Double Bass Yet another string dilemma

[JimmyM]

So I got into a huge disagreement with my regular band's drummer and long story short, I'm leaving the band and refusing to bring my upright anymore for my remaining gigs. I won't bore you with the ugly details but basically he weaseled me right out of a huge oldies gig that I brought to the band and made happen. So as bringing the upright adds about 20 minutes to setup and tear down, I've decided that they're not worth it.

So my dilemma is that I have been playing mostly slap bass in that band and have my bass strung with Clef plain guts. And now, there won't be much of an opportunity to play slap as much as jazz casuals and dinner sets. Now I absolutely love the sound of the plain guts except for the E, but I'm wondering if using them will cause people to not want to hire me for jazz casuals. I have a set of Obligatos here that I could change into, but while they have a good sound, I don't dig the sound as much as the plain guts except for the E. Alternately, I have E and A Eudoxas that match up great with the D and G plain guts, so I could try that option as well.

The important thing is for me to get gigs, despite my preferences. So if you were me, what would you do?

Stick with plain guts?

Put the Obligatos on?

Put the Eudoxa E and A on and leave the D and G plain guts?

I'm going to ask this question on Talkbass, www.rockabillybass.com, and alt.guitar.bass and go with the consensus.

Thanks all!

 

[Marc Piane]

I have nothing but good things to say about obliagtos.

 

[stefaniw80401]

Resurecting an old thread, hey JimmyM -- what did you end up doing with your dilemma? I'm guessing you kept the top G/D as guts ... and went with the wrapped Eudoxa E/A?

 

[Sam Dingle]

Resurecting an old thread, hey JimmyM -- what did you end up doing with your dilemma? I'm guessing you kept the top G/D as guts ... and went with the wrapped Eudoxa E/A?

Sorry to answer this question for him, but Based on his recent thread he went to superflexibles. Currently thinking of super flexible solos

 

[JimmyM]

Sorry to answer this question for him, but Based on his recent thread he went to superflexibles. Currently thinking of super flexible solos

And I patched it up with our drummer a couple months later Sheesh! Where the hell did this come from???

New solo Superflexibles came today and they're already on the bass and killin' it! But yeah, a year or so later I went with Superflexibles but used the plain guts in the meantime and ended up hating the Eudoxas. What a waste of money! Sorry if any of you like them but those strings and I just didn't see eye to eye.

 

[Jim Carr]

And I patched it up with our drummer a couple months later Sheesh! Where the hell did this come from???...

Oh believe me, there are any number of us who deal with the 20+ minute extra hassle and also CAN NOT stand the disrespect that is an everyday part of getting the upright (and associated cab, pre, DI, head, connectors, etc.) set up and torn down while the next act blocks all egress with Marshal stacks and giant drum sets on dollies.

BTW, I'm about to go with the superflexibles, too.

 

[stefaniw80401]

Are the down-tuned SF solos darker sounding than down-tuned spiro solos, and are the down-tuned SF solos a little stiffer so as to hold up to being bowed better than respective spiro solos?

 

[Jim Carr]

I'm sure Jimmy does his share of arco, but for me, it is only for practice. Slap (and jazz) is what I'm about these days. I guess I'll just have to see how they work under the bow. Had Spiros long ago, so can't comment. @JimmyM ?

 

[JimmyM]

Are the down-tuned SF solos darker sounding than down-tuned spiro solos, and are the down-tuned SF solos a little stiffer so as to hold up to being bowed better than respective spiro solos?

I couldn't tell you any of that stuff for anything other than medium gauge. In medium gauge I hear the SF's as a little darker and warmer sounding than Spiros, and while "superflexible" is overstating it, SF's are slightly looser than Spiros to me. I have no idea how it translates to solo gauges, but the sound of the solo gauge SF's is pretty dead on to the medium gauge. As it should be.

Regarding bowing, I own a bow and I have screeched it across the strings before. That's about as far as it ever got

 

[stefaniw80401]

New solo Superflexibles came today and they're already on the bass and killin' it!

You're down-tuning SF solos right? Have you tried the 4/4 SF's -- whereas a longer string mounted on shorter bass has less tension?

I've had SF 3/4 orchestra on my bass and they sounded/felt better than spiro S42 mittle on my 42" bass -- i.e. less whiney G-string and overall not as boingy, AND they bowed very well, but they were a tad tight so maybe the 4/4 SF's will be about right for me?

 

[JimmyM]

You're down-tuning SF solos right? Have you tried the 4/4 SF's -- whereas a longer string mounted on shorter bass has less tension?

I've had SF 3/4 orchestra on my bass and they sounded/felt better than spiro S42 mittle on my 42" bass -- i.e. less whiney G-string and overall not as boingy, AND they bowed very well, but they were a tad tight so maybe the 4/4 SF's will be about right for me?

I am down tuning solos, but I couldn't tell you anything about your questions. Never tried the 4/4's. And to be honest, there are many better people about upright that you could be asking. I'm pretty solid with pizz if you don't throw a lot of notes at me all at once, but I can't bow, I only own one bass and it's plywood, and most of you can play circles around me

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Thank goodness this thread was revived.