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Circle K strings...

#383
Grateful said:
What I noticed the most is that the G string doesn't sound out of place like it has on pretty much every other light gauge string I've had. It really sounds like a natural part of the set.
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This is definitely one of my favorite aspects too. Especially so on my 8-string. I was pleasantly surprised to hear how tonally-similar the unwound high F string was.

These strings have made me realize a few things about my bass that I wouldn't have noticed under previous circumstances, like string spacing and the weak low end response in my pickups. Time for some upgrades and custom machining! :)

EndlessNameless said:
OK, that was exactly what I wanted to hear. :hyper:
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Other than Elixir's, I agree with KingRazor's statement.
 
#385
Forgot about the elixirs. I had a set on my Ibanez when I bought it, G string broke after about 6 months. They're smooth because they're coated, but they sound a little too bright, IMO. Plus, they're as unbalanced in tension as every other major string manufacturer.

To my knowledge, Circle K is the only company doing balanced tension sets right now.
 
#386
EndlessNameless said:
Do you know if I'm going to experience a tremendous difference in feel switching to these from chromes? I've grown very comfortable with the smoothness of flats.
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Flats are flats. Obviously no round is ever going to feel remotely like a flat. But as others said, these are nice and smooth even compared to many other nickels.

I have 2 basses with Chromes and just got done testing some Elixirs. I have them on the basses I have because I want that flats tone from those 2 (a P-Bass and a dual HB bass). The only thing I detest more than the rough feel of stainless is the cat's tongue feel of half rounds. These feel great.

The Elixirs seem a little rougher but because they're coated, they feel slicker if that makes any sense.

I jump back and forth between flats and these and it doesn't bug me at all or affect how I have to play.
 
#387
EndlessNameless said:
Hmmm... Do Elixirs come in balanced tension sets?

If not, I'm gonna go for the set KingRazor recommended.
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Elixirs do not come in Balanced sets. In fact, they don't come in many gauges for basses and always seem to be very light. I've not found them to be particularly bright tonally (although their 80/20 bronze nanoweb guitar strings are bright and amazing).

They are coated, and I think it makes them feel sticky, but smooth (similar to flats).

Circle K does balanced tension. D'Addario recently put out a balanced tension set (as discussed on the last page). ZOG does "progressive tension", but reviews are not abundant, so I've ordered a set and will take it upon myself to dissect it down to the gauge and approximate tensions of each string.

Go with the Circle K's. They are rounds, and will feel different from flats or grounds, but they sound amazing and will not chew your fingers up like some other rounds.
 
#389
tylerwylie said:
Speaking of smoothness... anyone know if Circle K's got stainless steel sets out yet? The thought makes me start to drool profusely.
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They do not. Skip hasn't been on much lately and I'm sure his inbox is completely filled, so I doubt we'll get a response soon.

I've seen various implications that some strings are in the R&D phase, but not much beyond that.

I'm waiting for a flats set to change my mind about flats. I suspect Circle K will be the only brand to do it.
 
#391
KingRazor said:
If Circle K comes out with flats I will actually try them. Until then I am all rounds all the time.
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I have a few sets of chromes sitting around my house because, every few years, I get a wild hair and think I might enjoy flats. Then I take them off after a week because I can't make them sound good. Supposedly broken-in flats are best. Maybe I should let someone here borrow them for a year, and then ship them back to me.
 
#392
FunkMetalBass said:
I have a few sets of chromes sitting around my house because, every few years, I get a wild hair and think I might enjoy flats. Then I take them off after a week because I can't make them sound good. Supposedly broken-in flats are best. Maybe I should let someone here borrow them for a year, and then ship them back to me.
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Yep. On my P-Bass I have a set of Chromes that has been strung up on something for the last 3-4 years and they just keep getting better. I have a 6 month old set that I'm breaking in on another bass. Buy 'em and forget about 'em.
 
#394
cassius987 said:
What sets work best for a Dingwall 35''-37''? I was thinking about the Traditional Medium .118'' 5-string set.
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Dingwalls have different tension than most basses due to the varying scale lengths. You may have to experiment some. .118 may be a good start, but could be too light. A .124 might be better, but I don't have experience with Dingwalls...
 
#395
just wanna say, Circle K strings are great. I've tried Fodera Light and some other decent brands but these are by far the smoothest, easiest playing, best sounding (stays bright for atleast a year and a half), and most enduring strings ive ever played. I just recently ordered a new set of strings from them to replace my current ones (they look dirty, sound fine still).

They also sell single strings now, i ordered a .125 - .035 with a high C string ordered as a .29 (i like a thicker C string). It should be great, you can get a truly customized set of strings from Circle K.
 
#396
cassius987 said:
What sets work best for a Dingwall 35''-37''? I was thinking about the Traditional Medium .118'' 5-string set.
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The regular Dingwall set has a tapered .130 B string but the rest of the set is pretty light. I would start at the B and work from there. The Circle K sets may be a little more flexible than the GHS steels that are standard on the Dingwall.

Actually it would be interesting to try the Balanced set on the fanned frets to see how that would work. It may beef up the sound of the high strings since the fan would give it higher tension on the low strings. Of course that's easy for me to say when it's your money:) Has anyone tried that?
 
#397
I actually think a .118'' B on a Dingwall 37'' scale would sound just fine--it would be around 35 lbs tension. The smaller gauge would let the string resonate a bit more too which would be really nice. As for the fanned fretting that's why I picked a Traditional gauged set--the lower BEA tension compared to the DG tension is probably compensated for by the increasing scale.
 
#398
Joe Smithberger said:
The regular Dingwall set has a tapered .130 B string but the rest of the set is pretty light. I would start at the B and work from there. The Circle K sets may be a little more flexible than the GHS steels that are standard on the Dingwall.

Actually it would be interesting to try the Balanced set on the fanned frets to see how that would work. It may beef up the sound of the high strings since the fan would give it higher tension on the low strings. Of course that's easy for me to say when it's your money:) Has anyone tried that?
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The Dingwall B is actually .127 but the Package says .130.

The Payson Fanned Nickel Steel and Stainless Steel strings are balanced and made specifically for Fanned Basses 37"-34" .130T .105T .85T .65T .45

You can find info in my sig.
 

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