I think they also make Golden Slaps, and they are developing a new string called Psycho Slaps.

I have only used the "Inno RAB's", I've been playing them for about 2 1/2 years, and have no plans to change.