AddaBadda Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 I’m pretty new to the upright and needed something to play during lockdown so have bought the only bass for sale locally - a second hand Cremona SB-2... It definitely needs a string upgrade - I’d guess it still has the factory supplied ones which feel pretty horrible. But it seems mad to spend £100+ on strings for an instrument I don’t anticipate keeping for more than a few months. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/633906940/global-gut-upright-double-bass-gut?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_a-books_movies_and_music-other&utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6HzRk9s42gxqOXv0ER3bxdb8r-8dgTOJfLANTiNCg7nOxi1U9SdH8hoC4-8QAvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_325944408_20231770968_88477697688_pla-106552219955_c__633906940engb_115261572&utm_custom2=325944408&gclid=CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6HzRk9s42gxqOXv0ER3bxdb8r-8dgTOJfLANTiNCg7nOxi1U9SdH8hoC4-8QAvD_BwE https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Alice-Double-Bass-String-Set-3-4-size/81N?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=10427d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=121024669999&gclid=CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6HemE4pLVSbbvAeTe6SBjEPogam5774Cmi5HGLbiF_rMC97MxmV0-RoCog4QAvD_BwE Edited January 8, 2021 by TheGreek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrixn1 Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Buy the strings you want (used or new) but keep the originals somewhere. When you sell the bass, reinstall the original strings and sell the good strings separately. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddaBadda Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 Oh yes, of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddaBadda Posted January 8, 2021 Author Share Posted January 8, 2021 Are those Alice strings likely to be any better than the stock strings TheGreek? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 No idea - their electric bass strings are pretty good VFM - I use them because they make 40-95. I was shocked when I saw the price of "real" DB strings. Don't suppose people change these every 3 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 Another cheap option would be to buy a second hand set of decent strings from the for sale forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 15 hours ago, TheGreek said: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/633906940/global-gut-upright-double-bass-gut?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_a-books_movies_and_music-other&utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6HzRk9s42gxqOXv0ER3bxdb8r-8dgTOJfLANTiNCg7nOxi1U9SdH8hoC4-8QAvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_325944408_20231770968_88477697688_pla-106552219955_c__633906940engb_115261572&utm_custom2=325944408&gclid=CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6HzRk9s42gxqOXv0ER3bxdb8r-8dgTOJfLANTiNCg7nOxi1U9SdH8hoC4-8QAvD_BwE https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Alice-Double-Bass-String-Set-3-4-size/81N?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=10427d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=121024669999&gclid=CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6HemE4pLVSbbvAeTe6SBjEPogam5774Cmi5HGLbiF_rMC97MxmV0-RoCog4QAvD_BwE I wouldn't recommend gut strings as the first call for someone new to the instrument; while some players swear by them, they're a bit of a niche interest today and quite finicky and high maintenance compared to steel or synthetic strings. They're something to explore later if you're drawn towards that sound, IMO. And the Alice strings are unlikely to be an upgrade from the stock strings on a cheap bass. Quality steel strings have a braided steel core (sometimes called rope or spiral core), while the cheap ones have a solid steel core which makes them stiff feeling and often with poor intonation and pitch stability. So I'd second the suggestion of finding a lightly used set of quality strings. Spirocores in particular can go for years and withstand being swapped between basses better than many. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petebassist Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 £90 is the cheapest set of DB strings I’ve bought, Presto Jazzicatos, but as has been said here, strings can last for years, especially for pizzicato playing, and the cheaper the bass the better worn in or old strings sound IMO. I’d agree with buying a used set of quality strings, anything with up to three or four years of use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddaBadda Posted January 9, 2021 Author Share Posted January 9, 2021 Thanks for all your suggestions. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for second hand set. Seems they’re more likely to be listed in the double bass section rather than the accessories one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guyl Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 I persevered with a “rubbish” bass for many years (and still have it now), by periodically changing strings and getting a decent set up done by a professional. Same for a pickup if that is relevant to you. I found decent strings always hugely flattered this mediocre instrument. Therefore I wouldn’t hesitate - even if strings seem expensive compared to the value of your bass. And I wouldn’t scrimp either - even if the decent strings you fancy are £200+. As has been said, they still have a second hand value. And I reckon would increase the value of your bass if you wanted to sell in the short term. And your playing pleasure will be much better for it (which is what it’s all about right?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Personally, I wouldn't think about only keeping the instrument for a few months, and just buy some decent strings-they will probably make the bass sound and feel better. I'd get a set of Spirocores and a set up if necessary, and enjoy the bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 (edited) I bought a set of these https://www.thomann.de/gb/presto_balance_hybrid_34l.htm They're a steel string but not too stiff/too much tension. I tried them on one bass and they now live on my EUB and make it sound/feel very DB like. They're a little fatter feeling than spirocores and they bow ok too. Good price. Read the review on Thomann and see if they might work for you. Edited January 10, 2021 by TPJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 On 09/01/2021 at 10:56, TheGreek said: I was shocked when I saw the price of "real" DB strings. Don't suppose people change these every 3 months. My dadarrio hybrid strings are 20 yrs old, my Spiro's came with the bass 32 years ago. Only last year I upgraded to a 2nd hand set of Spiro's from a basschatter .. those may be less than 10 years old! They last forever really; only change them when they break or when I fancy a change of sound. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddaBadda Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share Posted March 20, 2021 A belated update on my string situation... I’ve ended up with a set of Preludes from my local shop - Bristol Violin Shop. They fitted the strings, shaped the nut and improved the setup all for a very reasonable £130. It’s still not a great instrument- certain notes buzz pretty badly and the strings aren’t particularly well tonally matched but it’s much more fun to play now and my bass playing is coming on quickly which is the most important thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 23 hours ago, AddaBadda said: A belated update on my string situation... I’ve ended up with a set of Preludes from my local shop - Bristol Violin Shop. They fitted the strings, shaped the nut and improved the setup all for a very reasonable £130. It’s still not a great instrument- certain notes buzz pretty badly and the strings aren’t particularly well tonally matched but it’s much more fun to play now and my bass playing is coming on quickly which is the most important thing! Nice to hear from another DB player in Bristol! Lockdown has stalled (ie stopped) me from playing upright, but I hope to get back into it when the world goes back to normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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