Gear Watch: Innovation Strings at Summer NAMM
Another stop on our Summer NAMM exhibit journey brought us to the Innovation Strings booth. Innovation makes handmade strings at their factory in Wales, and boast the use of non-metallic cores that hold pitch and are “virtually unaffected by climate changes.” Their different string sets are made with specific genres in mind, ranging from classical and jazz to psychobilly, and are customizable in size depending on your needs.
The manufacturer had two basses on display for trial, and I was able to get my paws on the bass strung with their “Golden Slaps” set. The strings felt smooth to the touch, with a low tension that made slapping feel like a breeze. The makers obviously have experience in the styles that they create their product for.
Innovation Strings are available starting at $149.00 per set.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
I’m not big on slapping. How was the feel on bends, the resistance on glissando slides, and was there any word on how much stretch adjustment each new set will need? At 150 a pop, how much prolonged abuse can these things handle?