Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: kalle on February 05, 2004, 11:32:01 PM

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: kalle on February 05, 2004, 11:32:01 PM

Hello, i am interested in your choices.  
I have tested different strings on my 5-String basses.
My favorites so far:
 
DR Lo Riders  
Dean Markley Blue Steel
Fodera  
Elixir
 
Which Strings do you play on your Alembic?
 
cu  
 
Kalle

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: angelboy on February 06, 2004, 12:25:47 AM

I'm trying a set of LaBella 'Hard Rocking Steels' at the moment - 45's. They're quite expensive in the UK but a few players I know have been raving about their 'Slappers' so I wanted to give the brand a go.
 
Only had 'em on a couple of weeks but I like 'em.
 
I've got a set of DR's + Swing 66's in the case to try next.

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: thebass on February 06, 2004, 03:48:34 AM

I like the shining sound of the Roto Steels on my 4 string Signature. 40-55-75-95 or 40-60-80-100 I like most.

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: harald_rost on February 06, 2004, 04:07:42 AM

I preferred Rotosound, Ken Smith Rockmaster and Warwick Black Label in the past. Now my favorit is Elixir Nanoweb because they last longer and they feel smoother. Only one disadvantage: The can get hot if you're sliding heavily over the frets.
 
Harald
 
 

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: jet_powers on February 06, 2004, 06:32:45 AM

I almost always use Roto's Swing Bass. However, I tried a set of DR Tapers for my Rogue 5 and it puts out quite a nice tone. In fact I was at an audition the other night and the guitarist commented on the tone of the bass. He asked if it was the instrument or the strings. Of course, it was both!
 
JP

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: malthumb on February 07, 2004, 09:52:17 AM

I have only used Alembic CX-3 on my 5 string bass.  My 4 string came to me with Roto Sound Swing Bass (?) 66, I think.  I went a couple cycles with those, then switched over to CX-3 for that bass, too.  I have some Ken Smith taper wounds that I'm gonna try at some point.  I use them on my other basses.  They're more readily available in the Detroit area than CX-3, though I don't mind mail ordering my CX-3 strings.
 
Peace,
 
James

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: jorge_s on February 07, 2004, 10:19:20 AM

I also like the sound of DR low riders.  I do find that the CX-3 keep their brightness longer.  They also seem to be kinder on my fingers; the windings don't seem as sharp as other brands.

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: waggaboy on February 08, 2004, 01:45:55 PM

On my Stanley Clarke for Funk gigs I am using D'Addario EXP165 strings...  They are relatively low tension (particularly on the short scale) and provide a lot of harmonic content... very sweet

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: rami on February 08, 2004, 07:33:55 PM

Dean Markley Nickel Plated Blue Steels!
 
Less aggressive than pure steels such as the Smith Rock Masters and Rotos.
 
Alembic Basses sound brite enough.  Nickel plated steels take some of the extreme edge off, and give some smoothness and balance to the tone.
 
But that's just my opinion. To find your own sound - You've gotta try 'em all and see what suits you best.
 
Good luck,
 
Rami

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: ajdover on February 09, 2004, 05:56:04 PM

Rotosound RS 66LMs on my Exploiter and Rotosound RS 66LC's on my soon to arrive Spyder.  I also use RS 66LCs on my 74-75 Gibson Ripper, '76 Rickenbacker 4001, '79 Musicman, '87 Gibson Thunderbird, and '73 and '94 Jazz Basses as well.  Just love that growl.
 
Alan

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: musikill on February 10, 2004, 04:20:40 PM

I'm with James on this - I like the CX-3's.  Just have to order a few sets at a time because you can't find them locally and I'm in Los Angels, so I'm guessing they are hard to find just about anywhere.  The CX-3's are nickel if I'm not mistaken so they are kinder on the frets.  I would think steel strings would be a bit too bright on an Alembic.

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: drz on February 11, 2004, 06:34:31 AM

I have tried several brands of strings and aside from the obvious differences between steel and nickle, I just dont hear much difference from one brand to the next.  See what 25 years of loud rock and roll will do for you (:

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: bracheen on February 11, 2004, 12:13:45 PM

I think like Ron.  I don't hear a lot of difference between brands. Of course the flats on my fretless sound different than the rounds on the fretted.  I've probably not used the same string twice in a row in my quest for the perfect string. Two things I rate them on is longivity and ability to stay in tune.
 
Sam

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: bonesrad on February 11, 2004, 02:23:32 PM

I'm in the CX-3 camp.  I've never used any other set of strings on any of the Alembics that I've owned over the years.
 
Bones

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: kalle on February 11, 2004, 11:34:32 PM

hey you all thx for your informations.  
as far as in did not had the possibility to test the alembic strings (they are made by ghs right?) until now please let me know the tension of the strings is.
I have heard that they are very hard to play.
is this correct, especially compared to the dr lo riders ?
kalle

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: captain_jan on February 13, 2004, 05:29:04 AM

Moi Kalle,
 
Yes, I tried Alembic strings a long time ago and I did find them hard to play as well. Also I could not find gauges made by Alembic light enough for me since I use a set of 30-50-70-90 which are very light indeed. I have used Elites on my Alembics and Status and Superwounds on the Jaydee. Well, actually I haven't changed any of them for ages....maybe I should but on an active-circuit bass I can't really say I would be disturbed by older more dead set of strings....Maybe because I haven't heard the difference in a long time..  
 
All the bass
Jan

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: kr4bass on February 13, 2004, 01:49:15 PM

So far the best tone I've found has been with DR Lo-riders on my Epic 4. My only complaint is that is seems that the D string lost it's pop more quickly than the other strings.So they have a new home on my Warwick fretless. I put a fresh set of DR Hi-Beams and man, I forgot how bright they are! I'll wear 'em out and try a nickel plated string next. I'll also get a set of the Lo-riders just in case. So, there is my 2 cents. Hope it helps.

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: kalle on February 13, 2004, 03:09:19 PM

@kr4bass
hi, i preferred the dr-lo rider strings on my spector ns5, but they don't do well on the rogue. somehow the sound seems not to be well balanced and they become muddy very quickly. so i switched back to the foderas. great strings. they keep there sound longer than rotosound and are very well balanced over the whole spectrum.  
unfortunately i do not have the possibility to check the alembic cx3. there is no store in germany.

Title: Which Strings Do You Play ???
Post by: elzie on February 13, 2004, 05:33:24 PM

Personally, I play all four  
 
 
Okay, enough of the humor! I use Dean Markley Blue Steel strings. I have tried Alembic's strings and I didn't like them- sorry! I have tried a lot of different strings, but keep going back to the Blue Steels. I do, however, like the Elixir's, but I don't think they are worth the $50 pricetag.
 
 
Paul TGO