Double Bass Jazz Sound

[gallowayphantom]

Hi all 

what strings would help to give a classic double bass sound for jazz 

[Reggaebass]

Hi, have you tried D’addario black tapewound strings, I’ve got 2 jazzes with them and they give a nice warm deep sound 

[Woodwind]

You may get better responses by posting this in the double bass section.

 

Classic as in Jazz recordings pre 1960's?

then it's guts.

 

Otherwise the longer sustaining growly sound can be had with Thomastik Spirocores. These are pretty much a default so if you haven't tried these, they should be your first call.

 

From then on it's endless experimentation with whatever new variants of "hybrid" string emerge and companies will keep bringing new things out.

 

I did what we all do and tried lots of different strings.

My playing was 50/50 pizz arco, but not orchestral.

I loved the playability of Innovation Honey's and they sustained like Spirocore mediums.

Had I continued with double bass I may have tried Spirocore lights and then never worried about strings again and just practiced more.

[Woodwind]

18 minutes ago, gallowayphantom said:

Hi all 

what strings would help to give a classic double bass sound for jazz 

 

5 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Hi, have you tried D’addario black tapewound strings, I’ve got 2 jazzes with them and they give a nice warm deep sound 

 

 

oh sorry, looks like I may have got the wrong end of the stick?

 

Making a bass guitar sound more like a double bass?

In which case I think @Reggaebass's suggestion is very good

[Boodang]

I play DB as well as EB. Tapewounds on my fretless EB probably get the closest, but I also use the Galli Synthesis strings which have a nylon core and are close in feel to the Obligato strings on my DB.

[3below]

Roto Trubass 88 on my fretless  capture a really nice DB vibe, approaching some of the 'airiness' of the 1/4 size Presto Balance strings on my Clifton EUB. I have now settled on Labella black tapewounds (760N) as I find these more responsive in the fast prog jazz funk numbers we do.   @Woodwind makes a very good point, what kind of classic sound are you aiming at?  Plenty of used strings crop up on BC, a good way to explore and get most of your money back in the journey. 

Edited November 27, 2022 by 3below

[Grimalkin]

Pluck over the fretboard.

[Boodang]

14 hours ago, Grimalkin said:

Pluck over the fretboard.

Definitely this. Coming from DB this seems like the most natural place to play but definitely helps in producing a fuller tone.