Playing from the 'Gut'...

[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...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by 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...

I am using the Custom Chordas 'Carlos set'.

[Adrian Juras]

Nice! I'll have to look into a set. Maybe when I find a good bass to put them on...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Adrian Juras

Nice! I'll have to look into a set. Maybe when I find a good bass to put them on...

I found this in your profile;

Currently in the market for an older 5/8ths or small 3/4 Tyrolean or German bass.

Will something like this work for you?

This is an affordable old Bohemian Bass and plays almost too easy..

[Ken Smith]

The Guts are now off the Pollmann and the test has been completed. I only have about 10-12 hours of playing that I can recall but with fiddling with the bass in the office from time to time I am sure it's a bit longer than that.

Conclusion:
Thank god they invented steel strings..lol

I mean, the Guts are nice and organic but I would have to be in the audience to appreciate them if at all. Under the ear it's a struggle, at least for me.

Of the 3 sets I tested in the last 2-3 years (Chordas, Carlos Chordas and La Bellas) I think I liked the La Bella strings as much as the Carlos set for the brief time I tried each of them. The regular Chorda set was just too thick for my fingers but sounded equally good if not better. Playability is equally important to me in this regard.

Since these are still in good condition and totally re-usable I think passing them along to a deserving player that either uses Guts or could make good use of them is the best option.

So, I can ship them within the 48 states in USA but for my time and trouble I ask two things. One, offer me a usable old set of something that might interest me in exchange (no money) and two, put up a review of how they worked for you after they settle in to be fair to the nice people at Pirastro that allowed me to test them out and share some opinions here. Ok?

Email me directly at support@kensmithbasses.com and leave it sorta private as far as who gets them. Thx..