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rjbassman
New
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 8
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 1:45 pm:   Edit Post

Although the packaging clearly says CX-3/45LB I was concerned that they would be too short for my 35" Rogue. Imagine my surprise when they turned out TOO LONG! The body of the B is actually wraping the pegs, notice the deflection. The other strings tune nicely and stay in tune but the low B is hard to tune and tempermental. Is anyone else having Rogue problems or did I get stuck with counterfeit strings?
rjbassman
New
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 1:48 pm:   Edit Post

Another view down the neck
rjbassman
New
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 10
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 1:58 pm:   Edit Post

What are the silk color codes?
The following link shows a Rogue with mismatched lengths and a different color silk.
http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/61054.html?1234321099
keith_h
Senior Member
Username: keith_h

Post Number: 1226
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 4:42 pm:   Edit Post

The color of the wrapping is correct for Alembic strings. I think you just need to trim more off the end before winding them on the post.

Keith
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 7607
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 11:35 pm:   Edit Post

I agree with Keith that it appears you are using too many wraps around the post on all of your strings. What I've read in the past indicates that three full wraps is sufficient. I would try reducing to three wraps to see if that helps.
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2103
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 2:17 am:   Edit Post

Totally agree with the point about the 3 wraps.

Hold the string by its far end and let it dangle. Wait until it stops untwisting. Now anchor the string in the tail piece, and lead it over the nut and past the "proper" tuner, until it reaches the next tuner on a 2+2 peghead (about 5 cm, or 2"). Whatever you do, make sure you don't twist the string: this can make it go dead.

At that point, you bend the string, then move another 0.5 cm (1/4") further up the string, and cut off the excess length. Now hook the end of the string into the hole that runs down the shaft. Lead the string towards the top of the peghead, then firmly bend the string to start wrapping around the post. Tune it up while holding the string in place, until it holds by itself. Make sure you check that the ball end is sitting snug in the tail piece. I usually end up with 3 to 4 windings on the tuner.

The B string may need a little more than 2" - start with 2.5", as you can always cut off the last bit, and repeat the process from there.

Even on the E string, sometimes you can get a slight bend between the nut and the tuner, but I've never seen it as pronounced as on your B string - obviously this is what you get from having your last wrap sitting on top of the first few wraps.
rjbassman
Junior
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 11
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 8:10 am:   Edit Post

Actually gents, my question is more about the location of the silk-to-Final String Diameter(FSD) interface. It's clear that I'm already violating the FSD bend radius on the B string, that's why is shows so much deflection toward the middle of the neck before getting pulled back into line by the nut. The following pics from the gallery show what I believe is a more typical location for the FSD/silk transition.
rjbassman
Junior
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 12
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 8:21 am:   Edit Post

and this one (clearly non-alembic strings but you can see the transition) Did I get stuck with a 36" set? If my Rogue was a std 34" I would have snapped the B & G cores trying to get them wrapped around the diameter of the peg. the previous link showed a Rogue with 2 different FSD transitions and while he might enjoy silk on his nuts (B & E strings), it probably isn't doing anything for his tone.
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2104
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 8:42 am:   Edit Post

Huh? You seem to be thinking in distance from the wrong end of the string ...

The "FSD transitions" on a given bass will be in roughly the same spot, whether you have 3 windings around the peg or 10. This is because the distance covered by the string from the tail piece to the tuner is the same no matter what number of wraps you have around the peg.
rjbassman
Junior
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 13
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 8:56 am:   Edit Post

Spot on adriaan! unless you know of a way to adust the string length at the tailpiece :-).

Based on experience and the pics above (and the link), the FSD transition (sorry for having to makeup jargon) should be midway between nut and closest peg.

Which brings me back the original question: Did I screw up buying Alembic CX-3/45LB strings for my 35" Rogue?

I wasn't aware that they even made a 36" set and I'm expecting my B to break any day from having the core over-bent/kinked.
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 5891
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 8:58 am:   Edit Post

Are you quite certain the bass is a 35" scale? Please check the scale length by measuring from the nut to the 12th fret then doubling.

Email me with the details of where/when you purchased the strings.
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 2126
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 9:08 am:   Edit Post

I agree woth the other guys. Too many wraps. The B string is resting on the wraps below it forcing it outward away from the peg. I would imagine the resulting bend in the string between the nut a tuning peg is what's causing the tuning problems.

OO
rjbassman
Junior
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 14
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 9:34 am:   Edit Post

Does anyone know the minimum bending radius on a .128" hexcore string?

I'm guessing it's 6 diameters (much bigger than my tuning peg).

To close the subject of wraps, I deliberately over wrapped the B on the assumption that fewer wraps = tighter bending radius.

After all, that's why they bother to build strings with a skinny silk-wrapped end.
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2105
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, February 20, 2009 - 9:45 am:   Edit Post

Hm, check the base of the peg: the radius is probably even larger there than where it's now sitting on top of the first wrap.

You might run into problems with the outer wire of the string getting caught between the first wrap and the second.
rjbassman
Junior
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 15
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Monday, February 23, 2009 - 7:45 am:   Edit Post

fyi: the silk wrap starts 38 1/4" from the tailpiece (subtract about 1/8" and you'll have the eyelet-to-silk dimension).

Anyone else care to share their string dimensions?
rjbassman
Junior
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 16
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 7:12 am:   Edit Post

Apparently Alembic strings don't fit Aussie Rogues either, saw this B-string-core-wrapper/core-snapper on ebay.
fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 835
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 7:41 am:   Edit Post

I have a 130 string (long scale) tuned A on my 32 inch Spoiler, no problems at all...

Just put the strings on in the right way and you'll be fine ;-)

Pics:




(Message edited by fc_spoiler on April 16, 2009)
paulman
Advanced Member
Username: paulman

Post Number: 363
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 8:42 am:   Edit Post

That last headstock looks a little high to me.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3711
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 9:06 am:   Edit Post

Of course I like it!

Bill, tgo


fc_spoiler
Senior Member
Username: fc_spoiler

Post Number: 837
Registered: 5-2006
Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 9:30 am:   Edit Post

I love those, too bad my budget is too tight for that kind of options...

I'm gonna get some coffee now :-)
rjbassman
Junior
Username: rjbassman

Post Number: 19
Registered: 12-2008
Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 1:07 pm:   Edit Post

Coffee?? Are you sure?
I hear it's can be rather addictive...

I can just hear lbpesq at the airport now:
"I need to use the can, will you carry my guitar through Security? I'll catch up with you at the gate"
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 2183
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 - 12:24 am:   Edit Post

rjbassman - if you had visited the Netherlands sometime since the 1970s, you would have known that there are three types of coffeeshop around here, one of which is the type that Flip is referring to. You can tell the types of coffeeshop apart from the outside, by smell alone. In Amsterdam, just follow tourists over the age of 18 - they're bound to drop in (or out, if you like).

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