Kenny Gair Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 OK Dudes, I added a fairly useful Stagg 3/4 to my wee collection of basses as an interesting add on for recording and a little live work however, I am not really that fond of the string tension and find it tiresome to play over long periods. So, I thought perhaps (after taking a little advice) it might be an idea to change the strings for something with a little less tension. I was advised by a pro player to look t the Thomastik Spirocore low tension set but my wallet ran away and hid when I found a set on Amazon. Whilst I am not adverse to pay a few quid for a decent set of strings, my Aberdonian ancestry keeps pulling me back. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Oh and as an aside......if any of you use one of theses basses..... I am constantly tormented by the body side bar falling out. Anyone found a solution? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 If you are not bowing then Inno Rockabillys are the way forward. If you are bowing then a set of Inno Honeys will be lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Gair Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 No bowing at all. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom5string Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Mornin, from my - admittely not really profound - experience with EUB strings I can second that opinion. I was coming from bass-guitar to EUB after 25 years of playing and stumbled over exactly the same problems that you experience. Everything is sooo large, the string tension is sooo ... uaaah. In the end it's - as ususal - practice, practice, practice and: practice which will strengthen your hands and improve intonation :-) After some experiments with Pirastro Obligato (too mellow sounding) and D'Addario Hybrids (even more tension); I'm sticking with Spirocore Weichs for some years now. In contrast to bass strings that rapidly decrease in sound, the EUB strings have a very long life. I bought mine 5 years ago and still playing them without any problems,soundwise. So, the initial impact of 150 Euros for a set of strings pays in the end. Btw - playing a Clevinger EUB. Cheers, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Gair Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 Thanks Tom, yeh....practice, practice, practice. Strength has become a bit better and I do find it a bit easier but the strings really bother me. I must admit to being a little reluctant to spend the best part of £200 on a set of strings for a £300 instrument though. All that said, the strings may make a huge difference and be worth the spend. Hmm, food for thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 (edited) Hi Kenny, Not wishing to be too biased, but also wearing my sales hat at the same time.... There would be a few advantages in choosing Innovation: 1. Because they specialise in gut-like strings, they have a good range of low tension strings 2. They cost under £100 a set 3. they can custom make you a set that will perfectly fit your EUB at no extra charge (most EUBs need strings with shorter ends to fit properly) Hope that helps. Edit: oh, one word of caution - I don't know if the Staggs ever use magnetic pickups, but none of Innovations strings will work with a magnetic... Edited June 19, 2014 by daflewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Gair Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 (edited) Ahhh....that just answered my next question re magnetic pickups. Thanks. It [iezo bridge pickup in the Stagg. I assume that should be OK? Edited June 21, 2014 by Kenny Gair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 It's worth pointing out that Spirocores can be more economical than they appear, firstly because you can often pick up lightly used sets at less than new price (I put up a wanted advert on here recently and was offered a set the same day), and secondly because if you keep them clean they can last for a number of years. A double bassist using Spirocores can sometimes spend less on strings over the long term than a roundwound-using bass guitarist. Although some of the Innovation sets could indeed be useful if you're looking for lower tension and less of that bright, sustainy steel string sound... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Ah yes, low tension magnetic strings suitable for slap - the holy grail! We are experimenting with different metals to try and come up with something, but it's definitely a work in progress.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Gair Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 [size=4]I found a post on another bass forum where a guy reckons he is using [color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Innovation Rockabilly nylon core strings on a Stagg EDB. All seems reasonably sensible to me.[/font][/color][/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 (edited) Yes, there are ferrous wraps under a lot of Innovation's nylon strings so there is a limited magnetic potential, it's just that the company doesn't want to say that they will work with mag pickups and then have people come back and day the signal's not strong enough. Actually I thought the Stagg was piezo - is there a mag option then? Edit: ah! Just saw your edit - and yeh, of course, any string is fine with the piezo.... Edited June 21, 2014 by daflewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owencf Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Staggs are Piezo, unless there is some aftermarket tinkering going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Ah, cheers Owen, I had wondered if there might be a mag option like on the NS Designs. Thanks for clarifying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 With a piezo you have the option of putting almost anyhting on the eub. For something low tension and cheap, look at a nylon type set such as Weed Wackers or Superior Bassworks and the like. They can be great fun and easy on the fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 I have some wackers on my Harley Benton EUB. Obviously everything is going to be personal preference and dependent on style of music ........... but a quick pro's and con's from my point of view, playing rock'n'roll / folk / country / bluegrass type stuff. Pro's, A very good 'old skool' thumpy sound, nice slap (but you will need a fingerboard pickup), super easy on 'new' fingers, cheap to try. Con's, A bit too floppy for my liking, when you really get going they are a little uncontrollable. Not very defined top end if you want to do jazzy type stuff, very little sustain. I think they actually work really well with an EUB, I think the very low tension almost counter balances the rigidity of an EUB to help it sound more DB-esque (if you're after a gut type of sound). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Hi Kenny, Lots of useful perspectives there, but I've just realised - we're definitely veering towards slap/rockabilly playing with most of the suggestions and you've not actually mentioned what styles you tend to play - the recommended spiro lights would be more a jazz string, so I'm wondering if that's more the sort of style you play? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Unless you opt for a very low tension 'rockabilly' type steel string, other steel strings, even Spiro Weichs or Spiro solos (tuned down to EADG), are still 'harder' and more tiresome to play compared with a bass guitar. If you do want something easy on the fingers which requires less effort, soft nylon strings or similar are the way forward. The benefit as outlined above is that a nylon or hybrid type string is more likely to give you an approximation of an acoustic double bass type thump, if that's what you're looking for. I've spent a small fortune in the past experimenting with different strings on an eub and it always sounded like a fretless bass guitar, when strung with light gauge or soft steel strings. To get a warmer sound with a bit of thump requires a hybrid, nylon, or rubber type string. Keep your eyes on the for sale sections as cheap strings come up regularly, if you do want to experiment. Just my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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