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  #1  
Old 07-15-2006, 09:19 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Charlotte, NC
Intro by Jimmy Hudson

Good morning all..I've been lurking for a couple of months and really enjoy the fellowship of this DB Forum.

A couple of months ago, while perusing the aisles of a Sam Ash, I impulsively purchased a Holbein/Strunal 50/2, for $750 (after considerable negotiation). A nice bass but in need of a bit of bridge / nut adjustment, if you know what I mean!

I put Obligatos on and immediately had better sound and feel.
I quickly decided to upgrade and ordered a Hawkes ply about a month ago as I realized I'd cripple my old hand if I forced myself to play this Strunal in its current configuration, and decided to cut my losses and not try to "fix it.

I've requested Obligatos from Upton but vascilate between
all the different strings I hear mentioned in the Strings portion of the list. I don't play out. Only at home, for my own amusement, unamplified, of course.
I love only one type of music: good music! I like to doodle around with jazz, country, latin, Bach, etc. and look forward to playing around with a bow, something I've never explored.
I felt compelled to reveal all of this as I am growing very excited about the soon to be shipped bass from Upton, and did not want to lurk any longer. Sorry to be off topic but didn't see where else to post an intro to the DB forum.
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  #2  
Old 07-15-2006, 09:34 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: LaBelle, FL
Welcome to TBDB, Jimmy. Fill out your profile, and you can get a real education around this site
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  #3  
Old 07-15-2006, 09:43 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Jersey Shore
Welcome aboard Jim, your Strunal would be fine with a good set up. The Sam Ash set up is non-existant. But congrats on your Hawkes, give us a review with pics !
  #4  
Old 07-15-2006, 10:26 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Connecticut
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Hudson
...I quickly decided to upgrade and ordered a Hawkes ply about a month ago as I realized I'd cripple my old hand if I forced myself to play this Strunal in its current configuration, and decided to cut my losses and not try to "fix it.

I've requested Obligatos from Upton but vascilate between
all the different strings I hear mentioned in the Strings portion of the list.
Hey, congrats. You made a wise choice, IMHO. You ought to hear that Hawkes ply with Dominants on it! I'm a Dominant convert coming from Oblis.
  #5  
Old 07-16-2006, 02:08 AM
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Endorsing: Ampeg
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Apopka, FL
Listen, you can drive yourself batty and broke if you listen to what everyone says about strings. Obligatos are a fine enough string to start with and they don't break the bank too badly. You will go nuts deciding on strings based on what people say on here. Don't ever buy a set based on what other people say. If you haven't tried them yourself, then you don't know what you're getting into and you will more often than not throw money away. I am a perfect example of that. But I wised up after a year and now I've got on the strings my Hawkes came with...Obligatos.

BTW, congrats on the purchase! Upton are great people and put out a heck of a nice bass with that Hawkes!
  #6  
Old 07-16-2006, 10:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM
Listen, you can drive yourself batty and broke if you listen to what everyone says about strings. Obligatos are a fine enough string to start with and they don't break the bank too badly. You will go nuts deciding on strings based on what people say on here. Don't ever buy a set based on what other people say. If you haven't tried them yourself, then you don't know what you're getting into and you will more often than not throw money away. I am a perfect example of that. But I wised up after a year and now I've got on the strings my Hawkes came with...Obligatos.

BTW, congrats on the purchase! Upton are great people and put out a heck of a nice bass with that Hawkes!
Yes and no. You really SHOULD listen to what everyone says and weigh it all appropriately. You'll go batty if you feel you have to act on it all! I am hardly a string freak. I tend to stick with a brand for years. Then again, I'm not a newbie.

My advice here was very specific. I've had both Oblis and Dominants (among others) and, whatsmore, I've played the Upton basses with both sets of strings!

Yes, Oblis are fine IMHO and really make the Hawkes "speak" nicely. I never meant to suggest that they be removed in favor of the Doms. As for listening to others, I read the "Strings" threads over years, sent PMs back and forth, and decided that the Doms might just be the ticket for me. As a matter of fact, based on the very detailed info I was able to get (thanks especially to TBeers), I was willing to try them even without trying them first.

About the time I mentioned my interest to Gary Upton, he was renewing his interest as well. I headed to his shop and played a set one of his Hawkes models. I was sold. A month later, they were on my Upton (Kmiotek) full-carved.

So, take this all for what it's worth which is, I hope, a bit more than just my $0.02.
  #7  
Old 07-16-2006, 11:36 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Apopka, FL
Dr., I will agree with you that you can get some very detailed info about how certain strings sound on here. And it appears to be pretty consistent. But that's still no guarantee you won't have just spent $120 on a set of strings that you hate if you don't try them out first. That's all I'm sayin'...
  #8  
Old 07-16-2006, 04:16 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Charlotte, NC
Thanks to everyone for the replies and discussion. That's exactly what is so enjoyable about this list: people willing to share their thoughts and feelings in an open format of candid discussion.
  #9  
Old 07-16-2006, 05:33 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Maui
"Jimmy Hudson".... that's the best bass name I've seen in awhile.
  #10  
Old 07-16-2006, 07:23 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Connecticut
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM
Dr., I will agree with you that you can get some very detailed info about how certain strings sound on here. And it appears to be pretty consistent. But that's still no guarantee you won't have just spent $120 on a set of strings that you hate if you don't try them out first. That's all I'm sayin'...
I agree.
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