| Author | Message | ||
| bassman8416
Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 85 Registered: 5-2012 |
I am very interested in trying a set of Alembic Compressors(I think thats all they are making now?)on my Modulus Q6. I play with a pick with this bass, primarily used for a Grateful Dead tribute group. I have been using D'Addario half Rounds and Ken Smith Slick Rounds. They are good strings but not that versatile. It seems to me like during the 80's and 90's Phil Lesh had almost a round wound type vibe. Just want to try something different and not sure which way to go. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 1057 Registered: 9-2008 |
I've just used GHS's pressurewound, a similar set that uses those eliptical outer winding, too. It didn't felt clearly silkier than an regular nikel roundwound as far as I can remember, but it sounded less open, though. Less bright in a sense, or deeper sounding, if that is your thing. But not too much different one from another, they sounds like as those coated strings somehow (in the sense that it just controls some of the top end crispness we could expect from a brand new set), or like the half round. I can't recall precisely since didn't used them in a row, but my feel is that the pressurewound sounded very similar to the half round, tonewise (just the feel is way softer on the pressurewound). It is a matter of taste, though. I don't like steel strings on my Rogue although use them on my non-Alembic 6 string bass. I always felt that coated and pressurewound strings sounded as if they were a month old set, not my thing. A difficult quest for the exact string, not too bright or not too dead (and having the right feel under touch). | ||
| hammer
Senior Member Username: hammer Post Number: 558 Registered: 9-2009 |
I've found that at least on my Signature basses and my rig (Phil Jones 6B/9B Cabs/Yamaha/F1-X & SF-2), Alembic strings are too bright for my taste when playing with a pick. I really need to tweak the output a lot with the preamp and SF-2 to get anything approaching Phil's tone. They're fine for the finger stuff but too trebally (if that's a word) for my tastes when doing GD tunes. I've used both TI-Flats as well as Daddario Chromes with good success (at least based on what those in the audience have indicated) on these basses. To make matters more complicated, however, on my 6-String Maple Europa which I just got a few weeks ago the Alembic strings sound very "Leshish," when played with a pick. I've haven't changed over to new strings yet so this may just be a function of any one or a combination of: older strings, the purpleheart lams in the neck; and/or the massive size of the neck on a 6er versus the 4s. I've been quite surprised (pleasantly) that the Maple Europa is a relatively mellow sounding bass given the Maple neck. I'm not sure if its the 5 purpleheart stringers or just the neck size that does it but I can't believe they aren't exerting some influence on the sound given that all by basses have mahogany bodies with relatively thin body lams over them. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 4198 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hammer, I too have a maple europa 5 string and it is surprising how mellow sounding the bass can be even with bright round wound strings. For that reason It's my first call bass for reggae. As for Alembic strings, I really like their tone and feel would use them more if they were not so expensive to get hold of in the UK. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3566 Registered: 10-2002 |
jazzy - I use Mike Griggs 'Stringthis' website to order my strings from the US. I can usually get 2 sets of DR coloured strings to my door for less than half the price of UK sellers such as stringbusters. He's not currently showing Alembic strings but he has had them in the past so might order some in specially. Graeme | ||
| bassman8416
Member Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 86 Registered: 5-2012 |
I noticed these strings are compression wound, can anyone give a comparison with them vs Ken Smith Compressors? Thanks (Message edited by bassman8416 on September 05, 2014) |
