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- Status
- Jun 6, 2004
- 6,351
- 543
- 66
- Disclosures
- Owner and builder Clementbass
Yeah that's Denmark. I'm watching you!
Very cool I wish we could do more traveling too much stuff we would love to see
Hey everyone,
I received 190 and she is awesome! Plays just awesome and is quite a looker.
I took the round wounds off of her and put on roto sound medium flats. I don't care for them, but options at the guitar shop were limited.
I'm currently looking at replacing them with La Bella's DTB, TI flats or perhaps a good set of ground wound strings. Any input will be greatly appreciated. The round wounds sounded and played excellent, but I don't want them eating into the fingerboard.
Cheers!
I received 190 and she is awesome! Plays just awesome and is quite a looker.
I took the round wounds off of her and put on roto sound medium flats. I don't care for them, but options at the guitar shop were limited.
I'm currently looking at replacing them with La Bella's DTB, TI flats or perhaps a good set of ground wound strings. Any input will be greatly appreciated. The round wounds sounded and played excellent, but I don't want them eating into the fingerboard.
Cheers!
D'Addario makes nickel half rounds. Apparently nickel isn't as abrasive to fingerboards. Used these in the past with great results and having a set put on #195.
I've also heard that, if played correctly, the rounds don't really eat into the fingerboard that much - basically, not bending the string in a perpendicular motion, but instead sliding and tremelo techniques that parallel the string. This is what I'm used to anyway from my last fretless, but I did have flats on that one.
The sound of the rounds that Tom installed is great. I'm just going to put them back on since, tonally, that is more akin to the sound I'm trying to attain. The other option would be to epoxy the fingerboard if significant wear seems iminent, however, I'm hoping this is not the case.
The sound of the rounds that Tom installed is great. I'm just going to put them back on since, tonally, that is more akin to the sound I'm trying to attain. The other option would be to epoxy the fingerboard if significant wear seems iminent, however, I'm hoping this is not the case.
I have never had a real problem of finger board damage from any strings. Some marking but never any string monsters devouring the board as has been claimed. So my suggestion is play what sounds best for the both of you and enjoy to the maximum. Have you tried the tape wounds? They sound very nice after broken in for a month of playing. Mellow or growly depending on playing position and if you dig in a bit or play smoothly. $.02 in your bucket.
I have tried various strings, including TI Jazz flats and DR Black beauties, but I have to realize that "my sound" lies in DR HiBeams or SunBeams. I've got Jazz flats on my Phoenix, and I'm keeping them there to keep an alternative sound and to save the pale moon fingerboard, but on all other basses I've got DR Hi or Sun Beams. The Sunbeams are a little warmer (nickel).
I have several fretless basses, all having ebony or bloodwood fingerboards. Wear is not really an issue, at least not with my attack. You don't bend strings on a fretless, you slide and vibrate, so all tear should go in the length direction. I have had a fretless for 10 years with an ebony board, and it hasn't needed a levelling yet. And my Clements with bloodwood doens't show any sign of needing one yet. And if so should be at the end of the day, Tom's fingerboards are thick enough to stand a seriously high number of fingerboard levelling jobs anyway. So get the strings that sound like what you want, and enjoy.
I have several fretless basses, all having ebony or bloodwood fingerboards. Wear is not really an issue, at least not with my attack. You don't bend strings on a fretless, you slide and vibrate, so all tear should go in the length direction. I have had a fretless for 10 years with an ebony board, and it hasn't needed a levelling yet. And my Clements with bloodwood doens't show any sign of needing one yet. And if so should be at the end of the day, Tom's fingerboards are thick enough to stand a seriously high number of fingerboard levelling jobs anyway. So get the strings that sound like what you want, and enjoy.
Thanks for all of the input everyone. I'm a DR kind of guy. I've been using Black Beauties on my Thumb for years (Hi-beams before that, but they're basically the same) and love them. Tom put hi-beams on 190 and I love the sound - so nice. I think, at the end of the day, I just prefer the overall sound and playability of rounds over flats. The flats are just too mellow for me, and I lost a lot of the mwah quality when I put them on. Plus I'm not used to the tension.
If anyone is interested in the rotosound flats that I purchased (they're cut to fit my 34" TC - 4 string - with at least two turns on the peg) I'll give you a screamin' deal. They were on the bass for one day and about 15 minutes of play time.
If anyone is interested in the rotosound flats that I purchased (they're cut to fit my 34" TC - 4 string - with at least two turns on the peg) I'll give you a screamin' deal. They were on the bass for one day and about 15 minutes of play time.
Hot Damn!
Ahhh yesss...the Phoenix with any top rocks! interesting combo of would on the body and the Nordy's will smoke! What preamp are you using?
I'm running the Nordy Big Splits with a Glockenklang...very transparent and musical...I love my Phoenix! It's the most playable instrument I've ever owned!
I think that Phoenix will be running a Nord 3 band. I've got one in #164, very usable across all the range, plus there's the addition of a passive tone control.
Doesn't quite have the 'balls out' low eq that the aggie OBP3 in #177 has, but I think the Nord is definitely better suited to the traditional Jazz pickup placement on #164. The bridge bias placement on #177 means I can make real good use of the Aggie Low Boost.
- Jun 6, 2004
- 6,351
- 543
- 66
- Disclosures
- Owner and builder Clementbass
Heee hee hee If I have anything to say about it eventually he will have a fretless.
Need to save up a bit first, but I do plan a 3rd, and yes Tom, it will be fretless. Maybe if business picks up, or if I get a massive pay rise, then Xmas next year.
It will be a 6 string for deffo and more than likely the Ryan shape.
18mm spacing,
34 scale
Possible chambering,
Probable piezo (Not sure on the mag pups as well)
Single Maple neck (the 2 I have just scream PLAY ME!)
Not sure on the rest of the woods yet, but the Pale moon fingerboard is a winner aesthetically!
I think that Phoenix will be running a Nord 3 band. I've got one in #164, very usable across all the range, plus there's the addition of a passive tone control.
Doesn't quite have the 'balls out' low eq that the aggie OBP3 in #177 has, but I think the Nord is definitely better suited to the traditional Jazz pickup placement on #164. The bridge bias placement on #177 means I can make real good use of the Aggie Low Boost.
The Glock has an active/passive switch as well which I use frequently to move between Marcus- like slap sounds ( active ) to Richard Bona sounds ( passive with the tone rolled off ). very musical all the way around!
Hi guys,
Believe it or not, I decided to sell the 183. I did send Tom an email to give him a head's up, albeit a very short one. This has NOTHING to do with the bass, it is a spectacular instrument. The major reason for the decision is that I am also in the process of purchasing a Gibson L5 (Wes Montgomery). As I said here a few times, I am simply not a bass player. The additional cash will ease the $$ sting of the L5. I posted the 183 on eBay.
Regards,
Joe
The Specs:
Brand: Custom Made Tom Clement Fretless 4 string solidbody Bass
Model: Clement Ryan Single Cut (Fretless)
Pickup: Nordstrand Dual Coil Passive Pickup
Neck Species: Maple with Bubinga Stringers, bolt on neck design
Fretboard Species: Bloodwood (line markers in fret positions, side dots)
Body Back Species: Spanish Cedar
Body Front Species: Highly figured Redwood (beautiful top)
Tuning Machines: Hipshot Ultralight tuners
Bridge: Hipshot Type A bridge
String: DAddario Flaw Wound
Finish: Sating poly-urethane finish
*One volume, one tone knob.
Believe it or not, I decided to sell the 183. I did send Tom an email to give him a head's up, albeit a very short one. This has NOTHING to do with the bass, it is a spectacular instrument. The major reason for the decision is that I am also in the process of purchasing a Gibson L5 (Wes Montgomery). As I said here a few times, I am simply not a bass player. The additional cash will ease the $$ sting of the L5. I posted the 183 on eBay.
Regards,
Joe
The Specs:
Brand: Custom Made Tom Clement Fretless 4 string solidbody Bass
Model: Clement Ryan Single Cut (Fretless)
Pickup: Nordstrand Dual Coil Passive Pickup
Neck Species: Maple with Bubinga Stringers, bolt on neck design
Fretboard Species: Bloodwood (line markers in fret positions, side dots)
Body Back Species: Spanish Cedar
Body Front Species: Highly figured Redwood (beautiful top)
Tuning Machines: Hipshot Ultralight tuners
Bridge: Hipshot Type A bridge
String: DAddario Flaw Wound
Finish: Sating poly-urethane finish
*One volume, one tone knob.
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Would you play gigs with a band that doesn't have a great PA?- Latest: Thumpin6string
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