Strings for my Kolstein Busetto

[Happy Jack]

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?

 

[Clarky]

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

[Clarky]

From a TalkBass thread in 2012. Yep, thats me

[Happy Jack]

Outstanding, sir! Many thanks.

 

[Clarky]

If you want lowest tension Spirocores then its the 4/4 Solo set, tuned to orchestral (ie EADG).

[Clarky]

PS, what (dead) strings are on the bass currently?

[Happy Jack]

Do you install & tune 'solo' strings in the same way as any others?

[Silvia Bluejay]

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. 🤔

[Clarky]

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

[Clarky]

Rewind! Those are probably the stock Kolstein Heritage strings. Very hard to get hold of in UK. These?

[Silvia Bluejay]

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

[Happy Jack]

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.

 

[Clarky]

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

[Happy Jack]

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!

 

[bassace]

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

[Happy Jack]

In truth, Kolstein only ever made a single example of this bass and it's been circulating around Basschat for the last 15 years ...

 

[Happy Jack]

Trust me to be holding the parcel when the music stopped! 🙄

[Clarky]

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

[Clarky]

PS,if you go Jargars, take care. Some UK retail sites offer them without specifying the tension/model. You DEFINITELY need the Dolce version

[Happy Jack]

😂😂😂

 

 

 

 

 

 

No.

 

[Clarky]

Here it is with me a few years back at Spice of Life in Soho 

 🥲

[Happy Jack]

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. 

[TheRev]

Have you considered Pirastro Perpetuals?

Bit lower tension than Spiro weich and will work with a magnetic pickup.

[Happy Jack]

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 ...

 

[pete.young]

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.