Chris Wood string help.

J. Crawford · #1 02-22-2010, 06:33 PM

Well, Ive found the tone I wanna strive for now.. And I need your help TB!

The strings are the main thing. I can dig in harder, and change pickups and such, but I need to know what strings Chris Wood is playing in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y93k-9cb9s

Theyre black, so DR Black Beauties come to mind (I highly doubt it, they sound too "flat" to me), or black nylon tapes.

Any help is appreciated! The video is worth the listen, either way!

James Hart · #2 02-22-2010, 06:42 PM

I love that clip... tapes for sure!

Nevermind MMW, Sco is one of my favorite guitarists... he has the nastiest, rudest, almost nails on a chauk board tone. It's absolutely PERFECT in every way

J. Crawford · #3 02-22-2010, 06:43 PM

I agree, Sco is the man!

Any idea on what kind, exactly, James? Im dying to know!

EDIT: La Bella blacks? Im guessing.

jasper383 · #4 02-22-2010, 07:43 PM

Those are definitely tapes. What a fat sound!

Wood was on the cover of Bass Player a year or so ago, with his P Bass that had black strings on it. They look, to me, like they are kind of bumpy. That would mean Fender tapes.

Chris Wood has some of the all time great sounds out there on You Tube. His Hofner with flats sound on the MMW w/Scofield "Chank" is awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgyHq...eature=related

Zombbg4 · #5 02-22-2010, 08:02 PM

Whoa, I was watching that clip right before coming here! Weird...love those guys, Chris' electric and DB tone are the shiz.

J. Crawford · #6 02-22-2010, 08:53 PM

I love his DB and Hofner tones too, but this is the tone Im striving for.

So, can anyone give me an exact string type to buy? Thats what Im needin.

MMW and MSMW are some of all my all time favorites.

James Hart · #7 02-22-2010, 09:08 PM

not sure which ones... but here is some info I found in a quick google of them

http://www.bass-strings.com/about-ny...d-bass-strings

I would probably start with the Fender round versions.
http://www.bass-strings.com/fender-b...dwound-reviews

jasper383 · #8 02-23-2010, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

So, can anyone give me an exact string type to buy? Thats what Im needin.

MMW and MSMW are some of all my all time favorites.

Fender tapewounds.

http://www.bass-strings.com/fender-b...ewound-reviews

J. Crawford · #9 02-23-2010, 08:47 AM

Im gonna splurge on some of em, hope theyre what Im looking for!

Now, will they last like flatwounds? Will the black wear off?

jasper383 · #10 02-23-2010, 08:59 AM

The Fenders are very light gauge rounds, then wrapped in a thick plastic tape. The black is not a coating or paint; the plastic used is black in color.

They will last as long as you want them to.

J. Crawford · #11 02-23-2010, 09:12 AM

Sweet, thanks jasper! Youve been a big help!

PrivateHigh · #12 02-23-2010, 01:53 PM

Chris Wood says he uses black beauties, because he doesnt have to replace them as often, and he uses roundwounds exclusively for live gigs. If you google him, you can find pics where you can see the coating has worn off in big spots. Even in the youtube video you linked, you can see that the coating has worn off close to the bridge. Tape wound wont wear off like that. Another interesting thins is, it looks like he sets the pick ups flat and very low down to the body.

J. Crawford · #13 02-23-2010, 02:35 PM

I thought I noticed the strings being worn, but the tone in that video doesnt sound like full on rounds, its too bassy and subtle.

Hmm..

jasper383 · #14 02-23-2010, 06:01 PM

The sound on that clip really, really doesn't sound like the colored DR strings, which are Hi Beams under the coating. I'm very surprised if they are DRs.

J. Crawford · #15 02-23-2010, 06:33 PM

Thats what I thought too. Possibly super worn down DRs?

Darkstrike · #16 02-23-2010, 06:38 PM

The pickups being so low could account for the basyness, he could have the tone down, and the eq could be anything,

I can't remember offhand any tapes with black silks, which they would have to be to not be Black Beauties, from up close looks at his bass.

Coward Of Reali · #17 02-23-2010, 06:50 PM

I'm seeing these guys in about three hours, I'll let you know anything I can.

jasper383 · #18 02-23-2010, 07:30 PM

Fender tapes have black silks.

ljazz · #19 02-23-2010, 07:37 PM

I've read elsewhere that he uses black beauties on that particular P. In one of the other clips from that concert he does some pick work that definitely sounds like rounds. Also, in one several of the close up shots, you can see were the coating has worn off.....

My bet is a well worn in set of DR Black Beauties.

J. Crawford · #20 02-23-2010, 07:44 PM

Im gonna splurge on some DR BBs.

I think thats what it is now. Then setup my P to resemble his, and work the EQ and such on my amp.

Thanks guys!