Used Thomastik SuperAlloy Strings?

brotherdave · #1 10-07-2006, 01:59 PM

First, I apologize if someone has posted a similar thread on this product. I did a search on "SuperAlloy," "Thomastik SuperAlloy" and variations of that theme. I found nothing but a very few people saying they are using them. I didn't look back through all the hits, just the past several months since it appears to be a newer product, at least here in the USA and since if you post to a very old thread people accuse you of trolling or dredging up something better left alone.

I like Thomastik PowerBass Strings on one bass I have and Thomastik Flats on another bass which I use for different applications. Recently I've heard there is a new product added to the line marketed as "Infeld SuperAlloy Strings." They are roundwound, and the alloy I'm assuming is some nickle derived concoction since they are said to be fret-friendly on the TI website. The company website doesn't say much else about what they are or specifically what they do.

I'd like to hear from people who have actually used Infeld SuperAlloy strings and can compare them to other strings they've used. I'd be most interested in how they compare in character to the TI PowerBass set, D'Addario XL sets of similar gauge and the Fender 7250M set as those are all quantities well known to me and I can relate to them.

A specific description of the tension of each string as listed on the back of the box would be very nice too. I'd also like to know if they are as durable as the other more expensive TI made strings. However since they are a newer product their longevity may not yet be known. But if you've been using them for 3 months or longer that would be useful information.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Jerry Ziarko · #2 10-09-2006, 10:56 AM

Maybe I can be a little help to you. I tried my first set of SA's one yr ago. My first thoughts were, the tension was a bit looser than I was accustomed to, but then again I had been using DR Lowriders for some time. The top end was not quite as bright as say a set of D'Addario XLs but still had a nice mild zing to them. I also noticed they seemed pretty smooth with a nice tight wrap. Now let's get to sound plugged in. They are by far the best sounding string I have ever tried. Mind you, that is only the sound that I was looking for. The string to string balance is fabulous, especially the B string. Some times you get a particular set and the first four strings sound great, but the B sounds as though it was a different brand. Not so with the SA's, at least from my experience. Now let's get to the longevity factor. I usually change strings every three to four weeks. I hate the feel and sound of "old" strings. I put a set of SA's on, and I swear I was waiting for them to die for 10 months. The only thing I did to them was give them the denatured alcohol bath every 2-3 weeks. I put them back on, and back they were, tone and all. Although the SA's are not that cheap to start with, I feel for the price, there is no better deal. When I finally did change my first set, it was only to get a bit of the newness factor back. I kept the old set for spares and even tried an experiment. I took off the new G and put on the old one to check the difference in tone. I couldn't believe how little difference there was.
With all the above said, these might not be the strings for you, but after the endless search, I have found THE string for me. I hoped this helped.......

JimK · #3 10-09-2006, 05:43 PM

I have used two sets of the T-I SA strings...what I noticed-
Both sets, the "G" petered-out very quickly.
Here's a comment I got with the SA strings: "You like that old Skool tone, huh"?
I do but I was playing a hot-rodded bass with Barts, Aguilar onboard pre-amp, Bergie 1x12/2x10 cab, Aguilar 500SC head. None of which should yield an old Skool vibe...hadda be the strings, right?

I usually use Sunbeams(Nickel)...now they seem to take months before they die.

I recently put some Nordstrand p'ups in that bass...I have one set of the SA available, thinking I may give them another go. FWIW, the tone of this bass is more 'modern' than what the Barts/SA was giving. There's definitely more highs.

FWIW, I do like the feel of the T-I SA...that's very important to me.
FWIW, Pt 2-
I have a set of Power Bass on my P-bass...after I took off the Jazz. They seemed to work better for me with the P.

brotherdave · #4 10-09-2006, 06:23 PM

Thanks Jerry for your input. That all sounds good to me.

I have found that the TI Flats and PowerBass strings are my endurance champs too. I don't use alcohol on TI's for fear of damaging the silk layer that covers the core. I'm not sure how silk reacts to alcohol. I think it would be OK to wipe them, but I don't know about immersion. What I've been doing is to just wipe them down with a clean dry old sock after use and whether or not that helps I'm not sure, but I do it anyway.

I've located the diameter/tension specs for the PowerBass and the SuperAlloy sets. The SuperAlloys are only slightly lower in tension and very close in diameter to the PowerBass set.

The 4 string 34 inch PowerBass set diameter/tension specs are:
G=.047 in/46.4 lbs, D=.068 in/53.68 lbs, A=.080 in/42.76 lbs & E=.107 in/40.78 lbs

The 4 string 34 inch SuperAlloy set diameter/tension specs are:
G=.045 in/44.97 lbs, D=.065 in/50.71 lbs, A=.080/44.5 lbs & E=.105/39.46 lbs

So these two sets are very close in core, diameter & tension, so it appears, on paper anyway, that the main difference is the windings.

I'm not even sure what the winding material is on the PowerBass but it sure looks like stainless. They don't get dull looking after several months of use. Thomastik's marketing info doesn't say what the winding materials on either of these sets are either.

My only complaint about the PowerBass set is that since they are roundwound and have a higher output factor built-in, not only do they make the notes a little louder, they also make the finger noise (finger squeak) a bit louder too. If the Infeld SuperAlloys have a similar tone while reducing the finger noise, that would be great for me. Sounds like they are durable too. I will for sure be giving them a try soon.

brotherdave · #5 10-09-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

I have used two sets of the T-I SA strings...what I noticed-
Both sets, the "G" petered-out very quickly.
Here's a comment I got with the SA strings: "You like that old Skool tone, huh"?

FWIW, I do like the feel of the T-I SA...that's very important to me.
FWIW, Pt 2-
I have a set of Power Bass on my P-bass...after I took off the Jazz. They seemed to work better for me with the P.

That helps me too. I've noticed that the PowerBass "G" seems to mellow-out after about a month too, but if you leave it alone at about 6 weeks the set goes into a very sweet phase where the others have caught up in the aging process and the set sounds well balanced again. Go figure.

Feel is crucial to me too. The PB's feel solid and I like that. I don't like the finger noise (squeak) though. I also like the PowerBass strings best on a Precision bass. I've never put PB's on a Jazz type bass so I can't say how they'd sound there. It is good to know that I put them on the right bass!

Previously I kept Jazz Flats on a Jazz Bass (seemed logical) and now keep them on an Ibanez SRX700 as I've ditched the Jazz completely in favor of the better playing & sounding I-Bass. The SRX700 with JF's has yielded the easiest playing set up I've ever had and I can recommend the JF's for that bass as they match nicely. The original strings on the I-Bass were Elixirs and they sounded OK, but not as good as the Jazz Flats. I think that is because of the alnico pickups on the bass and the nickel layer on the strings. Leo Fender (or whoever it was that married nickel & alnico) was onto something there. They seem to "play well" together.

I use the PB's on a first generation P-Bass clone (again it seemed logical) and the tone produced through that lone single-coil pup is a jaw-dropping awe-inspiring roar from the depths of hell. In other words, it sounds great.

Even though they have a very thin hex shaped core, I know the PB's are extremely durable and suspect the SA's are equally durable. Unlike some people who say they've never broken a string, I have broken plenty along the way but so far I've never broken a TI string. (Knock on wood!)

Thanks for your impressons as I'm definitely going to give the Infeld SuperAlloy set a go now!

Jerry Ziarko · #6 10-09-2006, 10:02 PM

For your info, the alcohol has no affect on the silk at all. When it dries after immersion, (I leave them in there for a day or so) the silk looks and feels exactly like it did before hand.