Epiphone Jack Casady - what strings do you use?

Peter Weil · #1 10-05-2001, 12:13 PM

Hi all,

Just bought myself a Jack Casady and am proudly adding myself to the list Jacksters. (Is that the correct term?

)

Just wanted to know what strings everyone uses on their Jack. Although the strings that came on it sounded OK, they were very harsh on my fingers - I think they were steels. I'm more of a nickel man myself.

I strung up the bass with a set of Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats I had lying around and haven't been overly impressed with the tone - not the way I was impressed with the string sthat were on it, anyway. Seems like the tone withe the TI flats is lacking in punch - I'm a finger player trying to get a kind of 'punchy flatwound' sound, if possible (a la Carol Kaye on her new album).

However, I may go back to nickel roundwounds if I can't find flats to get the kind of sound I'm looking for.

Any of you other Jacksters want to pipe up? Mike Jewels, Max Valentino, I know you're out there.....

Peter

Dude · #2 10-05-2001, 06:22 PM

Hey Peter,

I just got a sunburst JC Sig and strung it up with Rotosound Tru-Bass black nylons and while I like them they do seen to have a limited tonal range on the JC Sig...very "Hofnerish".

I may try a set of the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Roundwounds on it next and report my findings.

maxvalentino · #3 10-05-2001, 10:57 PM

I was using TI flats for a while...they imparted an almost fretless vibe and growl to my Jack.
But now I am back to TI Nickel Roundwounds, which seem to give off the most tone, and widest array of tones. The tension and gauge of TIs is a bit light, which I really like, but that might be a bit supple for some. Maybe aheavier gauge would help in yer tone quest?
But they are remarkable basses, eh?
In Mr. Jewels absence allow me to welcome you to the Jacksters......
Max Valentino

Peter Weil · #4 10-06-2001, 02:10 AM

Thanks for your input, guys. And thanks for the welcome, Max!

Yes, the Jack Casady is a wonderful bass - I'm starting to wonder if putting flats on it is the right move. Roundwounds DO seem to have more tonal variation, as you said, Dude.

So, I think it's back to good ol' nickels today - I'm going around town to look for a medium or light set. See y'all later!

Pete

notduane · #5 10-06-2001, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dude
I just got a sunburst JC Sig and strung it up
with Rotosound Tru-Bass black nylons and while I
like them they do seen to have a limited tonal
range on the JC Sig...very "Hofnerish"...

Dude!

A sunburst Casady with Roto tapes? Got one
hangin' on the wall

. I tried the same thing. Kept me
from rippin' out the frets anyway - very quiet.

boogiebass · #6 10-06-2001, 06:25 PM

Markley Blue Steels work well on the bass. I use 45-105.

Dude · #7 10-06-2001, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by notduane

Dude! A sunburst Casady with Roto tapes? Got one
hangin' on the wall . I tried the same thing. Kept me
from rippin' out the frets anyway - very quiet.

Cool...yeah I really prefer the sunburst ones over the black or goldtops. I took off the pickguard and may put a T-Bird chrome pickup cover on it (hate the cheap cream colored pickup) and am talking to Hipshot about making me a decent set of tuners for it. The stock tuners are really cheap in my opinion but all in all I dig the hell out of my JC.

Has anyone in here tried moving the upper strap button to the upper horn instead of behind the neck joint? It tends to fall away from my body when playing it standing up unless I sling it low and on the side of my hip.

notduane · #8 10-06-2001, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dude
...(I) am talking to Hipshot about making me a decent
set of tuners for it. The stock tuners are really cheap
in my opinion...

They are kinda' "slippy", ain't they. I could see where regular
Ultralite Cloverleafs would require a lotta' hole-fillin' and re-
paintin'. What about REAL Schallers?

I got to wonderin' about a heftier replacement bridge.
This one from Schaller (left) looks like it might work.
If not, Allparts has nickel ones.

maxvalentino · #9 10-07-2001, 12:42 AM

Dude...I got Casady from Steve Azola, who had done some "experimenting "with the strap buttons.
He drilled holes on the horn, the outside top end of the heel, and of center and the butt (like a ZON or Tobias have). On the horn does even out the balance, but kinda puts the center of gravity in a funny place, at least for me when I play alot of chords (which, by the way, sound great on the JC!), so I have put it back on the heel. I have two straplocks on the butt, one for wearing high, as I usually do, and one to drop it a few inches to accomodate my use of Funk Fingers (which also really sound incredible on the Jack!)
Lighter tuners would really help. I was wondering about hipshots.....let me know what you end up doing.
MAx

boogiebass · #10 10-07-2001, 08:19 PM

I've never had a problem with the stock tuners. In fact, the bass stays in tune great over the course of four sets. As to the strap buttons, I did replace mine with Schaller's and the instrument retains good balance without the possiblity of slipping off the strap. Mounting a button on the upper horn would be a mistake, IMO.

One thing I did discover about this bass is that its tone is greatly affected by setup. If you don't take the time to really set it up right, you won't enjoy the full potential of its sound. The bridge needs to be properly adjusted and intonated and the front-to-back tilt needs to be perfect. When you get it just right, man, it's sweet!

Michael Jewels · #11 10-10-2001, 03:21 PM

Man! How did I miss this thread? Anyway Peter, let me welcome you to the Jacksters as well. Presently, I'm using Dean Markley Blue Steels, like Boogiebass, but, I'm using the light guage set.(40-100) For flatwounds I used to use Rotosound 77s which I feel give an almost roundwound sound, and seem to go naturally with this bass. This is some bass, huh? One thing I recommend that you try at least once is to turn all/most of the mids down on your amp. I find it gives the Casady an almost upright bass type tone. Another goodie I recently purchased was a Yamaha Nathan East NE-1 parametric EQ. As good as the Casady sounds, it makes it sound even better. In fact it makes any of my basses sound better. As far as the tuners go, I have to agree with Boogie, I haven't had any problems so far. Which strings sound best on this bass? I think most strings do, which is a tribute to its overall design; this is a well planned bass. I've said it a dozen times, but, I still don't understand why this bass hasn't caught on more than it has.
BTW, my Casady is sunburst too. I'll post some pix when I get a chance.

Welcome aboard, Pete.
Mike J.
P.S. As penance for missing this thread, I promise to have a couple of Cutty Sarks tonight!

Shout out to Notduane, Boogie, Max V. and Dude.

Peter Weil · #12 10-10-2001, 03:55 PM

...strung the JC up with Rotosound nickels and it plays and sound slike a dream. It definitely has great tonal variety, that's for sure.

Dude - just so you know - I tried the TI Jazz Flats on the JC, and felt that the tonal range was somewhat limited, much like your comments about the other flatwounds you tried. Not bad, but not as brilliant as the bass sounded as with even the stock strings.

Mike - thanks for the big up! A few whiskies should sort you out no problem.

I heard JC uses Blue Steels as well, but for the life of me, steels are just too hard on my fingers and too 'clanky' on board. Nickels, I think, remain the way forward for me. Wish I had the spare cash for a Nathan East EQ too! As for upright sound, I just turn the knob to '0' and the impedance down to '50' and play near the fretboard. Works great. Additional benefit for me: this is the ONLY bass I have played where I set the controls on my amp completely flat and it sounds good. Usually, Trace Elliots need the 'mid pre shape' button punched to sound decent - but not with this bass. Great natural low end and tone galore. Could even replace my main bass!

Pete

PS My bass is just a bog-standard goldtop, but I still love it. You guys just want that ultra-rare 'sunburst' cachet! (no, I don't mean that horrible ebony sunburst. *shudder*)

PPS Maybe we should start a thread about various settings for this bass and how/where to use them?

Michael Jewels · #13 10-11-2001, 03:31 PM

[quote][i]Originally posted by Peter Weil

Mike - thanks for the big up! A few whiskies should sort you out no problem.

I heard JC uses Blue Steels as well, but for the life of me, steels are just too hard on my fingers and too 'clanky' on board. Nickels, I think, remain the way forward for me.

Hey Pete, here's something I found out last night. I just happened to look at the box my Dean Markley Blue steels came in, and right on the front it says: Nickel Plated. I did not know this, so if it's nickels you want...check out the Blue Steels.(misleading name)

Talk soon,
Mike J.

fender58 · #14 10-13-2001, 02:45 AM

This may be a little off topic but then it does involves a JC Sig bass :-) What amp and cab do you all use for your Jack Casady. I have a Ashdown abmc210500 and I find myself turning down the mid's. I use a carvin 15" under it somtimes as a extension cab.

Dude · #15 10-14-2001, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by maxvalentino
Dude...I got Casady from Steve Azola, who had done some "experimenting "with the strap buttons.
He drilled holes on the horn, the outside top end of the heel, and of center and the butt (like a ZON or Tobias have). On the horn does even out the balance, but kinda puts the center of gravity in a funny place, at least for me when I play alot of chords (which, by the way, sound great on the JC!), so I have put it back on the heel. I have two straplocks on the butt, one for wearing high, as I usually do, and one to drop it a few inches to accomodate my use of Funk Fingers (which also really sound incredible on the Jack!)
Lighter tuners would really help. I was wondering about hipshots.....let me know what you end up doing.
MAx

LOL Max...that was my bass!! I sent it to Steve Azola last year as a partial trade toward the Telecaster Thinline Steve made for me. Small world huh?

I got a reply from Dave Borisoff at Hipshot this week. He said that he's work with me on designing some replacement tuners for my JC. I'll keep you guys up to speed with the project. I'm a Hipshot dealer and might get a few sets made up. If any of you might be interested come over to The Pit and post a message in my Hipshot forum ok? (I only browse arond in here once in a while):

http://pub41.ezboard.com/fthedudepitfrm23

Also keep your eyes peeled at the Pit for news about a new "Signature" set of strings currently in prototype phase by one of my manufacturers....wink, wink, nudge, nudge...sorry can't say more right now but all of you in this thread will be VERY interested in this new set of strings!!

fender58 · #16 10-16-2001, 04:12 PM

I guess my last post was a little off topic but I am always curious what rigs the other Jacksters use...?

Well speaking of strings I was given a set of LaBella Deep Talkin 1954 flats by a fellow (Mike Jewels) and I tried them but just don't just want to keep them so with his permission I will send them on to the next person that wants them. Is this OK Mike? I only played then a few times and I belive Mike only did the same. I will look for the original posts that we shared. I remember Mike saying that they are high tension strings and sound best when you dig into them. As Mike said No strings attached...

Michael Jewels · #17 10-16-2001, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shortscale
I guess my last post was a little off topic but I am always curious what rigs the other Jacksters use...?

Well speaking of strings I was given a set of LaBella Deep Talkin 1954 flats by a fellow (Mike Jewels) and I tried them but just don't just want to keep them so with his permission I will send them on to the next person that wants them. Is this OK Mike? I only played then a few times and I belive Mike only did the same. I will look for the original posts that we shared. I remember Mike saying that they are high tension strings and sound best when you dig into them. As Mike said No strings attached...

Hey shortscale, what's up? Absolutely. If you can find someone else that wants them, you have my blessing. It was nice of you to ask. BTW, what don't you like about 'em; too much tension?
Right now I have a set of Dean Markley Blue Steels. Very nice. These and D'Addario slowounds are about the best round wounds I've tried on the Casady; for flats I still like Rotosound RS77s. Good hearing from you. Come around more often, y'hear?

Mike J.