Taylor AB-2 & Thomastik AB344 Acousticores

[johno697]

Greetings,

Sorry if my question has already been answered.

I have a Taylor AB-2 ABG strung with D'Addario XL Chromes "regular light" flatwounds:
G .045 45.7 lb
D .065 52.0 lb
A .080 43.7 lb
E .100 38.4 lb

Am considering switching to Thomastik AB344 Acousticores. Have no experience with them but have read glowing reports.

Thomastik "Medium Lights" (the only gage shown on their site)
G .041 26.5 lb
D .053 29.2 lb
A .068 27.3 lb
E .086 26.5 lb

I know I'll need to have the bass adjusted/set up for the Thomastik's.

My questions:
1. Anyone have experience with the Taylor & the Thomastiks

2. Shouldn't Thomastik make a similar gage to the other manufacturers to avoid the need for drastic trussrod adjustments?

3. Is it worth the cost to convert the bass to the Thomastiks?

4. will the big difference in gage & tension affect unplugged volume?

Thanks.

John

[mikezimmerman]

Originally Posted by johno697

My questions:
1. Anyone have experience with the Taylor & the Thomastiks

Not personally--I've played the Taylor, but only know the Thomastik Acousticores by reputation.

2. Shouldn't Thomastik make a similar gage to the other manufacturers to avoid the need for drastic trussrod adjustments?

Thomastiks are very unique strings, designed for a particular sound and feel. That is the reason they're made the way they are, and that's why people tend to either love 'em or hate 'em.

Should Thomastik compromise their string design just so people won't have to adjust their truss rods? Isn't that what truss rods are for--to let the bass accommodate different string gauges and tensions?

3. Is it worth the cost to convert the bass to the Thomastiks?

Only you can answer that. Thomastik's are pretty expensive, but what "cost" is there, aside from the cost of the strings themselves? Truss rod adjustments are really not something that requires a trained guitar tech, just an allen wrench and a bit of care a patience.

But the real question is, what is it that you're hoping to gain by changing from your current strings to the Thomastiks? Are there specific charactistics you're looking for that the Chromes don't have, or are you just considering it because you've heard that Thomastiks are "the thing"?

4. will the big difference in gage & tension affect unplugged volume?

From my experience with things like "silk and steel' strings on acoustic guitars, I'd have to say, yes, definitely.

Less tension and less vibrating mass to move the top means less volume, and unplugged volume isn't exactly the Taylor's strong point to begin with. Remember, the Thomastik Acousticores are really optimized for producing great amplified acoustic tone, to get the best sound out of a piezo pickup on an instument like the Turner Rennaisance bass.

Mike

[johno697]

Truss rod adjustments are really not something that requires a trained guitar tech, just an allen wrench and a bit of care a patience.

I'd rather not screw with such a drastic change in neck tension. A few pounds is one thing but the TI's result in quite a difference in tension, IMHO.


But the real question is, what is it that you're hoping to gain by changing from your current strings to the Thomastiks? Are there specific characteristics you're looking for that the Chromes don't have, or are you just considering it because you've heard that Thomastiks are "the thing"?

I'm satisfied with the the current AB-2 setup using Chromes amplified.

I was hoping to get more unplugged volume. Plus the Chromes do sound pretty "lifeless" unplugged.

Could go back to the D'Addario phosphor bronzes.


I seem to remember reading about some Taylor AB owners having the bass modified to achieve better/louder response.

Opinions? / Suggestions?

[mikezimmerman]

Yes, the TI's would be a very drastic change in tension. Still not something that should present a difficulty when making adjustments, IMHO, but that's just me.

Besides, from what I know of them, I really don't think the TI's will give you what you want. They just don't have the mass and the tension to give you more acoustic volume, I don't think.

I own a very nice handmade acoustic bass made by Edward Dick (http://evd303.com/gallery.php), and I've pretty much stuck with GHS phosphor-bronze strings on it. But, I very much prefer the tone after the strings have been on for a while, and they've mellowed and lost that metallic harshness in the highs while still retaining their liveliness. I sometimes wonder if some of the coated acoustic strings like Elixirs might not work even better.

Of course, it depends on what sort of tone you're looking for. The sound that got me into acoustic bass was Jonas Hellborg's "The Word", which has a warm, woody tone but still sounds like an acoustic bass guitar. Other folks are looking for something closer to the upright thump, and if that's what you're wanting, it might be worth trying something like LaBella black tapewounds, which sound pretty good on my friend's Rob Allens.

Mike

[7flat5]

Originally Posted by johno697;4160704I'm satisfied with the the current AB-2 setup using Chromes [B

amplified[/b].

I was hoping to get more unplugged volume. Plus the Chromes do sound pretty "lifeless" unplugged.

Could go back to the D'Addario phosphor bronzes.

Opinions? / Suggestions?

I have the Acousticores on a Lightwave bass, so I do know how they are, but not on an acoustic. What I can add is that they were specifically designed to work with a piezo bridge, not unamplified. They are nylon core, which is why they are such low tension for their gauge. The very low mass, I might guess, would not be what you want for unplugged volume, but I have no personal experience on an acoustic. They are very lively and responsive strings on the Lightwave, but require a very light touch relative to normal steel bass strings.

The phosphor bronze strings, usually, sound just like what they are--giant acoustic guitar strings. The only other option I have heard positive remarks about would be nylon tapewound strings, perhaps LaBella (which I also have on an electric but no acoustic) or GHS, which are a lighter gauge. Those, if you want a bass and not a giant, low-tuned acoustic guitar (and, now that I see, Mike already said that).

[Lokire]

I use the TI acousticores on my Kinal Kompact (30") acoustic, and I don't think I could bring myself to use anything else now. They don't have the most acoustic volume, but it's plenty enough for practicing unplugged or playing for a small group of people. And they have awesome tone!

Here's mine, recorded through a mic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4_sO87yR3o

I'm sure that with a full scale bass, you'd get better volume too. My acoustic is...kompact