Looooooooooooooooong flatwounds

wiro · #1 02-11-2008, 05:32 AM

I'm totally into searching and mailing for a week now because I need a six string set flatwounds for my Aries Rian fretless with piëzo's. But because of the funny bridge construction I need a 39" scale set......

The Thomastik J346 is not long enough for me. The Thomastik J364 is almost long enough (36" scale) but not available in six. From Thomastik I don't get a response until now.

So my search goes on......

If anyone has any idea's: The length of the six flatwounds I need should be 39" from the ball end up to the cloth windings on the other end.

Perhaps anyone here who has the same problem with his/her Ken Lawrence Chamerbass?

This is the reason why they need to be that long:

Joe Smithberger · #2 02-11-2008, 05:39 AM

D'Addario Chromes Super Long?

wiro · #3 02-11-2008, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Smithberger

D'Addario Chromes Super Long?

As far as I know these are not available in six....

wiro · #4 02-12-2008, 02:48 AM

The technician at Thomastik is on a holiday for a week. From that direction I need to have a little more patience......

Has anyone any other suggestions for me to have a look into?

Are there any Ken Lawrence Chamberbrace owners around here?

Bass Below · #5 02-12-2008, 08:35 AM

I know Skip at knuckleguitarworks.com has been or is planning on experimenting with flats for his Quake basses which are 39.5" scale. Reach out to him and see where he's at with those, he's very easy to deal with and always eager to help. I'm kinda curious myself, because I'm getting one of his basses and would ideally want to go with flats.

wiro · #6 02-12-2008, 12:49 PM

Thanks Bass Below,

That sounds great. You are getting a beautiful bass in a while.
I wrote Skip an email. See if he's got any options.

In the meantime I saw these Indie flatwounds. Does anyone have any experience with these? They seem too cheap to be of good quality. Or am I wrong?

http://www.rondomusic.com/indie6fw.html

shannons · #7 02-13-2008, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiro

I'm totally into searching and mailing for a week now because I need a six string set flatwounds for my Aries Rian fretless with piëzo's. But because of the funny bridge construction I need a 39" scale set......

The first thing I'd do is contact Aries Rian & ask them what they strung up the bass with.

wiro · #8 02-13-2008, 05:22 AM

Jip, that's the first thing I did. But the Aries poeple don't answer.
(Edit jan. 23th: They where out of bussiness for a while due to family circumstances. Fitting flatwounds is something they will go into in the near future. But for now they got no solution.)

The previous owner always had TI rounds on it.

So now I'm in contact with some string manufacturers to find out what they can do. But I'm afraid this is gonna cost me a lot. I'm warned by some luthiers who have gone this path before.....

So I'm thinking here is a market for a manufacturer. Hopefully I can convince one of them.

Lokire · #9 02-13-2008, 06:06 PM

At that length, you could look into upright bass strings. It would be expensive, but there are certainly low B and high C strings available for uprights too. 39" would be in the range of a 3/4 scale upright, I think.

Or try contacting Ken Lawrence and see if he has any suggestions. Maybe try Jens Ritter too - he has his "Superlong" Swordsteel strings for his Jupiter basses, though they are roundwound...

BTW: That bass is incredible!!!

santucci218 · #10 02-13-2008, 06:08 PM

call Fodera or LaBella, get a custom set

wiro · #11 02-14-2008, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lokire

At that length, you could look into upright bass strings. It would be expensive, but there are certainly low B and high C strings available for uprights too. 39" would be in the range of a 3/4 scale upright, I think.

Or try contacting Ken Lawrence and see if he has any suggestions. Maybe try Jens Ritter too - he has his "Superlong" Swordsteel strings for his Jupiter basses, though they are roundwound...

BTW: That bass is incredible!!!

Thanks for thinking with me.
Upright strings are way too long. I play 3/4 upright myself so I know what I'm talking about. And 1/2 upright don't exist in 6 string.
I will contact Ken Lawrence and Jens Ritter. But I'm afraid they only do roundwounds.
Joel from the Groove Shoppe couldn't help me either. Nor could Jean Beaudin: Only roundwounds......

wiro · #12 02-14-2008, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by santucci218

call Fodera or LaBella, get a custom set

Just wrote Pyramid. See if they can make me an offer I cannot resist. If not, I will try Fodera and LaBella. Now I got Fodera roundwounds on my other fretless 6 and they do sound fantastic.

I will try the Indie first. These are 39,5". But these are so incredible cheap that I have doubts about the quality.

Basshole · #13 02-14-2008, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiro

Thanks Bass Below,

That sounds great. You are getting a beautiful bass in a while.
I wrote Skip an email. See if he's got any options.

In the meantime I saw these Indie flatwounds. Does anyone have any experience with these? They seem too cheap to be of good quality. Or am I wrong?

http://www.rondomusic.com/indie6fw.html

Rondo doesn't make 'em. They're a relatively small outfit. Made for them...probably by one of the majors. I'd give them a try.

wiro · #14 02-15-2008, 06:21 AM

I ordered three sets of the Indie strings. These appear to be 39,5" from ball end to cloth wrapping on the other end. Which should be just long enough.

The next step: Pyramid will make a custom set for me for about 75 euro incl. taxes and shipping. Which I cannot refuse. And they have some good advices according to gauges. Max thinks that .130 is too thick for a flatwound low B and won't sound good. On the other hand the TI flat B is .136! And I like the different TI's on my other basses very much so far. So what to do?
At the moment I think I will take the advice and go for:
B: .125
E: .100
A: .080
D: .060
G: .045
C: .032

I'll have a closer look at gauches this weekend and will order them next week.

Personally I like the high C not too thin in order to make it sound like a bass instead of a guitar. This is why I have Fodera roundwounds on my other fretless 6: They have the thickest high C available as far as I know and the sound is jummie.

Anyone suggestions for the gauges?

Joe Smithberger · #15 02-15-2008, 06:29 AM

Wow Wiro 39.5 would fit my Dingwall. When you get these, let us know if the B string is also 39.5". Most 38" sets have much shorter B strings.

Joe Smithberger · #16 02-18-2008, 07:49 AM

FYI, the Indie label strngs are made by Rotosound.

wiro · #17 02-20-2008, 04:31 PM

Do not buy Indie flatwounds when you want a low B on your bass.

From the high C down to the low E they sound reasonable. What to expect for this price? But the low B sucks: No sustain whatsoever.
I tried two of them. Both with the same results.

So I will go for the Pyramid custom made strings.

Lokire · #18 02-22-2008, 01:09 AM

Seems like flatwound B-strings in general are never quite as good as the rest of the set.

wiro · #19 02-22-2008, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lokire

Seems like flatwound B-strings in general are never quite as good as the rest of the set.

Not true: I never had any problem with B-strings.
Thomastik Infeld, F-bass strings and Fodera strings have good and accurate pronounced B's that are perfectly in balance with the others. Which I expect from Pyramid also. Within two months from now I'll know.