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Best Strings for Classic EB-O Sound?
- Thread starter CCtop
- Start date
It does say, "many of our trusted online retailers are still shipping out orders". Fret Nation is one of La Bella's trusted online retailers.
I'm not,either. But, I have that set on this Eastwood Flying V, and - gotta tell ya - they sure don't sound - or feel - "light gauge". Also gotta say - don't be too concerned about the initial price of flat wounds. Compared to rounds, which can last a year -maybe - or die in a week, and which you'll be replacing with monotonous regularity? Flat wounds can last for a decade - or more. Over that time, on a cost per day basis? Flats cost much, much less than rounds... 
D
But I was talking about Pyramid strings. I never said anything about TI???
Just out of curiosity: Was it the short scale TI flats you tried? If so, I agree. I find them unplayable with the A-string being so much lower tension than the rest. I'm usually a HUGE fan of TI strings but these ones were a big disappointment and ended up in the thrash.
The long scale TI flats are much better IMO (so much that they're actually one of my personal favourites). The A-string is still a bit lower tension than the rest but it doesn't feel anywhere near as bad as the short scale set. Of course they're very low tension by design so a lot of people still won't like them (and if the TI flats you tested were actually the long scale set you should definitely stay away from the short scale ones).
They've never given me black fingers though... (the TI double bass strings have but only when they're brand new).
Ok, back on topic:
Like I said, I haven't tried the GHS Balanced Nickels so I can't comment on their sound on an EB-bass but the Pyramid Pure Nickels are very unique sounding and has been out there for decades. I've never heard any strings that sound even remotely similar to a set of broken in Pyramid nickels. Including every other pure nickel string I've tried. I somehow doubt the GHS nickels will change that. The Pyramid are just too unique sounding.
That doesn't mean that the GHS nickels can't be great strings of course. I'm still very curious about them but the price plus the fact that I generally don't seem to get along with GHS strings has made me hesitate.
But most importantly for the purpose of this thread: I actually use the Pyramid Pure Nickels regularly on "modern" EB-basses like the Epiphones and they sound absolutely SUPERB. They're the ONLY roundwound I've liked on these basses for the reasons I mentioned in a previous post.
It's funny to read this discussion about getting that thumpy, flat and no sustain sound like the 50's and 60's strings gave us. All strings back then were like that. Even the rhythm and lead guitars in the early rock bands had flats like that (you can hear that in that video at the start of this thread). I remember playing in a recording session for a radio commercial and when the client listened to the playback he thought I was playing an upright (he loved it). Problem is we wanted what we have today and those old style strings are long gone. Too bad the string makers won't bring those strings back.
Do you not know how to read or are you just looking for an argument? I never said flats are gone and you know it. I said "those old style strings are long gone". Try to be more civil or don't bother posting.
Excuse me, but I wasn't looking for an argument at all. I just couldn't see any other way of interpreting your post, as "those old style strings" are simply flatwound strings, are they not?
You're the one coming out swinging, and your response to my simple query tells me all I need to know about you.
Sorry about that. I've put up with a lot of knuckleheads through the years who always want to challenge things for no good reason. Always trying to put you down. My mistake.
The flatwounds from years ago sounded nothing like the ones made today. They had very little tone and no sustain. A lot of bass players used a pick to get the notes to start. Listen to old Lawrence Welk shows where that was done a lot.
If those strings were still around today it would be great for bass players who want that old rock bass sound as well as upright. Best thing to do, no matter the string, is to turn the treble tone way down, bass tone flat or up slightly, put a foam or cloth pad under the strings just ahead of the bridge and pluck with fingers or pick over the fretboard. Experiment with it. I use four settings that sound pretty good.
The flatwounds from years ago sounded nothing like the ones made today. They had very little tone and no sustain. A lot of bass players used a pick to get the notes to start. Listen to old Lawrence Welk shows where that was done a lot.
If those strings were still around today it would be great for bass players who want that old rock bass sound as well as upright. Best thing to do, no matter the string, is to turn the treble tone way down, bass tone flat or up slightly, put a foam or cloth pad under the strings just ahead of the bridge and pluck with fingers or pick over the fretboard. Experiment with it. I use four settings that sound pretty good.
Old flats from back then are not nearly as different as you're making them out to be, if they are at all.
The original EB0's had a pickup with a crapload of inductance. The meant they had no high frequency output to speak of - the capacitance of your cable loaded the pickup heavily, and....no high frequencies. The differences in strings are in the high frequencies - as an old EB0 doesn't pass any of that, most any strings will sound similar. If your bass is more recent, and has a lower inductance pickup, then things are very different, and changing strings won't fix that. What will is....more capacitive loading. If you add capacitance across the pickup, at some value the response will be pretty similar to an EBO's pickup. That's the way to really get that sound. And it's a less expensive fix than even a pack of strings - the right value of capacitor won't cost more than a dollar. Of course, it might take your a few tries to get that right, but still, that'a few dollars.
