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Circle K strings...

#1,021
Some of us are not on facebook ... :eek:
Steelpulz said:
I am about to take a leap into the CK pool. But I need a little more input. I currently use Conklin Guitars Snakeskins Extended-Range Bass Strings on my GTBD-7(.165, .135, .110, .80, .55, .35, .25). The folks at CK recommended the .190 balanced set. I'm thinking of getting the .182 balanced set, but I am open to input. Does anyone have any experience with either of these guages? I'm trying to take advantage of the 24-hour discount.
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No experience but ... those snakeskin gauges have the E tightest and tension falling off upwards and downwards from the E. The CKs have equal tension strings. Consider which of your gauges feel the right tension and which do not. CKs feel loose for their gauge due to their flexibility so i can imagine the .142 B in the .190 set feeling like your current .135 B. But then the C and F in the .190 set will be a little tighter ... personally i prefer a fall in tension from low to high to make tapping and chording easier. You could always build a custom set from their singles at no cost penalty ... :)
 
#1,025
ixlramp said:
Some of us are not on facebook ... :eek:

No experience but ... those snakeskin gauges have the E tightest and tension falling off upwards and downwards from the E. The CKs have equal tension strings. Consider which of your gauges feel the right tension and which do not. CKs feel loose for their gauge due to their flexibility so i can imagine the .142 B in the .190 set feeling like your current .135 B. But then the C and F in the .190 set will be a little tighter ... personally i prefer a fall in tension from low to high to make tapping and chording easier. You could always build a custom set from their singles at no cost penalty ... :)
Click to expand...
Thanks
 
#1,026
Steelpulz said:
Yes.
Click to expand...

Ah yes. I have an 8-string tuned F#-F, so I am familiar with the larger CKS gauges. I've never used the .182 or .190, unfortunately, but I use the .200 and love the set. F# is a weird string to play and reproduce well through an amp, but it plays and feels just as well as my preferred CKS .150 B-strings.

When ordering strings, I find it best to figure out which of your lower strings feels the best (Skip recommends going off of the E-string) and ordering a set with a gauge similar to that. I see that you use a .110 E-string, so the .190 or .200 would probably be right up your alley. If you prefer the feel of the .135 B-string, then the .182 or .190 set would be recommended.

CKS tend to be a bit more flexible than most strings, but I seem to remember the SITs being rather flexible, so there might not be much of a difference in feel between the two brands.

Regardless of which set you get, I think you're going to benefit from having a higher-tension F# and more-or-less balanced tension all over.
 
#1,027
FunkMetalBass said:
Ah yes. I have an 8-string tuned F#-F, so I am familiar with the larger CKS gauges. I've never used the .182 or .190, unfortunately, but I use the .200 and love the set. F# is a weird string to play and reproduce well through an amp, but it plays and feels just as well as my preferred CKS .150 B-strings.

When ordering strings, I find it best to figure out which of your lower strings feels the best (Skip recommends going off of the E-string) and ordering a set with a gauge similar to that. I see that you use a .110 E-string, so the .190 or .200 would probably be right up your alley. If you prefer the feel of the .135 B-string, then the .182 or .190 set would be recommended.

CKS tend to be a bit more flexible than most strings, but I seem to remember the SITs being rather flexible, so there might not be much of a difference in feel between the two brands.

Regardless of which set you get, I think you're going to benefit from having a higher-tension F# and more-or-less balanced tension all over.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input. I think I'll try the .190 set.
 
#1,028
Fellow Warwick users,...you just been going with the standard scale length set for your tailpiece/bridge setup?

Edit: Nevermind,...got the answer I needed elsewhere. For the record,.....standard scale (a no brainer for sure,...but I wanted confirmation before I placed my order).
 
#1,029
Turnaround times on orders is NOT a problem in my experience, not this week at least.

I ordered 4 sets of strings Tuesday during the "24% off for 24 hrs" sale. They arrived at my house in the SF Bay Area on Thursday. Oh, did I mention shipping was free as well?

Your experience may vary. But mine has been really good. Thanks Circle K!
 
#1,031
I've got a question, I've noticed the balanced .112 four string set has an E string that is a little heavy compared to the others. The other 3 strings are all about 46 pounds of tension, while the .112 is 48 pounds. Just surprised because the .106 set has a less than 1 pound difference between each string.
 
#1,032
I can forgive them for 1.6 pounds difference :D It's unnoticeable anyway. The other strings are 46.5 and 46.8 so it's only 1.6 pounds difference, they create the smoothest tension profile. The next heavier ADG strings are mostly more distant in tension. There are always going to be small rises and falls when choosing strings from a fixed inventory. Compare to a daddario 55-110 set which has a 18.4 pound inbalance!
 
#1,033
ixlramp said:
I can forgive them for 1.6 pounds difference :D It's unnoticeable anyway. The other strings are 46.5 and 46.8 so it's only 1.6 pounds difference, they create the smoothest tension profile. The next heavier ADG strings are mostly more distant in tension. There are always going to be small rises and falls when choosing strings from a fixed inventory. Compare to a daddario 55-110 set which has a 18.4 pound inbalance!
Click to expand...

I know, it was a question of curiosity more than anything. I actually like a bit more tension on the lowest string anyway.

Also, the fact that daddario strings are so unbalanced is why I use them all the time for examples of how much more balanced circle K strings are than others. :D
 
#1,035
KingRazor said:
I've got a question, I've noticed the balanced .112 four string set has an E string that is a little heavy compared to the others. The other 3 strings are all about 46 pounds of tension, while the .112 is 48 pounds. Just surprised because the .106 set has a less than 1 pound difference between each string.
Click to expand...

The strings are made in specific size intervals:
.008 - .029 are .001" intervals
.029 - .067 are .002" intervals
.067 - .082 are .003" intervals
.082 - .106 are .004" intervals
.106 - .142 are .006" intervals
.142 - .190 are .008" intervals
.190 - .210 are .010" intervals
above that varies a little bit between .010" and .012" intervals.

Skip had to work with what he's got when assembling balanced sets, and it makes more sense to err on the heavier side, especially since a string with larger mass has more momentum and will inherently feel a little bit floppier than the tension lets on.
 
#1,037
Holy crap; I just put Circle K strings for the first time on my Ibanez SR-605.....why hadn't I tried these out before? Blows away the DR Black Beauties I used to use religiously. I'm using the balanced 5-string .130 - .039 set and it makes me feel like I'm playing a different bass altogether. I've been telling every bassist / guitarist I know about these things and I've only just put them on today!
 
#1,038
Question:

I'm using the .124 drop set plus a low .158 B tuned ACGCF. I'm wanting to tune my new 5'er to G#BF#BE. Do you guys think I should go down to the .130 drop set and add a .166 low B or would the setup I'm using now work ok? Or maybe the .130 drop set with still the .158 low B?
The bass will be a Spector ReBop 5 which is a nice 35" scale.
 
#1,039
spector_boogie said:
Question:

I'm using the .124 drop set plus a low .158 B tuned ACGCF. I'm wanting to tune my new 5'er to G#BF#BE. Do you guys think I should go down to the .130 drop set and add a .166 low B or would the setup I'm using now work ok? Or maybe the .130 drop set with still the .158 low B?
The bass will be a Spector ReBop 5 which is a nice 35" scale.
Click to expand...

If you want to retain tension, you should bump up to the .130 drop tune and a .166 low G#.

Since you've already got the set on, detune and see if you like how the strings sound and feel at the new tuning. If they're too floppy, go with my suggestion.
 
#1,040
FunkMetalBass said:
If you want to retain tension, you should bump up to the .130 drop tune and a .166 low G#.

Since you've already got the set on, detune and see if you like how the strings sound and feel at the new tuning. If they're too floppy, go with my suggestion.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm thinking that's probably the best way to go.

I really only asked (and I forgot to mention this) but the bass tuned to C is 34" vs the 35" one I'll be using for B. So, I guess worst case I can try out the set I know I like and go from there. However .124 for 2.5 steps down even w/ CK's may be too light... :eyebrow:
 

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