Solo Bass String Set

The "Solo Tuning" for the contrabass was adopted sometime in the 1800s to create a more transparent, brilliant tone with more projection for solo works. It involves tuning all of the strings up a whole-step using thinner strings. The lighter strings are more responsive under the bow, and the tone's clarity carries better in a hall.

The solo gauges are assuming a pitch of a-440.

The following strings (80", 200cm) are included in the standard set:

• a-1 - Lyon Gut
• e-2 - Lyon Gut
• B-3 - Gut/Silverplate-Wound
• F#-4 - Gut/Silverplate-Wound

The bottom string is usually tuned to F#, although some players choose to leave it at the E pitch to extend the instrument's range. We offer a full range of strings for solo tuning. However, our Pistoy-style of gut does not respond well to this tuning, so that string style is available only for the third-string position.

The set comes with plain ends, but for the a-1 and e-2 leather washers can be added for an additional charge. Plain gut strings are available with a natural or varnish finish. Natural strings are hand-rubbed with a light oil. Varnished strings have three coats of finish before being hand polished with the oil. There is an additional charge for varnished strings.

The end of the string that goes into the tailpiece is knotted and there is a loop of gut on the end. This knot will hold the string in most historical tailpieces, but will slip through a modern tailpiece. Modern tailpieces have a hole-and-slot arrangement for holding the string in place and most tailpieces today have slots cut into them that are so wide that the knot tied at the end of the gut string will slip through when tension is put on the string. To prevent this, we can install a leather washer on the string before it is wound. This washer is wide enough that it will prevent string ends from slipping through most tailpiece slots. There is an extra charge for this service.

Wound strings for the contrabass are warrantied for a period of six months from the date of shipping.

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Hand-made in the USA by Gamut Music, Inc., a leader in the revival of early music strings and instruments. Gut strings are not intended to be used with fine tuners or string adjusters, and those devices should be removed before installing the gut string on the instrument.

All Gamut Academie strings (pure gut and gut/metal-wound) are made with beef serosa unless they specifically say "Sheep Gut." All pure gut Tricolore violin and viola strings are made with sheep gut; gut/metal-wound Tricolore and all Red Diamond strings are made with beef serosa.

Gamut gut string gauges are approximate (≈) diameter. Meaning, that while a ≈0.60mm string is polished in the workshop to a diameter of 0.60mm, changes in ambient humidity, temperature, shipping, and storage conditions can cause to string to expand or contract slightly.

Gimped gut strings and custom gauged equal tension strings are gauged with the equivalent-gauge (=) system. This means that the gauge listed, such as =1.50mm, indicates that the string is approximately equal in weight to a plain gut string of that diameter. Of course, because the wire is much heavier than gut, the string will be much thinner than a plain gut string.

More information about Gamut gut strings, string types, gauges, and string tensions can be found on our FAQ/Articles page. Not finding an answer to your question? Please contact us directly: support@gamutmusic.com.