my experience with Circle K Strings

[Execut1ve]

Hello all! First, I am writing this as an aid to those having trouble finding strings for their long(er) scale bass and those who are not happy with their floppy B or E strings. I also want to give credit where it is due for the excellent service I had. Warning: wall o' text incoming!

To business: it was time to replace the strings on my 35" scale Schecter C-5, which I tune A-E-A-D-G. I had been using Elixirs but was disappointed with the gauge options for the 35" scale. I shopped around some of the other well known manufacturers to find the same situation pretty much across the board. I browsed through the forums and was directed to Circle K strings. I was immediately impressed by the huge variety of gauges available in scale lengths up to 40"(!)

Skip, the main man for Circle K, is actually a poster here on TB so I pm'd him and struck up an email conversation. Skip was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and professional. He quickly directed me to a set which would alleviate my floppy (low) A string and offer balanced tension (and output) across the fretboard. No surprise, it was going to be a big step up in gauge (from 45-65-85-105-130 to 43-61-84-112-166!). Once I placed my order, turnaround was very quick (I think I ordered Sun and had the strings Wed).

Due to the huge change in tension I figured a truss rod adjustment would be needed, and since my bass could do with a setup anyway, I contacted Dave Bush (at the recommendation of a TBer) a luthier in Columbus, OH. Dave was friendly and professional and took good care of me.

And now, the before/after: obviously before my low A string was ridiculously floppy. I had subconsciously developed a technique which accounted for that. Also, since the tension on my D and G strings was so much higher than my lower strings, I had accounted for that in my technique as well. In fact, the tension was so much higher that in order to get even output from those strings I had to pluck the crap out of them. I realized once I played with the new strings that I had been avoiding playing my D and G strings and was getting by on A E A strings! With the new strings I get much more even volume across all my strings.

I am having to adjust my technique on my low A string a bit, simply because I'm not used to plucking it as hard as my other strings. I feel this is a good change in my technique as it will lead to much more consistent playing. Additionally, the sound of my low A string is changed a bit. No doubt this is due to the different (probably greater) harmonic content brought by the greater tension.

Overall, I am very pleased with the changes. The strings were definitely worth the money and I would heartily recommend Skip and Circle K strings to anyone.

old strings:


new strings:


new strings nut view:

[NateS]

sexah. i love the look of SUPER thick strings...i want.

[jasper383]

Wow, a .166 B string! (I know, tuned to A)

Have not tried them, but by all accounts (so far), nice strings. And, a dizzying array of gauges.

[MonkeyBass]

I really mean this question in the most respectful way. Why do you tune to a low A?

[Execut1ve]

there was a reason when I started doing it, but I've forgotten it begs the question why do I keep it that way? mostly bc I"m used to it

[Josh Pelican]

Skip rules and so do the strings. I have a six-string set that I use on my ESP/LTD B-206. I'm tuned G#/Ab standard. The bass WAS setup for F#, but it's sounding a lot better now!

[FunkMetalBass]

I rock his 8-string set (Balanced 200) and I love it. I'm considering a heavy 6-string set for drop tuning (G# C# G# C# F# B) also.

I wont go back to another string company.

[MonkeyBass]

Originally Posted by Execut1ve

there was a reason when I started doing it, but I've forgotten it begs the question why do I keep it that way? mostly bc I"m used to it

So, do you even hear a note that low? I mean is it discernible? I'm really curious here. I would imagine that the fundamental would be too low to hear, almost, you know? And how does it fit in the mix? Is it super muddy?

And what style of music do you play that you need a low A?

Again, not doggin' you, just curious why you do it that way. I'm trying to learn something new.

[NateS]

you should read up on what Jauqo III-X is doing with not a low A, but a low C# string - below F#, below B. Doing jazz fusion and laying down very nice grooves in the sub-bass range. Very audible and very clean.

I am looking to start tuning one of my basses at least to G standard, probably go all the way to F# just to make it simpler... and when i finally have the money to i'm going to Circle K

[pablomigraine]

Originally Posted by MonkeyBass

So, do you even hear a note that low? I mean is it discernible? I'm really curious here. I would imagine that the fundamental would be too low to hear, almost, you know? And how does it fit in the mix? Is it super muddy?

And what style of music do you play that you need a low A?

Again, not doggin' you, just curious why you do it that way. I'm trying to learn something new.

a GREAT deal of this has to do with the rig you're using and how you're EQ'ing. You need a cabinet capable of reproducing the waves... that's the hard part as most dont... ACME cabs and the new DNA cabs do fine with this kind of tuning, as do some others, but more importantly you need HUGE power to make whatever cabinet function that low. A decent bass and compression doesn't hurt either.

[JLS]

Is the B the only string that's tapered?

[wcriley]

Both the B and the E strings are tapered on the balanced .136 sets I'm using.

[Metal Mitch]

Originally Posted by pablomigraine

a GREAT deal of this has to do with the rig you're using and how you're EQ'ing. You need a cabinet capable of reproducing the waves... that's the hard part as most dont... ACME cabs and the new DNA cabs do fine with this kind of tuning, as do some others, but more importantly you need HUGE power to make whatever cabinet function that low. A decent bass and compression doesn't hurt either.

DNS-410 has a flared shelf port tuned to 52Hz. Pump a low A through that and it's going to have the same problems as the old Eden cabs; i.e cone creasing, poor efficiency with downtuned basses, and dependency on a tweeter for the high end. Next.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by MonkeyBass

So, do you even hear a note that low? I mean is it discernible? I'm really curious here. I would imagine that the fundamental would be too low to hear, almost, you know? And how does it fit in the mix? Is it super muddy?

And what style of music do you play that you need a low A?

Again, not doggin' you, just curious why you do it that way. I'm trying to learn something new.

I play GCGCF w/ a custom set of Circle K's. You'd be surprised what you can do with strings that are actually designed and made to detune and sound awesome. And yep the note is discernible even through my rig and sounds awesome. Even better when I hit the FOH subs when playing live. Not terribly complicated actually...
Drop C is the new Drop D anyway. That's a good bit above drop or full Bb, drop A, etc..

[FunkMetalBass]

Since the fundamental is not even close to the most prominent frequency, it makes sense that many rigs can actually reproduce these notes.