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New strings arrived today. Gonna do some experiments over the weekend with the Deluxe.
Well. I snapped the piccolo high string so I didn’t get to try my Deluxe at piccolo BEADG an octave up. I did string it up with the EADGC set. I can’t say these strings grab me. They feel nice and the tension is good but the sound needs a bit of zest. So…
I’m thinking of going to DR LoRider Nickel on the Deluxe, since I’ve enjoyed DR strings on other basses and F Bass mentions these on their FAQ page. Anyone here with a Deluxe care to share their thoughts on strings? Also, do you string through the body or top load? I top loaded this latest set.
I’m also considering flats for my BNF5. Any suggestions? I think the ones I have on are TI based on the red silks. They came with the bass and I’ve been er changed them. They are very warm and thump-y and reminiscent of an upright. I’m considering Chromes for a bit more zing. Any suggestions are welcome.
I’m thinking of going to DR LoRider Nickel on the Deluxe, since I’ve enjoyed DR strings on other basses and F Bass mentions these on their FAQ page. Anyone here with a Deluxe care to share their thoughts on strings? Also, do you string through the body or top load? I top loaded this latest set.
I’m also considering flats for my BNF5. Any suggestions? I think the ones I have on are TI based on the red silks. They came with the bass and I’ve been er changed them. They are very warm and thump-y and reminiscent of an upright. I’m considering Chromes for a bit more zing. Any suggestions are welcome.
Very warm and thumpy with red silks sounds like Labellas to me. More zing sounds like TIs. lol. Go figure.
What strings are you using on the BN5?
I’d suggest looking at Dunlop Flatwounds. Nice feel and tension—I use them on a couple of basses.
That could be. I’ll look at Labella.
The BN5 Standard still has whatever came from the factory. I’m not changing those any time soon. When they die I’ll replace them with the same.
I Debated, for a few reasons, on posting an answer here more than once, so my apologies for being late to the party. I will post my string list at the very end, but speak specifically here. I haven't changed the strings from the originals on my blue fade deluxe and I have ordered more of the stock strings. I do like them, but there is something in the tone that doesn't sit as well as I'd like. On my walnut/Ken Smith, yes slightly modified pickup positions, the stock SS LaBella's were just too bright for my tastes. I mean it was a fun tone, but didnt really cut through the mix or have the heft that I want in my tone. From when I had MTD basses, I had a leftover set of MTD Nickels, MTD's seem to mostly be SS. I put them on the walnut and they really warmed it up while maintaining that punchy-ness of the modified pickup positions. I like them a lot and have been playing them for several months now. I have not put them on my other deluxe, but it could happen. I guess I'd say they are punchy without being crispy. I know LaBella makes them, so I am sure there is something identical/comparable in the normal sites. I liked the gold silks on my walnut bass, is I ordered more of them from MTD.
If I have the option to string through the body, I do. It is a bit more painful during changes, but I do.
My fretless F Bass is an AC Classic and it came with LaBella black tapes. They are dark and thumpy and I love them for what they are. However, what they are isn't right every time. On my other fretless, I have either Dunlop flats or LaBella LTF's. I really like the LTF's and have put them on other basses. The Dunlop's are brighter and the LTF's darker; no surprise there, I suppose.
As an aside, using flats on a 5 string bass has been challenging for me. When I played blues or country with a 4 string P Bass, a set of LaBella flats was all I needed. With a 5, I struggle with the B string. Sometimes it is dark, boomy, mushy, or all three. I also think that changes over time as the B settles. I have tried many many brands and gauges. So far, the B just settles into a thud companion to the other 4. So far, the LTF's have been on longer than anything else. I also have been trying the LaBella super polished strings here and there. Haven't tried them on a fretlless, but it could happen.
I hope something in that rambling has helped in some way or some one or at least made sense.
The full list... all 5's
Alembic - Alembic pressure wound
BN Seafoam - Olinto Flats
BN Hale - FBass Super Steps
BN Fade - LB RX Steels 45-130
BN PurpleHeart - Bubby Lewis Tapes
BN Walnut - MTD Nickel
AC Classic - LaBella tapes
Stradi Maple - Dragon Skin Nickel
Stradi Copper - Dunlop Flats
Diva - La Bella Low Tension
Big Hollow - LaBella Super Polished
BFR - LaBella Low Tension Flats
@BassJuju Thanks for the thoughts. It’s helpful to hear what others have tried and the results they got.
Marcel has suggested DR Fat Beams, which I believe are listed on the F Bass site as one of the strings they recommend. Have you tried those before?
I tried adjusting my pickup height and still getting a chorusing effect on my open B with the standard. It lessened but didn’t disappear. I’m considering a new set of the exposed core strings to see if the B string has a fault that goes away when replaced. I’ve also considered that I might need a standard wrapped core string on the low B if I want to fix the issue. That said, the existing string sounds good in any other position and a little palm mute can mask the effect.
Marcel has suggested DR Fat Beams, which I believe are listed on the F Bass site as one of the strings they recommend. Have you tried those before?
I tried adjusting my pickup height and still getting a chorusing effect on my open B with the standard. It lessened but didn’t disappear. I’m considering a new set of the exposed core strings to see if the B string has a fault that goes away when replaced. I’ve also considered that I might need a standard wrapped core string on the low B if I want to fix the issue. That said, the existing string sounds good in any other position and a little palm mute can mask the effect.
I have not tried the Fat Beams and I don't know why. He has been recommending those for some time.
FWIW, I like the exposed corse strings, even with the "chorus" effect, on my other BN's. Or maybe mostly... the Purple Heart bass is more low-mid focused and I don't like the tone of the exposed cores. I do like them on my ash and alder BN's. I have flats on my ash BN because I was playing with a country band for a bit.
I think I will try some Fat Beams on my other deluxe.
Fat Beams are great. I use them on all my basses, except the BN5, which has had them in the past.
With the FBass SS, I’ve never noticed the chorus effect, so, either it’s not there, or it doesn’t bother me. Nothing sounds as good as the SS low-B, IME.
(Now let me go obsessively look for the chorus effect on my BN5. Lol)
With the FBass SS, I’ve never noticed the chorus effect, so, either it’s not there, or it doesn’t bother me. Nothing sounds as good as the SS low-B, IME.
(Now let me go obsessively look for the chorus effect on my BN5. Lol)
It is not subtle on my low B. If you aren’t hearing it then don’t go looking/listening
I emailed Marcel about it and he confirmed that the pickup pull and low string tension combine to create this on the B string and higher fret positions on other strings (as the string gets closer to the pickups when fretted).
The fact that it’s not a common complaint and lowering the pickups didn’t resolve the issue makes me think it might be the string. I tried giving it slack and retuning but that didn’t fix it.
Totally agree... I love it on my BN5.
Sorry if you spoke to this and I missed it, but are you using the Steps on a deluxe?It is not subtle on my low B. If you aren’t hearing it then don’t go looking/listening
I emailed Marcel about it and he confirmed that the pickup pull and low string tension combine to create this on the B string and higher fret positions on other strings (as the string gets closer to the pickups when fretted).
The fact that it’s not a common complaint and lowering the pickups didn’t resolve the issue makes me think it might be the string. I tried giving it slack and retuning but that didn’t fix it.
No, just on my standard.
On my Deluxe I just swapped to EADGC strings but I’m not impressed by the ones I got (Curt Mangan Nickel). The piccolo Curt Mangan strings work for me on my Nordy Cat v2, but I’m going to need to try a different brand on the Deluxe.
Just wondering out loud. Is there much variation in where the exposed core stops and the wraps start between sets? It looks like there’s variations within a single set of strings based on a few pics I found. I wonder how impactful the start of the wrap is when it comes to the chorus effect. You can see some variety in the wrap position between this dark wood top BN5 and my purple BN5. They are two different bridges but my eyeball says the wraps start in different locations for each string. E A and G look pretty different.
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Thanks for the GAS
I wonder if a bridge adjustment will move the speaking length enough to change the overtones but not wreck the intonation.
...hmmm.
Edit - Ordered a set of stings. Gonna try a new B and maybe I’ll give the other 4 strings a shot at being on another bass as an experiment. I’m sure something in my collection could use a change.
I wonder if a bridge adjustment will move the speaking length enough to change the overtones but not wreck the intonation.
...hmmm.
Edit - Ordered a set of stings. Gonna try a new B and maybe I’ll give the other 4 strings a shot at being on another bass as an experiment. I’m sure something in my collection could use a change.
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What did you order?Thanks for the GAS
I wonder if a bridge adjustment will move the speaking length enough to change the overtones but not wreck the intonation.
...hmmm.
Edit - Ordered a set of stings. Gonna try a new B and maybe I’ll give the other 4 strings a shot at being on another bass as an experiment. I’m sure something in my collection could use a change.
I don’t do NBD posts in the general forum anymore, but sometimes I share here. While I am certainly an F Bass fanatic, I can’t buy them all. 
Although, now and again, one catches my eye and I go a little crazy. For this one, I tried to fight it… I really did… I waited weeks… I stayed away from the site… I hoped someone else would buy it… and then… someone bought the sister instrument… $%@!^!!!… and the one I coveted all along jumped in my cart!!!
They had 2 for a little over 2 months and the other one sold. I’ve been kind of watching here for the owner to post, but I haven’t seen it. Apparently my GAS control runs out in a little less than 9 weeks. Anyway, here’s what you really want to see instead of my ramblings.
Although, now and again, one catches my eye and I go a little crazy. For this one, I tried to fight it… I really did… I waited weeks… I stayed away from the site… I hoped someone else would buy it… and then… someone bought the sister instrument… $%@!^!!!… and the one I coveted all along jumped in my cart!!! They had 2 for a little over 2 months and the other one sold. I’ve been kind of watching here for the owner to post, but I haven’t seen it. Apparently my GAS control runs out in a little less than 9 weeks. Anyway, here’s what you really want to see instead of my ramblings.
Attachments
I’m glad you bought it
I certainly wasn’t looking at it.
I certainly wasn’t looking at it.
