Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: bassplayer on August 07, 2005, 02:48:35 PM

Title: Strings
Post by: bassplayer on August 07, 2005, 02:48:35 PM

Hello everyone,
 
My first real post since i've registered (and THAT was a long time ago!)
I've been wondering what kind (and brand) of strings you use on your Alembic Bass. Do you use the Brand that Alembic provides, or......
I know that it is what you prefer personally, but i'm still curious to find out.
 
Kind regards,
 
Bassplayer

Title: Strings
Post by: keith_h on August 07, 2005, 02:55:52 PM

Frits,
 Lot's of threads and opinions on this subject. I use Alembic strings on my short scale Brown Bass and GHS Brite Flats (ground round wound) on my 5 string Orion. Planning to try D'Adario Chrome flats on the fretless I've ordered. A lot of folks here will also swear by TI Jazz Flats.
 
Keith

Title: Strings
Post by: David Houck on August 07, 2005, 08:10:18 PM

As Keith said, there have been many threads on the subject of strings, and taken in whole they suggest that Alembic owners use a wide variety of types and makes.  If there is a particular brand you are interested in, you might want to run a search of the board for threads that have discussed that brand.

Title: Strings
Post by: the_mule on August 08, 2005, 05:51:16 AM

I'm very satisfied with GHS Bassboomers on my EVH-4, massive sound for both slap and fingerstyle.
 
Wilfred

Title: Strings
Post by: howierd on August 08, 2005, 07:19:48 AM

I'm a Roto Sound user. I've been using them since the early 70's. They seem to last me forever.
Howard

Title: Strings
Post by: dumfuxx on August 08, 2005, 04:04:26 PM

I've fell in love with fodera victor wooten specials.  Even my drummer roommate thought they sounded great, and all drummers are deaf.

Title: Strings
Post by: jseitang on August 08, 2005, 05:33:34 PM

on my series II , i use dadarrio flatwounds.

Title: Strings
Post by: darkstar01 on August 08, 2005, 07:58:51 PM

I use D'addario soft wounds on all my fretted basses, and half wounds on my fretlesses. They've never disappointed.

Title: Strings
Post by: flaxattack on August 08, 2005, 08:45:50 PM

forget them all
thomastik infeld flat wounds are the bomb....
i tried everything out there

Title: Strings
Post by: indigo on August 08, 2005, 10:27:33 PM

Hi,
 
No one uses Alembic strings?  Of the strings that I've used (admittedly not many) I love the feel of the Alembic strings on my new Orion.  Perhaps I'll have to try some of the strings mentioned above.
 
Troy

Title: Strings
Post by: jseitang on August 09, 2005, 12:35:26 AM

if only alembic made flatwounds... i'd buy them by the case!

Title: Strings
Post by: keith_h on August 09, 2005, 04:12:31 AM

Troy,
 I said stated in my update above  I use Alembic strings on my Brown Bass but use GHS Brite Flats on my Orion.  
 
Keith

Title: Strings
Post by: jacko on August 09, 2005, 05:20:55 AM

I have Alembic strings on my rogue and love the sound and feel so I will probably send off to the US for more - can't get them this side of the pond.  
I have DR Fat Beams on the Epic, they give a really nice 'Marcus miller' tone but I'll probably put alembics back on when the time comes.
 
Graeme

Title: Strings
Post by: darkstar01 on August 09, 2005, 06:07:54 PM

In my opinion, flatwounds just arent as versatile as rounds. When it comes to flats, though, I have to agree with Jeff; Thomastiks are the best. I tend to have a hard time getting a decent sound other than the fat 'Jazz Bass' tone with flats, though.  
 
What about upright strings? Anybody? I've recently been turned on to Obligato's and i LOVE them.
 
Austin

Title: Strings
Post by: richbass939 on August 10, 2005, 08:57:20 PM

On my German 3/4, I've been playing D'Addario Helicore mediums.  They are orchestral, made more for arco than pizzicato.  I play more pizz than arco but I like them. I've never tried Pirastros.  Do they have a good gut sound?  
Rich

Title: Strings
Post by: matthew90046 on August 10, 2005, 10:02:26 PM

I use D'Addario XL nickel round wound medium scale on my Distillate.  
.050 - .070 - .085 - .105
 I like D'Addario because I get that new string sound for a much longer time than many other brands.  I figure that if I get that new string sound for twice as long that the strings must perform for twice as long.  It's just a guess, but they also sound good.

Title: Strings
Post by: xlrogue6 on August 11, 2005, 08:49:26 AM

Elixirs on my fretted Rogue 6.
LaBella tapes on the fretless Rogue 6.  (If Thomastik gets around to making a extra long 6 string flatwound set I'd probably switch.)
D'Addario Heliocore Orchestral mediums on my upright, which I much prefer to the Spirocores I used to use, both pizz and arco.

Title: Strings
Post by: richbass939 on August 11, 2005, 06:33:52 PM

Kent, we both seem to be happy with the same kinds of strings.  I know from previous string threads that I'm kind of in the minority.  Some people here really like D'Addario Chrome Flats.  I took them off my Alembic faster than I have ever removed new strings.  
I really like the sound and longevity of Elixirs.  
Rich

Title: Strings
Post by: kmh364 on August 12, 2005, 07:34:23 AM

I actually like the Strings that came on my Alembic. I don't know who makes 'em for Mica and co, though.
 
I bought a few sets of those German-made Maxima/Optima 24k Gold Plated strings (45's) that JAE loved on his Spyders and Buzzards, but I haven't tried 'em yet. I figured even if they stink, they'll make for a good photo op on my Orion, LOL!
 
But,then again, what the hell do I know. I'm a half-*ssed guitarist that masquerades as a bassist now and again, LOL!.
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin

Title: Strings
Post by: bigredbass on August 13, 2005, 07:35:10 PM

GHS Boomers.  
 
They're like Sears, I can get them anywhere.  Get off the bus in Iowa and try and find (insert your favorite boutique string here) at Mom + Pop's Music and you've only got two hours before the show.
 
And remember this famous and un-attributed adage:
Take Great Care of Your Strings . . .  and they'll go dead anyway!
 
J o e y

Title: Strings
Post by: mpisanek on August 14, 2005, 09:13:13 AM

On my fretted spoiler 6 I use Elixirs.  I love the bright sound they give the instrument.
 
On my upright I use Thomastik.  On that I like the rounded sound of those strings.

Title: Strings
Post by: malthumb on August 14, 2005, 12:55:49 PM

I like the Alembic strings for both my Series basses, but I recently made a seriously sick deal on some Ken Smith Rock Masters.  I've been using the Rock Masters on my Hanewinckels, so I knew ahead of time that I liked them.  The deal?  A few months ago, Sam Ash was having a Blow-Out on Ken Smith strings.  $9.95 a set.  They're normally $27 - $31 per set.  Let's just say that I bought enough 5 and 6 string sets to last me a little while.
 
Peace,
 
James

Title: Strings
Post by: jetbass79 on August 19, 2005, 02:26:34 PM

I have been a D'Addario user for years, and I use them on my Fenders but I decided to stick with Alembic CX3s on my Alembic because I do really like the sound they have and they seem to last for a long time.  They're hard to find though.  I went to JustStrings.com and got the last set of 45-105 and my second set was backordered.  I am still curious as to who makes strings for Alembic or if they actually make their own.

Title: Strings
Post by: jazzyvee on August 19, 2005, 02:55:40 PM

I have only used the alembic strings on my sc deluxe and don;'t have any complaints.
I was recommended to try rotosound groundwounds. But couldn't find a short scale set. So i got some for my  musicman sterling. Apart from the fact that they dont have a good feel under my fingers,  they feel quite abrasive, lots of finger noise and not very good for sliding your fingers on and like sandpaper.  
 
They sound loud crisp and marcus miller like but powerful and agressive.
 
I see no reason to change the alembic strings on my sc.  
fyi Jacko I'm in the uk and order my alembic strings from  
http://www.juststrings.com/alm-cx-3-45s.html (http://www.juststrings.com/alm-cx-3-45s.html)
and they arrived within 5 days of me placing the order on the website.  
 
and they are a good price too.

Title: Strings
Post by: bassplayer2106 on August 19, 2005, 03:16:13 PM

I tried some Alembic strings some years ago and was very impressed with them.
Trouble is that I have been using light gauge 30-90's for the last 15 years or so and Alembic don't seem to do them.
I currently use Status hotwire strings which are excellent.

Title: Strings
Post by: rockbassist on August 20, 2005, 08:19:37 PM

Over the years I have tried jsut about every string on the market. For several of those years I used DR Marcus Miller Fat Beams. Now I only use Curt Mangan Strings. They have a warm, fat tone with plenty of punch. They seem to last longer than the DRs as well.

Title: Strings
Post by: David Houck on August 21, 2005, 07:08:37 AM

Hi Kevin; welcome to the group!

Title: Strings
Post by: jacko on August 22, 2005, 12:42:06 AM

Thanks for the heads up jazzy. I'll be ordering pretty soon.
 
Graeme

Title: Strings
Post by: ox_junior on August 24, 2005, 12:39:21 PM

I'm a traditionalist.
 
Hold your group together...with ROTOSOUND STRINGS!
 
 Mike

Title: Strings
Post by: gare on August 24, 2005, 03:37:30 PM

For years I used Roto's on my Rick and Spector. The only complaint with them is they don't seem to last very long..love the sound tho.
So far on the Alembic I've tried the original Alembic strings, D'Addario XL's, D'Addario ground wounds, Roto's, and DR Sunbeams. Liked the XL's but they didn't have the midrangey crunch I like. Hated the feel of the ground wounds for the same reason as Jazzyvee stated above, the Alembic strings were nice. But I'm really liking the Sunbeams, nice overall sound, good midrange and low end, and they seem to have some longevity. They been on the instrument almost 2 months and haven't gone dead and retain much of their original sound. And I play em between 30 and 60 minutes a day.  
 
Gary

Title: Strings
Post by: bassplayer on September 02, 2005, 01:05:11 PM

Hi all,
 
Thanks for the time to post your comments/ideas/thoughts etc,. It will prove to be challenging IMHO to find MY kind of strings, but THIS thread was definitely helpful!
 
Grtz,
 
Bassplayer

Title: Strings
Post by: hankster on September 03, 2005, 05:39:12 AM

Alembics on my SJ;
GHS Boomers on my Stingray;
Thomastiks on my NS Designs upright and my German acoustic.
 
Happy with all of 'em.
 
Rick

Title: Strings
Post by: worldfamousandy on September 06, 2005, 08:33:55 AM

I was a believer in D'Addario EXL 170's for a long time, because the sound was good, and I could get them almost anywhere.  A year or so ago, I got introduced to the EXP 170's, which are coated rounds.  They sound like EXL's that have had about 8 hours of playing on them, and they hold that sound for a long time!  I get about 4 times the life than I did on the EXL's, and I think they play a little easier, as well.
 
As for fretless, I will never put rounds on one again.  I wrecked the fingerboard on my Fender, so I have no fretless anymore.  My next fretless will only get flats.