| Author | Message | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 68 Registered: 6-2012 |
Let me start by saying that I really like the Alembic brand CX strings (45 - 105) that were originally installed on my Spyder and Stanley Clarke Signature Deluxe. They are bright, but not overly so, have a nice feel, a versatile tone, good sustain and have lasted several months. They are a bit pricey, but, IMO, are a good value. About a month ago, I decided it was time to replace them and have discovered that they seem to be fairly challenging to obtain. Considering this, are there any other round wound or elliptical wound strings that are more readily available that would be somewhat equivalent to the Alembic CX's? | ||
| jagerphan84
Advanced Member Username: jagerphan84 Post Number: 310 Registered: 10-2003 |
I think you can get the CX strings direct from the mothership... | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7928 Registered: 6-2000 |
They are backordered another 3ish weeks. They will be available again, we rather like 'em too! | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 70 Registered: 6-2012 |
Great! Looking forward to being able to stock up. There's nothing like using "Genuine Factory Parts" to ensure the complete authentic Alembic experience. | ||
| wideload
Intermediate Member Username: wideload Post Number: 198 Registered: 6-2003 |
I feel your pain. I've tried Rotos, DR, Markley that were just "meh", although the DR Neons looked cool for awhile! Got the last two 6 string sets from Juststrings.com. When I put on the next set, I'll order a couple from Alembic to keep ahead. At least THEY can still get them! | ||
| smokinbear
Intermediate Member Username: smokinbear Post Number: 183 Registered: 11-2008 |
Try ernie ball cobalt. No relation to them, i really like these on guilds, p-bass they sound massive!!!! GOod price too. Note: I have never liked anything from ernie ball strings . Also the DR Jonas hellborg's are a nice string for 4-strings. Bear | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 879 Registered: 9-2008 |
GHS pressurewound has a similar feel | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 71 Registered: 6-2012 |
Thanks guys - your input is much appreciated. I've also had GHS Super Steels recommended. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 883 Registered: 9-2008 |
The question is that CX has eliptical outer winding like pressure/rollerwound (description name varies according brands). I'm not sure, but recall Rotosound making one set like that, too | ||
| jon_jackson
Intermediate Member Username: jon_jackson Post Number: 169 Registered: 12-2008 |
Mica, any update on availability of the CX short scale strings? Jon | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 580 Registered: 5-2002 |
The pressurewound Rotosounds are the Solo Bass series (RS55). They used to call these "Linea" finish. I think they have the best feel of any of the pressurewounds, but they're only available in one gauge. Swing Bass strings (roundwound RS66) are my favorite for 4-string basses, but Rotosound never made a good sounding low-B string; on 5-strings, I grudingly use DR Sunbeams (better suggestions, please!). GHS Super Steels are really bright (stainless steel winding). They're really popular as original equipment strings since they sound bright and last a long time. I prefer Boomers, which are nickel-plated stainless wrap which is a little less bright. I find the GHS strings rougher than most others, but they're hard to beat in terms of many gauges and lengths. David Fung | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 581 Registered: 5-2002 |
[Whoops, doubled post] (Message edited by dfung60 on March 31, 2013) | ||
| s_wood
Advanced Member Username: s_wood Post Number: 367 Registered: 5-2002 |
I really like DR Fatbeams. They are similar to DR Hi-Beams and Sunbeams in that they are round over round core. Hi-Beams and Fatbeams use a stainless steel wrap, while the Sunbeams are nickle wrapped. Fatbeams are wound more slowly than Hi-Beams. They produce noticeably more low mids, and so they don't sound as quite as bright as Hi-Beams. | ||
| charles_holmes
Advanced Member Username: charles_holmes Post Number: 248 Registered: 3-2009 |
I really like the DR strings either Hi-Beams or Nickle as well. They are not expensive, last a very long time and to me, as the strings age they sound better. But that is IMHO. I'm going to buy 4 more sets in 2 weeks and that will give me 8 sets! Always be prepared! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7962 Registered: 6-2000 |
I hear that strings are on their way to us finally, so I hope to start fulfilling back-orders by the end of next week. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 7972 Registered: 6-2000 |
Strings landed and we're starting to ship backorders. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1976 Registered: 9-2002 |
For me, strings are an impossibly black art, having played long enough to try most everything out there. After the first several hours . . . . they all sound the same to me. Having lived thru the 'gee, that big B sure feels loose to me', I've never been really hung up about the way strings felt. I agree with DF in that GHS offers just about any guage imaginable. In the old four-string days, I thought I wanted bigger G's and D's, and would custom guage a 50-65-85-105 set in Boomers that I liked (I played a LOT harder in those days before I discovered you could just turn the amp up . . . . ). Interestingly, it didn't seem to follow me to a five string set, didn't seem to work there. Maybe my hands and ears had changed by then. . . . at least it was nice to get past that stage where I was breaking E's and D's, framming them to death with Fender 355 heavy picks . . . . So I do what I've always done: Go for a few years trying all the new / cool strings (only to realize I spent a lot of money and nothing changed), then invairably go back to Boomers or D'Ad Xl's. Never tried flats (I'm old enough to remember when all basses SOUNDED like they had flatwounds and you'd see old geezes with those maroon tapewounds!), as roundwounds would sound like flatwounds for me pretty quickly. I did try GHS Brite Flats once . . . . I figured the 'Brite' must have meant how shiny they looked . . . . Plus in my old age, I've gotten too grumpy to re-intonate and re-adjust the action for different string sets every time. I am Living Proof of the Ancient Maxim: Take great care of your strings . . . . and they'll go dead anyway. It's just one more of those things that in my hormones-blazing, hair-on-fire youth kept me up nights: These days, I just don't think about it much. J o e y | ||
| jon_jackson
Intermediate Member Username: jon_jackson Post Number: 172 Registered: 12-2008 |
New strings arrived yesterday. Winter is over. Jon |
