| Author | Message | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 143 Registered: 8-2012 |
I'm getting a better sound on my Alembic as the strings(Ernie Ball Slinky extra lights) age. I hear the bell tone of the bridge much clearer without the additional grind tone. I usually like that grind, but the tone I'm getting now is a whole new thing in my world. Anybody else experience this? Maybe I've just been partying too much. | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 510 Registered: 8-2002 |
Maybe you have a hankerin' for some flat wounds? slawie | ||
| xlrogue6
Advanced Member Username: xlrogue6 Post Number: 257 Registered: 8-2002 |
That's impending middle age talking--and Slawie's right, you're about due for the flatwound epiphany. Soon you'll be questioning the need for high frequency drivers in your bass cabs. You may also find the word "whippersnappers" creeping into your vocabulary. | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Intermediate Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 102 Registered: 6-2012 |
Alembic pickups and electronics are sensitive and reproduce high frequencies really well. I actually have to dial out some treble when using new round wound strings. This made sense to me after reading that flat wound strings were originally used as reference when Alembic pickups and electronics were being developed. | ||
| hammer
Advanced Member Username: hammer Post Number: 335 Registered: 9-2009 |
Middle age or old age. A guitarist friend of mind just asked everyone in our band (25-50 yrs. of age)to take part in a frequency sensitivity test. It's amazing how quickly our ability to hear the high frequencies fade. From the limitation knowledge I have: (a) age affects high frequencies more than low, and (b) men are more affected than women. Even the 25-year old had lost some of his ability to hear tones above 17 kHz. | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 144 Registered: 8-2012 |
I'm only 38 lol. I hear about well aged flats all the time. Maybe somebody makes them in light gauge.. | ||
| jet_powers
Senior Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 549 Registered: 2-2003 |
I noticed the same thing on my Persuader when the strings started getting old and I became hesitant to change them as I found I was kinda liking it! I cured it by getting myself a Fender P for that kind of sound.... | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 145 Registered: 8-2012 |
The Fender's low E can be hard to blend in with the sound mix of a band. It's a little too much bark and power...harder to control. Or, it's just that I'm still adjusting to the new(to me) 32' scale length. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 941 Registered: 9-2008 |
Thomastik Infeld makes some light Flats, Daniel. You could try them sometime... | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 855 Registered: 5-2007 |
I love Pyramid flats VMG | ||
| xlrogue6
Advanced Member Username: xlrogue6 Post Number: 258 Registered: 8-2002 |
@hammer: Interestingly, it seems with age that a lot of us lose not only our ability to hear high frequencies but interest in doing so. As the kids say, wassup widdat? | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Intermediate Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 103 Registered: 6-2012 |
Losing interest in hearing high end - not me! At 52 +, I love it all from Entwistle's ringing "clang" to Flea's punchy "snap" to Phil & Jack's complex "thunder" to Jamerson's rhythmic "thump". Bright and round or smooth and flat - whatever the music needs. It's ALL good, baby! And, for me, Alembics are the perfect vehicle to deliver it. The widest range of musically usable, touch-sensitive low end tones available - all wrapped up in a world-class visual package. | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 603 Registered: 9-2004 |
HUH? Actually, I do not like the sound of new strings, especially on a guitar. I always think of the opening guitar line of "Play that Funky Music" where the guitar is so tweaky sounding and I go, "Ah ha, they put new strings on that puppy to go into the studio with". Nothing like strings that have had a little time to settle down and mellow. Lately I have been gigging with a Fender Deluxe P bass and dialing out some of the highs to get a more fat full bottom end that sits well in the mix. | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 147 Registered: 8-2012 |
If it's a one guitar band..I need newer strings on a regular bass(haven't tried old strings with a band yet on Alembic). There isn't enough going on tonally when the guitarist solos, otherwise. I guess an example of what I'm mentioning would definately be The Who. 5A got me thinkin' about that. | ||
| stout71
Intermediate Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 113 Registered: 7-2011 |
To add to the hearing thing, high frequencies will always go before low ones (for most people) because the mechanisms used to transmit high frequencies to the brain are closer to the outer ear. High frequencies are directional and travel in relatively straight lines. In layman's terms, high frequencies whack those mechanisms over time before low frequencies whack the stuff in the inner ear. Sue me, but I love my roundwounds and I still have my hearing. Of course, I don't have my Alembic yet. I may change my tune (no pun intended) when I receive it. | ||
| tubeperson
Senior Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 431 Registered: 5-2005 |
Losing high end hearing has some "perks". When my wife asks me to do something, I see her lips moving, but she speaks in a frequency that I know I have some hearing loss, thus I cannot hear her. What's a guy supposed to do? What did you say?????? | ||
| tubeperson
Senior Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 432 Registered: 5-2005 |
Stout71, Better to have high end and attenuate it, then never have it and have to add it artificially. If you like roundwounds, they sound even better with the Alembics. At least that is my experience with fretted bassess. I cannot address a fretless Alembic since I have never palyed one. It is on the bucket list. | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 148 Registered: 8-2012 |
I like a good cheap bass for fretless, using rounds and all. The fretless(for me) has to be made of a lightweight basswood and have a Badass II bridge(more options for intonation requiered). I couldn't have a fretless Alembic. The hearing thing...can anybody here tune their bass up by resonance alone? I can actually feel the pitch of my Distillate. And when I do it by ear(using 5th 7th fret harmonics) and get it perfect, I notice an overflow of harmonics that doesn't exist in other basses. Noticed it with the Essence I had, also. It gleams out like a drawn sword. Good stuff. | ||
| stout71
Intermediate Member Username: stout71 Post Number: 114 Registered: 7-2011 |
When I tune mine, I roll off all the treble so that the tuner is receiving mostly fundamental frequency. While it may work in practice, chances are tuning by 5th/7th fret harmonics will not be as in tune as it would be otherwise. | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 604 Registered: 9-2004 |
If you want to try something goofy, put your teeth lightly on your instrument's body and listen to it inside your brain! | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 605 Registered: 9-2004 |
If you want to try something goofy, put your teeth lightly on your instrument's body and listen to it inside your brain while playing it! | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 149 Registered: 8-2012 |
Stout...I'd like to know a bit more about the possible negatives of harmonic tuning. It's not something specifically easy to find online, elsewhere. thanks. | ||
| slawie
Senior Member Username: slawie Post Number: 511 Registered: 8-2002 |
Discussed here; http://alembic.com/club/messages/449/151253.html?1361956277 slawie | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 150 Registered: 8-2012 |
Thanks for the link. I don't know about accepting any of what he alone said as fact, but it was a decent read. | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 3028 Registered: 6-2002 |
I always tune by 5/7 harmonics, and the only deviation on an E-A 4 string bass is that the G string needs to be just a touch sharp. On a guitar, I seem to spend on awful lot of time getting the B and high E strings right - perhaps I should cave in and buy a tuner - nah, why break a habit of 35 years? | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1508 Registered: 5-2002 |
"The hearing thing...can anybody here tune their bass up by resonance alone?" What's weird is that when I change a whole bass at once and randomly bring the strings up to pitch, with no reference or tuner, more often than note, at least one string will be totally right on. I guess I'm just subconsciously used to the tension of the strings. | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 962 Registered: 6-2006 |
Edwin, I have had similar situations when putting on new strings. Which doesn't happen as often as I find my self leaving a set GHS Boomers on until they start to need to be re-tuned more often (this is usually prior to breakage). So, yea, I like them old strings. Before I do the barbecue sauce trick I think I'll actually put on some flats. Does this mean the Distillate sounds better with aged strings? I'm not so sure. I was listening to some old recordings and heard a VERY strong, Entwistle/ Squire influence in my sound. These days I find myself looking for the Willie Weeks type tone. Not so much a lead bass tone but more of a Bass bass tone. Doesn't mean the bass sounds 'better, but I do like the way it sounds more. ... I think I might be rambling here. . . Too much bourbon last night. . . | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 963 Registered: 6-2006 |
Yeah, rambling AND double posting . . . 07:00 isn't too early for a nap is it? (Message edited by Pauldo on April 20, 2013) | ||
| alembickoa
Intermediate Member Username: alembickoa Post Number: 137 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have to agree...I like my strings better older. They settle into a nice thump with the highs sort of sent to the rear of the choir. The strings I use (D'Addario XL170) are just really good at settling into this nice mellow tonality that has the bite when you need it. And with Alembic, frequency manipulation is so much easier that you can actually run with a set for quite a while. My tendency over the years as a fairly busy on-call type of player, is to just run with a set until one breaks, then change them all. One thing is certain...the process never ends and is always fresh!! 8^) | ||
| coop
New Username: coop Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2013 |
I kind of split the difference. I just re-strung with D'Addario Half-Rounds. I've always loved those strings and the mellow quite nicely. Truly in between a round and flat. | ||
| georgie_boy
Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 1071 Registered: 8-2005 |
I've always fancied those for my fretless. Think they'd get that real grunge sound (if you want that) instead of the beautiful upright Mwah I'm getting at the moment........... Maybe I've not been too well lately?? Sorry George | ||
| tubeperson
Senior Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 435 Registered: 5-2005 |
George, the D'Addario half rounds will give you plenth of mwahhhh, plus high end grundge for funk. You can always attenuate the high end. I use them on most of my fretless basses, including my Pedulla Buzz basses, which have a fretboard coated in polyester. They are definitely worth a shot! | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 2084 Registered: 11-2004 |
From a medical point of view I do about 10 audiometry tests per day in my job. Noise Induced Hearing Loss(NIHL) is due to continuous noise which flattens the hairs in the cochlear. High frequencies go first(above 3Khz) obviously as low frequencies move slower so you don't hardly lose them. There is a condition called Acoustic Neuroma which is a tumour(tumor USA) on the 8th nerve, this produces a marked hearing loss over the whole frequency spectrum. Then again, we all begin to lose high frequncies as we get older, in audiometry, we use a program which takes in consideration the age and sex of the client. The test goes through the sound spectrum of 1Khz,1.5, 2,3, 4, 6Khz, so you are testing individual frequencies In the UK there are 4 catagories: Cat 1 - acceptable hearing ability for age group Cat 2 - Mild Hearing Impairment(around 20 % of the population) Cat 3 - Poor Hearing Cat 4 - Rapid Hearing Loss Some clients show Cat 2 when they are young but don't change so when they get older they become Cat 1, sort of your age catches up with your hearing. If you are exposed to 80dB for more than 8 hours in your job role you must wear hearing protection and be audio screened every three years(UK - HSE) So going back to the flatwound versus roundwound, it would be difficult to realise the sound difference that accurately because we all know a vibrating string or vocal cord produces mixed frequencies. Losing high frequencies also reduces your ability to filter out conversation in a crowded place. Oh yes Tubeperson..not hearing the wife is called selective deafness of which it is a common complaint in husbands LOL (Terry C with a Dfung explanation) Bet you are all bored in reading this!!!! | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3355 Registered: 10-2002 |
Actually terry I might send this on to my guitarist to explain why he always thinks the Bass is too loud at our gigs when all I can hear is his amp :-( Graeme | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3461 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have to say I prefer bass strings fresh as possible though one of the problems I have is them losing that brightness too quickly and too much finger noise when new. For guitar though I tend to prefer them worn it for a while with a more mellow tone but I generally when playing reggae I have to change them pretty regularly because of the risk of them breaking as I use a hard 3mm dunlop pick for a fatter tone. I prefer d'addario XL's generally for guitar but tend to use Elixir coated strings when touring as they last longer and are not initially as bright sounding. The bass I use on most of my reggae gigs have strings that are about 18 months old and sound good. I do think you can get away with older strings on Alembics tho. Jazzyvee | ||
| that_sustain
Intermediate Member Username: that_sustain Post Number: 160 Registered: 8-2012 |
You get a great tone going jazzyvee. Maybe someday soon I will do a bazillion gigs a year like some of the members here. (Message edited by that sustain on May 10, 2013) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5443 Registered: 7-2004 |
I used to use D'Addarios (.10 on top) for years for my guitars. In the last couple of years I've changed to GHS Boomers. They seem to be a little smoother feeling than the D'Addarios. Bill, tgo | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Intermediate Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 116 Registered: 6-2012 |
Yes, I've found that I can get away with using older strings on Alembics because they reproduce high end so well. So well that I had to adjust my technique to avoid excessive unwanted finger/string noise. Re: guitar amp being too loud - yes, in its immediate proximity on stage, an amplified guitar will be loud. But, step out into the club away from the direct projection of the guitar speaker cabinet and it will magically vanish under a barrage of low end from the bass (and drums). And, I've found the opposite to be true - bass can be muddy and virtually inaudible on stage and clear as bell and thunderous out in the club. Guitar is very directional while the low end from the bass and drums tends to surround the listener. This probably has something to do with the size of the sound waves produced by each instrument and how far they can travel. I once read (maybe on this forum) that the sound wave produced by a low "E" on a bass guitar in standard tuning is over 30 feet high! Makes me wonder what the low "B" is. That's pretty awesome and one of the reasons I wanted to play bass - having that much power under my control is too cool. All the more reason to make sure that your strings are to your liking (and in tune)! | ||
| sonicus
Senior Member Username: sonicus Post Number: 2900 Registered: 5-2009 |
The thing that I like about older strings is the feel played finger style plucking. I like the snap like on a double bass . In my opinion the BIG bonus with the Alembic electronics and pickups is the extended frequency response so that you can pickup all of the sonic information that is produced by the string . On NON Alembic electronics and pickups the same OLDER strings might just sound LAME , not as much the case to my ears with Alembics ;___those strings still seem to be useable , less high end of course but still usable for many of my varied applications. |
