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Circle K strings...

#682
I have a question for you stringmeisters...

I am using the Balanced 106 set on my basses. The feel is great. However it is kind of hard to get absolute perfect volume balance--primarily the D and G strings are quieter than the A and E strings. I guess this could just be string diameter at play. The other problem is that when I play "hard" (dig in to the strings) the upper strings will choke more easily than the lower ones. Would it be good to size up the D and G strings one size, respectively? The tension difference is not huge.

Before you ask, I've set the pickup height as best I know how. The intrinsic volume differences are hard to get rid of without getting the pickup way too close or too far and changing string timbre.
 
#683
Compared to a conventional set with the same size E string, the G and (especially) the D strings will be a little looser. Since the excursion of these strings will be a little more than you are used to, I would suggest looking at string height from the fingerboard at the 12th or 15th fret. Your setup may be closer on the higher pitched strings because you were running relatively stiffer strings before. You may need to raise the bridge saddles slightly on the G and D to make the action the same across all strings (measured from the bottom of the string to the fingerboard).
 
#689
Honestly, I think it's awesome. I wouldn't mind trying a thicker string just for comparison, but the tension is nice (for me). It's not floppy but it's certainly not tight. I've talked to many players who tune an octave lower (E0) and some aren't even using a .190. I mean, I could see I .182, but anything less wouldn't cut it. Some people just don't understand!

I have a 25 second clip recorded of an open note, but when I uploaded it to Soundclound it sounded terrible. There was a bizarre bell/ring sound to it.

The repeated Db and Gb is an idea I got from Ion Dissonance. I thought I'd give it a whirl to see how it sounds! They said they wanted to just play and not have to worry about scales or chords, so they just started fiddling with strings/tunings and ended up with something really dissonant.
 
#690
Josh Pelican said:
Honestly, I think it's awesome. I wouldn't mind trying a thicker string just for comparison, but the tension is nice (for me). It's not floppy but it's certainly not tight. I've talked to many players who tune an octave lower (E0) and some aren't even using a .190. I mean, I could see I .182, but anything less wouldn't cut it. Some people just don't understand!

I have a 25 second clip recorded of an open note, but when I uploaded it to Soundclound it sounded terrible. There was a bizarre bell/ring sound to it.

The repeated Db and Gb is an idea I got from Ion Dissonance. I thought I'd give it a whirl to see how it sounds! They said they wanted to just play and not have to worry about scales or chords, so they just started fiddling with strings/tunings and ended up with something really dissonant.
Click to expand...

I can see the benefit of using the tuning for higher string pedal tones and such.

Soundcloud probably compressed the file to convert to their player standards. Your best means of hosting great quality sound is to save it in a lossless format and just make it available for download.
 
#692
Josh Pelican said:
I uploaded to Mediafire if anyone is interested:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I will upload it to other sites when I get home from school this afternoon.
Click to expand...

:bassist: Nasty.

A little too "warbly" on the attack for my tastes but other than that, sounds good. I'm using the .182 set for F# and if I tune down to E0 it gets like like that, where it bends out of tune too much when you hit it. I actually like my strings to do that in higher tunings (low B or up) but under that I'm finding I actually like more and more tension.

You had a chance to play it loud as $#!T yet?
 
#696
Very interested in trying these out on my 4 string Carvin jazz bolt on kit tuned down whole step to DGCF. Currently using carvin flats made by Labella with no gauges listed on them (purple thread). They are definitely thicker than their 40-100 roundwounds so Im guessing their about 45-110 gauge? Whatever gauge this is, I like this thickness for my E string.

So Im wondering which balanced set you guys would recommend for me with this tuning?
Little confused after looking at the website. The Drop Tuning Sets are for Drop D tuning or all strings dropped?

Thanks for your help as always!!!
 
#697
Metal Matt said:
:bassist: Nasty.

A little too "warbly" on the attack for my tastes but other than that, sounds good. I'm using the .182 set for F# and if I tune down to E0 it gets like like that, where it bends out of tune too much when you hit it. I actually like my strings to do that in higher tunings (low B or up) but under that I'm finding I actually like more and more tension.

You had a chance to play it loud as $#!T yet?
Click to expand...

Yeah, for that recording I just picked it pretty hard. Since then I've adjusted my setup a little, but I can't see it getting much clearer. It all depends on how hard/fast I play. I'm sure in time I'll be able to at least get it to sound better on recordings. Maybe not so much in person.

I'll keep it going for a while, but I wouldn't mind trying that .222 for Eb0. I might even use this .210 for E0. It would probably sound pretty damn tight then.

I plugged it into my SVT-CL -> 810 and played it a fairly decent level. Gain was on 10:00 or 11:00, Master was on 9:00. Playing it clean was fun and all, but I wanted to try it with my Rat Tail. Doing so resulted in my house s*****g.

EDIT: The next lowest string (Ab) doesn't sound as good as it did when it was the lowest string. I'll play around with this for a bit, then either go with a thicker set, or just tune to EAEADG or EBEBEF#.
 
#698
locriansharpsec said:
Very interested in trying these out on my 4 string Carvin jazz bolt on kit tuned down whole step to DGCF. Currently using carvin flats made by Labella with no gauges listed on them (purple thread). They are definitely thicker than their 40-100 roundwounds so Im guessing their about 45-110 gauge? Whatever gauge this is, I like this thickness for my E string.

So Im wondering which balanced set you guys would recommend for me with this tuning?
Little confused after looking at the website. The Drop Tuning Sets are for Drop D tuning or all strings dropped?
Click to expand...
The 'drop tune' sets are for any tuning that is mostly fourths but with the lowest interval a fifth ... any tuning where the lowest string is dropped a tone ... such as drop D DADG, drop C CGCF, drop A AEADG etc.
You're tuned to 'D standard' which is all fourths so you should choose from the 'balanced' sets. If you like a 110 E i recommend the balanced .112 set.
 
#699
Wasted Bassist said:
I've been looking for a while at getting a set of Circle K's. My new band tunes down to drop A. I'm not exactly sure which set to get. I've looked over the string set chart and I think I narrowed it down between using a 142 or a 150 for the A. What would you guys who've tried them before suggest?
Click to expand...
A good method is to choose the set that contains your preferred gauge for E. The 150 set will have all strings at a similar tension to a 100 E. Remember to choose from the 'drop tune' sets.
 
#700
ixlramp said:
A good method is to choose the set that contains your preferred gauge for E. The 150 set will have all strings at a similar tension to a 100 E. Remember to choose from the 'drop tune' sets.
Click to expand...

After checking out the tension chart again, I think I'm going to go with the 142, simply because I need a lower tension string for the way I have to play to get my sound for this band. Thanks for the tip though.
 

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