Double Bass Aquila Strings on a 39' Bass

Gregmak

Gregmak

Oct 1, 2009
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4,886
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Toronto, Canada
#1
Hi guys,

Anyone has any experience with Aquila Gold Springs (gut or synthetic) on a 39 inch (scale) bass? I have spirocores on which feel great, but I miss the gut sound. Not sure if there is any gut or gut-a-like string that works with a smaller bass. I think gut strings prefer a 40-41 inch neck to properly stretch?

Any input will be super helpful before I spend any $$.

Thank you,
Greg
 
#4
Use my formulas on my Dropbox to calculate the tension on a shorter scale.
If you enter 100 as the normal tension, you can interpret that as 100% and the result as the percentage of the original tension.
These formulas are self-calculating if you have JavaScript enabled.

The problem with shorter scales is that the string gets thicker (even if you drop the tension a bit to the original one because of the statics of the smaller instrument) and therefor get more damped and less flexible. So plain gut might become too thick to sustain well enough. I would at least try high twist gut for smaller instruments. They are at least available from Gamut (Pistoy) and Aquila. Maybe only a plain gut G and metal wound strings below.
 
#5
Gregmak said:
Hi guys,

Anyone has any experience with Aquila Gold Springs (gut or synthetic) on a 39 inch (scale) bass? I have spirocores on which feel great, but I miss the gut sound. Not sure if there is any gut or gut-a-like string that works with a smaller bass. I think gut strings prefer a 40-41 inch neck to properly stretch?

Any input will be super helpful before I spend any $$.

Thank you,
Greg
Click to expand...

An inexpensive synthetic string to try would be Superior BassWorks (SBW) Deluxe "Dirty Guts". They have a look and feel like guts and are probably about as good as inexpensive synthetic strings get to gut-like tone. They come in a bump-pack of 6 strings so you can try various gauges to see how they sound. They are advertised for 1/2 size up to 4/4 size double basses, so the scale length that you've mentioned should work with them at standard pitch.

I'm using the "Dirty Guts" D (.105") and G (.095") strings on my DB; I found that all of the "Dirty Guts" E and A string bump pack choices were too quiet and unclear for my DB, so I'm using Innovation SilverSlaps for my E and A; these actually work very well as a mixed set with the "Dirty Guts", but I don't know if SilverSlaps will work well with your scale length.

I've tried Aquila Sugar Slaps, unfortunately they didn't work well with my custom tailpiece. They do sound and feel great for pizz (but they are documented as not being designed at all for arco and that documentation is very accurate). Again though, I don't know if they would work well with your scale length. Happily for me, my SilverSlaps/"Dirity Guts" mixed set sound and feel about as good, plus they are much more arco friendly.
 
#6
Thanks everyone. What about Pirastro Oliv or Eudoxa? I see the Eudoxa G is 28kg, while the Spirocore G is 30kg. So those are pretty close. I've tried Oliv's before and I really liked them. Not sure how Eudoxa D&G compare to Oliv D&G. I remember also I did not like the Oliv D as it sounded too "dead".
 
#8
Gregmak said:
Thanks everyone. What about Pirastro Oliv or Eudoxa?
Click to expand...
Might work, might not. Oliv and Eudoxa are not offered in multiple gauges, so they might be too floppy on a short-scaled bass.

Gregmak said:
I've tried Oliv's before and I really liked them... I remember also I did not like the Oliv D as it sounded too "dead"
Click to expand...

You liked them but didn't like the D? To me that means you liked the Oliv G - not Olivs in general.

Here's where we really get into

a) your bass's inherent timbre. On a bass with a dark timbre, Olivs might indeed sound a little "dead." My bass is fairly bright; Oliv G/D tamed it somewhat, and Eudoxa G/D transmit full brightness under the bow. Pizz is wonderful for both.

b) Pizz or arco? Oliv IMO are among the best strings for doing both, and that factor might justify spending the $$$. If predominantly arco, or predominantly pizz, there are better, cheaper choices. Again, my opinion.

b) the sound you're looking for. Oliv and Eudoxa are quite different in sound from naked gut and gut-like.

Good luck!
 
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