Which strings?

I think we can all agree that Weedwhackers and Helicore Hybrids are not the same thing...or even remotely similar to one another.

 

I don't think there are best all around strings. Seeing that you're budget minded, let's forget about and metal wound gut strings.

If you want to play jazz and use the bow, you're going to likely want a hybrid string. The standard jazz steel string (not necessarily the best) are Thomastik Spirocores, but they can be tough to bow. Thomastik makes a hybrid called "Superflexible" that is similar, but mellower and easier to bow. Helicore Hybrids are a similar string, people tend to like or hate them, since your instructor likes them, it's something to consider. I assume you are studying with someone you respect. Search archeives on both and also Corelli, Pirastro Permenants.

There are people who like synthetic core, metal wound strings; Kolstein Heritage, Pirastro Obligatos, Thomastik Dominants, Innovations. You can search archeives on them too. Most of them have some reported durability issues, but some people either don't mind or don't have a problem with them. Personally, for what you said about yourself, I'd stick to steal strings. (former paragraph).

I've never had the LaBellas you mentioned, but I think they have some kind of nylon winding, which means that you almost definitely won't be able to bow them.

Some strings are deader (warmer) some have more sustain (brighter) to be very general. It depends on the sound you're going for. It also depends on a ton of other things, like your bass, your set up, etc. Some people play jazz with Orchestra strings which have a much deader tone, because they like that sound.

It sounds to me like you need to pick a nice, middle of the road string...Superflexibles, Helicore Hybrids, Corellis, Permenants...

I don't know anything about slapping, so I can't comment on that. You'll also want to look at what is available to you locally.

Sorry, it's a simple question, with no simple answer. Unless you have a very specific objection or something else that you're going for, I'd consider taking your instructor's advice. That will be your baseline (no pun intended) and you'll compare everything else to that. Over time, you'll play other basses with other strings, start wanted more sustain or something with more fundemental or something and then it's easier to suggest things.

Or, if you're one of the lucky ones, you'll sting your bass up and then never think about it again. I'll wish that on you. I didn't make it into that lucky elite group.

Troy

 

I really don't know much about weedwhacker, except that they are made from whatever weedwhacker line is made from. Again, it depends on a lot of things. If your bass is laminate or has a thick top and is really stable, it might not cause too much trouble. If the tension is very different, it could keep you a little off-kilter. The bass kind of has to adjust to whatever tension strings you put on it over some period of time so frequent drastic changes can be problematic.

Make sure when you change your strings, to do one at a time and watch your bridge to make sure it's not moving around or tilting. The bridge and soundpost are just tensioned in there by the strings, so if you took them all off, both would fall and you'd likely need a luthier to help you put it back together.

You might try slapping the Helicore before you spend the extra money (although not much) on the second set of strings. They might do the job for you.

You might search the double bass archeives for "slapping" to see what people have to say about steal strings. Not my bailiwick.

 

Right, but he said that he needed to use the bow. Can you bow weedwhackers?

 

Let us know how you like them.