Thomastik Power Bass vs. Superalloy ?

Modern Growl · #1 07-07-2005, 10:22 AM

Does anyone have a comparitive review of these two strings. I can't seem to find any good comparisons on TB.

basss · #2 07-09-2005, 10:11 AM

I've used both. IME the timbre is very similar but the powerbass have zingier highs.

BuffaloBob4343 · #3 07-11-2005, 11:05 AM

I was just about to post a thread asking for input from people who have played the Powerbass strings.

I am thinking about stringing them on my Warwick Thumb 5. I want to mellow the highs just a bit from the Warwick Black Stainless that the bass shipped with, and get rid of the excessive finger noise.

But, I don't want to supress the natural brightness of the Ovangkol.

Also, do you think using TI-PBs on a 4 string Jazz would be blasphemous? I want my Modulus GVJ4 to be versatile as well.

Modern Growl · #4 07-12-2005, 03:59 PM

LoveThatBass · #5 07-13-2005, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffaloBob4343

I was just about to post a thread asking for input from people who have played the Powerbass strings.

I am thinking about stringing them on my Warwick Thumb 5. I want to mellow the highs just a bit from the Warwick Black Stainless that the bass shipped with, and get rid of the excessive finger noise.

But, I don't want to supress the natural brightness of the Ovangkol.

Also, do you think using TI-PBs on a 4 string Jazz would be blasphemous? I want my Modulus GVJ4 to be versatile as well.

Why would TI-PB's be a problem on a 4 string Jazz?
Go for it!

BuffaloBob4343 · #6 07-13-2005, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveThatBass

Why would TI-PB's be a problem on a 4 string Jazz?
Go for it!

I don't know. I guess I have this impression that the common wisdom or old school approach is that flats are played on a Jazz Fretless. Otherwise it's like eating fish with red wine or red meat with a white for example.

This is my first Jazz and my first fretless, so I don't know entirely what to expect. I don't want to sound too old school, stand-up bass thumpy. I am shooting for a smooth but modern sound. I want to cut through the mix but I want some warm mids in there to make the sound rich.

That's why I was thinking not steel but not flat. The PB's, from what I understand, are not too zingy, yet they have great output.

I think it will take some experimentation to figure out what sounds and feels good to me. Maybe I'll just buy about ten different sets of strings and AB them all until I get that perfect sound. Expensive and time consuming, but worth it.

basss · #7 07-13-2005, 08:03 AM

You might want to try Daddario half wounds. They sound a lot like a RW string but with some thump and less finger noise and string click. I liked the TI PB and SA's alot but they both have a slight nasaly bump in the mids around 500-700hz. It helps with clarity and in a dense mix you can't here it but sometimes it gets annoying.

Richard Lindsey · #8 07-13-2005, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffaloBob4343

I don't know. I guess I have this impression that the common wisdom or old school approach is that flats are played on a Jazz Fretless. Otherwise it's like eating fish with red wine or red meat with a white for example.

Well, common wisdom is often neither. Or at least, it's often right only some of the time, not all. I say go for the rounds if you like the sound. There are tons of fretless players who use or used roundwounds.

And I drink pinot noir with salmon all the time.

BuffaloBob4343 · #9 07-13-2005, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basss

You might want to try Daddario half wounds. They sound a lot like a RW string but with some thump and less finger noise and string click. I liked the TI PB and SA's alot but they both have a slight nasaly bump in the mids around 500-700hz. It helps with clarity and in a dense mix you can't here it but sometimes it gets annoying.

Hey thanks basss.
So how do you compare the D'Add halfwounds with the Chromes, which I think are actually ground stainless? I would assume the HW's are a bit mellower than the chromes.

BuffaloBob4343 · #10 07-13-2005, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Lindsey

And I drink pinot noir with salmon all the time.

How uncouth! LOL!

Anyway, very sound advice. Thanks!

basss · #11 07-13-2005, 10:04 AM

I've never tried the Chromes. I have tried TI Jazz Flats. The 1/2 rounds are a lot closer to round wounds in sound.

Smallequestrian · #12 07-13-2005, 10:06 AM

The Dude would tell you that the TI jazz rounds are the ideal strings for fretless. I myself use the superalloys on my SR5 and I am not really sure how I feel about them. I don't hate them, but its my first fretless, so I am wanting to try others.

BuffaloBob4343 · #13 07-13-2005, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smallequestrian

The Dude would tell you that the TI jazz rounds are the ideal strings for fretless. I myself use the superalloys on my SR5 and I am not really sure how I feel about them. I don't hate them, but its my first fretless, so I am wanting to try others.

Sounds like you don't exactly love them either! This is my first fretless as well, so I am in the same boat.

BuffaloBob4343 · #14 07-13-2005, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basss

I've never tried the Chromes. I have tried TI Jazz Flats. The 1/2 rounds are a lot closer to round wounds in sound.

The half rounds are definitely interesting.

Modern Growl · #15 07-13-2005, 10:38 AM

so......... um, back to the origional question, i'm getting that the SA are less bright then the PB's... thats pretty much it?
does one have a more growly/grindy tone then the other?

basss · #16 07-13-2005, 11:39 AM

The midrange growl is comparable. The PB's have more of that high end mike dirnt punker garage band dude growl if thats your cupa tea - although they are still more mellow in that area than other brands.

DavidRavenMoon · #17 07-13-2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffaloBob4343

I don't know. I guess I have this impression that the common wisdom or old school approach is that flats are played on a Jazz Fretless. Otherwise it's like eating fish with red wine or red meat with a white for example.

This is my first Jazz and my first fretless, so I don't know entirely what to expect. I don't want to sound too old school, stand-up bass thumpy. I am shooting for a smooth but modern sound. I want to cut through the mix but I want some warm mids in there to make the sound rich.

That's why I was thinking not steel but not flat. The PB's, from what I understand, are not too zingy, yet they have great output.

I think it will take some experimentation to figure out what sounds and feels good to me. Maybe I'll just buy about ten different sets of strings and AB them all until I get that perfect sound. Expensive and time consuming, but worth it.

I use roundwounds on my fretless. If you want that Jaco "mwah" sound, you need roundwounds. I use D'Addario XL's. They are bright, but not too zingy. Good mids too.

As far as "old school"... Fender never made a fretless Jazz Bass. People always pulled the frets out! In general everyone used flats, because that's about all there was then I started playing bass (in 1969).