Strings

Labella Supernils! They work for me. They don’t break. I like the tension and the response they have.

Been using them pretty much when I started bass 15 years ago. Haven’t really experimented with many different strings. I hate changing them. I’d rather do something else with my time.

Supernils on the Eberle, Silver Slaps on the Carruthers.

One of my favorite topics! All Gut!

I agree that most of the tone is in the hands! The more time you spend with a certain set up, the more comfortable you get and you learn how to get the sound you strive for out of the instrument and equipment(amp, strings,preamps ,mics, etc…).
I keep one bass set up with steel(Thomastics are great on every level)and I use this bass for gigs where intonation and sustain is important, and one bass set up with gut(goldentone D and G and Pirastro Eudoxa A and E) where the rhythm and warmth is the primary function of the bass. I love being able to have access to both…
KS

[b]bullfiddlecat wrote:[/b]
[quote]This seems to be a very touchy subject…

I play Thomastik Spirocores for almost 20 years. In general I prefer steel strings mostly because of the intonation. Guts usually go out of tune pretty often and are very sensitive to the weather (specially if you’re in a touring band). Steels are a little bit harder on the hands, but after few years of regular practicing, it shouldn’t be so hard. I also found that I have the best balance between playing arco, pizz and slap with Thomastiks. I prefer a little bit higher tension and action than regular, because it brings a little extra punch to the sound.

I never understood why is such a big deal about what kind of strings people use. By my opinion, different string companies just use players’ names to advertise their products. They usually don’t care about those players and their music. I think that good player will always have a good sound, no matter what strings, instrument, amp and pickup he uses.

There were so many examples in the history of amazing gut (Willie Dixon) and steel players (Milt Hinton). Milt Hinton sounded great on guts ([i]Pluckin the Bass[/i] period) and steels (everything after 1950’s). Kevin Smith sounds great on guts (with High Noon) and steels (with Dwight Yoakam).

Even now, there are really great players on any type of strings: guts (Jimmy Sutton), steel (Roland Guerin), weedwackers (Jake Erwin) and many others.

I strongly believe that the sound is in the fingers and the heart, not in the gear.[/quote]

agree with the tone coming from the hands and the way you attack your instrument. A good setup also helps. I would have to say the hands is about 90% of your tone.

Definitely … Tone is in the hands of the player. But, strings add the character to the tone.

Guts are what I choose to play. I love the tone I get from them. I love the tone they get on recordings too.

I have a bass that is strung up with Steels. (thanks Djordje) Started out playing steels, but ripped my fingers to shreds one too many times… now that my technique has completely changed, I can handle steels for hours. But, for some reason, guts still sound best to me. That’s why I use them.

For someone to find their perfect string choice, I think it’s important to listen to your influences and find out what string they play. Once you have that set of strings on your bass, play them for at least 3-6 months before changing your mind.

Like all of the good players have said… it takes time to play and get comfortable and develop your style and technique. You can’t do that with a new set of strings in a week or two.

First i played unknown steel strings that some web page identificated it as thomastik precission orchestra. Fingerkiller but not so bad. I only changed G for weedwacker, cause original one was a razor.

Now i play Presto (eurosonic) Lights, and i really dont know why people dont like them. After few days strings are soft for hands ( first time you play on new prestos isnt nice) sound cool, thick and what is important for me, they dont loose sound when slap amplified. This thomastik stuff that i played tend to loose volume when you changed from pizz to slap. Anyway G is still weedwacker.

I would like to try guts but they’re too expensive and in place where we play there is almost same temperature as outdoors, but no wind 😀 in winter if outdoors -15, inside -5. Summer +30 outdoors, inside +25 😉