'56 Kay - Weichs or Mittels?

e.maynard · #1 01-13-2009, 07:58 PM

I have a healthy Kay. Mittels aren't too heavy for it are they? Any danger there?

I like the feel of Mittels, but I've never tried Weichs.

Thoughts?

Many Thanks!

fdeck · #2 01-13-2009, 08:35 PM

My early 60's Kay has had Superflexible Mittels on it from 1982 to around 1997, and Spiro Mittels to the present date. I have kept a close eye on the stability of the instrument over these years, almost to the point of paranoia, because I don't trust the guy who restored it (me). The bass has always had a bit of a sunken belly, but I really don't think it has gotten worse since I have had it.

When I got my Kay, the neck joint was loose due to a cracked neck block, and the bass bar was loose as well. Letting either of these problems go unnoticed would not be healthy for the bass. My luthier told me that these are not infrequent problems on Kay basses, so a program of periodic inspection might be warranted regardless of what strings you choose.

e.maynard · #3 01-13-2009, 10:20 PM

Since I'm coming over to UB from electric the Weichs seemed like a good starting point. Then I played a few Kays and other plys with Mittels and I liked the feel.

I fear the E on a weich set might feel whispy.... I dunno. But I fear screwing up my bass even more.

Input please!

Jake deVilliers · #4 01-13-2009, 11:42 PM

Weichs are good but why not both? Mittel E & A and Weich D & G makes a great combination.

Gearhead43 · #5 01-14-2009, 12:08 AM

What you really need to put on that Kay is GUTS.

bonaventura · #6 01-14-2009, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e.maynard

... Mittels aren't too heavy for it are they? Any danger there?

If you think the tension of Mittels might be too much, but the Weich E too wimpy, then follow Jake's advice: Do a mix. Either like Jake suggests or even another mix, like Mittle E and Weich A. I put Belcantos on a year ago and found I preferred the sound of the Spiro Mittel E and Weich A with them.

MT Spaces · #7 01-14-2009, 02:20 AM

......... IMHO ... With all deference to Our Luthiers On Hand ... Older Kays ... Maybe until The Mid-'60's ... Kay died in 1968-69 .... Weren't really built with higher-tension Spiro Steel Mittels in mind.

Their Necks were thin .... Neck joints were/are wimpish and prone to bustage ... But Onward .... Don't get me wrong .... I love Kay Basses

. I still play one (or two

) ...

I think Spiro Mittel A'n'E's probably present The Most Tension on an Older Kay (aside from Spiro Starks) ... But it maybe takes about another 20 years to test my Theory .... To see the neck joint loosen-up, the orig FB warp, and the top sink inward ...

But Hey ... Lots of Folks play Mittels on their old Kays and those Events may never happen ...

Just depends on the plywood lot at The Kay Factory that Day .... And whether The Workers went down to Rush Street the night B-4 to lissen to Blues ... My favorites are Buddy Guy, Little Walter, Junior Wells, and Paul Butterfield .... Smoke some (OK .. A Lot Of) Reefer ... Drink shots ... And then build your bass The Next Day

!

G'n'D strings ... Lower tension .... Who Cares

?? If'n I was you ... On an older Kay .... I would vote for Weich A'n'E ..... That's what I did on One-Kay i owned ... Hasn't broke yet ...

P.S ...... I'm usually Full-Of-Schiess-Talk ... For anyone that knows me ... No New News There

. Jake .... He sometimes .... As long as he doesn't want to be associated with me and be questioned by HomeLand Security every time he enters The USA .... Lets me know when I'm off-track, being an a-hole, and spouting off about Bass-Schiess I know Zippo about

.

Uncletoad · #8 01-14-2009, 02:55 AM

I had Weichs with a Mittel E on my 55 kay and really liked it. Didn't have the bass long enough to know if I killed it with them or not.

Shoulda kept that damn bass. She was a clean pretty blonde. Gave her away for damn near nothin...

Oh well. Can't keep them all.

I suppose she'd be standing in the corner by the Cleveland holding up the wall these days anyhow. There's a new sheriff in town.

AlanBartram · #9 01-14-2009, 08:24 AM

Forgive my ignorance but does mittel mean "medium"? If so, I've had them on my '54 Kay C-1 for years with no problems.

EggyToast · #10 01-14-2009, 09:46 AM

Yes: Weich = light, Mittel = medium, Stark = heavy.

I have weichs on my kay but I'm tempted to swap the E for a mittel, since the weich E is a little flabby.

Jake deVilliers · #11 01-14-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EggyToast

I have weichs on my kay but I'm tempted to swap the E for a mittel, since the weich E is a little flabby.

You won't regret it.

e.maynard · #12 01-14-2009, 01:04 PM

Hmmmm.
So Mittels or a combo?

TroyK · #13 01-14-2009, 01:11 PM

It depends on what you like and how your bass is set up and aged. If you really are going in without a strong preference, then the chances of you getting it right the first time are limited.

I suggest starting with a full set of something and then making adjustments as you experience it. I've got a complete set of Weichs right now (very different bass from yours), but I don't find the E lacking in any way.

Jake deVilliers · #14 01-14-2009, 01:34 PM

Yeah but you have a great bass!

Good point about the full set though........

TroyK · #15 01-14-2009, 03:11 PM

But, I just went through this (as you know) where I tried to out think the string manufacturers and build my perfect combined set in abstract before I strung my bass up. After a few months of feeling like something was a little off, I made the set pure and my bass breathed a big sigh of relief.

I just think it makes sense to start with a matched set and then adjust where you feel there is a problem.

e.maynard · #16 01-14-2009, 03:18 PM

I agree.
I bought the Mittels.

Uncletoad · #17 01-14-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e.maynard

I agree.
I bought the Mittels.

That's never a mistake.

juuzek · #18 01-14-2009, 03:52 PM

Maynard,
How does your bass sound with those guts it came with?

e.maynard · #19 01-14-2009, 04:08 PM

It sounded like a blunt note, warm and a little bit of thud. Good to a lot of folks.....

I really have a grunty sustain for 45 minutes sound in mind. (I know...... it's a Kay and I'm dreaming). In any case, the luthier (Glen Knicely) had a similar Kay with Mittels on it as his place, and I loved the bark and tone of those strings.

Plus (coming form e. bass world) the action needed for the guts was not for me.

As a side note, those guts are for sale.

TroyK · #20 01-14-2009, 06:37 PM

You'll be happy with that choice. If you bass has a hard time with them for some reason, they are VERY resellable here and you can go to weichs. If you've got a string that seems to not do what it should and your luthier can't adjust to accomodate, then you could try single string swaps.