Happy Jack Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Looking to replce the strings on the bass I bought last year from @bassace ... they're a bit dead even for my tastes. 😂 The bass has a mag pickup on the end of the fingerboard, and I'm looking at https://www.thestringzone.co.uk/evah-pirazzi-slap-double-bass-strings-set I appreciate that the option to buy gut D & G is not available to me, but would the chrome-wound set be OK with the pickup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) Based on what I have read on other fora, I believe there is not enough metal mass on EPs to work with a mag pickup. Sorry Jack. Maybe try a low tension set of steels such as Jargar Dolce/Solo 3/4 (Stray Cats dude Lee Rocker uses these on his Kolstein Busetto) or Spirocore Solo. Or alternatively, ditch the mag pickup and use a piezo p/u so you can choose whatever strings you fancy. Lee Rocker reference:https://www.talkbass.com/threads/jargar-dolce.622445/ Edited March 19, 2022 by Clarky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 From a TalkBass thread in 2012. Yep, thats me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 Outstanding, sir! Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 If you want lowest tension Spirocores then its the 4/4 Solo set, tuned to orchestral (ie EADG). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 PS, what (dead) strings are on the bass currently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 Do you install & tune 'solo' strings in the same way as any others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 1 minute ago, Clarky said: PS, what (dead) strings are on the bass currently? A rather tatty-looking set with light purple silks at both ends. 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Silvia Bluejay said: A rather tatty-looking set with light purple silks at both ends. 🤔 If it was light purple at peg end and red at tailpiece end that would be Spirocore Weichs. But I don't recognise light purple at both ends and that doesn't seem to appear in Gollihur's string identifier. Maybe ask @bassace what they are if you want to simply replace? https://gollihurmusic.com/string-identification-chart/ Edited March 20, 2022 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Rewind! Those are probably the stock Kolstein Heritage strings. Very hard to get hold of in UK. These? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia Bluejay Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) Looks like it! In any case, I don't think we necessarily want to replace like for like, but knowing what they are is useful. Thanks Edited March 20, 2022 by Silvia Bluejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 DAT'S da fella! First thing I looked at was the new, upgraded version of the Heritage strings but they're apparently not going to be available until late April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) When I owned a Busetto (bought from Keith aka Mr Bassman) I regularly swapped between Heritage and Jargar Dolce strings (Keith had Jargars on the bass). Heritage are low in metal content and a decent hybrid string, while Jargars are steels but have in built dampening so they are thuddy and dark,about as gutty as steels can get. I also used Spiro Solos which are low tension but have that more steely, growly Spirocore sound. All 3 worked and it depends on how you really want to use the bass. For slapping, maybe the Jargar Dolces (like Lee Rocker). For more bluegrassy/blues work maybe Spiro Solos? Maybe worth chatting to @bassace or @Mr Bassman Edited March 20, 2022 by Clarky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 The vast majority of use for this bass will always be rock'n'roll & rockabilly, but the vast majority of my 'slapping' is in fact fake. I do lots of single-slap with exaggerated hand movements to make it look like I'm doing something special, but what the audience is hearing (for percussion) is of course the drumkit. No real bass player is ever going to be fooled by my playing for a second. Additionally, the Schaller pickup takes the sound of my Kolstein well over into Precision territory so no rockabilly purist will ever compliment me on my tone. All of which said, I play a LOT of gigs these days and I like strings that help me to get through two (or even three) 3-set gigs on a weekend. I'm after strings that are kind to my plucking/slapping hand and work with the style of music ... which is primitive, but in a good way. And I'm genuinely impressed at how cheap the Jargars are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) Being a life long Spiro Mitt player on double bass, the Kolstein Heritage strings on the Busetto I sold to Jack were so different in terms of tension and playability that I just got on and played them. They seemed fine to me but I never looked around for anything different/better. Jack’s Busetto is the same owned by Keith/ Clarky/me so it’s been in good hands - says he, modestly. Edited March 20, 2022 by bassace 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 In truth, Kolstein only ever made a single example of this bass and it's been circulating around Basschat for the last 15 years ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 Trust me to be holding the parcel when the music stopped! 🙄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Well if you ever want to revisit the BassChat Kolstein circle of life, Jack, I would happily buy it back off you!!!! By far the nicest, travel friendly DB/EUB I have owned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 PS,if you go Jargars, take care. Some UK retail sites offer them without specifying the tension/model. You DEFINITELY need the Dolce version 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 😂😂😂 No. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Here it is with me a few years back at Spice of Life in Soho 🥲 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 Well scratch my scrotum, @Silvia Bluejay and I were at that gig! In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if that video was a piece of her early work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Have you considered Pirastro Perpetuals? Bit lower tension than Spiro weich and will work with a magnetic pickup. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 Not familiar with those, Dave. Right now I'm waiting for some of them there Jargars to arrive (£115 a set!) and filling in the time by experimenting with the original fitment Daddario Helicore Hybrids from Silvie's Eminence. She didn't get on with them at all so they've only had a few days' worth of playing-in time before she replaced them with Innovation Silver Slaps. Next gig with the Kolstein is on Friday ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 You could also give Presto lights or ultralights a go - they have a steel core and are supposed to work with a mag pickup, though I've not tried it personally. They are definitely low tension, kind to hand and basses with dodgy neck joints. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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