Strings

Glotzer · #1 07-29-2009, 11:52 AM

A couple of questions about strings.

I'm of the Jamerson school that you should only change your strings when they a. break or b. just won't stay in tune anymore. So, I now need to change the strings on my fretless 4-string Barker for the first time (my singer's two-year-old tried playing with it, knocked it over and the G string snapped).

So, what strings do Barker players use? What does it come with? What are the gauges?

Thanks for any input.

Gene

pointbass · #2 07-30-2009, 06:33 AM

I might be wrong about this (best to check with Lee Barker), but I believe that LaBella Black Nylon Tapewounds are the "stock" string on new BVB's. Gauge is .060, .070, .094, .115 ....

It seems that lots of Barker players like the tapewounds. I personally prefer flats and use LaBella Deep Talkin' flats medium gauge .049, .069, .089, .109, .128 on a 5 string set with a low B, and the same gauges on a 6 string set with the .029 for the higher C

Any standard 34" electric bass set will work fine, several players are using roundwounds and really like them. Personal preference, etc, etc .....

Glotzer · #3 07-30-2009, 10:31 AM

Thanks.

I sometimes think I should experiment, and try different strings, but I always hate the sound of new strings, and by the time I've broken them in to the point of liking them it's hard to compare. I think the answer is that I need five or six identical basses and that way I could put different strings on each one and see which is best.

Lee Barker · #4 07-30-2009, 11:57 AM

We could talk.......

Leogoff · #5 07-31-2009, 06:48 AM

I have a B1 fretted. Much like you mentioned, I have other basses which I use the LaBella 760 strings. I have the 760's on my B1 currently, and they give me the response I'm looking for. As these strings age, I think they sound better. Sort of a natural compression. I think that is the James Jamerson school of thought, as you mentioned. The studio engineers love that sound on most of my session work. Another string I have used with success is the Joe Osborn Signature flatwounds sold by Lakland. They have a similar feel and tone to the 760's.

I also have a fretless Barker, and I use the LaBella tape wound, as fitted by Lee. I'm very satisfied with these on the fretless. I have not tried them on my fretted.

I'm mostly a groove & blues player, and the tone of the tape wound on my fretless suits my music and playing technique very well.

I've noticed over the years the player's fingers make a difference in the brightness of the strings. Some players have brighter fingers than others, on the same instrument.

Let me know how that five or six identical basses thing works out!!!

All the best, Leo

JKT · #6 07-31-2009, 09:07 AM

I have a 4 str fretted Brio and switched to LaBella Deep Talkin Flats a year or so ago. Can't see going to anything else at the moment.

Joel

Lee Barker · #7 08-04-2009, 08:58 AM

Any set that ends in 105 or so will easily fit in the nut slots.

I don't want personally to get stuck in tradition when there's a possibility of discovering something new, but I seem always to want a flatwound string on my Brio with the P-style pickups. Currently I'm using tapewound Pyramid strings from Germany and they are fine; even the fretted instrument has a woody tone when things are dialed in just right on my amp.

On my B1 I prefer Round Wounds Ground Down. An example, of many, is the GHS Brite Flats, self-described as "Smooth surface, mid-bright tone." Sometimes I go back to roundwounds. It's a mood thing, or maybe seasonal intelligence drift, I don't know.

But back to Glotzer's thoughts about not liking the sound of a new string. I wonder if that's more likely to occur with a roundwound than a flat. If so, the reason might be that it's hard for the grit of life to affect a flatwound string, but it certainly is a factor in the tonal life of a roundwound.

And the last point is, what kind of sound do you want? If it's a mature roundwound, I can drape a set over one of the bandsaws in the shop and get them speed-aged for you. We can call it the "Barker Fast Forward String".

**yodedude2** · #8 08-05-2009, 07:41 PM

my bass string and supplier of choice:

http://www.carvinguitars.com/product...p?product=4012

later, ron

Leogoff · #9 08-05-2009, 09:06 PM

But Ron, I just have to ask...is your avatar an El Camino with a GTO front cap? or, a GTO converted to a pickup? It doesn't look like any El Camino I've seen. Looks cool....Leo

And I like ground wounds as well. Used them on my fretted B1 for a while.

**yodedude2** · #10 08-06-2009, 06:02 PM

that's a car my dad dreamed up and had built. he really liked the g.m. motorama 'dream cars' and this was his idea of a pontiac show car. it's an actual gto with an el camino rear clip welded in. the chassis and serial numbers were gto numbers...here's a link to a page by the current owner:

http://pontiacexcitement.page.tl/196...ckup-Truck.htm

thanks for asking, ron

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leogoff

But Ron, I just have to ask...is your avatar an El Camino with a GTO front cap? or, a GTO converted to a pickup? It doesn't look like any El Camino I've seen. Looks cool....Leo

And I like ground wounds as well. Used them on my fretted B1 for a while.

Glotzer · #11 08-19-2009, 10:16 AM

Since I asked the initial question, I thought I should let everyone know what I got. D'Addario ECB82 XL Chromes. They are flats. The main reason is I still prefer using my local music shop whenever possible and these were the only flats they had. So far, I like the feel of them more than the tape-wound, but I liked the sound better before. I'm hoping they mellow a bit with use.