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Circle K strings...

#523
#528
I'm sure that's true. What strikes me is hearing the equal tension in effect. I recently had the money to burn so I have trialed som eight different pressurewound and groundwound sets. In every case with stock sets the E was thumpy and the G zingy. Only in two or three cases could a satisfactory balance be achieved by mixing strings from different sets and this was when the manufacturer produced gauges differeing from standard .005 steps. None of that nonsense with CircleK. All I'm missing is that CK starts offering stainless groundwounds which is my personal favorite but I'm not holding my breath, it seems like it's not a popular enough string type for that to happen.
 
#529
I had tried the balanced 106 set last fall, didn't think too much of them. But everyone raves about them. What do they all know that I don't?

Now that I can play better, and set up my bass properly, I decided to give them another look. I ordered a lighter set, the balanced 96 set. Man am I impressed! Easy to play, great sound, warm growl. They have found a home on my v57!
 
#530
Coolhandjjl said:
I had tried the balanced 106 set last fall, didn't think too much of them. But everyone raves about them. What do they all know that I don't?
Click to expand...

I seem to recall I may have influenced you that direction but I agree with you now that the tension on that set is just a bit too high. I like the extra harmonics and flexible feel I get with my balanced .100'' set on my Rics now. My 4003FL has had the same set on for several months and it has settled in so very nicely...
 
#532
So, I received a Balanced Standard 112 set. Now I use an Acacia Custom 4 with EMG 35DC's ad an ACG Filter based pre-amp. I strung the E right next to a Rotosound RS SS .110 from the Billy Sheehan Sig set I have on it and was really amazed at the A/B comparison. I was a Roto user for around two decades but due to the addition of the ACG, I was looking for a string with a lot more focused and present low end, but retaining the ambient high register tone.

These strings really nail that requirement. I am in awe- they do not lose that ambient tone that had been my previous experience with nickel wound strings. They low end is present and focused without being muddy. And the bonus is that they don't seem to tear up my fingers as badly as the Rotos did.

I am not sure what kind of magic unicorn pee is mixed into the alloy of these strings, but count me in as a convert! This was the last variable for that "magic tone" that has been floating in my head for a long, long time now. So hopefully they will last a decent while now. Besides, I'd rather contribute to the business of a small entrepreneur that has the gumption to enter the marketplace in these times than anyone else as long as it can be justified with a quality product.
 
#533
cassius987 said:
I seem to recall I may have influenced you that direction but I agree with you now that the tension on that set is just a bit too high....
Click to expand...

You have a good memory!


cassius987 said:
.....I like the extra harmonics and flexible feel I get with my balanced .100'' set on my Rics now. My 4003FL has had the same set on for several months and it has settled in so very nicely...
Click to expand...

From what I have been reading here and elsewhere, many players are only now discovering the many fine qualities lighter tension strings. Maybe the start of a new trend? But when I have a few more bucks in my pocket, I'll have to put some Roto 66's on my 2009 4003 just to hear what is so unique about them. I know the two piece neck will handle it just fine.
 
#534
I think I originally liked bigger strings because they are more forgiving of your setup. Extra tension=less string excursion, so if the neck or frets or anything is slightly off there's less chance you'll hear any buzz. Since I go for that dead straight/low action thing, this was beneficial. But I agree, I am finding that a lighter string has a different flavor in the sound that I like. Typically I notice it goes from more fundamental to a more balanced sound where the highs cut through a little better, and there seem to be more harmonics. IME
 
#535
cassius987 said:
I think I originally liked bigger strings because they are more forgiving of your setup. Extra tension=less string excursion, so if the neck or frets or anything is slightly off there's less chance you'll hear any buzz. Since I go for that dead straight/low action thing, this was beneficial. But I agree, I am finding that a lighter string has a different flavor in the sound that I like. Typically I notice it goes from more fundamental to a more balanced sound where the highs cut through a little better, and there seem to be more harmonics. IME
Click to expand...

That's one of the reasons I'm going with a heavier gauge, I like to be able to pluck forcefully without lots of string noise.

I can do that on the D and G strings, but not so much on the A string and much less so on the E. I have to kind of feather the E string to prevent noise.
 
#537
I think they have a tighter sound and feel than Sunbeams, which is a very good thing IMO. Not darker or brighter though. Maybe less a bit less mids or perhaps more articulation to each note.

Balanced sets have roughly the same tension on each string. Traditional sets from other makers have higher tension on the G/D strings usually, and in some cases the D string is >10 lbs more tension than the E string--for example. It's not a matter of one pair meeting the other, it's a matter of them being the same, and if you want to compare it to what you play now you just need to figure out what the current strings are as far as tension. The .106'' is similar to most roundwound .105'' I have played.
 
#538
bassboysam said:
for those that have tried both, how do the circle k's compare tonewise to sunbeams? brighter? darker? more or less mids? etc.

Also can someone explain the balanced set? I understand that the tension is the same across all the strings, so are the E and A higher tension to match the D and G or are the D and G lower tension to match the E and A of a non-balanced set?
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Never tried the DR's, sorry.

It doesn't matter - the tension is balanced and you choose the tension.

If you think the low E string feels the best, you buy a set with a comparable gauge low E and then all of the other strings will be lowered to that tension. If you think the D gauge feels the best, you buy a set with a comparable D string and all of the other strings will be raised to that tension.
 
#539
FunkMetalBass said:
Never tried the DR's, sorry.

It doesn't matter - the tension is balanced and you choose the tension.

If you think the low E string feels the best, you buy a set with a comparable gauge low E and then all of the other strings will be lowered to that tension. If you think the D gauge feels the best, you buy a set with a comparable D string and all of the other strings will be raised to that tension.
Click to expand...

ahh, and i'm sure its mentioned somewhere in this thread, but are the Ks round or hex core?
 

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