Circle K strings...

[RHCP250]

I'm a beleiver. Strings are broken in and aren't quite as zingy. I turned my amps volume up and play with a lighter touch, nice warm punchy tone. When I dig it's more apparent this way too.

[JoeVictim]

Just put a new pair of downed tuned strings last night before practice. WOW! They are so comfortable. These are my #1 string now. I'll admit I haven't played every string made and these are my first set of over $30 strings. I understand now. So brilliant sounding. We'll see how long it takes to loose their zing.

[KingRazor]

Any news on when they'll be coming up with strings tuned to fifths?

[markanini]

How about flatwounds, Cirkle K? Nobody wants to play a bass that sounds like an electric contra-bass harp?

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

Any news on when they'll be coming up with strings tuned to fifths?

It would be excellent to see fifths sets. However single strings are available so customers can always use the Circle K tension chart pdf to design fifths sets with their preferred tensions.

EDIT: I see this is exactly what you've done

[rockstarbassist]

Finally got Brownie back, setup with a custom double-drop set from Skip. I'll need to go back and look at the exact gauges, but I'm tuning GCGCF (and ACGCF) and man these things bring it. I'd had a backup set of DR DDT's on Brownie before then, and wow what a night and day difference. I like the LoRiders and HiBeams, but the DDT's were just terrible. The K's have actual natural feeling tension, but still hold tune even better than the DDT's and because they're tapered I was able to really flatten on the action/neck a bit and really lower the action a good bit and get this bass smokin'. So yeah it's a night and day difference.
I'm still getting used to the tone, after playing DR's for the last 8-9 years pretty much exclusively but a little EQ'ing worked great. can't wait to get another set! And even though my low B(A or G) is pretty hefty, it still doesn't feel TOO big to play and I really didn't even notice much at all.

[Flatwound]

I've had them on for almost a month now, and I have to say I'm impressed. They're still very crisp and lively, and the B string is excellent. To review, these are on a Washburn XB-600. I've only tried two other string sets on this bass, GHS and Warwick EMP's, and the Circle K's are vastly better than either of those were. I don't see a reason to try anything else, especially if I get another month or two out of this set.

[JoeVictim]

Originally Posted by JoeVictim

Just put a new pair of downed tuned strings last night before practice. WOW! They are so comfortable. These are my #1 string now. I'll admit I haven't played every string made and these are my first set of over $30 strings. I understand now. So brilliant sounding. We'll see how long it takes to loose their zing.

Let it be know that just over a month later, my A string is now broke. This sucks because I really liked these strings. But if they are going to be breaking once a month, I need to rethink my strategy. Anyone think Circle K will hook it up with a new A string?

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by JoeVictim

Let it be know that just over a month later, my A string is now broke. This sucks because I really liked these strings. But if they are going to be breaking once a month, I need to rethink my strategy. Anyone think Circle K will hook it up with a new A string?

Only reports of fragility came from the really light wounds - you're the first with something so big.

Let's do this - purchase a backup set and I'll cover shipping and send a replacement A along with the new set. You are a month in after all...

Drop me a PM or email and let me double check the tensions you're running and I'll need to know the gauge of the A that popped.

EDIT; on second thought - we ship out of Denver. It'll come snail mail, but I'll send out just the A string.

[KingRazor]

Just put in my order for a Balanced 5 string .136 set. Looking forward to it! My hope is that I'll FINALLY have a playable B string.

[JoeVictim]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

Only reports of fragility came from the really light wounds - you're the first with something so big.

Let's do this - purchase a backup set and I'll cover shipping and send a replacement A along with the new set. You are a month in after all...

Drop me a PM or email and let me double check the tensions you're running and I'll need to know the gauge of the A that popped.

EDIT; on second thought - we ship out of Denver. It'll come snail mail, but I'll send out just the A string.

This is happening. Talked to Skip, customer service rules. I can't wait to get some kind of t-shirt. I want to yell something positive from some place very high. Circle K has made a customer for life.

[WestOfBen]

Keen on this thread - I am!

I am about to drop on my first set of CKs. First I have some quick questions. I'll also add that I have been a player of Roto 66s for years and years. I like some zing/harmonics and growl, but I am noticing some warmth missing and also the high tension bothers me sometimes.

I have four basses:

1. Epi Ripper with Bartolini MMs x 2 and preamp. Standard and Drop D tuning. Balanced Medium 106 set maybe.

2. Epi Les Paul Standard with EMGs. DGCF and Drop C from there. Thinking a set of Balanced Medium 112s, or should I go 118s? I will probably stay in CGCF. I have a brass stop bar approx 1" from the back of the 3-point bridge. Have needed to use the extra long Rotos on this bass because the cotton winding lands on the bridge pieces (I should add that this was without the stop piece, so now with stop piece and long scale Rotos I get a good cotton-less contact and better sustain). So will I need the Longs or Mediums? The stop piece adds at least 1" to the overall string length but the scale is still 34".

3. Fretless P/J clone. BEAD tuning. Balanced Medium 124 or 130s?

4. Tanglewood ABG. Standard tuning. No idea! I use the same Roto 66s on that too!

Basically what will change in my sound, particularly on the Ripper and Les Paul?

[KingRazor]

I ordered a set and on the website, under the drop down for shipping options, there were a few for "$0". I thought, "They offer free shipping?" and I selected that as my option. Turns out that's not the case. It's not a problem, but now I have to through getting a shipping payment to them. A bit of a drag. Still excited about the strings though.

BTW not knocking CK at all just wish I had known.

[greenboy]

After all this time it sure would be nice to see a valid certificate for the site too. That's been reported ever since there was a site.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by WestOfBen

Keen on this thread - I am!

I am about to drop on my first set of CKs. First I have some quick questions. I'll also add that I have been a player of Roto 66s for years and years. I like some zing/harmonics and growl, but I am noticing some warmth missing and also the high tension bothers me sometimes.

I have four basses:

1. Epi Ripper with Bartolini MMs x 2 and preamp. Standard and Drop D tuning. Balanced Medium 106 set maybe.

2. Epi Les Paul Standard with EMGs. DGCF and Drop C from there. Thinking a set of Balanced Medium 112s, or should I go 118s? I will probably stay in CGCF. I have a brass stop bar approx 1" from the back of the 3-point bridge. Have needed to use the extra long Rotos on this bass because the cotton winding lands on the bridge pieces - so will I need the Longs or do CKs not have cotton?

3. Fretless P/J clone. BEAD tuning. Balanced Medium 124 or 130s

4. Tanglewood ABG. Standard tuning. No idea! I use the same Roto 66s on that too!

Basically what will change in my sound, particularly on the Ripper and Les Paul?

Firstly, you want standard sets, not medium. If you look, Medium is 36"/37" scales.

Secondly, if you drop tune, you'll want the specific drop-tuned sets.

So....

1. If you switch between, you're better off getting a thick string with a gauge right in the middle of what the balanced and the drops. Something like a .118 .084 .061 .043.

2. I think you can still get away with the standard scale length, but you might send an email to verify. I'd go with a Drop Tune Standard 124/130/136.

3. Balanced Standard 130/136/142

4. None. I'd go with a set of coated Phosphor Bronze coated ABG strings. I've always found nickel and steel strings to be far too quiet in an ABG setting.

[ixlramp]

WestOfBen, assuming you have been using standard tension sets and find them a little too tight, here are my recommendations for balanced medium-light tension.

1. EADG would be .100 .076 .055 .040 and DADG would be .112 .076 .055 .040, so choose the average .106 for E / D:
.106 .076 .055 .040
This doesn't exist as a set but you can build it from Circle K single strings

2. CGCF:
4 String Set - Drop Tune Standard 124
.124 .084 .061 .043

3. BEAD:
4 String Set - Balanced Standard 136
.136 .100 .076 .055

As for which length, download the Circle K specs pdf. Note the short taper may not reach the saddles on your Les Paul.

[eyvindwa]

I would just like to add my appreciation for Circle K. Had 'em on for a few months now, with .166 balanced set for G C F Bb Eb, and I love 'em! I recommend them to anyone searching for strings a little out of the ordinary, now.

[KingRazor]

Just got my balanced .136 set, waiting to get my bass back from the shop now.

[JoeVictim]

Originally Posted by JoeVictim

This is happening. Talked to Skip, customer service rules. I can't wait to get some kind of t-shirt. I want to yell something positive from some place very high. Circle K has made a customer for life.

Not concerned anymore. Got replacement string today in mail. I would have expected a confirmation email but what counts is that I have the string I needed just in time for practice.

I will still be a customer for life.

[KingRazor]

Alright, now that I got my bass back all set up with a new Circle K balanced .136 five string set, here is my initial response:

I played the bass right away at the shop I got it set up at. At first, I have to say I was not thoroughly impressed. The strings didn't seem much better than my D'Addarios, although the balanced tension was nice.

Then I got home and played for about 10 or 15 minutes. I AM IN LOVE. These are the best strings I've ever played. I have so much less string noise than I've ever had before. The strings are nice and supple and SO CLEAR. It is a night and day difference. Plus, the tone is already warmer than my D'Addarios so by the time they break in they should be perfect!

Here's a recording I did of my bass with the new strings: (LOW QUALITY WARNING: I did not use an audio interface or amp or anything, this is my bass hooked directly to my computer's motherboard and recorded with audacity, no effects, no compression, just the bass).

newbassstrings.mp3