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Circle K strings...

#782
Well I played with a set of balanced 106's on my Ray34 and was very pleased with the sound, but after four months I was considering using a balanced set of Chromes since I like the higher tension and the lower action it allows me to have without fret buzz.

I thought I'd try the balanced 112s as originally recommended to me by Kingrazor back on page 20, and WOW. :hyper:

I feel like my bass has been secretly praying for me to install these bad boys. Totally blown away! :bassist:
 
#786
I'm looking at CKS for a set of strings, and I would like to know if I'm on the right track with these gauges. I want to use my 5 string like the top 5 of a six (EADGC), but I want to retain the ability to drop down to C or B standard (with some low tension obviously). I thought maybe a set based on D or Db would be good for that (like 118's or 112's).

Here's what I came up with: ( .112 Balanced 5 string set)
E= .112 (seems too small to get to B, but I have a .105 that hits C comfortably, so maybe it would work every now and then)
A= .82
D= .61
G= .45
C= .35

Would this get the job done or am I just crazy? I tap pretty often, and would most likely do that tuned low so I could keep the tension down, but otherwise I'm split between standard praise band/church music and drop tuned metal. This is why I'm trying to get a string set that can wear two or more hats.
 
#787
The .112 is probably the heaviest you should go with an E string. I would vote for something heavier if you tuned to D mostly, but .112 is pretty close to 50 pounds of tension. I think you're on the right track.

Of course, some basses will sound just fine tuned down to B with a string that light, just depends on the bass.
 
#789
Detuning from E to B standard almost halves the tension, it'll totally mess up your setup and you'll need a truss rod adjustment each time. Better to just drop the .112 down. The CKS 'drop tune' .112 set has equal tension strings in DADGC and would be ideal since +/- 2 semitones on the .112 gets you to E and C, thus minimising the tension imbalances in each tuning.

Link Removed.

.112 5 String 34 to 35 Scale Length Drop Tune

.112 .076 .057 .041 .029
 
#792
I broke my first Circle K string last night, after having it on my bass for about a year and cleaning it every 2 months. It was the C-string of the balanced 150 set (which I think was a .031) and I tried to tune it up to D for some chord fun. Oops. Now I really have no excuse not to order another set.

Also, I did some recording last night with another of my 6-string basses w/ Circle K's. I forgot how they sounded with my EMG 45P/45TW Spector. I'm in love all over again. :D
 
#795
FunkMetalBass said:
Also, I did some recording last night with another of my 6-string basses w/ Circle K's. I forgot how they sounded with my EMG 45P/45TW Spector. I'm in love all over again. :D
Click to expand...

I picked up a 5 string Variax and it had the standard D'Addarios on it. This bass's tone is done more with piezos/electronics and I thought they were messed up because it the lower strings were out of whack with the higher strings which seemed to make for a very unbalanced sound. I put on an older set of .136 balanced and I think you can guess what happened. Sounded perfect. It wasn't the bass.

I have no doubt sold off many basses for the above reason. I now realize I should have kept them. I was just using the wrong strings. Based on how instant and obvious the inconsistency of tone as from the other strings, I don't see how I'll ever be able to go back. It's weird.
 
#797
Hey Dudes


Anyone fit a balanced 142 set on a Lakland? I have a 136 on a DJ5 with standard bridge and nut at the moment, however Id like a bit more tension.

The 136 is a tight fit, so I thought I would check if someone had managed this previouslywithout surgery.

Cheers
 
#798
Fab Savage said:
Hey Dudes


Anyone fit a balanced 142 set on a Lakland? I have a 136 on a DJ5 with standard bridge and nut at the moment, however Id like a bit more tension.

The 136 is a tight fit, so I thought I would check if someone had managed this previouslywithout surgery.

Cheers
Click to expand...

All nuts are filed differently. Even in plastic pre-cut nuts, there's bound to be some variation. If it wont fit, filing the nut will take about 20 seconds, since .006" is rather tiny.
 
#799
So now the first few guitar sets are up, from .008-.035 to .017-.073. 7-10 string sets are in the works apparently. Wound strings are 'hybrid': nickelplated steel outer wrap around steel inner wraps.

Quickly looking at the gauges and using their tension chart to approximate the tensions, the choice of sets is interesting. For example the 7 sets with a .009 on top: the .009-.037 set seems to have equal tension strings, then set by set the tension gradient across the strings seems to gradually increase to give 6 flavours of heavy bottom-light top sets, finishing with the .009-.049 set. These choices of tension gradient mean a set can be matched to whatever system of drop-tuning you may use, to retain very roughly equal tensions or some sort of progressive tension.

Looking forward to a guitar tension chart for a detailed analysis :)

Link Removed
 
#800
I've been chatting back and forth with Skip a bit by email. You're correct - the .009-.037 set is balanced, which should be pretty interesting, as wrapped strings start as .025, meaning the first 4 string in the set is "plain". Exciting to have properly balanced/progressive tension sets instead of a lack of tension on B and the bottom E, or too much on the third to fifth. I'll be ordering soon!
 

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