Can't tell you as I only tried the Fenders, which I do like very much.
Just found this thread about La bella tapewounds, interesting indeed.
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Can't tell you as I only tried the Fenders, which I do like very much.
Just found this thread about La bella tapewounds, interesting indeed.
Ohh they look very cool indeed! Have you liked their strings?
Going from the GHS Brite Flats (45-56-77-98) in EADG to GHS Pressurewounds (44-62-84-106) in DGCF, I was expecting some setup tweaks would be needed. Much to my surprise, no tweaks needed whatsoever; neck relief, action, intonation...they all check out fine a full 24 hrs after the installation. All of a sudden, my J bass sounds and plays like it has just woken up from its 6-mth slumber, instantly wide awake and ready for action after being somewhat neglected for the last 6 mths. Nothing's wrong with the Brite Flats in themselves; they do exactly what they're designed for (= "Motown with an attitude"), but they just weren't meeting my personal tonal goals.
The Pressurewounds are both slightly higher in tension and stiffer-feeling than typical rounds of similar sizes, which seems to make them suitable for down-tuning. Despite the relatively "normal" gauges, they don't feel too loose or floppy at all while being very comfortable to play on. Tender but firm = "al dente". No "wet and overcooked spaghetti" here.
The way this whole thing is working out, the only question in my mind now is "why didn't I do it sooner?".
I've got their balanced 'light top, heavy bottom' set on my 5-string, and they play fantastic! The strings really do have a very balanced feel across the board, and the sound is a nice warm nickle roundwound tone. They've been on there for about 2 years, and still sound great.
I've got a custom light set as the heavier strings on my 8-string, and they also seem very uniform, and ring out well with the piccolo custom set of D'Addarios to give that bass a full sound. Now I'm starting to think that DGCF would work well on an 8-string!
Plus, Stringjoy has been great in answering questions whenever I've asked them. I like both the strings and the company. Plus, they just added medium and short-scale sets.
No shade against the other string companies, but I think Stringjoy is worth a look. So many strings, so little time!
Thanks @MirandM and @RodRy ! I've got a custom gauge set of Stringjoys on order now.
Thanks @michael_t ! Got those M7200 on order for my fretless.
I'm a bit trepedatious about relearing all the note locations, but I'm giving this D standard thing a real go!
Thanks @michael_t ! Got those M7200 on order for my fretless.
I'm a bit trepedatious about relearing all the note locations, but I'm giving this D standard thing a real go!
Apart from all those benefits they have a very competitive pricing scheme, I've yet to find a custom four string set for only $29,90, usually they go from $12-15 each string...
I haven't tried them yet but chances are they could very well end up on my Rick since I ordered the customs exactly +5 gauge up from the standard rick gauges. At this moment I have d'Addario half rounds on it but I've noticed the sound is duller (even though I like the growling sustain of the D), the standard set gives the typical rick clanck when wanted but the half rounds don't get to that.
Just changed the G string of my Rick to the Stringjoy string. This way I can compare it to the D and C string which are still d'Addario halfrounds. Now I'll wait 48 hours while it's under tension to have it settled. Tonight I'll do a little play-in.
I'm thinking D-standard would be easier to adjust to than Drop D or any other unconventional tunings. The only thing to remember is whatever you're playing is one whole step lower in pitch; otherwise, the fingering for all the chord patterns and scales remains the same.
Absolutely true. Don't know why some folks have such problems with D-standard, for most they'll likely use less open string notes, but if you really get into it you can actually change your fingering to use the open string notes. Most likely not suitable for those who tend to play way up the neck (near the body).
Well now my Rick's fitted with the Stringjoy strings. After doing a bit of playing I found these string to be all what Stringjoy promises them to be. They going in tune directly, didn't need to retune the G string at all and my small test confirmed my intuition, these strings are the perfect set to replace the original Rick strings with the bass downtuned to D.
Straight metal clanking when using the absolute rick settings, while growling dark when using bridge pup and turning down the tone. Sustain is even better then the d'Addario's even though the Stringjoy's are round cores as opposed to the d'Addario's hex which as such are a little stiffer. To me it feels like the tension is more balanced.
So there you have it @RodRy I'm very pleased with these string even though they did cost me a bundle in the end but that's because we have a bunch of thieves at our customs offices, they charged me $25 of which $16 were because of "handling costs" f**king bastards
. Anyway, the strings are worth it and I think they'll last for quite some time.
Yeah. I know that all the patterns are identical thanks to the wonderful symmetric tuning of our instrument. My only stated worry is just re-learning all the note locations, so when I wanna jump up high and grab an A... I don't hit a G instead.
If it's any help, you could put a set of alternate fretboard markers (stickers in a different color) either on the fb or on the side just to help you get used to hopping a little further.Yeah. I know that all the patterns are identical thanks to the wonderful symmetric tuning of our instrument. My only stated worry is just re-learning all the note locations, so when I wanna jump up high and grab an A... I don't hit a G instead.
I haven't had that problem because from the early days when I started playing I switched to fretless in D so I got used to it very fast.
Yeah. I know that all the patterns are identical thanks to the wonderful symmetric tuning of our instrument. My only stated worry is just re-learning all the note locations, so when I wanna jump up high and grab an A... I don't hit a G instead.
All I have to do is to make sure my brain is also down-tuned accordingly when I'm playing my DCGF J bass.
You're lucky you seem to have a brain, I don't I just play
If you can play without using your brain, you're actually a better player than I am. I play my best when I don't have to think too much. I don't like it when my brain gets in the way of my playing.
Nahhh, just kidding, I'm a lousy player and even worse when I think about my playing, but it doesn't really matter that much as long as you're having fun 
Yeah. I'm just going for total immersion learning here. Every bass is going to be D standard now. I'll adapt.
Yeah. I'm just going for total immersion learning here. Every bass is going to be D standard now. I'll adapt.
That's what I did. Makes things so much easier.
Not having the benefit of a formal musical education,I need to ask what is the benefit of D standard? I did use Dunlap 120/60s for 1/2 step down because I was playing a lot of blues at the time. What music calls for D standard? I also dropped a full step but then moved up one fret for 1/2 step down on some numbers,seemed unnecessary, what gives?
