Fender 8250 Question

[dogofgod]

First off thank you for actually reading this, I am posting this because I am assuming others have had a similar problem. Here is the story, I bought a used fender MIA Precision which had the stock strings still on when I bought them. So, I pulled off a string the other night and when I went to Sweetwater.com they told me that the 8250s were stock on the Fender P so I noticed when I recieved the strings that they did not include the gray silk wrapping on the ends, which I prefer. Also, the Fender website (below) says that the 8250s were on the P so I thought everything made sense.

Here is the link that has the gray silk wrappings, which I actually want:
http://www.fender.com/products/searc...tno=0190562706

Here is the link that the sales engineer at Sweetwater sold me:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/073-8250-406/

Can someone please show me where I can find the strings that I actually want with the silk wrappings. The sales guy from Sweetwater said he was looking into finding the right string, but he has been MIA for over a week. So...if you can help it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[TheFantod]

I had almost the same thing happen to me yesterday, but "reversed." I got a brand new Road Worn P-Bass. I absolutely love the strings and want to get extra. According to the specs, my bass should have come with 7250's, which are always pictured with black silk wrapped ends. Well, my bass came with no silk at all, just bare wire. I called up Fender, and the fellow I spoke with said that's something "new" they're doing this year. So, according to this Fender fellow, my strings were supposed to come "silver" with no silk. Perhaps it's the same with the 8250's?

Maybe you just need to find someone with "New Old Stock." To be sure, there's somewhere online where you can find them.

[CapnSev]

Fender has been changing a lot of their strings lately, and the 8250s could be changed as well. That may be the reason for the new no-silk ones. I think you'll have to find some old stock somewhere if you want the silks.

[dogofgod]

This is most disappointing. No more Fender strings for me.

[jasper383]

Grey silk--Fender 8250
Black silk--Fender 7250
Yellow Silk--Fender 7150

Now, the MIM basses always came with the 7250 set, the MIA basses came with the 8250 set that has the tapered E string. The MIJ basses always came with the mystery no silk Japanese strings that Fender always claimed were 7250s, but weren't.

Now that Fender has changed their string line, all of this is now up in the air.

Dogofgod, did the original strings have the tapered E string?

[TheDialog]

I have a pack of 5 string 8250 (old package look not the new black) for sale if you're interested...PM me.

[dogofgod]

Originally Posted by jasper383

Grey silk--Fender 8250
Black silk--Fender 7250
Yellow Silk--Fender 7150

Now, the MIM basses always came with the 7250 set, the MIA basses came with the 8250 set that has the tapered E string. The MIJ basses always came with the mystery no silk Japanese strings that Fender always claimed were 7250s, but weren't.

Now that Fender has changed their string line, all of this is now up in the air.

Dogofgod, did the original strings have the tapered E string?

Yup, the E string is tapered. I am getting the bass set up with the new 8250s and will let you know how they sound when it gets back.

[DavePlaysBass]

Someone on the Fender board said D'Addario was now supplying Fender strings at least for the flats. Someone bought a set of Fender Flats and they appeared to be Chromes. They even had the colored ball ends.

[dogofgod]

So I realized that some of my problem with the strings could be stemmed from not cutting the string (it was too long), and leaving too much string on the tuner as was needed. Either way, why would Fender make the specific bass string for my instrument, too long? And this was with a string through body. I have a 34" scale, too. Why do they do this or am I missing something?

My next string purchase will be DA XL.

[DavePlaysBass]

Watch the XLs if going thru body. You will most likely need D'addario Super Longs which are availabe but not as common as Long Scale.

Every string requires some fine trimming. The exact anchor point of the bridge and the exact location of the tuner vary from bass to bass. Some headstocks are four in a line and others are 2+2. I usually leave 3.5" to 4" past the tuner. If I am using vintage style tuners which are larger I go 4". If using a more modern smaller diameter tuning post I go about 3.5" past the post.

[mattwear]

I'm really disappointed that fender has changed their 8250m strings, and just when I decide I've found my sound. The new ones without silks sound thin and tinny to my ears. They're nothing like the fat and solid sound of the old version with the grey silks.

[cazksbass]

IMHO, this is all an excellent reason to switch to Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. I doubt you'll regret trying them. They're low-tension, though, if that's an issue with you...

[torza]

dogofgod... i always get the silk 8250's here: www.juststrings.com. now unless they JUST changed it, you should be good. i got mine two months ago and it was the same ol' 8250's i always get. i REALLY hope they didn't change it

[SMW17]

My new CV Precision comes standard with 7250ML and they aren't sporting any silks.

Maybe Fender has dropped silks altogether?

[Bassman822]

I stopped by GuitarCenter a short while and noticed a number of new Fenders and Squiers with roundwounds with colored ballends (D'Addario)

[bassplayer7770]

I just put a new set of 7250s on one of my basses, and I can confirm that there are no silk windings. I'm diggin' the strings, though, and MF has good prices on them right now.

[fatsobasso]

Shoot i loved 8250 for 5 and 4 string, what now?

[dogofgod]

You can still buy the old silk strings from Sweetwater, but you need to directly speak to a representative and let them know you want the "old" version of the 8250. They wanted to sell them to me for about $55 or so about 1/2 year ago.

[okcrum]

Originally Posted by jasper383

Grey silk--Fender 8250
Black silk--Fender 7250
Yellow Silk--Fender 7150

Now, the MIM basses always came with the 7250 set, the MIA basses came with the 8250 set that has the tapered E string. The MIJ basses always came with the mystery no silk Japanese strings that Fender always claimed were 7250s, but weren't.

Now that Fender has changed their string line, all of this is now up in the air.

Dogofgod, did the original strings have the tapered E string?

Interesting, I think this is for the 4 strings. I bought a new 2008 MIM J V and it came with 8250s on it. It could be they ran out of 7250s and subbed what they had around, though. Could have been part of the quality upgrades late in the decade, too.

[mmbongo]

Just an FYI, Fender strings are now D'Addario's.