Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: drewphishes on March 10, 2018, 09:27:36 AM
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Hey guys,
I got an epic recently. Love it. problem is now I want more alembics...
Anyway I was looking for a less bright round and put GHS pressurewounds on it but its still to bright for me, not getting that thump I seek.
TI flats were to floppy and not bright enough
I am thinking chromes will be perfect. nice thump, good pop when I slap them (at least on my p bass) and since the bass is a bit zingy and trebly to begin with I think it will be perfect.
Anyone have any experience with this combination?
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was thinking those or the ken smith slick rounds
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Hey guys,
I got an epic recently. Love it. problem is now I want more alembics...
It happens... and I guarantee it'll happen more if you hang around here. ;D.
Chromes are okay. I have them on both of my fretless Alembics right now, and have no complaints sound-wise, but I actually prefer the softer feel of the TI's... I'm giving the D'Addarios a sportin' chance but will most likely go back to the Thomastiks eventually.
Try some other flats too. I've been through Dunlops, Pyramids, and D'Addarios so far.
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Hey, I'm a Chromes guy, myself. (I've got a Mark King Sig Deluxe 5-er...) Perhaps it's the characteristics of this particular bass, but it's always had a TON more treble than I can use, so for me, Chromes are perfect.
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As I'm sure you're aware, Chromes definitely start out more bright than other flatwounds, but not in the same way as rounds. I had Chromes on my Stanley Clarke bass and it definitely worked! (I've since switched to LaBella nickel rounds on that bass.) I find Chromes to be relatively high tension, though it depends on gauge as well. You basically have to experiment but at least Chromes aren't that expensive.
I use LaBella flatwounds on my Guild fretless & Gibson Les Paul Triumph, pretty much all thump with no zing
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yes I have chromes on a p bass and love it, I just threw the TI flats on the alembic and cant vibe with it, however it is making me re think the switch to chromes as the pressurewounds have a nice growl to them and a nice snap with slap! ahh decisions!
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Drew, you really need to try them for yourself to know for sure. No amount of opinions will compare with actually trying them for yourself.
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Yes I Know, just wondering if anyones had experience before I try. I just had the bass setup and nut filed for the current gauge strings in there, so not just an easy switch prob will need a setup again so just trying to get any info before I take it back to the tech for a change out
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Yes I Know, just wondering if anyones had experience before I try. I just had the bass setup and nut filed for the current gauge strings in there, so not just an easy switch prob will need a setup again so just trying to get any info before I take it back to the tech for a change out
I can see how you want to take it to a tech to have the nut and saddles filed. Any other setup change you can do yourself. Just follow Joey's instructions by the letter.
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I use Chromes on my fretless Orion because of their brightness. As you've seen on your Precision they can get a decent slap tone. Like Harry they are a pretty high tension string to me but that doesn't bother as much as it would on a fretted bass.
As I suggested in your other thread you might want to try a ground round wound the GHS version is their Brite Flats. I have been using them on my Jazz Bass since the late 70's. The are not as bright as the pressure wounds but I like the slap and pop.
One suggestion I have is since you are hunting for strings don't worry about the bass setup. It really won't make a big difference in evaluating the strings themselves and will save you some money if you are going to pay someone else to do the setup. Once you've settled on a string then I would look at getting everything setup to you liking.
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BTW, seeing that brightness is an issue - you know that the Treble knob offers more cut than boost?
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I found Chromes to be very exhausting on my Epic, though that may have been
more of a set up issue. The tension really wore me out. I switched to TI Flats and
never looked back.
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Anyone have any sound samples or
Recordings with chromes and alembic pickuops?
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I'm 95% sure this is Chromes - it's my 5-string Stanley Clarke strung EADGC through Alembic F-2B preamp, but I had too much bridge pickup so later I put it through my Alembic SF-2 to emphasize the low end. Played with pick.
https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/initial-android-avarice (https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/initial-android-avarice)
This is my Alembicized Telecaster Bass - strung with chromes, split-coil P-Bass Activator, played slap with the filter all the way open with the built-in Q boost (+8?), through another Alembic F-2B preamp.
https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/8b4x4 (https://soundcloud.com/hieronymous-seven/8b4x4)
I think that's all I've got!
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thanks dude! great samples. I think everyone is right, I am gonna have to try it out and then if I like it get it set up again
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I love Chromes on alembics. Probably my favorite string on any active bass. I also like DR sunbeams, which are a groundwound.
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So in case anyone was wondering. Got the chromes in and slapped them on the epic to see if I liked the tone. And altho I do like it, I surprisingly dont like it as much as the rounds. The epic lost its growl, with the chromes. W the rounds I can eq and get close to a flats sound when I drop the treble but with the flats even w the treble up it just didnt have the same growl and meanness to it.
No biggy put the rounds back on and all good. I have a p bass w flats on it if I ever need that yone so alls well that ends well
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I just put some Optima Gold Roundwounds on one of my basses and I absolutely love them.
Might be my favorite strings I have ever used.
Here is a pretty good video demonstrating them on a P style bass.
About $65 for a 4 string set but worth it in my opinion.
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I use D'Addario flat wound chromes on my 5 string and I have yet to find something better.
It is all about personal taste however I do play in several cover bands and have been omplimented
on the versatility of my bass and the spectrum of tones it brings to the broad range of tunes we play.
I can get that dull thud of '60s R&B to bright '80s slap sounds.
Individual results may vary!
slawie
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Ground round wounds are in between the two and just might be the ticket.
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I also like DR sunbeams, which are a groundwound.
Are you sure about that? I thought they were just nickel rounds on a round core. Love 'em, in any case!
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I also like DR sunbeams, which are a groundwound.
Are you sure about that? I thought they were just nickel rounds on a round core. Love 'em, in any case!
I'm wrong pretty often.... i thought they were groundwounds, but its quite possible they aren't. Either way, like you, I love em!