Kevin Smith

Temperature definitely makes a difference on my basses, and on the gut string bass, humidity takes some of the snap out of the strings. I have to watch the bridge on the basses as well, because constant tuning tends to pull the bridge up and change the action and tension. It’s a good idea to check the intonation(octave harmonic) with a tuner occasionally to make sure the bridge is where it’s supposed to be.

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]