Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Allen Woody Rumbleket
- Thread starter sal4bass
- Start date
Just anything with less mass, so lighter gauges. That should be giving you the low tension. I should be getting this bass in about 2 weeks and just I ordered some thick flatwounds (I am the opposite and I like thick, high-tension strings). I'm also aiming for the thumpy sound so that's why I went with the flats.
Also this should've really been posted in the strings forum.
Also this should've really been posted in the strings forum.
If you like low tension strings, you ought to try Thomastik-Infeld's line of "Jazz" strings, that come both as flats and rounds. I have a set of rounds on my fretted shortscale solidbody, and love them. They are very light in both gauge and tension, and sound wonderful. Very warm and punchy.
Yeh, I almost posted this in the string forum but was also interested in comments about the bass in general.
I think you will love the bass! If you are after a thumpy sound, this is the bass for you. It has very pronounced low end response and is very punchy. I'm not sure what strings Epiphone uses at the factory, but a brighter string would give it a more even response curve. I don't dislike the sound at all, but a little more upper mids would complement it IMO. I was thinking perhaps DR Sunbeams or Hi-Beams would set it off nicely.
The neck is very comfortable and the fit and finish are superb. I was actually shocked at how nice it is in person after seeing pictures of it on the web. The binding and finish are very well done. I also love the look of the gold hardware. Switching between pickups gives a nice tonal variation. Since it is a hollow chambered body with solid top, you can get nearly acoustic bass sounds with a nice harmonic richness. It sounds like nothing I have owned before.
Since I have been struggling with wrist problems, this 30 inch scale should be just the ticket for me. And I really dig the little neck's profile.
I just installed my first ever set of TI Jazz Rounds on my Fender Active Deluxe Jazz. I love the feel and tension, but am not sure about the tone quite yet. Very subdued compared to the DRs and GHS Boomers I have used previously. I would think a set of TIs on a short scale bass would be just like playing butter - perfect from my perspective.
I have never used flats before. Do they have a flat surface verses a round one?
Has anyone suffered feedback issues with the Allen Woody Rumblekat? I turned my amp up pretty loud without problems unless I get the bass very close to the front of the speaker cab.
For those of you that own this bass has this become an issue while playing gigs? I'm thinking stage position relative to amps/mics might be a bit more important with the this bass since it has hollow chambers under the solid top.
For those of you that own this bass has this become an issue while playing gigs? I'm thinking stage position relative to amps/mics might be a bit more important with the this bass since it has hollow chambers under the solid top.
For country I use TI flats on mine. For rock I use GHS or D'Addario RW short scale strings. I think it sounds great with either.
Nor have I. The absence of f-holes makes this a non-issue, IMO.
So far, I've used D'Addario roundwounds and Chrome flats on mine. Contrary to others who've said flats sound best with the Rumblekat, I prefer the added definition and presence of RWs.
I also prefer regular gauge (.45-.105) over lighter gauge strings. On a 30" scale bass the tension will be lower anyway, and light gauge strings lose depth and girth and are just too "noodly" for me. As always, YMMV.
Michael
Thanks Michael. If I didn't have wrist issues right now I would definitely be playing heavier gauge strings. Until my wrist gets back to good form, the lighter the better for me. I agree that heavier gage strings sound better.
To the best of my knowledge, I have never played a bass with flats, so I have not a clue what they sound like or how they vary in shape from traditional round wounds. I assume they are not circular in shape?
Actually, they are quite round. Unlike roundwounds, however, which have little ridges all along the length of the string (where the round outer wire wraps around the core) flats are smooth. They have a very different feel than RWs. Many love them, but I'm coming to the conclusion I just don't care for the feel. Of the ones I've tried, however, TI's are the ones I've liked best. Search the Strings forum. Lots of info there.
Thanks Showdown. Great pic for your avatar BTW. The A.W. Rumblekat looks very cool.
That's why I used the Rumblekat for the pic, I thought it looked cool.
Can't offer any info on strings outside of what is already said, but I can say, GREAT BASSES! My buddy Pete plays one w/ La Bella Flats on it and sounds awesome!
you can here it in action here. It is the only bass used if I'm not mistaken.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
and here
Link Removed
you can here it in action here. It is the only bass used if I'm not mistaken.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
and here
Link Removed
Here is a clip of a country band I used to play in. I had TI Flats on the Rumblekat. I think it sounds great.
I agree. That clip was one of the reasons I decided to buy one when it showed up locally on Craigslist. For some reason, I've never been really happy with flats on any of the basses I've tried 'em on, including the AW, but I think that's just me, and it has more to do with feel than tone.
Since the OP said he's looking for flexible strings, TI would be the brand to go with for flats, IMO. Great tone and low tension.
I think flats sound great for some music, like country. But for rock I just don't like them. I've tried several times to use flats in my rock band, and I like them at first, but after a while I miss the extra bite of RW.
