Feedback on a string site

edge83 · #1 05-09-2009, 07:09 PM

Hey all- sparked by wanting to play around with a recent software purchase, I decided to work on a site on strings- despite years of playing and touring, I actually did not know much about strings other than that I liked a certain brand of roundwounds and just went with it.. never got too deep into different types of material etc.

It's basically laying out the different choices (not just roundwound/flatwound, but the difference between nickel/ steel etc) and sorting out the brand names like 'sunbeams,' 'slinky' etc. into what that actually is for some of the major manufacturers.. not at all in a super technical way, just in a general, this is the vibe of this type of string, here are a few guys who play it, etc. kind of way. Something practical for someone just knowing what is out there.

I'd love to hear thoughts from anyone on it.. i actually had to dig around a bit, especially on this forum, to get info for some of the strings (it is surprising how little info is on some manufacturer websites.. for example, learning whether elixir strings were stainless, nickel, etc.), so especially if any info on it doesn't seem correct. I can PM the link to anyone who might want to check it out- I don't want to post it and make this seem like an 'ad' for it. Thanks.

edge83 · #2 05-16-2009, 02:38 PM

Hey all- the moderators said it is cool to post the link here, so it is

http://www.bass-strings.com

I'd appreciate any thoughts on if this seems like a useful site, what could/should be added or if anything seems incorrect in terms of the info. Thanks.

JustDavid · #3 05-16-2009, 02:59 PM

Great idea!!

In a perfect world I'd like info on tension (actual & perceived) & a "scale" for various models & brands of strings from deep to bright.

A link to D'Addario's page that describes what length string to get to fit your bass would be nice. Or a similar guide for manufacturers that make us guess.

Solarmist · #4 05-17-2009, 01:48 AM

Good job! - Informative for people learning the basics/physics about bass strings. Maybe some info on tension, and "stiffness" based on winding type / core type might be helpful.

edge83 · #5 05-17-2009, 08:14 AM

Great idea, thanks- I'm looking into that now as it's good to learn for myself anyways. From what i've been gathering, plz let me know if the following is consistently true:

Gauge - thicker strings have more mass and therefore more tension, but it is only one of the factors in the overall feel-- two different brands the same size can and will have different tensions, and even one brand with the smaller gauge could feel more tense after the other components come into play. However, if you are dealing with the same type of strings on the same bass, buying a thicker set will = more tension, thinner set will = less.

JustDavid · #6 05-17-2009, 09:09 AM

It's your site, but I'd branch out that topic into 3 topics: gauge, tension, & feel.

D'Addario's website has lots of deeper data on various topics.

edge83 · #7 05-17-2009, 09:21 AM

Yeah- there is a 'gauge' spot already, that part I posted would just be list item #1 in the 'tension' section where factors are listed.

That's interesting.. for you, what separates 'tension' and 'feel'?

JustDavid · #8 05-17-2009, 09:54 AM

Tension is a measurement of the pull the string exerts.

Feel is more subjective. For me, 'stiffness' or 'flexibility' could be synonyms for it.

bassyeah · #9 05-17-2009, 10:10 AM

Nice site! I would also like to see more info on tension... ie one string vs another. I liked the examples of players/albums to get an idea of a strings sound.
Also... I didnt see info on two of the strings I use GHS & DRs.
Thanks!

Solarmist · #10 05-17-2009, 03:58 PM

Core type is relative to "stiffness" i.e. if you have two identical strings in every way except one has a hex core, and the other has a round core - the one with the hex core will feel stiffer.

Example: I read that DR Lowriders, and DR Highbeams are identical other than their cores, but the Lowriders are a bit more stiff in feel than the Highbeams due to the hex core.

bassyeah · #11 05-18-2009, 03:27 PM

I am trying out a set of hex core DRs and I do notice it a bit stiffer. I guess the only thing I was looking for was the "feel" as opposed to the actual "tension"... when I am drop tuning some strings just feel so sloppy.

stflbn · #12 05-18-2009, 03:33 PM

Not a bad idea and helpful info... not a big fan of the ebay ads on the pages though.

Ouch, every string brand page had multiple ad links to Ebay Auctions? Dude... your 'helpful site' looks an awful lot like a portal to push viewers to ebay autions to me.

IMHO.

.

HogieWan · #13 05-18-2009, 03:37 PM

great idea, but the site is terrible. You are gearing the site as if I want to read everything on every link (I don't)

bongomania · #14 05-18-2009, 03:46 PM

Yeah, I run several small websites and I understand the temptation to try and recoup some of your expenses by having affiliate links on every page, but frankly for the visitor/reader it's a huge turnoff.

Condense your pages so that the info is clearly accessible in the main frame, with no scrolling or distractions. Keep your site navigation links condensed and easy. And keep the advertisements off to one side, avoiding pictures unless absolutely necessary, as they fill up too much of your pages now.

edge83 · #15 05-18-2009, 04:06 PM

Part of it is my limitations w/ working with the style of site right now (not regular html, which is a large part of why I'm doing it)-

but, creating a single page with the info on all the brands (sans ebay links) would solve some of that, I think- so that you are not having to go to each brand to get info, if that is what you're referring to.

I wonder if that page should be organized by type (Nickel, then all nickel strings by brands) or by each individual brand.. maybe it is better to just see nickel and then the names of the different strings that use it.

Yes there are the ebay links and the site is not hiding that (part of what i'm learning and why I wanted to get permission before posting it)- but i'd like to make it a useful content site regardless of that. Thanks for the input

JustDavid · #16 05-19-2009, 06:35 PM

Edge, I invite you to check out Bongo's links. Some of his presentation ideas might inspire you.

Also, I'm wondering about Copyright. If you cut'n'paste info from a string makers site, for example.

edge83 · #17 05-26-2009, 06:50 PM

I'm working to get all the info for the brands into one single page, organized by tables. This might be useful for everyone, so feel free to check it out and let me know if anything looks incorrect or if you have any of the missing info. I'm workin on it, and how to make it look better (learning this different programming language).

Thanks

http://www.bass-strings.com/bass-strings-manufacturers

James Hart · #18 05-26-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Nickel or stainless steel are most popular for roundwound strings, flatwounds tend to use ribbon or nylon. Different materials have different sound / feel characteristics.

Flatwounds hardly "tend to use ribbon or nylon"... I know two model/brands that uses nylon ribbon windings. MOST are flat stainless or nickle wrappings.

edge83 · #19 05-26-2009, 08:35 PM

Ah- thanks, i had forgotten to check on the front page (mostly worked on the guide etc.) after realizing that.

edge83 · #20 01-19-2010, 08:06 AM

Hey all- I almost feel crazy for putting up the site the way it was originally but thanks for your feedback. It is dramatically different now and closer to where I think it should be going- I eventually want all the strings to be like the daddario pages (chromes etc)- do you think this site is useful now or any ideas for it? Thanks