Double Bass What Srings are you using?

[JLubinsky-Mast]

Related de-rail: is anybody slapping steel strings? I tried to evolve with this last summer on medium Spiros and got the beginning of blood blister very soon what made me forget about slapping because I need my Spiros for everything else and don’t want to get a second instrument as I’m not thinking to become a full time rock’n’roller, only want to cause some jaws drop when the time has come.

Yeah definitely. I'm lucky to have two basses.
But I've slapped Spiro Reds for years. I tried the Spiro solos tuned down a whole step thing, tonally I did not like it as much.
I think it just takes time to build up the callous, I've spent a lot of time just practising slapping patterns on open strings at home, not at full gig intensity.

There is a new Petunia and the Vipers album about to come out, it was recorded back in 2019. I slap a fair amount on it.
Truthfully I haven't heard the album yet, but if memory serves correct, we had to scrap all the bass tracks recorded with gut strings, so the bass tracks are either Jargar's, Spiro reds, or possibly Spiro Solos

 

[CharleyJackson]

A brief update on the LaBella SuperNils. When I first put put them on they tuned but didn’t stay in tune for long. That was in late April. They settled down after a month. May have happened sooner had I played them more. I also noticed they rolled quite a bit. Having no previous experience I didn’t think much of this and thought “that’s the way it is”. I was just grateful to get rid of whatever strings the bass came with.

Now four months out they allowed me to explore the double bass without killing myself. I’ve managed to increase my stamina, speed and familiarity with the finger board. With that my right hand technique has also matured. The strings stay in tune now for the most part, and the string rolling is no longer noticeable.

I play jazz on it as I can’t slap worth a darn.

 

[CobraBassGeezer]

Currently, Rotosound 4000 double bass - I tried Weedwhackers but hated that slapping a wet cardboard box sound on the E string
Rotosounds are nylon core with monel wrap - pretty soft on the fingers but still with a good tension. I'm still at the start of my bass journey, though many years a gigging guitarist, so getting used tho the strings minefield!