oldslapper Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Got home yesterday with a recently aquired double bass. It's my first non-laminate acoustic. Soild top/side/back. Old and "well played". Monster volume and tone. I don't know the make, I'll have a look inside sometime. It's at a luthier having a set up today. The strings on it are quite old and I'm worried about how long they'll last. I'd like to put some replacements on whilst it's being looked at by the luthier fella. Any suggestions? The type of stuff I play on upright is trad jazz/gypsie/cowboy in a jazz quartet and then occasionally for a more mellow acoustic singer songwriter. So one has a bit of "bounce" and the other more straight forward pizz style. Might bow in the latter gig for one or two songs, once I've sorted my technique out!! I'm new (10 months) to upright playing, so although I've done some research, I'm still none the wiser other than I don't think I need "weedwackers"...whatever they are and there seems to be some folk who swear by "gut", others by steel. It also looks like DB strings last a little longer than EB strings, so worth investing in something decent? Appreciate any help please. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckyincarnate Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Innovations Honeys are pretty good value and will give a nice dark thumpy sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanto Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 [quote name='Duckyincarnate' post='756556' date='Feb 24 2010, 10:13 PM']Innovations Honeys are pretty good value and will give a nice dark thumpy sound.[/quote] How do the Honeys slap?I've got Spirocores on the bass I bought and slapping is not their forte! Iain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatgoogle Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Can i just jump in hear aswell and ask what are some good all rounders in general for bowing in an orchestra and pizz. Im guessing some hybirds of some sort. Thanks Sorry for hijack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckyincarnate Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 [quote name='yanto' post='756561' date='Feb 24 2010, 10:17 PM']How do the Honeys slap?I've got Spirocores on the bass I bought and slapping is not their forte! Iain[/quote] I don't slap myself but my teacher uses the same strings and has no problems slapping. They are certainly lower tension than steel strings. Maybe some others can comment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolCat Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 New to db has well. I had gearformusic strings on my bass that sounded and felt horrible immediately replaced with student cheap Astreas. After some research got some Spirocore (weich) but found them a bit stiff (although they seem to be smoothing down a bit after a few months) and wanted something more dark/warm and gut sounding.So I have now some Evah Pirazzi (weich). I think that will try cheap gut strings(sintetic equivalent) at some point, however, I am very pleased with the sound Evah's do on my bass - pizzicato and bowed. I don't slap ...in a rockabilly way, more of a jazz occasional click. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greydad Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 I have Velvet Animas (a bit pricey though about £230 a set) and they feel great to me as they are lower tension than normal steel strings and feel really nice to play. I'm also a beginner and mostly doing pizz and they are great for that. I've had a go bowing with them and I can get a nice open string sound but my technique is rubbish at the moment so can't offer much experience or opinion in that area. I am led to believe they are a sort of compromise between steel and gut and pizz/arco so are a compromise string which is nice to pizz but will still bow adequately. All I can say is compared to the stock factory strings they are fantastic and worth every penny - I would certainly buy another set if I needed to replace them. Not a slap string though I don't think. BTW congrats on the new bass oldslapper, look forward to seeing and hearing it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teej Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 I slap a lot and I've just changed from Spirocores to Innovation Silver Slaps. I'm very pleased with them indeed, great strings. Just wondering why it took me so long to find them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanto Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 [quote name='teej' post='756733' date='Feb 25 2010, 08:41 AM']I slap a lot and I've just changed from Spirocores to Innovation Silver Slaps. I'm very pleased with them indeed, great strings. Just wondering why it took me so long to find them![/quote] What are they like pizz?I play Western Swing/Honky Tonk so I need a string that's got a bit of thump and good fundamental but can be slapped as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DolganoFF Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 If you want to be able to bow sometimes, you are automatically limited to orchestra or hybrid strings. Then if you want to slap too, I'd guess the best choice can be found somewhere between low tension hybrids like TI Spirocore Solo, D'addario Helicore Solo or Pirastro Obligato solo... I've Helicore solos on my double bass, they are quite bright, they bow well and pizzicato sounds great too. However they don't produce very high volume, certainly due to their low mass. I had Spiros Orchestra before, they were much louder. (I don't slap so I've no opinion on slap sound from these...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share Posted February 25, 2010 Thanks for replies. I wouldn't describe what I do as "slap", so I'm probably going for some "spiro's", so I can arc occasionally. Fountain of advice/help and wisdom this forum is...mmmm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share Posted February 25, 2010 [quote name='Greydad' post='756725' date='Feb 25 2010, 08:31 AM']BTW congrats on the new bass oldslapper, look forward to seeing and hearing it [/quote] Haha! It's ermmmm "lived in" shall we say, but sounds huge! Hopefully if we can get the bash organised I'll definitely bring it with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teej Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 [quote name='yanto' post='756826' date='Feb 25 2010, 10:10 AM']What are they like pizz?I play Western Swing/Honky Tonk so I need a string that's got a bit of thump and good fundamental but can be slapped as well.[/quote] I like them, a very easy string to play, almost too easy, it took a little while to get used to them. And don't stick them on just before a gig, they take a while to stretch and settle in. Be aware that they are big strings, so you might have to alter the grooves on your nut and bridge - I did. I'm not sure how they compare with Honeys, I might try them next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 Here's a pic of the old beastie. just had a lovely set up. But didn't make my mind up on replacement strings yet, so will go back with new strings to be put on and any further adjustments. Solid top/back/sides. Slightly bowed back. Such a massive sound. It's old and "well used", but I love it. Also put EUB pics up (it's only a cheapie (£500)but authentic enough to get me the jazz gig).... John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanto Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 [quote name='oldslapper' post='763038' date='Mar 3 2010, 03:21 PM']Here's a pic of the old beastie. just had a lovely set up. But didn't make my mind up on replacement strings yet, so will go back with new strings to be put on and any further adjustments. Solid top/back/sides. Slightly bowed back. Such a massive sound. It's old and "well used", but I love it. Also put EUB pics up (it's only a cheapie (£500)but authentic enough to get me the jazz gig).... John[/quote] Did you look for the label in the bass?Would like to know what make it is-the wood looks very like sapele to me! Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 [quote name='yanto' post='763352' date='Mar 3 2010, 09:00 PM']Did you look for the label in the bass?Would like to know what make it is-the wood looks very like sapele to me! Enjoy[/quote] Had a look inside last night, no label! Looks like it's had a few repairs over the years mind. Being a noob to DB, is sapele bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdstrings Posted March 12, 2010 Share Posted March 12, 2010 That certainly is an unusual looking bass! Is the mahogany effect painted on...?? I can't quite tell from the photos. My preferred strings these days are the Evah Pirazzi (weich)(ie lower tension). I mainly play pizz, but also do a bit of slapping (jazz) and bowing. They work well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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