Double Bass Strings

“The contrabass moves the air in the room. You feel it! If you take your shoes off playing the bass, man, you feel it in the floor. That vibration! So the sound of the contrabass is very important. That's why electric bass doesn't sound good in a swing group.”
– Percy Heath

For the sound of your double bass, the strings are most important. They produce the sound, which is then amplified by the bass' body and pickup and loudspeakers. Therefore, the right choice of strings is an important aspect for developping your personal and optimum double bass sound.

More informations, press reviews and user comments about our Presto strings: www.presto-strings.com (dealer inquiries welcome!)

• Single strings of all models available (please call for price).

Presto Nylon Tape Wound

Presto Nylonwound-strings for double bass were designed to combine the unique sound of natural gut strings with the convinient properties of steel rope core strings. Unlike gut strings, Presto Nylonwound-strings strings stay in tune under temperature and humidity changes. They also have a short break-in time.
Presto Nylonwound-strings have a dark and mellow, but big tone with a strong sustain. They are of comparable low tension. They are an excellent choice for jazz, rockabilly or bluegrass bass players, searching for this particular “old school” double bass sound.
Presto Nylonwound-strings have a core of braided steel rope, wrapped with silk and metal wires. Finally, they are wound in a white-translucent polyamid monofil, and polished to a flat, smooth surface. Compared to other steel strings, Presto Nylonwound-strings are of very low tension. They are very easy to play. The thicker gauges and the smooth polyamid-surface lead to a very pleasant playing feel under your fingers.
Presto Nylonwound-strings are ideally suited for pizzicato and slapping techniques. For bowing, we recommend to roughen the bowing area with fine sandpaper, and to apply rosin directly on the strings. If strings of thinner gauges were used before, some setup work may be necessary at the saddle and bridge string notches. Due to their steel rope core, Presto Nylonwound-strings also work well with magnetic pickups.
Presto Nylonwound strings are available for orchestra tuning (GDAE) in Medium, Light und Ultralight gauges.

Price: 120,– Euro* (set)

Presto Jazzicato strings for double bass

Presto Jazzicato strings are a further development of our popular Presto Nylonwound string. They have a improved steel rope core, and a black Nylon wrapping.

Compared to our original Nylonwound strings, the Jazzicato strings have a slightly smaller diameter. But they still have this smooth surface feel, which makes them different to other steel strings.

This particular surface feel and the low tension make the Jazzicato strings very easy to play. The powerful, dark sound, the precussive punch and the unobtrusive sustain give the Jazzicato string their very own character – ideal for Jazz pizzicato, but also suited for Slap bass and Bluegrass.

Jazzicato

Price: 130,– Euro* (set)

The Tungsten version of the Jazzicato string are made with Tungsten. They have a slightly higher tension and more sustain, but a thinner diameter.

Jazzicato Tungsten

Price: 140,– Euro* (set)

Presto Balance

The Balance double bass strings are crafted with steel rope cores and wrapped with chromesteel. They break in quickly and achieve a stable tuning within a very short time.
Bass Professor Magazine (issue January 2008: “Smooth”, “velvety” or “soft” are attributes coming to one’s mind at once while playing the new Presto strings. Lately Presto has already made its mark with nylonwound strings. Those who know these strings must know that Presto Balance Hybrid strings persue a totally different aesthetics of sound. When played pizzicato, these strings have quite a natural drive with an articulate attack and a good but nonexaggerated sustain. The strings achieve to transmit the woody characteristics excellently not sounding nasal at the same time, as it is known of many other steel strings.
I was really surprised when it came to bowing: Presto strings respond as soft as butter. Even untrained players are able to achieve a wonderful not scratchy sound – that way bowing is fun.

Presto Balance Orchestra (Black Label)

The Balance Orchestra strings are optimized for arco technique. They have dark, powerful sound, and are very easy to bow.
Balance Orchestra strings are available for 3/4 string length in Medium and Light gauges (EADG)., as well as in Solo tuning (F#HEA).

Presto Balance Hybrid (Blue Label)

The Balance Hybrid strings are optimized for both arco and pizzicato techniques. Played pizzicato, they have a voluminous sound and long sustain. Nevertheless, they are easy to bow.
Balance Hybrid strings are available for 3/4 string length in Medium and Light gauges (EADG).

Price: 130,– Euro* (set)

 

Presto Balance Fractional (Green Label)

Presto Balance Fractional are designed for fractional sized double basses. They have a low tension and small diameters, so they are easy to play even for children. They have a steel rope core, wrapped with tungsten and chromesteel.

Prest Balance Fractional strings are available in 1/4, 1/8 and 1/10 string lengths.

Price: 100,– Euro* (set)

* All prices incl. 19% VAT, excl. shipping.