Author Topic: Strings, strings,strings- what are you using? (Read 1876 times)

bob · « **Reply #60 on:** June 20, 2004, 12:04:29 AM »

Joey! Welcome back! Even if you're just dropping in for a brief visit, nice to know you're okay.

Yeah, looks like you could get two and a half or three sets of Boomers for the price of one set of Jazz Flats (how long do the Boomers last for you?), and I have yet to see a set of Jazz Flats in a store, 'even here' in the SF Bay area.

But Steve Barr is great for price, plus having them in stock and usually getting them in the mail the same day. I've got two spare sets sitting on my dining room table, works for me.

SoM - thanks for getting back with your observations. I think you're right on in saying I didn't think that flatwounds could sound like this. My first set of TI's were the Jazz Rounds, and they were just way better than anything I'd played before, sort of a whole 'nother level. Then a couple of people, who I was starting to trust, told me that you really don't lose much (brightness, clarity, expressiveness, interest) going to the flats, so I decided to try them.

I've still got a spare set of rounds (34 5 string) laying around, that I should probably offer up here at some point, because they're just going to waste...

Anyway, Joey, you were gone just long enough for me to catch up on posts :-) But the really curious thing was that today someone mentioned those bass cabs with a bunch of 5 drivers, that you pointed out to me shortly before you disappeared, so I was thinking about you.
-Bob

palembic · « **Reply #61 on:** June 20, 2004, 01:25:48 AM »

BROTHER JOEY,

you are back!!!!
Man ...call me sentimental but that's a great feeling. I am SO glad you are OK.

To the younger brothers and sisters between us: brother Joey is the one who gave us the flawless precise method to set-up an Alembic properly (no offence meant to you all Alembicians in Santa Rosa).

Joey did you read the post where I ste up the Alembic basses of my Dutch friend Jan-Willem. He was amazed I am going home with TWO NEW basses were his own words.
I said I was not to thank but you in fact.

Anyway ...welcome back!!!!

Paul the bad one

bigredbass · « **Reply #62 on:** June 20, 2004, 11:37:03 PM »

Well, it's always nice to be missed !

After my previous computer went to cyber heaven, it took me a while to decide what to replace it with . . . I finally wised up and bought a friend's computer, rather than wasting any more time on specs, bus speeds, Gb's.

Have had quite some changes in my life since I was here last, both wonderful and terrifying. But I've donned 'My Brave Face' to quote one of my favorite Mc tunes, and it's good to be with you all again, Bob and Paul.

The really funny thing about those Phil Jones 5 cabinets: He makes an amp that uses Soviet radio station broadcast tubes (the size of beer bottles!) that makes a zillion watts for about 10 or 20 grand. I need to find that website again, because it's just beyond bizarre.

J o e y

dnburgess · « **Reply #63 on:** June 21, 2004, 02:09:20 AM »

Joey - is this what you're looking for: http://www.philjonesbass.com/PRODUCTS/AMP/T-500.htm

dnburgess · « **Reply #64 on:** June 21, 2004, 03:02:14 AM »

Joey - is this what you're looking for: http://www.philjonesbass.com/PRODUCTS/AMP/T-500.htm

gbarchus · « **Reply #65 on:** June 24, 2004, 11:52:44 AM »

Just a note on the cost of TI Jazz Flats. I have had a set on one of my basses for over two years of weekly if not daily use. I wipe them down everytime I use them and they don't seem to wear out. As far as brightness goes, for me, they sound like round wounds after a few days of use, but the quality doesn't degrade over time. I have backup sets, but haven't had the need to change them (Many of the old players only changed flatwounds when they broke!). Also, as Mica once told me, using flatwounds allows you to open up [my words] the EQ on an Alembic. I was a bit apprehensive about switching to a 100 E string, but the TI Flats are bassier than many 105s and the lower tension brings some relief to my tired, old hands.

Gale

gbarchus · « **Reply #66 on:** June 24, 2004, 12:09:59 PM »

Another note about TI Flats: I was a big Yes fan in the 70s (Fragile is still one of my favorite albums) and I loved the sound I got from Rotosound round wounds on my Rickenbacker (even though I had to change them every week to keep the brightness!). After hearing the Dead I put some Rotosound flats on that Rick and started using a pick. Last weekend, I was listing to a live recording of my current band and on one tune where I was using a pick with my TI Flats (on a Fender Jazz 62 Reissue) there was a tone reminiscent of that ol' Ricky.

effclef · « **Reply #67 on:** June 24, 2004, 02:25:54 PM »

OH MY GOSH...that Jones bass amp uses 813s! That's an RF (shortwave) transmitter tube from the pre-WWII era I think. Yes: 1938.

http://faculty.frostburg.edu/phys/latta/ee/wing813amp/813.html

Amazing. Ten thousand dollars? I don't know about that. If you were handy with a soldering iron and could put together an amp, you could probably do it for $1000 even if you bought a new power transformer from Peter Dahl and got new tubes and sockets and didn't take apart old aircraft transmitters.

As for strings, after all this talk about TI Jazz Flats I just ordered a set and will definitely like to give them a workout. The strings I have tried and liked the best have been DR Sunbeams, the nickel coated roundwound, 45-65-85-105.

http://www.drstrings.com/sunbeams.htm

I did try their Marcus Miller Fatbeams (stainless round core if I remember right) and Lo Riders (nickel hex core...also available in stainless) which I didn't like as much as the Sunbeams. I think Sunbeams would be my desert island string set.

EffClef

adriaan · « **Reply #68 on:** June 24, 2004, 02:59:34 PM »

Okay, I'm still a big TI Jazz Flats fan BUT the new set I put on my fretless has a dull A string. As always, the rest of the set is a bit trebly, but that will wear off before long. I'm pretty sure the set will become more balanced after a while, but a dull A string at that price?

I just put a set of D'Addario Slowounds 45-100 on my 32 Spoiler, which had a lighter set (Vinci? 40-90?) on it from the place where I bought it. The heavier gauge certainly helps A WHOLE BIG LOT in terms of lows and sustain, so anyone looking for more lows and sustain? check your string gauges. But they're kind of stiff - though after a few days they are starting to grow a bit gentler on the fingers.

For sound and feel, in the past, I liked DR LoRiders a lot. Around here you can only get those or HiBeams, which I think have a bit of distortion built into them. I'd be interested in those Sunbeams, if only I could find them.

(Message edited by adriaan on June 24, 2004)

bob · « **Reply #69 on:** June 25, 2004, 12:34:48 AM »

adriaan,

There was an issue earlier this year with some A strings in the Jazz Flats. I don't recall the details, and I'm sort of pressed for time right now, but you could read more about it at Steve Barr's site (there's a link earlier in this thread).

He and Kevin (from Connelly, the TI distributor here in the US) were pretty intense on tracking down this issue, so you may wish to get in touch with them. According to Steve, they found no problems with the JF-365 sets, but there were three or four reported cases with the JF-344's (no info on the 345's).

These guys care, and will take care of you - in fact, I've seen Steve offer a replacement string to someone who didn't buy the set from him - not that you should take advantage of it. But anyway, if you have a bad one, let someone know.

adriaan · « **Reply #70 on:** June 25, 2004, 02:27:11 AM »

Bob,
Thanks for letting me know about the issue with the A strings, I'll check Steve's site. My own retailer orders directly from the factory but still the strings take months to arrive, so not sure if they can do anything.

* Didn't find anything relevant on Steve's site - okay I did not check every single thread, but it must be under some nondescript header (a what?).

(Message edited by Adriaan on June 25, 2004)

811952 · « **Reply #71 on:** June 25, 2004, 08:54:20 AM »

I just bit the bullet and ordered 2 sets of Thomastik jazz flats from juststrings.com. We shall see how this goes....
John

bsee · « **Reply #72 on:** June 25, 2004, 09:05:57 AM »

Isn't a .136 B string pretty enormous, though? I think the .125 on my DR set is pretty fat, so I can't imagine a .136 fitting in there. Do people have to make adjustments to the nut and bridge saddle when they switch to these strings?

frank_orlando · « **Reply #73 on:** June 25, 2004, 05:42:25 PM »

I'll add some info here for those who like that piano brightness coming out of the speakers. Back on May 1 I wrote that all I used were GHS Boomers 045-105 on my short scale 4-strings.

On May 16 I put a set of DR Hi-Beams on my Essence and I love the sound. Very bright with nice overall tone and not too hard on the fingers.

Today my GHS Super Steels came from Just Strings and I put them on my Custom (Fender-lembic) Wow! What a bright growly tone with nice bottom and sustain. And the volume is unreal. I actually had to lower my volume setting on the amp a whole number. 044-106 roundwound stainless steel. I have not played with the band with them yet but for about $17 I am impressed with the overall sound. I need to see if I have any flesh left on my fingers after a few 45 minute sets. I also want to see how long the excellent sound lasts. More to come.

bob · « **Reply #74 on:** June 26, 2004, 01:26:53 AM »

Bob (TOB, The Other Bob???) -

Yes, .136 is enormous, especially considering it's flat wound - and it's just wonderful. I happen to be a sailor, and this thing is bigger than some 1/8 inch lines we have on the boat, which I often get a kick out of (awkward grammer, that).

Anyway, yes - you will probably need to widen your nut and bridge saddle to accommodate. If you're a careful and patient chap, you can do this yourself.

Of course, the question arises, what happens if you don't like them and go back to a smaller gauge? Well, I suppose that could happen... my sense is that by the time you're up over .120 or so, you can live with being oversized by .008 - .010. It's not optimal, and I had a new nut cut when a few of the slots were over by about .008, but then I tend to finicky about this stuff, and I'm not convinced it really made any difference.

You should look at your nut and bridge saddle slots. Some may be more V shaped, others more U shaped (V is more accomodating, U sounds better if fit closely).

It's all so complicated...
-Bob