Playing from the 'Gut'...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Craig Regan

It it possible for Mike to shoot a video of the gig and post a song on you tube? It would be fun to check out.

He is invited to almost every Gig I do. He's 17 going on 18. You think he wants to hang with Dad?.. Better if you come and shoot the Vid..

[Richard Prowse]

I've done quite a few acoustic gigs lately - I know what you mean about playing without an amp, though my bass is nowhere near the Pollmann's league. I've just put my Weichs back on and am enjoying the growl, but think I need a heavier string. Gut? Probably not. How do they bow? Are they a loud string?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

I've done quite a few acoustic gigs lately - I know what you mean about playing without an amp, though my bass is nowhere near the Pollmann's league. I've just put my Weichs back on and am enjoying the growl, but think I need a heavier string. Gut? Probably not. How do they bow? Are they a loud string?

I have owned personally 3 Pollmanns and played many many more. This is the loudest Pollmann I have ever played. I did one acoustic Gig a few months ago but it had all Flexocor 92s on it. It cut thru the trio easily. The Guts however seem even louder than the Flexs did.

Bowing, stick with an Orchestra String. The Guts with a Bow for me are more of a 'memory lane' kinda thing having played them in High School Orchestra and Jazz Band. I might take it out on occasion for kicks but for the money, I'm gonna stick with the Flexocor kind for the most part or some other good bowing steel string. My 5er has Obligatos and until they die, I will use them on that Bass. I have Weichs on my Bohemian Bass that I use for Amp'd gigs but that's only because they came on another Bass that needed something darker and more Bowable so I switched things around. Why waste a usable set of strings? For the most part, I am not much of a fan for any Spiro type string for Bowing.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

For the most part, I am not much of a fan for any Spiro type string for Bowing.

I've bowed Weichs for years. After the Bel Cantos, they're definitely not as good, but there's not that much in it. I'll have to live with it while I'm doing jazz gigs and have just the one bass.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

I've bowed Weichs for years. After the Bel Cantos, they're definitely not as good, but there's not that much in it. I'll have to live with it while I'm doing jazz gigs and have just the one bass.

If you have to do jazz gigs then you need a string that works for both. Most of the harsh bowing sounds you hear by the bass smooth out over a distance. If the Bass is good enough, it will work fairly well with whatever works for either. Flexocors bow well but can pizz ok as well if the bass has enough sustain and tension. Spiro reds or weichs can bow well on some basses and sound fairly good if the bass is dark and smooth sounding. I used mainly 'Reds on my Italian Bass in NYC for the 15 years I used that Bass. Mostly I did Pizz work but Bowed it as well in Orchestra Shows and Recordings. It was my main string then. Only since I went back to playing again and mostly Orchestra have I switched to the Flexocors which are different than was was being made back then.

Look at the UTube clips with Paul Chambers playing with Coltrain and Wynton Kelly. He bows some amazing solos. He has some GREAT left hand technique, Great.. His Bow chops on Gut strings are NY Philharmonic level..

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

If you have to do jazz gigs then you need a string that works for both. Most of the harsh bowing sounds you hear by the bass smooth out over a distance. If the Bass is good enough, it will work fairly well with whatever works for either. Flexocors bow well but can pizz ok as well if the bass has enough sustain and tension. Spiro reds or weichs can bow well on some basses and sound fairly good if the bass is dark and smooth sounding. I used mainly 'Reds on my Italian Bass in NYC for the 15 years I used that Bass. Mostly I did Pizz work but Bowed it as well in Orchestra Shows and Recordings. It was my main string then. Only since I went back to playing again and mostly Orchestra have I switched to the Flexocors which are different than was was being made back then.

Look at the UTube clips with Paul Chambers playing with Coltrain and Wynton Kelly. He bows some amazing solos. He has some GREAT left hand technique, Great.. His Bow chops on Gut strings are NY Philharmonic level..

Yes Ken, good advice. I loved the clips and will watch them regularly.
Ciao amico.

[Adrian Juras]

What gut strings are you using Ken? I have experimented with Chorda in the past, and the while I LOVE the tone of the E, A, and the G, the D was really flabby sounding. I really don't think you can ever get close to the tone of PC, Pettiford, Stewart, etc, with steel. There is just something about the fundamental with gut...