What Strings to Use for Playing Jazz Bass?

[@jazzcontrebasse]

Hi Matt ! The little thing you forget to tell about the Spirocore and why they are so popular all over the bass world is also because they last way longer than any strings ! As i know they are the only ones who when the brightness and clarity of the first months use to disappear, can be playable and good sounding years after. Here in France the Spiro Weich are the "go to" string for the bass in all conservatory across the country for that reason and the fact they work great for both jazz and classical student ! Thanks for all your content. You are from far away the best jazz double bass channel in youtube. The teaching, the sound quality, the videography. Bravo !

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Yes great points! Thank you for watching and your very kind words!

[@stringmatrix]

Hi Matt, a student just told me about your channel. It's fantastic, and I especially like the quality of the videography (I wish I would achieve this quality in my videos too!). Thank you so much for talking about my channel and about the strings matrix. I have so much "uncut" video material that I have to edit and that I will release, I just couldn't find the time in the last weeks. All the best! Hervé (yes the pronounciation was good!)

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Hi Hervé, thank you so much for your message! I'm very happy to send people your way - what you do is so great. And I'm glad that you have more material to share. For me, I'm having trouble finding time to actually record the stuff. Anyway, my wife is professional photographer, so it's basically a pro camera and the lens is the secret I think. If you want the exact specifics, let me know! Thanks again!

[@frankwagner8116]

Excellent review of the endless possibilities of string bass strings. Thank you

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Glad it was helpful!

[@josephhagins4631]

Aquila is making a really close copy of Golden Spirals called Gold Springs Vintage

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

No kidding?! This is fascinating news thanks!

[@porkynuggetsplays]

I feel like this video helped me out of the rabbit hole, thanks!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Oh, that's awesome! So glad to have been a help. Thanks for watching

[@bustabass9025]

Great content. I'm really enjoying your shared knowledge on the double bass. If you had been around when I was in high school band back in the 60s, I would have switched from trombone to double bass like my director asked me to. Nearly sixty years later, and here we are! 😂

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

😅

[@carloszagal1934]

Great vid! I recently stopped on my string journey. I started with spiros (too hard for my right hand) The Perpetuals with Olive G and D is my to go, possibly for life! Love the channel!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

That sounds like a perfect combination. Makes me want to try again! Thanks for watching!

[@m.hughes2521]

Excellent information sir, thank you for taking the time. I use Belcantos hemp core for orchestra, they're loud and they last. No they don't smoke.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

2 things: 1) that was really funny 2) I’ve never heard of this and I’m absolutely intrigued.

[@m.hughes2521]

@@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki Yes sir thanks for your in-depth research. Greetings from Tulsa! The Belcanto's are made by Thomastic and project well, especially if you're the only bass player in the room. I do have Spiracores on my jazz bass but keep that G a belconte simply because it's such an in-your-face flat tone. Great stuff you're doing there Maestro. I subscribe & share.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

@@m.hughes2521 Thanks for the reply and for your really kind words!

[@iandamaral]

I knew this video would be amazing! Thank you so much for your work. I really hope that some brands will send you strings for reviews in the near future

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Glad to help! Thanks man!

[@samdoublebass]

Great video! I almost feel that gut-like strings should ideally be the default for Jazz playing and I'm surprised that they've become a niche thing. I played spirocores for many years when starting out and always had problems with stamina, even with proper technique. I've been playing guts for a year now and feel they not only sit better in a mix, but they are way easier to play with the lower tension. The price tag probably doesn't help much.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for your comment - yeah totally agree - but it’s hard for most folks to hear the pitch, and they did so quickly…still, I agree !

[@nateharrison956]

What strings do you use? I have been having issues with stamina and my technique as well, especially in my right hand, and I’m also using spirocores.

[@samdoublebass]

@@nateharrison956 I’m currently using aquila golden spirals. They are super low tension and easy on the hands, without sacrificing volume. Only problem is that they are nylon wrapped so you can’t really bow them.

[@rybpo7]

Excellent lesson!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Love you sis! Thanks!

[@steennordberg-nielsen3012]

I've used Rotosound RS4000 for some years. They are light to the fingers and they sound good. Bowing is almost impossible and thats why I've gone back to Spiro Weich. Thx for your videoes.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for sharing!

[@tarikshah2113]

Red-O-Ray, Slam Stewart used these!

[@koertdekker]

Thanks for the great review of several stringbrands! I am a Thomastik Spirocore fan. Not only because of the clear sound and sustain but also because the older they get, the better sound they give! With my last set (mittels) I have played more then 10 years. Now I have weichs. Not so loud as mittels but friendlyer for the left hand! The only thing is that the G string sounds and feels a bit to thin. So maybe I will try an Olive G string. One question I have: you are usi0ng the Ear Trumpet Nadine. A great company that builds good mic's Can you tell me your experience with feedback isues? Thanks!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for watching and your kind words! @koertdekker I agree everything that you said about the Spirocores. The Nadine is great yes, but if trying to use it with a personal amplifier, it's VERY difficult. I even went so far as to send it back to them to see if something was wrong with it. They said no. So I've just been dealing with it through my Acoustic Image head. It's really a shame because I have such great gear but there's SO much bleed from drums etc and it's very tricky to get good volume. If I didn't also use it to record these I would've probably returned the Nadine. Thanks again

[@koertdekker]

@@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki Thanks for your honest opinion of the Ear Trumpet. I have heard more similar experiences with the Nadine. Great for recording, but difficult for life settings! Thanks!

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

With pleasure!

[@robreck6082]

Incredibly informative. My challenge is that my old bass is really not very good. It is a plywood Lewis bass that was made before the rise of string instrument production in Asia. It is made of a light plywood. Some time in the past the instrument took some kind of shot and an inelegant patch was put on under the sound post. It plays well - decent shaped fingerboard after several years work with a local luthier. After trying several strings I have settled on D'Addario Zyex strings. They are very lively and just the thing for this old instrument. Nice sweet sound. They seem to take the bow better than anything else I have tried. Used with a pickup and amp setup they work well. I have no financial interest in these strings. But I noticed you did not include them. I may eventually experiment with a different E.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thanks for sharing. Yeah I’m sorry I don’t really know Zyex so I couldnt speak to them but thanks for watching and sharing!

[@ronbrown2073]

Hi Matt, I am enjoying your you tube channel, and purchased your excellent Ray Brown transcription book, This is a very informative video on upright bass strings, I have used Thomastik Spirocore Weich for a long time, but now have switched to D'addario Helicore pizzicato light, have used medium. They seem to work with my bass. I have a realist pickup, Walter Woods head and Flite 10 or 12 or 15 cabinets, Do you think the amplified sound changes the interpretation or basically of the tone of the strings and bass. And I really like the 40's 50's Ray Brown, Paul Chambers and other bassist sound, what is the difference in those old gut strings to what is available now? thanks Ron

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Hi Ron thanks so much for watching and for you kind words. Yes the amplified sound changes the sound a lot unfortunately. I know that companies are trying to get a natural sound but it’s really hard. Ray used a pickup and amp from the 70s onward, and eventually really dialed in a good sound. Of course the main thing is that is was HIM playing. But his 70s amp sound is not as god as 90s and beyond. Like I said in the video, they don’t make the strings Ray and PC used anymore, but there are good alternatives like Pirastro Chordas and the other smaller makers like Gamut and Gennsler. For me, if imitating the 40s and 50s sound is important to you, I’d shy away from as much amp/pickup sound you can. The fight with microphones is also a tough but sometimes worthy pursuit. So a mic instead of a pickup…but yeah - pickups and amps didn’t get into fashion until the 60s and 70s. So that older sound is really acoustic and gut-based (steel strings weren’t invented until the 60s or so even). Hope this helps and thanks again

[@ronbrown2073]

Thank you for your fast response. I along with many jazz upright bassist really like the 50's Ray Brown, Paul Chambers sound with gut strings, however I know that with all the excellent steel strings, the sound is different and I accept that and not concerned about imitating that exact sound. I probably would not be changing to gut strings, The Pirastro Perpetuals might be a good alternative. Yes I understand Ray Brown and all the great bassists that was there unique sound and musicianship. Yes a mic instead vs a pickup is an alternative. Also as you mentioned it depends on the which strings work on our individual basses, and the quality of the bass is a factor. thanks again.

[@derrick-siyu-zhang]

Really gerat video, thanks for making it! Just get two questions and would be really appreciate if you can provide some insight. 1) Do you think Evah Piriazzi feels more like gut or more like steel strings? I knew Carlos has been using them, just thinking if they were also good alternative for gut (compared with Oliv) 2) Do you think of Eva Pirazzi Slap Gut D&G are some kind of the improved version of Chorda Carlos (as they are thiner and less tension), or are they less quality than ordinary Chorda/Chorda Carlos as they are cheaper?

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Thank you! 1) Evah Pirazzi is way more like steel 2) I’m not really sure - it seemed to me they were very very similar to Carlos D and G…I think that the set is cheaper because the E and A aren’t real gut… hope this helps!

[@derrick-siyu-zhang]

@@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki wow thanks for the reply! Really helps a lot!

[@functusian]

It would be very helpful to know what you consider to be the basic tonal qualities of your instruments and how you choose your strings based on that. I'd assume the Upton is brighter and the Superflexibles (medium or solo?) are tempering that somewhat. I have a Juzek that loves them.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Well, the Upton is a hybrid so it has some depth from the carved top but the laminate sides and back do give it some midrange. But that said, neither bass is particularly skewed to bright or dark. So I think it may have more to do with the other aspects like general dimensions, bridge type, etc. Even though I definitely considered the overall tonal qualities, I didn’t find with either one that I had to compensate one direction or another. The Hawkes is from 1910, never had the top off to my knowledge, and has had guts on it for 40 years. So it seems to just not “like” Steel. But I’ve had other basses that were particularly dark. I’m thankful I don’t have to worry about that with these.

[@functusian]

Thanks! How would you describe the sound or your Hawkes with steel other than feel?@@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

@functusian loud but very choked off 😳

[@functusian]

@@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki Thanks for the replies!

[@jameskirk2417]

Having watched your presentation regarding string choices, any recommendations for my Yamaha SLB 300, currently using Evah perrazie, purple wrap, thanks; James Kirk.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

I'm not really sure about those basses, but Evah Pirazzi are among my favorite strings in general, so I'd imagine you can't get much better than that! Thanks for watching!

[@m.hughes2521]

The final frontier..

[@jazzbrew68]

Perpetuals are amazing.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Right?

[@stevewhipple]

I 100% agree that all bass players should spend some time playing gut strings, if possible. You learn so much by committing to that vibe and figuring out how to make that work in different contexts. And you get that sound in your ear so your hands will figure out a way to make a similar sound/feel on any decent setup. It expands your tonal color palette in a way that nothing else will. Of course it's a luxury to be able to experiment like that in real life. But I do feel that in music school, bassists should have access to a gut string bass that is set up well, and they should spend at least a semester playing on it.

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

all well said!!

[@davedave8608]

only the bottom and top 4

[@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki]

Hey there - what do you mean?

[@davedave8608]

@@LearnJazzBasswithMattRybicki just bad joke.. thanks for your work.. Oss