Author Topic: Need help on bass strings (Read 391 times)

sonicus · « **Reply #15 on:** December 23, 2009, 03:17:53 PM »

I have a set of Chromes on one of my non- Alembics . They are OK but I still prefer The SOUND of The PYRAMID GOLD for flats.

pauldo · « **Reply #16 on:** December 23, 2009, 03:24:38 PM »

Welcome to the dark side Bill. ;-)
On my fretless bastard bass I use Fender Black Tape Wounds. . . they have been on for years! Tension seems ok to me (medium) but I am a bassist who is a frustrated guitarist.

Not sure if they would give you the brightness that the Alembic electronics could really 'sparkle' with.

mike1762 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 23, 2009, 04:53:29 PM »

Wow!!! I'm surprised to hear how long a set of strings lasts you guys. I've started using DRs and they seem to last a little longer than RotoSounds. But I've NEVER gotten more than a month out of a set of strings. When I was playing nightly, I changed every week. I used a very bright and lively live tone and could literally hear the life go out of the strings mid-song. I sweated a lot, so maybe that was the problem.

David Houck · « **Reply #18 on:** December 23, 2009, 05:24:11 PM »

Mike; although I'm practicing just about every day, I'm not playing out; so the quality of the sound isn't as important as it would be if I had a gig. Of course I would love to be practicing with new strings, but the main reason I haven't changed strings is cost; I have significant cash flow issues, and at close to $80 a set, new strings are not a consideration. So I have my rig EQ'd around dead strings; if I ever get new strings again, I'll have to change all my settings.

sonicus · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2009, 05:31:19 PM »

I never got much life out of RotoSounds. They DO sound great when new . When I was playing 4 sets a gig 3 or more nights a week for the larger part of the 1980's and into the 90's; I discovered DEAN MARKLEYS in the early 80's and I immediately noticed how much longer they sounded good.

pauldo · « **Reply #20 on:** December 23, 2009, 05:34:54 PM »

Mike - I also am not gigging as often as I used to.
I also have real sweaty hands so I am wiping my strings off religously and periodically take a rag with a little alcohol on it and wipe them down individually.

But on the other hand I have been shying away from the real bright tone (except for when I am slappin and poppin trying to do my best Keavin imitation!) - I use GHS Boomers on my Distillate but won't change them until one breaks, then its the whole set.

Back in the day when I played out alot, I would never go more than two months without a fresh set.

darkstar01 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 23, 2009, 05:39:28 PM »

i think flat wounds just last longer in general because there's less of a dynamic range to begin with, compared to rounds. i know a set of flats will sound brand new for months whereas a set of rounds will last for about a week before they start to sound dead. look at upright strings, for example. i know guys that haven't changed those in literally decades, and they still sound great (not counting gut strings. i don't really know anything about those).
i know just about everyone will tell you flats are better with a fretless, but i never liked the combination. if you're not a bass player, though, it's the easy way to go. and i can second the chromes suggestion, and la bella makes nice flats, too.

sonicus · « **Reply #22 on:** December 23, 2009, 06:04:46 PM »

The GREAT Late John Kahn ( Jerry Garcia Band and many others) liked to use LA BELLA flats and he liked to leave them on his bass for a very long time .

dela217 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 23, 2009, 06:06:35 PM »

I also use the Chromes.

I gig every weekend, sometimes more. My last set of Chromes were on my bass for 4 years. I had to change them because I broke one. They sounded great right before one broke. In fact when I put the new set on, I liked the 4 year old strings much better.

dluxe · « **Reply #24 on:** December 23, 2009, 06:57:12 PM »

I've got DR Hi Beams on my Series 1 but John over at Bass Emporium swears by the Thomastik Jazz Flats. I'm torn between those and the Pyramid Flats for my next set of strings. I've heard that the original Series basses all came with flats and the pickups and electronics were designed with flats in mind.

sonicus · « **Reply #25 on:** December 23, 2009, 07:21:16 PM »

That's right I believe the original Series basses came with PYRAMID GOLD flats.

keith_h · « **Reply #26 on:** December 24, 2009, 05:24:27 AM »

Mike,
I hear you about liking the old set of Chromes better than the new set. I found it took about a week for the Chromes to loosen up and settle in.

Keith

jack · « **Reply #27 on:** December 24, 2009, 07:02:54 AM »

Could Sonicus (or anyone else) compare the tension of the Pyramid Golds to the TI JFs? I'd guess the tension on the golds is somewhere in between the TI Jazz Flats and Chromes?

sonicus · « **Reply #28 on:** December 24, 2009, 07:22:04 AM »

Hi jack . I have used the Pyramids and the Chromes but have not yet tried the TI jazz flats. The Chromes have higher tension then the Pyramids . Perhaps This link will be of some help.
http://www.thestringguy.com/tension.html

Happy Holidays_______

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #29 on:** December 24, 2009, 07:33:42 AM »

Wow, thanks for that link, Wolf

Author Topic: Need help on bass strings (Read 391 times)

darkstar01