Silver wrapped gut strings

[SICbass]

Hi All,

 

I'm one of those bass -guitarists/permanent double bass newbies - i.e. I've owned a cheapo-but-playable plywood bass for years. I only ever pull it out to noodle on or when a show requires it #highriskofCarpaltunnelsyndrome.

Preparing for a new show, I put on some gut strings that I've had for a few years. They sound lovely but for the dead E-string.

 

Barry Bales talks about silver wrapped gut strings. He has half and half, wrapped and full gut on his basses.

 

Can anyone recommend silver wrapped to try out for the E ans A strings?

 

Cheers,

Paul

[PaulKing]

How much money have you got? If you're on a budget, or just playing occasionally, you might wanna go for a synthetic string. Evah Pirazzi Slap are a good match for gut D & G.

Otherwise you're talking Pirastro Chorda or similar (there are several similar options). But ....EUR200-300 EACH STRING. 

[Beedster]

Well these used to be considered budget but are now £500.....

 

https://www.thomann.co.uk/lenzner_supersolo_jazz_double_bass_3_4.htm?glp=1&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqtKP2KHmiwMVuZlQBh3MxgzTEAQYASABEgJcFPD_BwE

 

In my view silver wrapped gut A and E strings are often and audible improvement on plain gut equivalents, and they tend to be lower gauge which can be helpful both in playing terms and bridge/nut modification terms but if plain gut isn't working at all I'd be thinking about a more traditional option e.g. guts on G and D with a sympathetic pair of steels or synthetics on A and E. 

 

Having said that I do have a new/unused Lenzner silver wound E string here somewhere..... 

[SICbass]

18 minutes ago, PaulKing said:

How much money have you got? If you're on a budget, or just playing occasionally, you might wanna go for a synthetic string. Evah Pirazzi Slap are a good match for gut D & G.

Otherwise you're talking Pirastro Chorda or similar (there are several similar options). But ....EUR200-300 EACH STRING. 

 

God, and I almost baulked at €200,- for my set of gut strings - ouch!

 

The budget option is definitely more my deal.

On Thomann an E and an A singles is gonna cost me a total of €150,-

 

Forgive the question, but given their durability (and the prices), is there a market for secondhand DB strings? Or is that just too risky?

 

Thanks for your reply - that's just the sort of insight and experience I don't have.

[Beedster]

9 minutes ago, SICbass said:

Forgive the question, but given their durability (and the prices), is there a market for secondhand DB strings? Or is that just too risky?

Second hand DB strings, yep, I've bought used strings on here many times, there's a degree of risk involved - for example one was fine until I installed it and it started to unravel - but the seller couldn't have predicted that and none of the guys here are not going to sell you anything dodgy. You just have to be patient and keep your eyes open 👍

[SICbass]

30 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Well these used to be considered budget but are now £500.....

 

https://www.thomann.co.uk/lenzner_supersolo_jazz_double_bass_3_4.htm?glp=1&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqtKP2KHmiwMVuZlQBh3MxgzTEAQYASABEgJcFPD_BwE

 

In my view silver wrapped gut A and E strings are often and audible improvement on plain gut equivalents, and they tend to be lower gauge which can be helpful both in playing terms and bridge/nut modification terms but if plain gut isn't working at all I'd be thinking about a more traditional option e.g. guts on G and D with a sympathetic pair of steels or synthetics on A and E. 

 

Having said that I do have a new/unused Lenzner silver wound E string here somewhere..... 

 

God these prices really are eye-watering, aren't they?

Regarding your single string, thank you for your the suggestion. I think I'll try and figure something out here first. I'm in Germany.

 

My idea was to do like you suggested and mix string types. Would it have to be E,A one type and D,G gut. I ask, 'cos I'm pretty happy with the ADG gut and could try using my synthetic E. Or is that likely to sound too uneven?

[Beedster]

Just now, SICbass said:

Would it have to be E,A one type and D,G gut. I ask, 'cos I'm pretty happy with the ADG gut and could try using my synthetic E. Or is that likely to sound too uneven?

 

There's no rules, many players use that configuration, you won't know if it works for and your instrument you until you try, but there's no substantial reason why it shouldn't 👍 

[Beer of the Bass]

10 minutes ago, SICbass said:

 

God these prices really are eye-watering, aren't they?

Regarding your single string, thank you for your the suggestion. I think I'll try and figure something out here first. I'm in Germany.

 

My idea was to do like you suggested and mix string types. Would it have to be E,A one type and D,G gut. I ask, 'cos I'm pretty happy with the ADG gut and could try using my synthetic E. Or is that likely to sound too uneven?

 

If you've got the synthetic E in the house already, I'd absolutely try that first.

[PaulKing]

12 minutes ago, SICbass said:

 

God these prices really are eye-watering, aren't they?

Regarding your single string, thank you for your the suggestion. I think I'll try and figure something out here first. I'm in Germany.

 

My idea was to do like you suggested and mix string types. Would it have to be E,A one type and D,G gut. I ask, 'cos I'm pretty happy with the ADG gut and could try using my synthetic E. Or is that likely to sound too uneven?

Nothing wrong with that, and you'll soon know if it feels or sounds weird. I've seen players with 4 completely different strings on one bass. If it sounds good, and the tension is a good match, go for it.

 

After years of experimenting, I've settled on a go-to / affordable mix of Evah Pirazzi Slap E-A-D, with Gut-a-like Swingmaster (synthetic) G. 

(I've used so many different synthetic strings. G is always the easiest to replicate natural gut, and while I was a big fan of the old Cordes Lamberts, the Gut-a-Likes really have something ... I actually prefer them to cheaper natural gut like Lenzner. I bought 4 and put them on all my basses). 

 

[SICbass]

Wow, this is super interesting... and has a ton of rabbit-hole potentail.

 

I've put the synthetic E on the bass. It is very clear, and quite different to the other strings, but I'm sure I can even things out by working on my point of contact and attack with the right hand.

 

Off to the shed as they say at SBL...

 

Thanks for all your insights guys. This is clearly something that will take time and some application.

 

I am open to, and very grateful for any other tips or suggestions you may have.

 

Cheers,

Paul

Edited February 28 by SICbass

[PaulKing]

Yeah the difference between natural and synthetic gets more pronounced towards the bass end. So a synthetic E might stand out against a natural A.

If you're hearing it now (acoustically) I suspect it'll bug you enough to want to change in the long run.

What is the synthetic string, out of interest?