Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: samsamaha on April 10, 2015, 07:44:51 PM

Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: samsamaha on April 10, 2015, 07:44:51 PM: Hello again, it's the new guy... did a search and found some old discussions but as things change I'm curious what some of you (you that slap) are using to get that nice bright Zing tone? I tried my usual Dean Markley Helix steels but they were a bit too clanky and noisy on the neck... with those robus fret wires, I think I need something more subtle.. Shall I stick with the Alembic's? How are the Rotosounds?

Nickel alloy for sure? or will Steel work? Seems steel is a bit too noisy from what I was able to gleen.. I put the Alembics back on, but they're a bit flat... not sure if they're just older, or what.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: keith_h on April 11, 2015, 05:27:52 AM: Personally I have always preferred nickel plated strings. I use Alembic strings on my small body, short scale basses. On my 5 string Orion I have been using the Dean Markley Roundcore NPS strings but I'm not sure if they are available anymore. On my fretless I use D'Addario Chromes which are a flat wound string.

Keith
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: mario_farufyno on April 11, 2015, 08:47:32 AM: Regardless slapping or not, I dig nickel strings, too. I feel it kind of matches better the proeminent highs of my Alembic.

But I'd like to point out that Alembic's filter sound different from regular bass systems. An Alembic can really puts out lots of higher harmonics from its PUs and I rarely open the filter all the way up. Also, when Q switch is engaged, it can give a big boost around the point the filters cut. An open filter with its Q engaged can make strings sounds really clanky...
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: samsamaha on April 11, 2015, 10:06:20 AM: Yeah, I quickly figured that out Mario. My initial ASSumption was that I'd open it all up, since I saw doing otherwise as limiting the bass's tone... Then I realized that this is excessive. I'm still toying with settings, but I have sort of gravitated away from pure steel strings also, maybe I'll look at coated steels later. For now, I placed an order for more Alembic sets and I'll stick with those and see how they go.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: stout71 on April 11, 2015, 10:37:10 AM: I've used Rotosound Funkmasters in the past. They are steel, but I really liked their brightness - but that was on my Warwick. They don't make a 5-string set so I can't use them on my Alembic. The strings are REALLY light gauge, 30-90 so the string spacing is a little weird getting used to at first.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: jazzyvee on April 11, 2015, 11:56:13 AM: D'addario EPS170-5SL ProSteels 5-String Bass, Light, 45-130, Super Long Scale and they have a great bright tone that works well for slapping. Plus point for me is they seem to keep they brightness for a good while longer than the Ken Smith, Fodera, DR and RCocco strings I've tried in the past. I had alembic strings on my bass in the past but they are far too expensive here in the UK. I will pick some up next time I'm in the states. :-)

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3769&productid=157&productname=EPS170_5SL_ProSteels_5_String_Bass__Light__45_130__Super_Long_Scale (http://www.daddario.com/DADProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3769&productid=157&productname=EPS170_5SL_ProSteels_5_String_Bass__Light__45_130__Super_Long_Scale)
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: edwin on April 11, 2015, 10:23:55 PM: DR Sunbeams. My favorite rounds.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: moongerm on April 12, 2015, 04:43:46 AM: DR High Beams and Sunbeams.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: malthumb on April 12, 2015, 07:21:28 AM: One of the many, many, cool things about Alembics is that the electronics allow so much flexibility that there is no one string for slap.

One of my Alembics almost always wears DR Black Beauties. I like the feel, tone, and durability of the coated roundwounds. I get all the zing I want (or need) out of those. I also use the same strings on two Music Man Sabres. Again, all the zing I need.

My other Alembic wears Ken Smith Burners or Rock Masters. Mainly because I bought a whole crapload of them years a go for practically nothing and I am slowly working my through them. They are not bad, I just like DR BB and DR Phat Beams a LOT more, so those are the strings that go on my gigging basses.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: samsamaha on April 12, 2015, 07:48:31 AM: I got a set of DR Pure Blues and tried them on, they sound good...not as noisy with some Zing.. maybe I'll try and brave some Steels by DR next. Only wish they had a silk winding on them, but they do sound great!
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: 5a_quilt_top on April 13, 2015, 12:19:47 PM: Alembic and D'addario XL.

I'm lucky, strings stay bright and last a long time for me. Even if my strings are a little old and don't sound as bright as when new, the clarity and versatility of the Alembic electronics makes it easy to compensate, so I'm not a picky as I used to be about string tone.

So, for me it's more about how the strings feel, and I like the the way Alembic and D'addario XL's respond for slap. Not too stiff or too pliable.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: samsamaha on April 15, 2015, 02:45:22 PM: Ok, after experimenting with LITERALLY a half a dozen brands of string:

-Dean Markley Helix - Steel
-Dunlop Super Brings (nickel plated)
-LaBela - round wound steel
-DR Pure Blues
-Alembic CX3 - Nickel plated

I came to the following conclusion...

The best sounding strings to my ear and most balanced between highs and brightness, and noise and clank were the Alembics! Go figure... it's just my luck since they are very hard to find and cost a fortune!

Anyway, close second was DR blue's and Dunlop Superbright, the pure steel strings I found to harsh and noisy, especially with low action the way I have it setup.

The good news is I am able to recycle those strings onto my Spector and Fender as both of those do fine with steels the way I have them setup.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: mario_farufyno on April 16, 2015, 05:50:00 AM: Sam, as you liked Alembic's most, you could try other brand's nickel roller/pressurewound sets...
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: edwin on April 16, 2015, 10:05:29 AM: I think Mario is offering good advice. As a sometime endorser of DR strings, I've found that their different strings have very different feels and sounds. Judging them all by one model is not very accurate. I would try the Sunbeams, based on what you seem to like. The Alembics are very nice, though.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: tbrannon on April 16, 2015, 11:32:32 AM: +1 on Sunbeams. They're my favorite.
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: growlypants on April 16, 2015, 01:04:16 PM: I may have to give them a try now. I've been using Alembics for years, finally switched to D'Addario XL's, but find them just a bit too thumpy. But the Alembics are a tad too bright and light. (Sigh...)
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: samsamaha on April 16, 2015, 03:51:28 PM: I will try a set of Sunbeams for reference... I did like the Pure Blues 2nd best, and the Dunlop 3rd... so yes, the nickel plated were to my liking... less clanky and noise with my low action setup.

But I found a good deal on Alembic's thru a guy on the east coast, and placed an order for 6 sets, so that should last me for at least a year or more ( I change strings often).
Title: What strings do you use for slap tone?
Post by: samsamaha on April 29, 2015, 01:15:57 PM: I haven't tried them on my Alembic yet, so I will report back when I do as I'm out of town for another week or so.. however today, while bored and killing time in Seattle, I walked into a guitar center (I know, I know)... to try a few basses and they had this import model EBMM Stingray, but what was interesting wasn't the bass, but rather the flat wound strings that came on it... they were VERY bright, and punchy with a great overall tone... Best of all they looked and felt exactly like any other flatwound... I picked up a set for $35 from them to try my bass when I get home.. not sure if I'll slap them on the Alembic or one of my others yet.. but they sounded much like this ad for them..