• 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.

Circle K strings...

#583
knuckle_head said:
We will be offering 53 different wound gauges - 69 gauges total including plains - when it's all up and running. This ought to be the foundation for everything else we intend to do.
Click to expand...

This means 1 new plain and 11 new wound gauges. Filling the gap between .200 and .232 will only add 2 more gauges so it looks like the new gauges will be more finely stepped, meaning more evenly balanced sets.
 
#584
ixlramp said:
This means 1 new plain and 11 new wound gauges. Filling the gap between .200 and .232 will only add 2 more gauges so it looks like the new gauges will be more finely stepped, meaning more evenly balanced sets.
Click to expand...

That .200 to .232 gap has really been the big killer for me anyway. I'm quite excited for the .222.


Another question I have for anyone here - have you tried balanced tension on a coursed/octave/paired 8-string? I've been gassing for one lately, but I'm scared that one neck wont be able to handle 8 strings at 45-50 lbs each.
 
#586
cassius987 said:
400 lbs tension on a single neck is uncommonly high. Any more than 250 and I would nervous, actually.
Click to expand...

I agree. Adding up the tension of D'Addario EXL170-8 strings, it came to a little over 320 lbs, but any more than that seems a bit scary. I think I could reasonably keep the strings around 45 lbs each to up the tension to no more than 360, but unless the bass comes with stiffening rods like a Warmoth neck, I don't know if it could handle it.
 
#588
KingRazor said:
I think you'd need a lot of wood. Probably have to have someone custom make one that was extra thick with stiffening rods and some laminates.
Click to expand...

I was really hoping to do it to an existing 8-string to save me money and hassle, but you're right - that's probably the option I'll have to go with. If Warmoth would make their 8-string neck with a wider nut, they really look like they'd be the best/cheapest option.
 
#589
So my first set of circle K strings arrived yesterday. Standard 106's. Strung them up on my Squier TB (fender american bridge, so I didn't have to string-thru).


WOW.
...
WOW!


What an incredible difference in tension and effort! What resonant, rich strings!

Most amazingly, the even tension highlights just how much harder I naturally pluck or pick my D and G string. I need to retrain myself not to go overboard!

I'm really shocked by these strings. We'll see how they sound with my guitarist and with distortion (and on a larger amp) tomorrow.

BUT WOW! :eek:
 
#593
FunkMetalBass said:
Another question I have for anyone here - have you tried balanced tension on a coursed/octave/paired 8-string? I've been gassing for one lately, but I'm scared that one neck wont be able to handle 8 strings at 45-50 lbs each.
Click to expand...

Since you'll be fretting 2 strings with one finger surely you will actually want a lower tension to avoid straining your hand? Also, the octave strings will be less prone to flop so you can get away with having them at a lower tension.

Legattabass said:
What an incredible difference in tension and effort
Click to expand...

It's excellent to see over and over again the positive reaction to equal tension strings.
 
#594
ixlramp said:
Since you'll be fretting 2 strings with one finger surely you will actually want a lower tension to avoid straining your hand? Also, the octave strings will be less prone to flop so you can get away with having them at a lower tension.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention that this bass will be an octave lower, so sub-contra EADG with normal EADG. In order to keep a reasonable distance between strings so that they are fret-able with the left hand, they can't be more than 3mm apart, and they only way to reasonably achieve that is with some higher tension (I played around with a 2x4 and my old O4P strings to get a reasonable estimate). I was originally going to have a custom 39" scale neck built (with two CF reinforcement rods) so that I could use thinner strings and have a thinner nut, but I it'd be more cost-effective if I could pull it off with a common 34" 8-string and swap out the strings.

I'll probably be happier in the long run with the former option, I just don't have the money as this point to have it done.
 
#596
So on a few of my basses I will always be rocking Circle K's Drop Tuned sets, but on my Stingray and Bongo 6, they've primarily been swapped over to MM Fat Beams. They just respond a lot better to those strings, though if Circle K's going to be offering SS strings in the future I will definitely like to try them out!
 
#599
cassius987 said:
Why on earth would some basses "need" SS strings? This is just a style issue as far as I can tell, independent of the model of bass.
Click to expand...

The only time I've ever been able to make any Fender Jazz sound good is with steel strings. I've always preferred the sound of both MM Bongos and Stingrays with steel strings. Those basses, IMO, "need" steel strings, but I realize this sentiment isn't shared by all.
 
#600
FunkMetalBass said:
The only time I've ever been able to make any Fender Jazz sound good is with steel strings. I've always preferred the sound of both MM Bongos and Stingrays with steel strings. Those basses, IMO, "need" steel strings, but I realize this sentiment isn't shared by all.
Click to expand...
While nickel is definitely my preference when it comes to strings, but I do agree that a Jazz sounds better with SS (especially DR Fatbeams).
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back