Circle K tone question

[Ski3223]

Been hearing lots around the water cooler about Circle K balanced strings. I understand the balanced tension concept. My question is how do they SOUND?
Looking into them for either my Stingray 3EQ or the new Squier VM 70's Jazz. Opinions? I like my DR Lo-riders, and I slap pretty frequently and mostly fingerstyle. I play everything from old funk to early hip-hop to hard rock to praise and worship (when I have to...). Jack of all trades looking for a string that can do the same!
Going on the heavy side (.106 .079 .059 .043), I prefer heavys. Mostly cause I can pull off lower action without clanking or buzzing.

In other news, considering putting flats on my Ovation Magnum. Anyone tried this? Sound good?

[jady]

I have found that the lighter tension string drastically changed the way I play. It feels like the string can vibrate more freely and speaks much much easier (not sure of the physics but this is my perception). I have went lower and lower in gauge as my touch got lighter and lighter. I went from 100-45 to 88-36 in about 6 months lol.

The balanced tension also helped even out the volume between strings and the lighter my playing became I discovered that plucking, harmonics, tapping, slapping and all the little nuances in your right hand come off at the same level so it is really freeing to be able to do whatever the song needs to have happen.

I would give them a try, I think you will like the big tight fundamental that these strings give.

[tylerwylie]

Circle K Strings are pretty much the jack of all trade strings.

[ryansalmond]

Balanced tension guage = lighter guages on higher strings = more string vibration = more harmonic juiciness.

Also, it makes it so you can get the sound of an aggressive attack without having to put much force into it.

[mmbongo]

They couldn't displace DR's for me (there's nothing like a round core string!), but I liked the balanced sets, so I just started using balanced DR's! Put together whatever you want right here:
Build your own custom string set out of DR Handmade Electric Bass Strings!

Circle K owns the market for large strings, though! If you want to go over a .135 you're pretty much looking at Circle K.

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

They couldn't displace DR's for me, but I liked the balanced sets, so I just started using balanced DR's! Put together whatever you want right here:
Build your own custom string set out of DR Handmade Electric Bass Strings!

Circle K owns the market for large strings, though! If you want to go over a .135 you're pretty much looking at Circle K.

I have 4 basses now, 2 have DR and 2 have Circle K strings... The DR's are very versatile but I think the Circle K strings are really the jack of all trades. Fat beams coming up right behind them though. Can't go wrong with either.

[FunkMetalBass]

They sound amazing. Very even across the entire spectrum. They have plenty of fundamental and mid-range clarity, so they really allow you to EQ them exactly as you'd like. They are incredible for slapping, especially if you a lighter-gauge (like the balanced 100) set with tension you prefer.

[Ski3223]

Great replies guys, thanks for all the info. I think I might give them a shot. I didn't know what the 'balanced tension' situation would do with the tone but it seems that it evens things out a bit more. I don't think I'm gonna go with a light gauge. I like the punch and tight wave the heavy strings make. Gets my set-ups lower to the fretboard.

Of course, I just might not be that great at doing setups if I can't get a lighter gauge as close as I want with my playing

One last question: specifically with slap, will they give me a nice even volume between the slap and pop? No extra loud POP as opposed to slap?

[OOZMAN]

Originally Posted by Ski3223

Been hearing lots around the water cooler about Circle K balanced strings. I understand the balanced tension concept. My question is how do they SOUND?
Looking into them for either my Stingray 3EQ or the new Squier VM 70's Jazz. Opinions? I like my DR Lo-riders, and I slap pretty frequently and mostly fingerstyle. I play everything from old funk to early hip-hop to hard rock to praise and worship (when I have to...). Jack of all trades looking for a string that can do the same!
Going on the heavy side (.106 .079 .059 .043), I prefer heavys. Mostly cause I can pull off lower action without clanking or buzzing.

In other news, considering putting flats on my Ovation Magnum. Anyone tried this? Sound good?

Mate, they sound unreal. This was a huge revelation to me, because I only bought Circle K for the custom gauges (I use G-C-G-C-F-A#-D# tuning), and I was pleasently surprised when they came in the mail. And so far they are lasting longer than any round-wound set I've ever had. Highly recommend.

[ixlramp]

On the CKS site it says:
"A characteristic that will remain with our strings is their flexibility - there is greater tonal content in a string that is more free to move. This gives them a feel that leans toward the loose side, but can be compensated for by upping slightly the gauges you may be accustomed to."
Apparently they feel loose for their gauge so perhaps choose a set a little heavier than you think you need.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by Ski3223

One last question: specifically with slap, will they give me a nice even volume between the slap and pop? No extra loud POP as opposed to slap?[/b]

That's all about technique, IMO. Not your strings.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

They couldn't displace DR's for me (there's nothing like a round core string!), but I liked the balanced sets, so I just started using balanced DR's! Put together whatever you want right here:
Build your own custom string set out of DR Handmade Electric Bass Strings!

Where on that page - or in those pages - does it display the tension values for each of those models and gauges of strings? You can't build a balanced set using hunches, based on gauge sizes alone. You need to know the actual tension values...

MM

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Ski3223

Great replies guys, thanks for all the info. I think I might give them a shot. I didn't know what the 'balanced tension' situation would do with the tone but it seems that it evens things out a bit more. I don't think I'm gonna go with a light gauge. I like the punch and tight wave the heavy strings make. Gets my set-ups lower to the fretboard.

Of course, I just might not be that great at doing setups if I can't get a lighter gauge as close as I want with my playing

One last question: specifically with slap, will they give me a nice even volume between the slap and pop? No extra loud POP as opposed to slap?

As was already said, technique will play a huge part in this, but lowering your pickup on the treble side can help too.

Originally Posted by ixlramp

On the CKS site it says:
"A characteristic that will remain with our strings is their flexibility - there is greater tonal content in a string that is more free to move. This gives them a feel that leans toward the loose side, but can be compensated for by upping slightly the gauges you may be accustomed to."
Apparently they feel loose for their gauge so perhaps choose a set a little heavier than you think you need.

It's true. Whenever I recommend them, I always tell people to go with one gauge higher than what they usually play. Countless times here I've seen "I play a .135 B, so I bought the .136 set. Sounds and feels great, but I think I may need the .142."

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Where on that page - or in those pages - does it display the tension values for each of those models and gauges of strings? You can't build a balanced set using hunches, based on gauge sizes alone. You need to know the actual tension values...

MM

Your best bet is to use D'Addario's tension chart, as tension for each gauge doesn't vary too much for different manufacturers.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

Where on that page - or in those pages - does it display the tension values for each of those models and gauges of strings? You can't build a balanced set using hunches, based on gauge sizes alone. You need to know the actual tension values...

MM

I used three tools to build mine. Common sense, trial, and error. I put my string sets together using feel and sound.

Just because the tension numbers match does not mean the strings will SOUND balanced. There's a reason not everybody sells balanced tension sets. In fact D'Addario won't sell them because they said the sound does not balance.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I used three tools to build mine. Common sense, trial, and error. I put my string sets together using feel and sound.

Just because the tension numbers match does not mean the strings will SOUND balanced. There's a reason not everybody sells balanced tension sets. In fact D'Addario won't sell them because they said the sound does not balance.

So they don't design their strings with regard to tone or feel, and then just trial-and-error piece them together at the end? I'm curious what the "sound does not balance" response was specifically referencing - tone, or volume. Volume has been the reason for unbalanced traditional tension for years (although amplification has seen so much improvement that the volume argument is basically moot). Also, they make "heavy bottom/medium top" sets for guitar, and that is effectively similar to balancing tension of strings, so I don't see why it would make a difference.

[darkstorm]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I used three tools to build mine. Common sense, trial, and error. I put my string sets together using feel and sound.

Just because the tension numbers match does not mean the strings will SOUND balanced. There's a reason not everybody sells balanced tension sets. In fact D'Addario won't sell them because they said the sound does not balance.

Absolutely gotta agree. Sometimes the better sound and reasonably equal feel will be from a mfg next up or down gauge. For that string. I experimented with that a lot with Roto swing66 while I lived in UK. Since all the local gear stores carried the swing66 by the single string to for those who wanted to make custom set or just replace 1-2 strings.

I see that dr has started making light gauge. Havent had a chance to do that with other brands. But since DR neons are now being offered in both med and light gauge sets. i'm tempted to get around to comparing the two sets eventually. lol. Id be more tempted to give circle k's a try if round core and silk on ends of strings. Yes thats silly, but if not neons I prefer look of silk on ends. Lol.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I used three tools to build mine. Common sense, trial, and error. I put my string sets together using feel and sound.

Just because the tension numbers match does not mean the strings will SOUND balanced. There's a reason not everybody sells balanced tension sets. In fact D'Addario won't sell them because they said the sound does not balance.

Fair enough. But since that's apparently the way in which you're defining "balance", it seems to me that a little more standardization of the term would be in order. Either that, or we should all get in the habit of defining our terms a little more precisely.

I, of course, was referring to balanced feel - which is, naturally, based on balanced tension. Balanced feel and balanced tension, as I understand it, is the main claim to fame of Circle K strings; Circle K being the original topic of this thread after all.

MM

[mmbongo]

Yes I was referring to balancing to feel. I don't really care if the tension measurements are the same or not, as long as it feels right. And since I use DR strings, unbalanced sound is not a problem.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Absolutely gotta agree. Sometimes the better sound and reasonably equal feel will be from a mfg next up or down gauge. For that string. I experimented with that a lot with Roto swing66 while I lived in UK. Since all the local gear stores carried the swing66 by the single string to for those who wanted to make custom set or just replace 1-2 strings.

I see that dr has started making light gauge. Havent had a chance to do that with other brands. But since DR neons are now being offered in both med and light gauge sets. i'm tempted to get around to comparing the two sets eventually. lol. Id be more tempted to give circle k's a try if round core and silk on ends of strings. Yes thats silly, but if not neons I prefer look of silk on ends. Lol.

What is it that people love about a round core? Is it the flexibility of the string? Because if that's the case, you'll be totally satisfied with Circle K's.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

What is it that people love about a round core? Is it the flexibility of the string? Because if that's the case, you'll be totally satisfied with Circle K's.

It's the fuller, clearer sound that you get from a round core. The wraps are in full contact with the core, they just sound more robust to me. I also think it helps with balancing the sound of the strings. Could just be me, though. They just vibrate a little more freely. The added flexibility is a bonus