Vintage Pyramids

[KR]

I found a --very-- old NOS original set of Pyramid 640/1 long scale flatwounds from the 70's, maybe older. I carefully put them on my '77 MSB. Gotta say, these sound pretty amazing. The sustain is really good, and surprisingly close to the sustain of roundwounds. I've tried and taken off -many- other brands of flats on this bass because they just didn't ring out properly. Sound-wise the vibe of these strings inspires expressive playing. They play easily, kinda like a lighter 100-40 gauge roundwound set. The vintage Maxima flatwound sets, that I also have, and that came on vintage 4001 basses are similar, and close, but not quite as special. Color me impressed.

[rv_bass]

I agree!  I know lots of people like lots of other strings on their basses, but I just think Pyramid flatwounds sound great on an Alembic bass. 

[KR]

I agree. The Pyramids sound cool with the Series 1 system. I'll probably try the 105-45 version of these, too, as I like a bit more tension.

[edwardofhuncote]

I had them on my '81 Distillate for a while, and I agree; that is a special sound, seemingly tailored for a good working relationship with Alembic electronics. I may have to do that again.

[hieronymous]

I've tried a lot of different brands of strings but Pyramids are one brand i've never had the opportunity to play. Someday!

Do you think the vintage ones are the same as current ones?

I picked up a set of vintage Gibson strings - I'm hesitant to put them on anything!

[KR]

I wouldn't know. I'm not sure how much variance there is from year to year in the metal they source for string making. As material suppliers change or go out of business some products may change, I don't know if Pyramid has changed. I have a set of those Gibson flats. They are sort of like Labella, and some other Gibson sets were made by Maxima, who make a similar string to Pyramid. I'm just getting home from a gig where the Pyramids were surprisingly good sounding, especially considering I play roundwounds on my '77 MSB up until tonight. Today, I took off the Swing Bass 105-45, installed and intonated the Pyramids, loosened the truss rod, raised the action, and went straight to my gig.

[edwardofhuncote]

Well I dug around in the string box last night, and found those Pyramid Golds... brought them to work with me this weekend... going to slip them back onto 81D 1986 if I get a few quiet minutes in here this afternoon. It's currently wearing my favorite T-I Jazz Flats, but I remember how much I liked the darker tone of the Pyramids too.


Thanks for the inspiration! 

[ducatidoc]

I have several 4-string sets of 40-100 Pyramid gold flats in my collection of bric a brac. They’re the only flatwounds I use.  Pyramid has supplied the OEM strings for Hofner since at least the mid 50’s and like everybody says, they are different from other flats in the way they feel and sustain.  One important hack if you haven’t found out already, is to thoroughly wipe them down with alcohol before installing, unless you like black fingertips.  (The last thing they do is polish the wrap before they’re packaged, so you will be cleaning off the dust and grit from that process.)

[edwardofhuncote]

Well, shucks... it somehow slipped my mind, but the E string from this set of Pyramids broke off at the tuning machine one time when I was putting it on a Starfire. I have a couple more take-off sets of Pyramids, but they are cut for my fretless Alembics. 


Oh well, at least I have a bass to play at work today... call that a win! 

[hieronymous]

I wouldn't know. I'm not sure how much variance there is from year to year in the metal they source for string making. As material suppliers change or go out of business some products may change, I don't know if Pyramid has changed. I have a set of those Gibson flats. They are sort of like Labella, and some other Gibson sets were made by Maxima, who make a similar string to Pyramid. I'm just getting home from a gig where the Pyramids were surprisingly good sounding, especially considering I play roundwounds on my '77 MSB up until tonight. Today, I took off the Swing Bass 105-45, installed and intonated the Pyramids, loosened the truss rod, raised the action, and went straight to my gig.

I seem to remember discussion 10-20 years ago about T I Jazz Flats and how they were possibly similar to what Pyramids used to be like or something like that - that's why I asked. I'm expecting the vintage Gibson strings to be pretty high tension but actually have no idea. I don't like super-loose - T I's are a bit too floppy for me usually (they work on my doubleneck though) You've definitely piqued my curiosity to try Pyramids out! But wow they're expensive! I'm already working out in my mind which bass(es) I'd use them on - probably try them out on my Les Paul Triumph, then hopefully switch them over to my EB-2 that is going to get a Novak Bi-Sonic installed.

[KR]

When you get them on you're going to hear a meaty, distinct note on your gig, E of H. The NOS set I put on has the 105 E string. I'm going to try the 45, 65, 85, 105 set Pyramid makes, too. Overall, a full and articulate sounding flat that plays easily. Even the D and G strings are full sounding. I don't miss any output compared to the steel Swing Bass. They sound great in the band mix, too. Another example of the Alembic pioneers knowing what they were doing in every aspect of instrument making and tone.

[KR]

My set of Gibson in a box like yours were medium lightish--put them on and see what yours are. The E was much darker than the rest of the set with mine. I hear the TI's are a little lighter tension than Pyramid.

[KR]

Has anyone kept a set of Pyramids from back in the day when Alembic was installing them?

[edwin]

I seem to remember discussion 10-20 years ago about T I Jazz Flats and how they were possibly similar to what Pyramids used to be like or something like that - that's why I asked. I'm expecting the vintage Gibson strings to be pretty high tension but actually have no idea. I don't like super-loose - T I's are a bit too floppy for me usually (they work on my doubleneck though) You've definitely piqued my curiosity to try Pyramids out! But wow they're expensive! I'm already working out in my mind which bass(es) I'd use them on - probably try them out on my Les Paul Triumph, then hopefully switch them over to my EB-2 that is going to get a Novak Bi-Sonic installed.

I used to use TI flats before I discovered Pyramids were still available. Pyramids are a whole different game. They have a much smoother midrange that supports the natural overtone series while TI's have this weird clangorous sound to them that makes it really hard to get all the various tones out of them by feel.

Hm, this thread reminds me that it might be close to time to change my strings again. I think it's been at least 18 months.

[KR]

Edwin, have you kept any used or new vintage sets from back in the day?