Has someone ever tried black nylon strings ? (Not necessarily black, I meant nylon coated)

[hpc364]

Hi !

 

I hope everyone is fine.

I would like to know if you have ever played nylon strings.

I don't mean gut-a-like but nylon with steel core.

[Beedster]

I think there are different degrees of nylon/steel. I find Silver Slaps quite nice to play and they also sound rootsy/gutsy, but I briefly used a set of black nylons - possibly Rotosound although I'm not sure - that both felt and sounded quite plastic, not something that would be a problem so much on electric bass but I really didn't like on uptight. They may have improved with some playing-in, but I decided against it.

 

The problem with all of this of course is that you might love the type of strings I don't  

[hpc364]

5 hours ago, Beedster said:

I think there are different degrees of nylon/steel. I find Silver Slaps quite nice to play and they also sound rootsy/gutsy, but I briefly used a set of black nylons - possibly Rotosound although I'm not sure - that both felt and sounded quite plastic, not something that would be a problem so much on electric bass but I really didn't like on uptight. They may have improved with some playing-in, but I decided against it.

 

The problem with all of this of course is that you might love the type of strings I don't  

Thanks, I've just ordered a set.

[Paddy Morris]

Silver slaps are lovely.  Very low tension.  They are a little squeaky under the fingers (like wound guitar strings) but very satisfying to play.

 

They don't work for arco at all.

[hpc364]

16 minutes ago, Paddy Morris said:

Silver slaps are lovely.  Very low tension.  They are a little squeaky under the fingers (like wound guitar strings) but very satisfying to play.

 

They don't work for arco at all.

I was interested first by a set of Aquila Reds I told my wife to listen to some reviews.

She said she preferred tapewound strings.

"But what about bowing ?" I asked, she answered that whenever I play with the bow she wants to break it on my head.

[hpc364]

21 minutes ago, Paddy Morris said:

Silver slaps are lovely.  Very low tension.  They are a little squeaky under the fingers (like wound guitar strings) but very satisfying to play.

 

They don't work for arco at all.

I was interested first by a set of Aquila Reds I told my wife to listen to some reviews.

She said she preferred tapewound strings.

"But what about bowing ?" I asked, she answered that whenever I play with the bow she wants to break it on my head.

 

I forget to say I ordered the cheapest ones : Pyramid Black Tape.

Maybe they can be bowed, who knows ?

Life is full of surprise.

I don't care about bow, I don't care about bow, I don't care about bow...

I will try !

[PaulThePlug]

Son has Roto Tru Bass 65-115 on a G4M Fretless Acoustic... 'sposedly nearest you can get to a DB sound... Not Cheap Mind, £40... luckily the Bass came already strung with them!

(EUB 34"? Wouldn't know if they fit a real upright.)

Edited October 21, 2024 by PaulThePlug

[hpc364]

7 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

Son has Roto Tru Bass 65-115 on a G4M Fretless Acoustic... 'sposedly nearest you can get to a DB sound... Not Cheap Mind, £40... luckily the Bass came already strung with them!

(EUB 34"? Wouldn't know if they fit a real upright.)

Double bass strings are really expensive, the bass I've got came with Artino strings with high action, I detuned one string and played it, it was kind of easy.

I don't want to put a lot of money for an instrument that will probably have a lot of problems with a lower action.

So I chose to buy a set of strings, they say it's quite the same diameter than steel strings, maybe a bad choice... I don't know.

A synthetic set like gut-a-like, why not but there are some works to do on the instrument I guess.

I can do it on electric guitars and basses but a double bass, I wouldn't dare.

[pete.young]

19 hours ago, Beedster said:

I think there are different degrees of nylon/steel. I find Silver Slaps quite nice to play and they also sound rootsy/gutsy, but I briefly used a set of black nylons - possibly Rotosound although I'm not sure - that both felt and sounded quite plastic, not something that would be a problem so much on electric bass but I really didn't like on uptight. They may have improved with some playing-in, but I decided against it.

 

The problem with all of this of course is that you might love the type of strings I don't  

 

Presto Lights or Ultralights might be a good choice if you like the sound. THey're quite low tension and they also work with a magnetic pickup if that's a requirement. I'm happy with mine, they sometimes come up used in the for-sale forum here.

 

Liking the concept of uptight bass but I'm not sure I want to hear about your experiments with black nylons @Beedster. What you get up to at weekends is your own concern 🙂

[hpc364]

24 minutes ago, pete.young said:

 

Presto Lights or Ultralights might be a good choice if you like the sound. THey're quite low tension and they also work with a magnetic pickup if that's a requirement. I'm happy with mine, they sometimes come up used in the for-sale forum here.

 

Liking the concept of uptight bass but I'm not sure I want to hear about your experiments with black nylons @Beedster. What you get up to at weekends is your own concern 🙂

Thanks, about @Beedster that sounds sexy !

Just a useless question : can you bow them ?

[pete.young]

Yes, just about. I asked Presto about it, and they suggested that I resined the strings as well as the bow. This works, and you can get the resin off afterwards with isopropyl alcohol.

[hpc364]

A last question... String height, is it the same than steel or something between steel and gut ?

[hpc364]

I received the strings, my bass is more comfortable now.

It's a set of Pyramid Black Nylon.

It still sounds fresh so the sound is still a bit harsh.

Can they be bowed ?

I tried, yes I did but I didn't find any kind of interes in that, if it can be done it's better to use them with in a free jazz ensemble.

[hpc364]

I also modified the bridge, I can bow the strings, they love harmonics when they are full of rosin it sounds "Baroque".

[hpc364]

LOL !!!