• 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.

Any improvement with Dean Markley quality control?

#21
Warwick strings are so cheap that I'll end up getting them soon. The bass I'm trying to find a voice for is this fretless I picked up. I'm modding the pickups and I might be going full on passive but after I make up my mind then I'll be on a string search. It's not going to be like my Corvette so I'm pretty much open to anything.
IMG_20211216_161823277.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20211220_200410159.jpg
    IMG_20211220_200410159.jpg
    652.3 KB · Views: 21
#23
hihat said:
Nice bass, what kind is it?
Click to expand...
It's a Chinese bass called gstyle. It's got a nice build quality and the neck is nice. Acoustically it sounds good. The downside was the pickups and preamp as well as the bridge. Both are getting replaced. Bridge already got done as shown in the second pic. I've never tried MTD strings and that's another one I wanted to ask you about. How is the sound on those?
 
#26
hihat said:
I don't remember the sound on those but the tension was much too high for me. I like low tension strings.
Click to expand...
Probably not very memorable then. High tension usually sounds more polite just because stiffer action usually does the same thing. The only reason I thought about the strings is because I love the tone of the 535 and even some of the newer overseas built Kingstons.
 
#27
I'm kinda distressed to hear about these issues with Dean Markley. I've used them for years on and off (regular Blue Steels) and always liked them. More recently (within the last 2 years) I started using Nickel Blue Steels and through approx at least 5 or 6 sets I have not had a single issue and the strings sound excellent. Caught a sale a while back and picked up a bunch of 50-105 and every one has worked out. Am I just lucky?
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrentSimons and GTHintz
#29
bassclef112 said:
I'm kinda distressed to hear about these issues with Dean Markley. I've used them for years on and off (regular Blue Steels) and always liked them. More recently (within the last 2 years) I started using Nickel Blue Steels and through approx at least 5 or 6 sets I have not had a single issue and the strings sound excellent. Caught a sale a while back and picked up a bunch of 50-105 and every one has worked out. Am I just lucky?
Click to expand...
The set I bought was one of the newest version steels that were packaged all together and vacuum sealed in plastic. They have no silk ends. I've had them on for months. I play anywhere from medium to pretty hard and they've been great.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrentSimons
#30
80jazz said:
If you are having this problem with the gauges you mention, I would suggest lighter strings. You may find this helps.

(It did for me, but I ended up going lower than most. I find 40-100 to be a heavy string for my fingers, even if I have 2 basses with that gauge.)
Click to expand...

Thank You for the relay and info. These are the strings I don't get that pain. The Blue Steel sound nice but were really hard on my fingers.

I did go with Medium Lights and that was better on my fingers but the low end wasn't the same. So the strings and sizes l listed are the best for me and I can play a long time without that pain.
 
#31
Exact same thing happened to me yesterday. bought them about 6 weeks ago. Opened a pack to restring a bass I just bought and thud...horrible. I have had this happen before. I think it might be time to change strings. Any other recommendations that have the exposed core? Maybe even a little longer exposed part so that they work correctly on a Rickenbacker?
 
  • Like
Reactions: GTHintz
#33
newwavefrank said:
Exact same thing happened to me yesterday. bought them about 6 weeks ago. Opened a pack to restring a bass I just bought and thud...horrible. I have had this happen before. I think it might be time to change strings. Any other recommendations that have the exposed core? Maybe even a little longer exposed part so that they work correctly on a Rickenbacker?
Click to expand...
Do you play on SR2000 strings? The only strings I can think of that have exposed core would be super steps from Labella, ghs contact steels, Rotosound makes a set I forget the name. For what it's worth I just strung up my bass with sr2000 and I think they are cool strings. They sound like blue steels but the contact core makes a difference for sure. I'm happy to say that they sounded good out the box for me. I did try some labella Rx strings and got a totally defective string. I wasn't too pleased. I guess I've just had good luck with Dean Markley. I'm seriously thinking about sticking to them. Those and Ken Smith strings for me.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back