Recent content by groovenut57

Here's my perspective on the Chromes as a 55-yr-old... (actually almost 56) I used to use D'Addario XL Nickles 45-105 before I discovered the joy of flats. Due to the slightly stiffer nature of flats in general, I decided to go a little lighter with the Chromes (40-100), which has worked...

I did the same thing when I got my 2008 Highway One Jazz - swap the white for a black one. Highway Ones take American pickguards because the truss rod access is at the heel. The Mexican pickguard would not allow proper access.

Catherine Popper. Just last weekend purely by accident I stumbled across a PBS special featuring Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. I was instantly hooked on Catherine's cool lines on her '66 Precision!

Just curious... What exactly is it about the LaBellas that's different from the rest?

I'm from the "previous" generation (probably the same as you, John), where I was heavily into Simon & Garfunkel, The Carpenters, and the like. The funny thing is I didn't even know, or care to know, who Joe Osborn was until recently only after I took up the bass at the age of 52 and started...

I thought it was the other way around - hex core being stiffer, no?

Thanks for this inspiring thread! I'm the one who always whines and complains because my hands are too small with fingers that are too short, etc...etc... Meanwhile, I have 10 perfectly healthy fingers (well, 8 fingers and 2 thumbs) that function just fine. No more flimsy excuses!

Gauges - tension - stiffness, etc...etc... It is indeed a complicated world, isn't it? (And we're only talking about strings!) ;)

I just wish more companies, besides D'Addario (and maybe TI), would publish the actual tension info on their strings. The fact of the matter is two strings of the same gauge do not necessarily have the same tension depending on the material and construction.

Here are my favorites: 1. Shoreline Gold/Brown Tort/Rosewood (No longer offered for the American Standard. :( ) 2. Olympic White/Brown Tort/Rosewood 3. Midnight Wine/Black/Rosewood 4. For the Sunburst, I prefer 2-color over 3-color

Here's my take on it as a relative newbie on bass... Chops are just like icing on a cake (cake being the groove) - it "enhances" the taste of the cake and make it more appealing. A cake without icing can be kind of plain and boring. The thing about it, though, is icing without the cake can...

You may have a point about the 40 being a little thin. Actually, my ideal set would be: G - 45 (45.7 lbs) D - 60 (45.2 lbs) A - 80 (43.7 lbs) E - 105 (41.5 lbs) Now that's what I would call "balanced".

When I first started out on bass (only last year), I naturally had nickel rounds to start out with. The first set I had on my P bass were D'A nickel rounds 45-65-80-100, but I found the E and A too floppy compared to D and G, so I eventually switched to 45-65-85-105 and found them a little more...

Hmmm...interesting. If this is true (can someone verify, please?), does this mean the new Fender flats are what we commonly know as "Chromes"??

As a parent of three boys (20, 17 & 15), I do share in your pride and joy of watching your child grow as a fledgling young musician. Congrats on your daughter's fine performance! My middle child took up the bass when he was 14 (grade 9) to play in the school jazz band, while he played the...