Flex 92's

[jmpiwonka]

the purple bottom strings are the "original" and the red color is for the regualr flexocor.

on a side note, i thought in the newbie strings links there was a link to the string ID chart that had actual pics of the strings, i like that link better than the quinn violins link but it seems to have disappeared.

aren't the original G and D brighter than the regular G and D?

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by jmpiwonka

the purple bottom strings are the "original" and the red color is for the regualr flexocor.

on a side note, i thought in the newbie strings links there was a link to the string ID chart that had actual pics of the strings, i like that link better than the quinn violins link but it seems to have disappeared.

aren't the original G and D brighter than the regular G and D?

First off, I call the Original Flex brand BLUE in color and not purple. There is NO red present in that color. Second the Original Flex has NOTHING original about them. They are a completly new formula except for the gauge which is similar to the OLD Purple/red starks now known as Flex 92s. Whew.. we went thru this over the last two years.. Pirastro has knitted some rats nest with regards to confusion. Third, ALL the Orig Brand Flexs are brighter than the 92s which are warmer.

Now, if you like the Orig brand in some way but want it smoother, then get the reg STARK/Thick Flex 92s. They very similar to the gauge now as the Orig Flex brand. The Orig is heavier on the A mainly. Heres the differences;

Flex 92s/ Stark, .052, .061, .080, .106"
Orig Flex set, . 052, .063, .087, .108".

I had an old set on my Dodd when it came from london and they were heavier than the Starks of today but were over 20 years old. They WERE the original Flexocors Starks with Purple/Red windings and NOT the dark Blue like todays marketed originals.

If you want the ORIGINAL Flex feel and sound, get the Stark 92s or reg 92s with the Stark E string. If you bow mainly, you probably won't look back!

[jmpiwonka]

oh, i played a bass at my university for a long time that had some original flexocors on it....they were actually purple/violet windings and not blue.....i guess those were the super old original "original" strings then.

so the new "originals" are blue and not purple.

that helps......
now who has the link to that string archive with the pics?

[KSB - Ken Smith]

you mean this?, http://www.kort-basses.com/misc/stringsen.html

[jmpiwonka]

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

you mean this?, http://www.kort-basses.com/misc/stringsen.html

yeah, thanks ken.

[jimclark68]

As I mentioned in a different thread, my curiousity got the best of me, and I ordered a set of Flex 92 starks. They came today, and they've been on my bass for an hour.

Man, oh man.

This is the first string I've ever put on a bass that sounded great right out of the gate. Every positive characteristic that Ray, Ken, and others have talked about is right there. Great fundamental, nice dark tone, and fantastic pizz. I was expecting them to be dark, and was willing to sacrifice some Spiro punch and sustain for a darker sound, but these are even better than I expected. If these sound this good now, I can't wait to hear the sound after a week or two. What I've been missing all this time...

Gotta go play.

[TroyK]

How do they feel? Stiff/flexy? Tense/loose?

[masmasbasso]

I also just put on a set of Flex Starks on Tuesday. They do sound great pizz and bowed (of course). Lot's of fundamental, especially on the E and A strings. Very punchy pizz sound.

I did have a rough gig with the on Wednesday. I was just going direct and I didn't like the way they were sounding in the monitors. My bass sounded great last week in the same setting, but with a different FOH guy and with some older corellis. I'll blame it on the sound guy for now.

I played another gig with them on Thursday, but I had a really tough rehearsal before the gig and that was a long three set show. I wimped out and put some Spiro mediums on the E and A since I was worried about my hands. I like that feel of the combination of the two. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I'll guess I'll put the Stark E and A back on and give it another chance, or I might sell the set since I'm not convinced my bass is up to the added tension. It was sounding so nice before I changed to the Starks. I probably should have left it alone, but the there are a lot of things I love about the starks. I might try them on my Kay or even on my Czech-ease.

[jimclark68]

Coming from Superflexibles, they feel at least as stiff. I play almost exclusively pizz. I've been going back and forth between various combinations of Supers and Spiros with my new hybrid. I haven't had the Spiros on for a few weeks, but they're certainly no stiffer than Spiros. I've got them around 5mm-8mm, which is where my Supers were. I may be able to run the Flexs a tad lower. Just practicing at home, it doesn't feel as though they will wimp out in a louder setting with others - you can really dig in. I'm hoping that the 'perceived feel' will actually be a bit lighter than Spiros/Supers because the fundamental is so strong. As others have mentioned, Spiros can sometimes get lost in the mix in louder settings because they are so sproingy, and I often felt as though I was having to work harder when the volume got louder. Time will tell, of course, but I love them at this point.

[jimclark68]

Update...

D@#! , these strings are stiff. I have to say after playing them a week that they are stiffer than Spiro mittels. My hope for them feeling lighter in a combo setting did not happen - I'm having to work hard. As Ray mentioned early on, they are slow, so that is an adjustment as well. I have lowered my string height some. Part of the issue for me is the fact that I have small hands and fingers. However, I continue to love the sound. I'm wondering if the regular guage A, D, and G would solve the problem, and I may order some, because the sound is just great. Ken, if you're reading - I've read your Flexocor sticky with the information on the guages of the regular vs. stark. Can you comment on the difference in pizz feel between the two? I realize it's subjective, but if I could still get the punch with regulars and avoid carpal tunnel, I'd do it; if I'm just splitting hairs, I'll keep at it with the starks.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by jimclark68

Update...

D@#! , these strings are stiff. I have to say after playing them a week that they are stiffer than Spiro mittels. My hope for them feeling lighter in a combo setting did not happen - I'm having to work hard. As Ray mentioned early on, they are slow, so that is an adjustment as well. I have lowered my string height some. Part of the issue for me is the fact that I have small hands and fingers. However, I continue to love the sound. I'm wondering if the regular guage A, D, and G would solve the problem, and I may order some, because the sound is just great. Ken, if you're reading - I've read your Flexocor sticky with the information on the guages of the regular vs. stark. Can you comment on the difference in pizz feel between the two? I realize it's subjective, but if I could still get the punch with regulars and avoid carpal tunnel, I'd do it; if I'm just splitting hairs, I'll keep at it with the starks.

I find the Starks better overall and much better for Pizz. On my Prescott, it sounds like Ray Brown on a record but cleaner without the noisy Spiro buzz but plenty of sustain. Ask Srnold about this as he has set-up everal of my Bass and all with Starks. The individual Bass also has something to do with it. Adjust your action so you don't have to work so hard. Last week a woman picked up my Dodd and commented how big and heavy the Bass was but played like 'butter'. It too had Starks on it.

[jimclark68]

Thanks Ken. I had pretty much decided to throw in the towel out of frustration, and in fact had even listed them in the classifieds. But after sleeping on it, I'm going to give them a little more time - the sound is just too good.