RA Mouse - string options?

[koobie]

I'd like to try some new strings on my fretless RA Mouse. Have any Mouse players here tried anything other than the RA-sourced La Bella tapewounds? I bought some short-scale Rotosound tapewounds and they're not long enough.

[kevmoga]

I recall a thread discussing using TI Jazz Flats instead of the LaBellas, seems like some liked them as an alternative. I'm REALLY interested in these basses - how do you like yours?

[koobie]

Love the Mouse, don't recall seeing anybody here not digging theirs. The only thing I could consider criticizing is that with the stock preamp, the Mouse puts out tremendous low end, too much in some cases. The stock preamp is a Fishman Acoustic Matrix I, it has more of a hump in the bottom than the Matrix II preamp, wondering if I might prefer the flatter response of the II. Both of these preamps have been discontinued, the replacement is the Infinity model, which lets you switch between the two curves, pretty handy.

With the amount of RA related posts here, I'm hoping there might be some more input on strings.

[spade2you]

To be honest, mine sounds so good with the stock strings that I haven't even considered using something else.

[anonymous122511]

The strings I've tried:

GHS Flats - Stiff, percussive and the bass didn't sing much.

D'Addario Chromes - Brightness seemed to take away from the woody sound I liked with the black LaBellas.

TI Flats - Played these on many basses and really like them. On my Mouse they're too low tension and kinda buzzy. I like a clean UB kinda sound so I had a new bridge piece cut and now it sounds good but the action is too high even for me.

On all these strings I had to trim the silk back too.

The verdict at this point I'm is going back to the stock lower bridge piece and the stock LaBellas. The only strings left I'm even a little curious about on this bass are the Pyramids. Not sure I'll spring for a set though as I've decided I really like the sound and feel of what Rob Allen chose for this bass.

[Joe Smithberger]

I have been using the TI's for the past few years and really like what they do for the Mouse. It shortens up the sustain a bit and reduces the buzzy high end without killing the low growl. Even with the onboard treble rolloff all the way down, I felt that the LaBellas were bright. The TIs only required a truss rod adjustment to work on my bass. Once the relief was set right, the tension was just fine. You need to find the TI set that is sold for Hofner Beatle basses. The E string is just a bit long and wraps a half turn around the post but I have had no problems with string life or tone from this.

[chadds]

I use LaBella Tapewounds on a Taylor ABG. Though it's lost the acoustic volume of the brass wounds it has also lost the brashness. It sounds like an upright.

I went around the stock preamp and installed K&K pickups use no pre on the bass and this thing is amazing.

So yes on the LaBellas!!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by spade2you

To be honest, mine sounds so good with the stock strings that I haven't even considered using something else.

+1 Can't imagine another string sounded better (i.e., more organic/DB like).

Also, +1 that the RA's put out a lot of low end, due to the piezo pickup more than the preamp. That is pretty simple to control on most amps by slightly reducing the bass shelving (assuming your amp has a nicely voiced bass shelving control with the typical 40hz or so shelving start point) and possibly boosting the low to mid mids a bit to fill it out).

Sounds like the TI 'Beatle Bass' strings are an option for the OP.

[Micksky]

Originally Posted by Joe Smithberger

I have been using the TI's for the past few years and really like what they do for the Mouse. It shortens up the sustain a bit and reduces the buzzy high end without killing the low growl. Even with the onboard treble rolloff all the way down, I felt that the LaBellas were bright. The TIs only required a truss rod adjustment to work on my bass. Once the relief was set right, the tension was just fine. You need to find the TI set that is sold for Hofner Beatle basses. The E string is just a bit long and wraps a half turn around the post but I have had no problems with string life or tone from this.

Rob Allen told me the TI Jazz Flat Short Scales were a good alternative. Did you find more fingerboard wear with these? And, could you be more specific as to the truss rod adjustment?

[Joe Smithberger]

No the TI's are so smooth that the fingerboard doesn't wear at all. The truss rod just needed loosened a bit for the new strings. I have gone back to the La Bellas twice since I made the change. One weekend is the longest they have stayed on - right back to the TIs. This subject has come up before and I seem to be one of the few that have done settled on this choice. I guess it is all about your motivations. I like a darker sound and the TI's give me dark but still woody and acoustic.

I have also thought about a preamp change to tame the beast a little for gain and EQ. However lately I have been running the little FDECK preamp between the mouse and the amp and think it is pretty amazing. It only has volume and a variable high pass filter but it hits the Mouse just right so you can run the onboard volume mostly open and the high pass lets you roll off just the lowest freqs. For my setup I don't even have to run any other EQ. Mouse - FDECK pre- Berg IP112

[Micksky]

I have played the Bregs and loved them, however, I can say that the Mouse is a bit temperamental in the amplification realm, so I have tested many amps, preamps. I can say that I never heard my Mouse with more clarity and versatility in tone than through a Phil Jones Suitcase. It easily solved the extreme low end problem and the speaker size allows for no tweetily tweeter noise. I was interested in the TI's for a bit less sustain and overtones, but I suspected it would give more string tension, not less. Is this the case? Your other post implies otherwise.
??

[Mark Wilson]

Moved to Strings

[fish slapper]

Subscribed. I know exactly what the OP is referring to although my solution has been to focus on speaker cabinet choice rather than experiment with strings. My solution has been a "Wizzy" type 12 inch speaker to get the sound I prefer. To my thinking the Mouse is happier with a passive tweeter or even a no tweeter box (actually I get killer tone from a cheap Hartke combo that that I play through at one of my jams).

Back to strings, I have TI flats on several other of my basses including my main axe in my Classic Rock sitch so if I were to experiment with the Mouse, this is the first place I'd go.

But, for now, put me in the camp of if it ain't broke don't fix it. I think there's a good reason that Rob sends them out with LaBella's.

[Joe Smithberger]

Originally Posted by Micksky

I was interested in the TI's for a bit less sustain and overtones, but I suspected it would give more string tension, not less. Is this the case? ??

The LaBella tapes are slightly higher tension than the TI flats.