Alchemy Strings Randy Jackson

DEbassist · #1 06-13-2007, 02:38 PM

Has anybody tried out the new Gold plated Randy Jackson signature strings? What are your opinions?

SGT. Pepper · #2 06-13-2007, 04:35 PM

As soon as they come out with some 5'ers I'll give them a try.

rsautrey · #3 06-13-2007, 07:46 PM

I think Dean Markley is selling the four string sets only and then making Low B's available for sale as singles strings. Here's what juststrings.com has to offer for Alchemy Low B's...quite pricey too:

http://www.juststrings.com/alchemyra...lestrings.html

The best price for the four string sets I've seen is here:

http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/demarajaalba.html

juststrings.com wants $55 dollars for the four string sets!!

As far as my experience with these strings, I also play acoustic guitar and absolutely love the Alchemy GoldPhos strings. So I figured the bass version should be OK when I started hearing that they would be going public soon. I prefer stainless steel roundwounds and these Alchemy strings are not stainless steel. They are basically a nickelplated string with stainless steel underwraps and the Alchemy coating on top (which is gold by the way, with purple silk at the tuners, yuck!). Anyway, they came off of my bass after about 3 days. They were strung on an Jazz Bass, through the body, and if anyone wants 'em, let me know.

rsautrey · #4 06-13-2007, 08:06 PM

"Has anybody tried out the new Gold plated Randy Jackson signature strings?"

I just read this again form the original poster and I wanted to clarify that they are not gold plated (as in using real gold like Maxima/Optima Gold strings) but use a compound (coating) that has a gold color to it.

PrecisionBass · #5 06-14-2007, 09:37 PM

I tried 'em... they're not that great, they're kinda dull, and you can DEFINITELY get more for your money.

Redhot6 · #6 06-14-2007, 09:57 PM

i have a set on my warmoth bass and i think they suck for 40$. they arent live at all when you first get them, the only good part is they stay dead a long time since theyre coated. the string to string balance is terrible and they're different shades of gold(each string) and they purple wraps.

JordanP · #7 06-15-2007, 11:56 PM

I think they play and sound fantastic, feel great too!

Ive been using them on my EBMM sterling for weeks, with regular play and gigs. No coating is coming off or anything, still feel and sound great too. Got alot of other local players to try and they agree. However 40 bucks is alot.

I paid 25

JimmyM · #8 06-16-2007, 12:58 AM

I read that Randy Jackson said he wanted them to sound played in for a couple days right out of the box. Sounds like he accomplished it. Me, I'd rather play in a set of $12 D'addarios.

masprague · #9 06-16-2007, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I read that Randy Jackson said he wanted them to sound played in for a couple days right out of the box. Sounds like he accomplished it. Me, I'd rather play in a set of $12 D'addarios.

I heard they were actually designed for someone else but the deal fell through so they signed on Randy. I am not even sure if they did a redesign for him, or just released the initial strings that were designed for someone else under his name.

rsautrey · #10 06-16-2007, 10:46 AM

"I heard they were actually designed for someone else but the deal fell through so they signed on Randy."

It's funny that you mention this. Several years ago, I was in contact with Dean Markley about some defective strings. Anyway, the conversation turned to string talk in general and the rep told me they were working on the new Alchemy bass strings (the acoustic guitar versions had already been out for awhile). Bill Dickens was who they were working with at the time and the rep sent me a prototype set. That set was stainless steel taperwound (just like the SR2000 set that Bill Dickens uses) but had the gold Alchemy coating on them. These seemed brighter than the current Alchemy, probably due to the thinner winding at the bridge, but I can never get decent intonation with any taperwound/exposed core set that I've ever used and these were no different in that respect.

Randy Jackson has been a Dean Markley user for years (He used the standard Super Round set before his signature set came out) but I have to wonder if Dean Markley thought that the American Idol connection might help them sell more strings. Anyway, I do not like the Alchemy bass strings even though the acoustic guitar Alchemy strings are some of the best out there IMO.