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gale barchus (gbarchus)
New
Username: gbarchus

Post Number: 4
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, June 30, 2002 - 8:54 pm:   Edit Post

How many of you are using flatwounds on your Alembic? What brand?
Simon Taylor (staylor)
New
Username: staylor

Post Number: 2
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, June 30, 2002 - 9:07 pm:   Edit Post

I just recently got my first Alembic, and I had the folks do the setup with Alembic CX-3's. Although I have enjoyed the tone of the CX-3's, I've played flatwounds for years and just can't get used the tactile feel of the eliptical winding.

I definitely intend to switch back to flat wounds. I've always enjoyed Thomatic flats in the past, but can't comment on their sound on an Alembic. I know there are other folks in the club who have used these.
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 100
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, July 01, 2002 - 6:08 pm:   Edit Post

Interesting to note that my dad developed our electronics system in conjunction with flatwound strings that were popular in the late sixties and early seventies. So if you want to hear Alembics as they were originally intended to sound, try some flatwounds and crank those filters nearly wide open.
Chris R. Gedney (76ac070)
Junior
Username: 76ac070

Post Number: 14
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 3:42 am:   Edit Post

You can even go one step further and put on an authentic set of Pyramid Gold strings. They're a flatwound, multicore. Want to sound like the bass breakdown in Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain"? That's how to do it! 8-)

Chris
Brian Ceasar (bbe1020)
New
Username: bbe1020

Post Number: 4
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 10:02 am:   Edit Post

I was told the exact same thing on Friday, when I ordered a set of Thomastik POWERBASS strings. I spoke with Mr. Kevin Reynolds of Connolly & Co; who is the USA distributor for Thomastik-Enfeld, in NY. Mr. Reynolds told me that if I wanted to really hear the tones that ALEMBIC will produce, I would have to use the JAZZ FLATWOUNDS, which he HIGHLY recommended.

Well, I picked up my POWERBASS strings this morning @ approximately 11:30 EST, so I'll have to wait until these go flat before I can try the JAZZ FLATWOUNDS... :-(
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 104
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 10:26 am:   Edit Post

I've heard excellent things about the Jazz Flatwounds as well. Chris, are you sure the Pyramids made today are exactly as they were in the 70's? I was under the impression the company that made them went under, and the recipe along with them. I've heard from customers that the current Pyramid Golds weren't the same, is your experience different?
Chris R. Gedney (76ac070)
Junior
Username: 76ac070

Post Number: 16
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 11:56 am:   Edit Post

Mica -
Now that I've read your last post, I'm sorry I didn't leave a set of my "prized" Pyramids on my bass when I sent her out to you. The three sets that I have I bought about two years ago @ $75.00 per set (WOW!!) and they are identical in tone, feel, silk wrapping (purple) and packaging as the ones that came on the bass in 1976. I bought them in an attempt to get the P-Bass (which I bought to replace [sniff, sniff]76AC070 when she was stolen) to sound like my kidnapped Alembic. They are absolutely amazing in the studio. Live, I'm using the Thomastik Roundwounds which cut through like the bottom end of a Steinway Grand! BTW - If you recommend that I not use rounds with the new frets, I'll take your advice. I was well aware of the fact that the rounds were eating up the frets on my Fender like they were made of solder!!
Dino Monoxelos (dean_m)
New
Username: dean_m

Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 6:14 pm:   Edit Post

I've just recently re-discovered flats as well. I've got them on my Elan 5 string. Boy do they sound huge! In fact I was doing a 4th of July orchestra gig last week and the tuba player of all people complimented me on my sound!! I almost fell over. The problem I'm having now is convincing my wife that I need a new Alembic to string up with rounds so I can still do all my slap stuff. She tells me that if I buy another Alembic, she'll leave me, I'll sure miss that woman. HAH! Just kidding honey!!!
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 131
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, July 19, 2002 - 10:03 am:   Edit Post

Chris, you're welcome to use any strings on your bass. Of course roundwounds are more aggressive to the frets compared to flats, but there is no comparison to the sound on an Alembic. Different types of strings can make the bass sound hugely different. Most players go 5-10 years between full refretting, even professionals playing full time on roundwounds.
Steve Smith (alembickoa)
Junior
Username: alembickoa

Post Number: 24
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, July 19, 2002 - 7:21 pm:   Edit Post

When I first got my Series I, it was sent to me with a set of TI Jazz Flats on it. Phenomenal tones. I have since used TI Jazz Rounds, and currently use TI Powerbass. All are tones beyond comparison. It will just depend on your personal taste.
gale barchus (gbarchus)
New
Username: gbarchus

Post Number: 5
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, August 30, 2002 - 5:05 pm:   Edit Post

I recently tried to put some Pyramid Gold (long scale) flatwounds on my 20th Anniversary Model and broke the winding on the E string (on two sets!) as the it started around the tuning peg. All the other strings tuned up fine. The dealer said he would replace them, but I'm afraid it will happen again. Anyone else have this experience?
Mica Wickersham (mica)
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 228
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 1:17 am:   Edit Post

Historically it was always the G-string that broke... we used to supply every new Alembic fitted with Pyramids with an extra G string!

If it started right at the tuning peg, check there to see if there is a sharp edge fatiging the string. Has this happened with other brands?
gale barchus (gbarchus)
New
Username: gbarchus

Post Number: 7
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 31, 2002 - 4:01 pm:   Edit Post

This has never happened to me before, using Alembic and Rotosound strings. They are breaking right where the winding ends on the core just as it begins to turn on the peg, and there is no cloth/string covering the winding (on the E string). I'll check the tuning peg. Thanks!
Keith Wilson (darkbassist)
Junior
Username: darkbassist

Post Number: 20
Registered: 7-2002
Posted on Friday, September 06, 2002 - 9:47 am:   Edit Post

i have just discovered the glory of flatwounds on an alembic. the only problem is, right now i only own one alembic, which means i miss the crisp sound of slapping on my alembic. i guess until i get another alembic, i'll just have to make a hard choice.
Adriaan Simons (adriaan)
New
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, September 09, 2002 - 4:47 am:   Edit Post

Just had my Epic turned into a fretless by a local builder. I had been trying out several brands of string before, and finally settled on DR LoRiders (while it was still fretted). The local shops don't normally stock flatwounds, but one shop had a bunch of Ken Smith Slick Rounds (44-105) that I tried with the frets still in place. The sound was pretty dull, to be honest. They are basically roundwounds that have been ground flat - they're still roundwound at either end.

As I'm waiting for a set of TI Jazz Flats to arrive, I put back the Slick Rounds and they're actually pretty nice on fretless - perhaps the G is a little too bright.
nstiffel
New
Username: nstiffel

Post Number: 1
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 7:45 pm:   Edit Post

The Thomastik flats just hit all the right resonances, and are so very easy to play. Plenty of bottom, articulation and control. I've tried about every other string on the market, including the Pyramids (which make excellent, full-sounding roundwounds), but have to say that the Thomastiks are the ultimate Alembic string.

My birdseye maple Orion has Essence tone controls. I usually play the favoring the neck pickup and with the tone control nearly up into an early model Euphonics iAmp and Euphonics cabinet. I don't bother with the tone controls on the amp, and get plenty of growl, while the tonal balance is outstanding.
the_mule
Senior Member
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 728
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Sunday, July 12, 2009 - 9:19 am:   Edit Post

Dug this ancient thread up because I just discovered the joy of using Tomastic Jazz flatwounds on my little blond Series I. Already my favorite strings for about every other brand of basses I own(ed) but for some reason I always just assumed that an Alembic would lose some of "those" sounds when changing to flats. Boy, was I wrong! I'm not a slapper and popper anyway, and now my bass plays so much more comfortable, sliding along those strings without any noise. Please chime in if you also use flatwounds on your Alembic, or if you don't. Very interested in your thoughts and experiences.

Wilfred
bbernard
New
Username: bbernard

Post Number: 7
Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Saturday, November 14, 2009 - 9:44 am:   Edit Post

Found this thread by searching "flatwound" -

I used nothing but rotosound swingbass rounds on my series I for 20 years. I switched to Elixers because they sounded like broken in rotos straight from the package and lasted forever. I have a set of Thomastic-Infeld Jazz flats here...think I will give these a try. Not much slapping on my Alembic.

Bob
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 504
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Saturday, November 14, 2009 - 10:19 am:   Edit Post

I used to use the Pyramid Gold Flats on my Alembic modified Guild Starfires and also experienced the G string breaking problem as noted earlier in this thread. I am also going to give the Thomastic -Infeld Jazz flats a try on my Series II Standard point .Perhaps they will be a winner over the now VERY expensive and difficult to obtain Pyramid Gold flats.

(Message edited by sonicus on November 14, 2009)

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