Old strings

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riotshield
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Post by riotshield »

Mike wrote:There's nothing like new strings, they feel and sound great once you'd broken them in a bit. I'm getting more lax with restringing these days due to finance issues, but I really hate the ploddy dull sound of old strings.
go with those. I think they are the best strings I've ever used. Thomann gets to have a special deal with pyramid being able to offer those ridiculous prices. it makes sense to order 20 and change every few weeks
http://www.thomann.de/gb/pyramid_e-gita ... 011_48.htm
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James
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Post by James »

St. Jimmy wrote:
DuoSonicBoy wrote:Flatwound bass strings are the ultimate sound - rockabilly, McCartney, and Motown. That woody thud is just perfect.
really? for me flatwounds feel wrong on every level...the tone is good for sure, but i just can't get on with them...specially on teh bazz.
I'm loving them on bass.


Do you happen to know which strings would have turquoise cotton ends? I was considering getting a La Bella set, and say that they do some of their flatwounds in black nylon (which I assume are what mine are made from, they're black and flatwound anyway). I've no idea what brand they are but I like them. I would like to try a heavier guage, though, and finding out what I currently have should make that a bit easier.
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Post by JamesSmann »

James wrote:
St. Jimmy wrote:
DuoSonicBoy wrote:Flatwound bass strings are the ultimate sound - rockabilly, McCartney, and Motown. That woody thud is just perfect.
really? for me flatwounds feel wrong on every level...the tone is good for sure, but i just can't get on with them...specially on teh bazz.
I'm loving them on bass.


Do you happen to know which strings would have turquoise cotton ends? I was considering getting a La Bella set, and say that they do some of their flatwounds in black nylon (which I assume are what mine are made from, they're black and flatwound anyway). I've no idea what brand they are but I like them. I would like to try a heavier guage, though, and finding out what I currently have should make that a bit easier.
turqoise braiding on the ends? at the bass or the tip?
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Post by Mages »

St. Jimmy wrote:
DuoSonicBoy wrote:Flatwound bass strings are the ultimate sound - rockabilly, McCartney, and Motown. That woody thud is just perfect.
really? for me flatwounds feel wrong on every level...the tone is good for sure, but i just can't get on with them...specially on teh bazz.
I'm looking into some new bass strings too. I'm a total bass n00b though. what exactly don't you like about the flatwounds feel?
James wrote:I would like to try a heavier guage, though, and finding out what I currently have should make that a bit easier.
yea, I'm kind of having that issue as well. what gauges are considered light or heavy for bass?
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Post by James »

St. Jimmy wrote:turqoise braiding on the ends? at the bass or the tip?
The bit on the headstock end.

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Post by JamesSmann »

mage wrote:I'm looking into some new bass strings too. I'm a total bass n00b though. what exactly don't you like about the flatwounds feel?
it's hard to describe. for starters i play both pick and finger styliee, and for my picking shit, it doesn't feel too strange, but the finger style definitely feels funky in a bad way with flats. not that someone else who plays finger style wouldn't love it...

for me, the best bass strings are fender super bass mediums and D'Addario EXL165 XLs.

James, I've seen those before, but i'm not sure...and google searches aren't bringing up shit.
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Post by Will »

for me, the biggest thing about flats is the lack of finger noise. I HATE FINGER NOISE. Nothing ruins a song like a little atonal squeak between EVERY CHORD CHANGE. especially with the heavier gauges, the noise can be really obnoxious.

Plus, flats intonate better and can be set lower without buzzing. Certainly not right for everything, but for my tastes they're perfect.
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Post by Mike »

riotshield wrote:
Mike wrote:There's nothing like new strings, they feel and sound great once you'd broken them in a bit. I'm getting more lax with restringing these days due to finance issues, but I really hate the ploddy dull sound of old strings.
go with those. I think they are the best strings I've ever used. Thomann gets to have a special deal with pyramid being able to offer those ridiculous prices. it makes sense to order 20 and change every few weeks
http://www.thomann.de/gb/pyramid_e-gita ... 011_48.htm
Nice, I'll give them a go, thanks.
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Post by paul_ »

I hate strings right when you put 'em on, before they're broken in. A comfort zone for me is to play it for 2 hours after changing the strings before having to use it in a serious context (recording, practice, performance). Otherwise it's buzzy, noisy crap. Breaking them in also finalizes the stretching process, really settling them at the tuners/nut/bridge and improving tuning stability.

Sweat is another story. Get rid of sweaty strings, that will totally fuck them. You can't wipe off what sweat does with a lil rag, and using a moist rag will make it worse.

The strings on my Beatle bass haven't been changed since I put Fender flatwounds on it the day I got it (almost 6 years ago). I know that's bad. Bass flatwound sets are expensive.

And lol at Pyramid, a musical cohort JUST reccomeded those to me, I had them on backorder and they've only just come in this morning. I'm looking at them right now on my desk wondering what 2 guitars are getting them. They have round cores on the wound strings instead of the more-common modern hexagonal ones, which I wouldn't think made a huge difference (VINTAGE REISSUE STRINGS BAHHH WANKER HAND GESTURE AND STUFF) but a friend swears by them.
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Post by Mages »

well, I got a set of d'addario medium chromes for my p bass. hell YES. this shit sounds like a proper bass now.

I think I can understand why some people don't like them though, they have a kind of rough chalky like feel to them. and they are stiffer like.
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Post by JamesSmann »

mage wrote:well, I got a set of d'addario medium chromes for my p bass. hell YES. this shit sounds like a proper bass now.

I think I can understand why some people don't like them though, they have a kind of rough chalky like feel to them. and they are stiffer like.
those are good strings...a little too bright at first, but broken in they're okay. i still think fender super medium bass are the best thing for my jazz bass. but i'll rock d'addarios all day long as well.
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Post by James »

St. Jimmy wrote:James, I've seen those before, but i'm not sure...and google searches aren't bringing up shit.
Is there a good place to ask? Talk Bass?
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Post by starbuckered »

Ive had the same strings that my P Bass came with since I got it over a year ago, I think it sounds abit deeper and dirty
while I change the strings on my Esquire and SG every couple of months.
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the isaac eaton
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Post by the isaac eaton »

mage wrote:well, I got a set of d'addario medium chromes for my p bass. hell YES. this shit sounds like a proper bass now.

I think I can understand why some people don't like them though, they have a kind of rough chalky like feel to them. and they are stiffer like.
those are the exact ones i have on my p bass. mine are well broken in, plays great.

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Post by Mages »

Are those the flatwound chromes? Mine have blue cotton on the ends.
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Post by jamc_89 »

lamp wrote:I love strings after about 2 hours of playing best - just slightly less twang but very much new.
my thoughts exactly. nothing like new strings, just gotta break em in a tad. old strings sound dead to me personally.
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Post by othomas2 »

I like strings after a few weeks... I don't have sweaty paws so they don't deteriate mega quick.

Also started using Fast fret now which I've been quick impressed with, they still have the sparkle after a month of use.
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Post by JamesSmann »

James wrote:
St. Jimmy wrote:James, I've seen those before, but i'm not sure...and google searches aren't bringing up shit.
Is there a good place to ask? Talk Bass?
yeah, those dudes would probably know...i just can't believe i'm drawing a blank. i know the fenders i use have like a silvery/platinum twine around their ends...and i swear to god i've played on those turqoiusey ended strangs...