String neurosis

[armandine2]

I've never successfully changed bass strings. I've successfully washed my fender strings, those which came with my Mexican PB from new. When they eventually faded the many replacements I tried (not fender) didn't suit. All tinny and ultra sensitive. My Korean Epi. T/bird went the same way ... at the moment I've a set of flat wound roto on order ... not expecting them any time soon or for them to work.
Music shops are not much help to this bad bassist. I've been given long scale and thin but not as yet the set I'd want to keep. I don't have this problem with classical guitar, my ear can accomodate the changes (even out of tune) and the digital piano has its off days very occassionally.

[Bongolation]

You're not as crazy as you suspect.

I've never had a fully satisfactory set of bass strings in my life.

Guitar strings are all fine by me if they're the right gauge...but bass strings always have some sort of problem, hopefully not major.

I HATE the sound of every roundwound I've ever played or heard until it eventually goes dead, and I've had a lot of fit problems from one bass/string combination to another.

Flats either have fit problems or tension problems or are uneven in output.

You just make compromises and hope they more or less work.

[stflbn]

Sounds like you guys need to get set up with different players here who prefer livelier strings, and get used ones from them when they're done with them.

[armandine2]

so surprised to see a set of flat-wounds in the music shop today I bought a set (£36). The first two (G, D) went on a treat and it was looking promising. The E string was awkward, I can attribute that to the Fender now that its sorted it self out ... too fat near the capstan. The A string however rattles when played open. So 3 out of 4 o.k. ... a partial success, so fingers crossed for when my order comes in it might have a good A string.

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by armandine2

so surprised to see a set of flat-wounds in the music shop today I bought a set (£36). The first two (G, D) went on a treat and it was looking promising. The E string was awkward, I can attribute that to the Fender now that its sorted it self out ... too fat near the capstan. The A string however rattles when played open. So 3 out of 4 o.k. ... a partial success, so fingers crossed for when my order comes in it might have a good A string.

The rattling A string will be down to setup, not the strings. You will go through a lot of strings to find the right set (then fail!) if you disqualify a string for rattling, as no strings setup your bass for you!

To me it sounds like its sitting too low in the nut, for whatver reason (could be lighter gauge?)

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by Meatrus

The rattling A string will be down to setup, not the strings. You will go through a lot of strings to find the right set (then fail!) if you disqualify a string for rattling, as no strings setup your bass for you!

To me it sounds like its sitting too low in the nut, for whatver reason (could be lighter gauge?)

+1

The angle of the A string over the nut will cause that buzzing.

Wrap the string farther down the post so that the angle aver the nut is sharper, and that buzzing will go away.

[FromTheBassMent]

I can never get used to flatwounds. I don't mind the tone, it's just that even when I scrupulously check my intonation with a strobe tuner, they still sound out of tune in a mix to me. I'm sure it's just some genetic quirk of my inner ear, but it's bothersome enough that I don't even try anymore.

If you're looking for less "zing and ping" than roundwounds but find the flats disappointing, I'd recommend you experiment with a pressurewound or ground string. I use GHS pressurewounds exclusively on my fretless, but these might still be to bright for you. Unless I'm doing a gig where I need a really modern, bright tone (if, God forbid, I actually have to SLAP), I keep halfround ground strings on my fretted basses. I was a fan of D'Addario halfrounds for many years, but recently switched to Ken Smith slick rounds, and am very pleased with those. They give much of the warmth of flats with just a bit more presence in the highs, plenty of low-mid oomph, and the intonation sounds perfect to my ears. All ground strings tend to have kind of an odd feel when you first put them on (people call it "sticky," but to me it's more like your fingers catch a little when you slide), but this goes away after a few hours of play.

[armandine2]

Yes the rattling A string was loose in the nut .... nothing to do with the strings. The fat E string at the adjuster is down to being given long scale and not realizing it. But I'm not much further from where I was before ... i don't doubt the strings are perfect, but getting the perfect set for your guitar isn't easy and it could be a lot easier.

[armandine2]

Especially at £36 a set. 3 out of 4 isn't good enough .... the E being too fat at the adjuster will make tuning this string hit and miss, surely?

[armandine2]

Cancelled the order for the roto flatwounds as longscale come as standard. Have returned the bought set ... they said ok ... but we will see. Need to sort this out with some PBass aficionado rather than salesmen.

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by armandine2

Especially at £36 a set. 3 out of 4 isn't good enough .... the E being too fat at the adjuster will make tuning this string hit and miss, surely?

If they were for your T bird or P bass, they are long scale (34"), so you got the right strings. Is the string too fat at the nut? Or the tuning machine hole (I'm sure it has a better name than that ) If its at the nut, it wont be a problem for tuning, it has been said it can dampen the sound a bit (as its resting on silk) the quick solution is to shave some silk off.

£36 is a lot for strings I agree 100%, but if you get your bass setup wit them they will last you at least two years of normal use, and probably much more. So doesent seem to bad in the end (if you like the strings that is).

[armandine2]

A fat string at capstan accentuates the lever action and is difficult to accommodate on bass guitars where the distance from capstan to nut on the E string is short ... both my basses have this design.... if I'd known before I'd have gotten different guitars. This is neurotic; but my substantative point is that long scale strings are not always appropriate for long scale basses.

[Meatrus]

I see...sort of .

I understand if you want to keep looking, but it wont affect your bass in any noticeable way, if the strings are the way I'm picturing it.

If your worried it may be affecting your bass you could post a pic.

The tone and feel is what matters really though, if your happy with tone and feel, your wasting your time looking for other strings. The idea of not using strings which dont look right to you, but are otherwise great isnt a good one .