| Author | Message | ||
| steve4765630
New Username: steve4765630 Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2006 |
Hey guys. I am a new Alembic convert and so is my guitar player. He freaked more about my bass than I did. I got a used Epic 6 string with a burl walnut top. I had no clue that walnut could get so messed up and amazing. I have yet to put a new set of strings on it, but even with the dead ones it sounds amazingly clear and powerful. What kind of strings do you use on your basses? What seems to cut through the best with your Alembics? Thanks, Steve | ||
| jazzyvee
Advanced Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 386 Registered: 6-2002 |
I'm gonna say this before anyone else does. Pictures matey :-) Apart from that, do a search on strings and you will get loads of advice and opinions as to what works best etc etc. Loads of reading and maybe expensive choices. I have an sc deluxe and have only put Alembic strings on it.I'm happy with those. On my Europa I have not changed them since I bought the bass last summer. So I'll be checking here when the time comes. All the best. You will be come addicted..... be warned :-) Vince | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2356 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hi Steve! Like brother Vince pointed out so well: PICTURES is a must do! Strings ...gosh ...in this club of civilised low sounding (brother Vince is a little "ambigu" on that point) gentle men and women it is a frequently boarded issue! I can't recall one brand/type that is really unanimously loathed or liked. There is a HUGE fanclub of Thomastik Infeld strings here. But you have Roto-heads, Boomer-happies, Maximalists, Daddarists and they come in flat, wounded or grounded ways. It allseems to work on an Alembic. What I like to stress is something that Mica one said: Alembic neck throughs seems to be very explicit and rich in low and high tones. I am not saying they "overdoing" it ...let's say they are "strong" in that sounding field.(BTW: she added that for that reason the Alembic strings are not "wounded" like other wounded strings but the windings are more ""flattened" for a softer feel). I know a lot of people who really love their Alembic with flatwounds. I am now experimenting with the SIT silencers who are halfwounds (or groundwounds)and are inexpensive with the mail-order company I Buy strings from. JUst some idea's! Enjoy your bass and being here! You'll like it! Paul the bad one | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 582 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hi Steve and welcome to the club. You're going to get as many different answers as there are club members - everyone has their own preference. For example, I have Alembic strings on my fretless and DR Fat Beams on my fretted. Love the sound of both. Having said that, when I got the fretted epic back in '96 it came with alembic strings and I loved the sound then too! It was just alot harder to ship strings to the UK in those days. and as paul and vince have said - PICTURES!!!! Graeme | ||
| olieoliver
Intermediate Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 153 Registered: 2-2006 |
Welcome Steve. I posed this same question a few weeks ago and got several answers. I personaly have never liked Flatwound strings. While they do feel better and do less damage to your neck and frets, they just don't have the brightness that I like. But that is my preference. I love the growl and bite of new round wounds, I even use round wound strings on my fretless. As for brand, same thing goes, depends on the players particular taste in sound. | ||
| rockbassist
Member Username: rockbassist Post Number: 70 Registered: 8-2005 |
In the past 30 years I have tried just about every string on the market. I currently use Curt Mangan Strings. Curt worked for Dean Markely for 17 years before going out on his own. The strings have great tone and last at least as long as anything else I have tried. They are available in Nickel, Stainless Steel, round wound, flat wound and phosphor bronze. Their strings are "fusion matched" meaning they use the same batch of wire for the core that use for the windings. They make it very easy to get an endorsement/sponsored artist deal and shipping is free if you spend $20 or more. I live on the east coast and usually receive my order within 2-3 business days. They also sell picks, shirts chairs, straps and other accessories. I currently pay less than $10 for 4 string sets and around $12.50 for 5 string. The guitar strings sets are less than $3 for sponsored artists. I have had a deal with them for over a year now and love them. I get more compliments on my tone than I ever did before. I use them on both of my 5 string Epics, my 76 Fender Precision and my 78 Fender Jazz. I LOVE these strings. Give then a try. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 713 Registered: 9-2002 |
Steve Congrats on your new Epic. You think it sounds good now, just WAIT till you get new strings on it, ya better be sittin' down when you start to wail. We all use EVERYTHING. I would say there's lot of Thomastik guys, though. Me? I use GHS Boomers; not the sexiest strings out there, but I can always find them, and reasonably priced. Would love to try the Alembic strings, though. J o e y | ||
| olieoliver
Intermediate Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 166 Registered: 2-2006 |
I agree about the Boomers Joey. They aren't the longest lasting strings but they are reasonably priced and everybody has them. And lets face it, if you change your strings pretty often it really isn't that big of a deal as long as they are decent, at least not to me. Before I retired I changed my strings every week. I LOVE the sound of fresh new strings. That bright growling sound is awesome. I've never tried the TI's but I am going to (not the flatwound though, never liked flats). I checked their web site and I found that they also sell John Pearse strings. I've been looking for them for years. Thats all I used to use. They (used too anyway) outlast the others by weeks on the NEW sound. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1823 Registered: 9-2003 |
Kevin (Rockbassist): Stupid question...How does one become a "sponsored artist" in order to get in on the Curt Mangan deal? Cheers, Kevin | ||
| keith_h
Advanced Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 375 Registered: 2-2005 |
Steve, As I'm sure your noticing just about ever string manufacturer is represented here. To throw my stuff into the mix, I use Alembic strings on my short scale Brown Bass, GHS Brite Flats (ground round wound) on my 5 string Orion and D'Addario Chrome Flats on my fretless Orion. Keith | ||
| rockbassist
Member Username: rockbassist Post Number: 71 Registered: 8-2005 |
Hi Kevin, Sorry it took so long for me to respond. If you go to www.curtmangan.com there is a form to fill out. It was very easy. I love the strings. I am currently using Stainless. I was using Nickel but have found the stainless to have more punch and growl. | ||
| the_8_string_king
Intermediate Member Username: the_8_string_king Post Number: 125 Registered: 9-2005 |
Congrats on the Epic! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1831 Registered: 9-2003 |
Thanks! | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 598 Registered: 11-2004 |
Steve, congrats on the Epic. I love mine. I am a D'Addario half-round minority around here. I love the feel and the tone is just what I'm liking right now. Rich | ||
| cosmic
Member Username: cosmic Post Number: 53 Registered: 5-2005 |
Hey rich, add me to your minority list. I love the D'Addario half wounds. | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 209 Registered: 2-2006 |
I remember when the D'Addario half wounds first came out. It was all I'd use. They are still great strings, my taste in sound has just changed a little. I like a little brighter sound than the D'Addarios give me. On a side note, just to show how confusing the English language is,"wound" can be, "I have a bullet wound in my leg" or "these strings are round wound". Or how about, THEY'RE going to move THEIR stuff over THERE! Things that make you go "HMMMMMM"! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3581 Registered: 5-2002 |
We're going to move Weir's stuff over where? | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 997 Registered: 11-2003 |
Where did Steve go? | ||
| hankster
Junior Username: hankster Post Number: 31 Registered: 6-2004 |
Olie, are you going to unwind that bullet? | ||
| cosmic
Member Username: cosmic Post Number: 55 Registered: 5-2005 |
Interesting Ollie -- I like the half-wounds for the exact reason you have chosen others. I prefer them because they are not so bright! One man's pleasure.... | ||
| tbrannon
Member Username: tbrannon Post Number: 57 Registered: 11-2004 |
Cosmic- I'll go one step further. I've just replaced the halfwounds on my fretted bass with flatwounds. I love the sound I'm getting. | ||
| steve4765630
New Username: steve4765630 Post Number: 3 Registered: 3-2006 |
I put on some D' Addario XL rounds and am really digging the sound of them. I work at a music store, so I'll be trying some different sets in the next few months. Thanks for all of your posts and suggestions. |
