I wanted to give an update on a new thread. A while back, I had asked folks advice for a set that worked properly for this tuning. I had tried various combinations of strings. The basic premise was Taking a set of d'addario EXL170-6 strings, using the lighter 5 strings and then coming up with something for the high E/F string. (In my case tuning E A D G B E instead of the more common E A D G C F).
At the time, I had two basses:
Ibanez SR506
Mensinger Cazpar
The problem I had was that any wound string I used for the high string had way less volume than the other 5 strings. This was true even with the GHS Progressive string. If I used a plain string for the high string, it was too loud and twangy, sounding out of character and noticeably less tension than the other strings. The general conclusion amongst forum members was that there was so much tension on the wound high E, inhibiting the vibration and causing the volume differential.
So...I recently got a JCR ST6 bass and after a few weeks of struggling with B-C tuning, i decided that I either needed to sell it or switch it to E-E tuning because apparently I'm too old a dog to learn a new trick (B-C). Oddly, i have no problem with B-G tuning on my 5 string basses but that's another issue for a different day.
Anyway, this time around I put a plain .020 on it. The bass sounded really good but the high E was too twangy and a bit too loud. So, this afternoon, I put a GHS Progress .022w (Alloy 52) on it.
IT SOUNDS GREAT! The volume is fine. What I think was happening with the Ibanez and Cazpar basses were that the high strings were not aligned with the internal pole pieces (or whatever magnetic structure the pickups had under the cover). On the JCR, the pickups are Aguilar Super Doubles and i'll attach a photo of the string alignment but it works just fine.
So I think we can safely say that the GHS Progressives Alloy 52 .022 strings will work fine for a high E or F.
Note - I am using a guitar string. They do not make a bass string in this material with .022w. I just ran the guitar string through a bass ball end. I will also say that the string is barely long enough. Running it through the body of this 33" bass, I could not push the string down into the hole of the tuner. I had to do a guitar-style wrap and lock around the tuner to make it work. If you are running 34 or 35 and putting the strings through the body, this string may not work. However, I get plenty of volume so I'm guessing any .022w even if not this alloy should work fine.
And yes, the bridge pieces look like they are in the wrong place. I will need to do an intonation adjustment this weekend...
At the time, I had two basses:
Ibanez SR506
Mensinger Cazpar
The problem I had was that any wound string I used for the high string had way less volume than the other 5 strings. This was true even with the GHS Progressive string. If I used a plain string for the high string, it was too loud and twangy, sounding out of character and noticeably less tension than the other strings. The general conclusion amongst forum members was that there was so much tension on the wound high E, inhibiting the vibration and causing the volume differential.
So...I recently got a JCR ST6 bass and after a few weeks of struggling with B-C tuning, i decided that I either needed to sell it or switch it to E-E tuning because apparently I'm too old a dog to learn a new trick (B-C). Oddly, i have no problem with B-G tuning on my 5 string basses but that's another issue for a different day.
Anyway, this time around I put a plain .020 on it. The bass sounded really good but the high E was too twangy and a bit too loud. So, this afternoon, I put a GHS Progress .022w (Alloy 52) on it.
IT SOUNDS GREAT! The volume is fine. What I think was happening with the Ibanez and Cazpar basses were that the high strings were not aligned with the internal pole pieces (or whatever magnetic structure the pickups had under the cover). On the JCR, the pickups are Aguilar Super Doubles and i'll attach a photo of the string alignment but it works just fine.
So I think we can safely say that the GHS Progressives Alloy 52 .022 strings will work fine for a high E or F.
Note - I am using a guitar string. They do not make a bass string in this material with .022w. I just ran the guitar string through a bass ball end. I will also say that the string is barely long enough. Running it through the body of this 33" bass, I could not push the string down into the hole of the tuner. I had to do a guitar-style wrap and lock around the tuner to make it work. If you are running 34 or 35 and putting the strings through the body, this string may not work. However, I get plenty of volume so I'm guessing any .022w even if not this alloy should work fine.
And yes, the bridge pieces look like they are in the wrong place. I will need to do an intonation adjustment this weekend...
