Anyone else using Gut Strings?

[gcordez]

I know theyre a pain in the ass for tuning etc, but im digging the sound. Im using Pirastro Chorda's and thyre so much fun so play.
Played a jam session in Bristol the other day and someone recorded it using a cheap tascam handheld recorder, its a bit rough and ready but you can get an idea of the sound.
Its the first track on the myspace page-

[url="http://www.myspace.com/gregorycordez"]http://www.myspace.com/gregorycordez[/url]

Anybody else on Gut strings? How you getting on with them?

[Marcus]

Yes......

Babolat VS 1.35mm mains strung @ 62lb Crosses @ 64lb

oops wrong siteI thought I was on my Talk Tennis forum !!

LOL

[Mr Bassman]

[quote name='gcordez' post='734549' date='Feb 3 2010, 09:52 PM']I know theyre a pain in the ass for tuning etc, but im digging the sound. Im using Pirastro Chorda's and thyre so much fun so play.
Played a jam session in Bristol the other day and someone recorded it using a cheap tascam handheld recorder, its a bit rough and ready but you can get an idea of the sound.
Its the first track on the myspace page-

[url="http://www.myspace.com/gregorycordez"]http://www.myspace.com/gregorycordez[/url]

Anybody else on Gut strings? How you getting on with them?[/quote]

Nice, very retro, reminds me of Jimmy Blanton - Mr J.B. Blues, or Oscar Pettiford

A freind of mine in Leeds has been using gut strings bought off ebay India for less tha £100 IIRC

I'll do a search.

What are they like under the fingers?

[TPJ]

I'm envious. Guts are my next step but unfortunately the cost is holding me back
My DB is strung with Innovation Honeys which supposedly emulates gut but there's nothing like the real thing.

Are you using a full set of Chorda's or separate E and A with Chorda D and G? The tone is great on that recording.

[gcordez]

Thanks,

Its a full set of Chorda's. Theyre pricey, but Pirastro were kind enough to give them to me. Ill definately stay on these for jazz stuff. Theyre a real pain in the ass for tuning etc, but im getting used to the sound. Its a different set of rules on guts, but i really love the Jimmy Blanton, Pettiford old school sound...

As far as i can tell, the Velvet Garbos are pretty close to being 'gut' like without the tuning hassles and a lot less money. Think they're round £220 a set, might be worth a try at some stage?

Those Innovations are good for Rockabilly arent they?

[TPJ]

[quote name='gcordez' post='734929' date='Feb 4 2010, 12:09 PM']Thanks,

Its a full set of Chorda's. Theyre pricey, but Pirastro were kind enough to give them to me. Ill definately stay on these for jazz stuff. Theyre a real pain in the ass for tuning etc, but im getting used to the sound. Its a different set of rules on guts, but i really love the Jimmy Blanton, Pettiford old school sound...

As far as i can tell, the Velvet Garbos are pretty close to being 'gut' like without the tuning hassles and a lot less money. Think they're round £220 a set, might be worth a try at some stage?

Those Innovations are good for Rockabilly arent they?[/quote]

I'm going to try some Evah Pirazzi soon with a view to swapping the D and G for gut when I get some more cash.

Innovation make a Rockabilly string but the Honeys are more for orch and jazz playing. They sound lovely and dark on my bass and are flexible enough for a nice high action. They also sound nice for the Bluegrass stuff and the covers we play acoustically. I prefer a darker, richer tone not a zing twangy one and these strings do that well.

[gcordez]

Good idea,

I know a few players who use mixed sets and the Evahs seem to blend well with the guts. Ive got a new set of Evahs that ill try out soon on a pop tour, will let you know how they blend etc if you like.

[TPJ]

[quote name='gcordez' post='734970' date='Feb 4 2010, 12:54 PM']Good idea,

I know a few players who use mixed sets and the Evahs seem to blend well with the guts. Ive got a new set of Evahs that ill try out soon on a pop tour, will let you know how they blend etc if you like.[/quote]

Yes please. That would be great.

Where's your tour running? PM if you want.

[gerryk]

I'm using Pirastro Olives on D & G, Obligato on A & E. I really like them, they've transformed the sound of my Bryant bass, even with the bow, their very nice, though it took some time to adjust to the different feel and response. I chose this combination in exasperation, after reading tons of stuff and talking to guys about it. I rarely succumb to marketing bumf, but I love love Patitucci's sound, and he claims to use this string combo on his site. I bit the bullet and dipped into my credit card ($220 odd from Quinn Violins). Tuning pretty steady.

[gcordez]

[quote name='gerryk' post='759350' date='Feb 27 2010, 07:15 PM']I'm using Pirastro Olives on D & G, Obligato on A & E. I really like them, they've transformed the sound of my Bryant bass, even with the bow, their very nice, though it took some time to adjust to the different feel and response. I chose this combination in exasperation, after reading tons of stuff and talking to guys about it. I rarely succumb to marketing bumf, but I love love Patitucci's sound, and he claims to use this string combo on his site. I bit the bullet and dipped into my credit card ($220 odd from Quinn Violins). Tuning pretty steady.[/quote]


How you getting on with the Oliv D? I love the G, but some people say the D is a bit thumpy and indistinct. I went for the Eudoxa D instead but remain curious about the Oliv.

[gerryk]

[quote name='gcordez' post='759706' date='Feb 28 2010, 12:43 PM']How you getting on with the Oliv D? I love the G, but some people say the D is a bit thumpy and indistinct. I went for the Eudoxa D instead but remain curious about the Oliv.[/quote]

Funny enough, I prefer the D to G, especially bowed. I have fond that this spell of rather extreme weather has led to the strings being wildly sharp when i pick up the bass, but they are quite stable once tuned. I saw on the shop website that they recommend not "overtuning" them to stretch them when first fitted new, this may be reason some have found D thumpy??? How is the Eudoxa working out?

[tiki613]

I take the topic flight, I playing on guts(Lenzner, kuerdschner, clef gut...), but it is expensive and that demand for maintenance, i found a perfect substitudes of plain gut, les cordes Lambert, same tension, same diameter, more substain an precision in A and E, but really not expensive(50€).

a sample in slap and pizz by Paul King [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P4Swu7Y_SY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P4Swu7Y_SY[/url]

[url="http://www.myspace.com/cordeslambert"]http://www.myspace.com/cordeslambert[/url]

[CoolCat]

[quote name='tiki613' post='770038' date='Mar 10 2010, 08:20 AM']I take the topic flight, I playing on guts(Lenzner, kuerdschner, clef gut...), but it is expensive and that demand for maintenance, i found a perfect substitudes of plain gut, les cordes Lambert, same tension, same diameter, more substain an precision in A and E, but really not expensive(50€).

a sample in slap and pizz by Paul King [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P4Swu7Y_SY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P4Swu7Y_SY[/url]

[url="http://www.myspace.com/cordeslambert"]http://www.myspace.com/cordeslambert[/url][/quote]


Can the bow get decent sound from these strings?

[tiki613]

it sounds very good with a bow also, is like playing the gut without the sour side.

[jdstrings]

I played on gut strings for a couple of years (Lenzner). I liked them and once they'd settled down (after quite a few months!) the tuning wasn't such an issue...
I did suffer from a couple of strings breaking; once was following the bass being left in a car overnight on a cold December night. Freezing temperatures lead to very low humidity and I think that must have done for it... Luckily the break was at a point where I was able to tie a knot in the string and have it between the nut and tuner - I continued using that string for months after that with no more problems.
I have reverted to more modern strings for general use and now use Pirazzi normal/wiech. I've tried plenty of others sorts on many basses (both my own and ones which I've been doing repair work on). There's a 'house' bass at a regular gig I do which is strung with Rotosound Superb. These seem to be even lower tension than the Lenzner and took some getting used to but do feel and sound closer to gut than any others I've come across (other than gut itself!)
I've tried various of the innovation sets and haven't been won over by them, but that said I think they are good value at their price.
A couple of thoughts with my luthier's hat on...
It's worth remembering that if you swap between gut and steel (etc.) strings the bass may need adjustments to get the most from it. String height and the nut and bridge grooves are obvious points, but also the amount of tension can really affect the sound by putting more or less pressure on the front of the bass. This can be compensated for to an extent by raising or lowering the saddle, adjusting the soundpost, or even fitting a different bass bar or adjusting the angle/height of the neck. (Ok, that's getting fairly radical but sometimes that's what is needed!)
For example, a lot of older basses (many of the classic C.19th German instruments that are so common) were originally built as three stringers with gut strings being the only option. To withstand the pressure of four steel strings these instruments often benefit from a new and more sturdy bass bar and sometimes from a raised saddle to help reduce the increased pressure on the front. However, every bass is different and some may actually perform better with more pressure on the front...

[CoolCat]

[quote name='jdstrings' post='772353' date='Mar 12 2010, 03:14 AM']...To withstand the pressure of four steel strings these instruments often benefit from a new and more sturdy bass bar and sometimes from a raised saddle to help reduce the increased pressure on the front. However, every bass is different and some may actually perform better with more pressure on the front...[/quote]

Conversely would my cheap orange box be too stiff (since it comes standard with steel strings) to handle gut like strings well?

As I understand: gut = lower tension = less pressure on the top = maybe stronger tone (change on top vibration)
= lower volume (smaller amplitude of vibration from less pressure)


I currently have Evah's Light on and being more flexible then Spiros Light (sintetic core vs steel), they produce way better tone and overal increased playability in my bass.

A set of Cordes Lambert (sintetic gut like - is claimed) is on the way to mix initially (D&G) or eventually replace the Evah's full set if I like them better.

Edited March 12, 2010 by CoolCat

[bassadder]

Hi Greg

I'm using a mixed set of Olive G & D and Evah's E & A works mine for me (I have an old Gand-Jacquet) I've had this set-up for a good few years, though I did flirt with Anima's for awhile but the D's kept going on me and I hated the way they'd stick to my fingers. Love the sound of the Olive's D works mine on my bass infact it's the best D I've had.

Pizz they are wonderful, I really do like them (apart from the price) arco excellent too though I'm not an arco specialist, amping them is a real issue though and I'm current using a new Realist which is ok actually for a pickup I have a Full Circle but really don't like it. I'm trying the Ehrlund pickup which sounds ok a little bit better than the Realist but the cable is microphonic and makes a horrible noise if you move it.

Cheers