New Circle K Thread

WestOfBen · #1 01-11-2011, 04:04 PM

Old Circle K Thread - for your reading pleasure:
Circle K strings...

Thought I would start a new discussion for the new year since mine arrived in the mail yesterday!

.106, .076, .055, .040 Singles set for Epi Ripper (STD and Drop D)
.124, .084, .061, .043 Drop set for Epi Les Paul (CGCF)

Strung up the Ripper last night and must say I am very impressed with the strings. Smooth feel compared to the Rotos I have used for years. Tone is much more even, more musical and an ugly midrange present in the Rotos is now gone.

Negatives, if you could call them: Less brilliance, but nothing some EQ won't fix. The taper of the .106 is longer and so the action will need to be adjusted on this string.

They aren't negatives! I need to adjust to the thicker E/D string compared to the rest. So far she's much easier and more comfortable to play. Unfortunately I couldn't test properly because the 9V battery is at its end and the preamp was farting.

Will string up the Les Paul soon. The nut will need filing and a real good setup needed. Will update when this happens.

Congratulations Skip and Chris. You will have a loyal customer in me. Well wishes for the future. Hoping everything comes out good in the end, not for my sake, but yours.

WestOfBen · #2 01-12-2011, 05:04 PM

New 9V battery - whoah nelly!

Never going back to Rotos. These things have a much better sound. Really they aren't lacking in the top end much at all. Smoother across the board. The string tension is very balanced and much easier to play.

Made some recordings the other day before and after string change. Not worth posting here because the preamp battery was dying and I hadn't adjusted the recording level so it wasn't very clean. Comparing the two though, the midrange is a lot more even, with no humps. Bridge MM pickup soloed with Rotos was very honky. The Circle Ks even this out and midrange is much more musical.

Won't get a chance to string the Les Paul till the weekend.

theNoseBleedKid · #3 01-12-2011, 05:08 PM

I love my circle k strings.

I made some comparison clips I'll post up later.

tylerwylie · #4 01-12-2011, 05:20 PM

Mine are still in GA, got shipped there instead of to me so asking my parents to ship up here now... but all that damn snow!!

ixlramp · #5 01-14-2011, 09:21 PM

The Circle K Strings website is back online.

My heart goes out to them for their loss.

"We are back open for business, but are heading to NAMM so there will be no shipments between now and Jan 18th."

WestOfBen · #6 01-15-2011, 04:21 AM

Rest In Peace Mr. Bear. Sincere condolences to you all, and prayers for strength to carry on!

You'll be glad to know that days on from stringing the Ripper I am discovering tones the rotos would never give.

Strung the Les Paul and now she is alive too. A few tweaks needed tho, relief and action. Intonation is pretty good. Tone is big and deep. Sweet.

ixlramp · #7 01-15-2011, 02:05 PM

^ Good, and a relief, to hear our gauge advice is working out

I'd like to ask the moderators if we should now post Circle K related material in this thread or the original Circle K thread?

WestOfBen · #8 01-15-2011, 11:15 PM

Can either thread be stickied or would that go against the rules? Ie promotion of a product in an unfair/unpaid manner?

Maybe we start a new new thread titled:
"The Circle K Strings Thread", and make sure that it floats above all others with redirects in the older threads.

tylerwylie · #9 01-30-2011, 10:39 PM

Hey, I'm getting my EBMM Stingray strung up with a Circle K 124 Drop tuned set, it's at the luthier's now and I will be getting it back soon, and I've been thinking now.... will having balanced tension on a 6 string affect action, playability, etc.. if I go with, say, a .136 balanced tension set for this bass will the high C be really loose and how will that affect tone?

I'm really curious about trying one but at 42$ a set, not sure how I'd prefer it compared with a traditional tension set.

Really can't wait to get my Stingray back and test the strings out.

willsellout · #10 01-30-2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

Hey, I'm getting my EBMM Stingray strung up with a Circle K 124 Drop tuned set, it's at the luthier's now and I will be getting it back soon, and I've been thinking now.... will having balanced tension on a 6 string affect action, playability, etc.. if I go with, say, a .136 balanced tension set for this bass will the high C be really loose and how will that affect tone?

I'm really curious about trying one but at 42$ a set, not sure how I'd prefer it compared with a traditional tension set.

Really can't wait to get my Stingray back and test the strings out.

The strings will affect your setup (I.E. you will have to set it up), but the Circle K's aren't loose. They are fairly flexible but not floppy. They have a strong fundamental with an even tone across the strings. I find them to be a bit on the bright side when you first get them, but they wear in nicely and they last.

I like a flexible string and a small gauge, so take my advice FWIW.

Dan

tylerwylie · #11 01-30-2011, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsellout

The strings will affect your setup (I.E. you will have to set it up), but the Circle K's aren't loose. They are fairly flexible but not floppy. They have a strong fundamental with an even tone across the strings. I find them to be a bit on the bright side when you first get them, but they wear in nicely and they last.

I like a flexible string and a small gauge, so take my advice FWIW.

Dan

That does help, I might try a balanced tension set, however if I drop the bass a step as well I might need to get a new nut for my bongo.

Metal Matt · #12 01-30-2011, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsellout

I find them to be a bit on the bright side when you first get them, but they wear in nicely and they last.

+1

I got a set to tune my Epiphone Thunderbird F#BEA last June I believe it was. I've boiled them once, and that was about a month ago. Just switched them to my newly acquired MIM Fender P-bass, and they still sound and feel near new. I was a little afraid I'd be needing to drop 60 bucks on new strings every few months. Now it's looking like I may only have to replace them once a year. The Ernie Ball Power Slinkys I've always used last me about 3 months before they get too dead sounding/feeling to play.

jtc_hunter · #13 01-31-2011, 12:16 AM

I use the .150 balanced standard 4 string set on my 2 jazz basses. I tune Bb,Eb,Ab,Db. and these strings are the best. No flop, good strong tone. I have searched for years on the G.A.S. trail of strings , and now I am finally satisfied. I hope Circle K stays in business a long time. I just ordered 2 extra sets to have on hand.

FunkMetalBass · #14 01-31-2011, 07:54 AM

Friday, I order a Balanced 150 set for my Spector. whoo! Then I'll only have one more bass left without Circle Ks.

ixlramp · #15 01-31-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

will having balanced tension on a 6 string affect action, playability, etc.. if I go with, say, a .136 balanced tension set for this bass will the high C be really loose and how will that affect tone?

6 String Set - Balanced Standard 136
.136 .100 .076 .055 .040 .029

A balanced set will improve playability. The feel of the strings, and your technique, will be more even across the strings. Unlike a traditional set, the B will be as tight as the .100 E and not floppy, so you'll be able to lower it's action.

The high strings won't be loose, all strings will have the same tension so the C will have the same tension as a .100 E or a .040 G. That's more than enough tension for an excellent tone. Actually thinner bass strings don't need as much tension for excellent tone, since they have less mass.

chucko58 · #16 01-31-2011, 04:58 PM

You can check the Circle K tension chart. The .029" C will be just fine. The .136" low B will knock you out!

tylerwylie · #17 01-31-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucko58

You can check the Circle K tension chart. The .029" C will be just fine. The .136" low B will knock you out!

Bought a set to try out, if all works well will get a 2nd set.

KingRazor · #18 02-01-2011, 09:41 AM

I've been using the .136 balanced 5-string set for the past few months and I love them. Best B string I've had yet.

I'm going to go one further and try the .142 set. I'm going to see if that improves the B string anymore. If not, I think I'll move to stringing EADGC instead.

JoeVictim · #19 02-01-2011, 10:08 AM

Circle K user chiming in. I love these strings. These are the most comfortable strings ever. Once people catch on, these strings are going to explode. Drink the Koolaid. The Flavor is awesomeness. My strings still have some zing on them after playing them since October. I only hype things I believe in. Check profile for things that are currenlty rocking my world.

tylerwylie · #20 02-01-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I've been using the .136 balanced 5-string set for the past few months and I love them. Best B string I've had yet.

I'm going to go one further and try the .142 set. I'm going to see if that improves the B string anymore. If not, I think I'll move to stringing EADGC instead.

If I end up dropping my 6 string Bongo a step to better match my band's tuning(Drop C) I'd probably end up with the .142 set. Got a set of the .124 Drop Tune set for my Stingray at the moment. It's being setup at the moment.