Author Topic: B String Guage (Read 1417 times)

edwin · « **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2015, 01:52:16 PM »

The website is a bit confusing, but they have ranges of 5 string from the set you listed all the way to sets that have a .200 or bigger B string. Poke around, and use the lower left menu selections to navigate.

Maybe I'm weird, but it seems like they advocate heavier lower strings and lighter higher strings, but I'd like the opposite. Light gauge high strings lose the heft that makes it feel and sound like a bass to me.

smokin_dave · « **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2015, 02:01:58 PM »

Hey Rusty.If you look at the bottom of the left column on the circle K web site you will see a length,tension and string count selector box or you can put a set together by ordering single strings in whatever you would prefer.
Trust me.I understand your confusion as it took me a little bit to figure out the selection choice and how to find exactly what I wanted.

growlypants · « **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2015, 01:23:42 PM »

I very recently switched from Alembic CX-3 on my MK-5, to D'Addario XL Half-Rounds, in an attempt to reduce string noise. (I find the Alembics to be screamingly bright!) My initial impression is that the B and E strings seem dull sounding, but the others are good. On their Tone and Feel Spectrum Chart, the Half-Rounds are in the middle - warm, as opposed to bright sounding. We'll see how things settle in.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2015, 08:12:50 PM »

OK, I tried a .125 DR Marcus Miller (because that was the only set GC had with a .125) my theory, which Edwin confirmed was right, the smaller B sounded much better as far as tone & resonance, but it was horrible on the buzz factor. I tried giving it more relief & even raising the action from a .07 to a .1, & it still buzzed! So I put the .130 back on & ordered a .124 & .130 Circle K string & will see how they do. I just don't understand why I can get really low action on the E string with no buzz at all & the B which is 1/2 away buzzes. I know the bigger the string, the more elliptical vibration it will have, but my Schecter doesn't buzz on the B & I have played other 5 string basses that had good action on the B & didn't buzz. Do you think it would help to raise the nut so that when I fret a note it would have more tension? I don't think it's a high fret problem, it buzzes on all of them, & the buzz seems to be coming from the next fret in front of the note I'm playing, so if I'm fretting a D on the 3rd fret, it buzzes on the 4th fret, ect.

Edwin, you are not weird, I also don't like very light high strings & also prefer smaller low strings. I like a full punchy sound on all the strings so it sounds like a bass, not a guitar.

I absolutely love this bass! As a 4 string it is the best bass I have ever played, so if I can tame the B & get it to sound & play consistent with the other 4 strings, I will be in bass Heaven!

hieronymous · « **Reply #19 on:** January 17, 2015, 09:02:59 PM »

I don't mean to just jump in here, but was the string buzz with full band or unamplified? (or something else)

I remember getting my '76 Rickenbacker 4001 set-up by a luthier and playing it in the shop when it was ready - I said something about the string buzz that I was hearing and he said something to the effect of if you want me to set it up with no buzz then I can but this shouldn't be a problem with a group. I ended up using it in the studio and there was a little bit of buzz but there was also a crazy setup issue that will have to wait for another time...

And of course an Alembic is different, it depends a lot on how you have the filter set. I've been running my Stanley with the filter set pretty low so a little bit of string buzz (on all the strings) is not really an issue for me. I think the buzz potentially adds character. Of course IMO - YMMV - take that with a grain of salt!

rjmsteel · « **Reply #20 on:** January 17, 2015, 10:21:41 PM »

Circle K is run by Skip Fantry of Knuckle Guitar Works, a bass builder who produces the Quake bass with a scale length of 39.5!!! Below is from his website and the reasoning behind the balanced string set.

The 39.55 inch scale length is the equivalent of a 5/8 upright bass, and is designed to play a natural whole step beneath a 35 inch scale instrument. Traditional tunings benefit from the longer scale length by being able to use a thinner string to reach traditional frequencies.

Their is more information regarding Skips reasoning for the Circle K balanced string set under the Ephemera link on the KGW (web) page.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2015, 12:47:33 PM »

Harry, the buzz did come through the amp, but I have been tweaking the truss rod & think I finally lined it out. I played Friday night & did not hear the buzz with the band at all. It still doesn't resonate as well as the E, but that could be a string brand issue. I ordered 2 Circle K B's, a .124 & .130, but they haven't come in yet. For those who have bought Circle K's, how long does it take them to deliver? It's been 10 days since I placed my order & I got the order confirmation email, but no shipping confirmation email.

I ran stereo at my gig Friday & it sounded AMAZING! I finally got the sound I have had in my head since I first commissioned the build!

smokin_dave · « **Reply #22 on:** January 25, 2015, 07:49:07 PM »

Apparently since the Circle K guys are at NAMM they won't be shipping anything from 1/19 through 1/26 according to the facebook entry.

Try this email address (orders@kaliumstrings.com} to see when they will resume shipping.

(Message edited by smokin dave on January 25, 2015)

rustyg61 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 26, 2015, 12:54:00 PM »

Thanks for the info Dave!

alcaps · « **Reply #24 on:** January 28, 2015, 07:34:19 PM »

Hey guys I am the new guy on the block, but has any one tried the Marcus Miller Fat Beams stainless steels with a .120 B string! I string my Mark King Model and both my Celinder 4&5 string basses with them, the 5 being a 35 scale. The strings are well balanced across the board and the B string sounds like part of the bass! Very little if any B flop on both scales, with superb tone and growly sizzle. You may want to check them out.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 28, 2015, 07:57:35 PM »

Hey Allen, welcome to the Club! I tried the Marcus Miller Fat Beams with a .125 B, & I could not get the fret buzz out of the B even when raising my action to twice the height it was set for on the .130. I loved the resonance of the .125, but could not get around the buzz. They may work on a 35' scale, but they did not work on my 34.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 03, 2015, 05:47:43 PM »

Dave, I finally got my Circle K B strings in & you are right, I LOVE them! I put the .124 B on & it resonates just as good as the E with only a hint of buzz on the 1st couple of frets. I loosened the truss to compensate for the reduced tension of the smaller gage string, so hopefully that will eliminate any buzz. I haven't tried the .130 yet, but I'm sure it would not buzz at all. I will try it tomorrow & decide if I want the traditional .130 or the smaller .124, then order a complete set so they all sound the same. The Circle K's are slightly brighter than the D Addario's I have on the other strings. Thank you SO MUCH for suggesting these! I knew the B issue couldn't have been my bass, so now everything is perfect & I can really start enjoying the bass!

smokin_dave · « **Reply #27 on:** February 03, 2015, 09:06:36 PM »

Outstanding Rusty.I really enjoy a proper sounding feeling low B and these Kalium's fit the bill for me at least.You may have to do some minor intonation adjustments but no big deal.They are good people to work with and I'm glad I took a chance on the strings they produce.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #28 on:** February 04, 2015, 12:21:57 AM »

Glad you are making some headway in resolving the low B situation Rusty. I think all my 5's have a .130 on the B string at the moment and they all ring nicely. I did try some .125 sets a few years back when I had my first Alembic 5 stringer but found them a bit too floppy so for me I'll stick with .130 for now. But If I ever get some sensible priced alembic strings here I'll go for those. I think they have a .128 on the bottom.

rustyg61 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 04, 2015, 11:11:35 PM »

I tried the Circle K .130 today & while it sounded much better than any of the other .130's I have tried, it didn't have the clarity that the .124 had, so I went back to it. It resonates as long or even longer than the E & A strings! Now I will order a complete set of Circle K's so I have a matched set. I'm going to experiment with a couple of gages on the G, trying a .47 & .49 to get a little more fullness from the G. Hopefully they will fit the nut & saddle slots.