They may belong to friends or the stock of a local instrument dealer. Play as many instruments as possible to learn how different strings perform. The only way to discover what works is to try them. The player, the strings, the bass, the string height, the pickup and amplifier can all make a difference. Your experiences with strings may be different to other peoples. How do the strings feel? Different brands of strings feel different, and you may find that some sets simply don’t suit you. Some regular or heavy gauge double bass strings add more “weight” to the sound, but if I’m not comfortable on a long gig, that’s not important. I prefer lighter gauge strings, regardless of the brand. This can be particularly problematic for jazz bassists, as you need to hear how compatible they are with your amplification.įind the right string gauge for you. In my experience, string gauge is less of an issue when practicing, but in the heat of battle on a gig, it may be critical. Test the strings on the bandstand. Some strings sound great in the practice room, but not on a gig. ![]() The down side is that you can overthink this and end up with a set that doesn’t blend. It may be possible to tweak your tone by mixing strings. On some sets, the G string can sound too thin and is replaced with a darker sounding, or heavier gauge, such as a gut string. This works both ways and a bright sounding bass may benefit from a dark string such as the Pirastro Evah Pirazzi.Ĭonsider mixing strings. Many bassists use a Thomastik Spirocore E string to add extra growl and clarity in the lower register. They are too dark and I struggle hearing myself.įind the right strings for your bass. I’ve found that a dark sounding instrument may suit a bright string such as Thomastik Spirocore. They sound amazing with the bow and have a decent pizzicato sound, but when I use them with an amplifier, the pizzicato sound is less successful. ![]() I’ve found this to be true with one of my favorite orchestral strings: Thomastik Belcanto. ![]() This said, I’ve provided a few ideas to guide your quest for the perfect tone.Ĭonsider the style of music you’re playing. Will you be playing in a band? Will that band be loud? Orchestral strings should sound superb when played with a bow and can also sound very good when played pizzicato, but they are less likely to amplify as well as jazz strings. Some strings simply don’t suit a particular double bass, and there’s no shortcut to discovering this without trying them. This is a challenge, as double bass strings sound and perform differently on different instruments. I’m often asked which strings I use and which I recommend.
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