D'Addario Chromes User Group- Chromeys Speak Out!

[pauljude]

Chromes are beautiful . I use the XL's...smooth, mellow...awesome on the hands. I have them on my 73' P bass...maple neck...custom Fiesta Red finish....thanks for the post.

 

[Rip Topaz]

The list so far:

Rip Topaz - 1
tkonbass - 2
lz4005 - 3
the ombudsman -4
sharkbait130 - 5
bassrich- 6
LoTone - 7
danster- 8
Fleebag- 9
ScarfFace - 10
wraub- 11
Growlmonkey - 12
JakobT - 13
scotch - 14
Woofer - 15
Bruce Johnson-16
SkulliesBass - 17
G-sleeve-18
BigJohnAZ-19
ZuluFunk-20
jjmuckluckjr - 21
physics-21
Tuba_samarai-22
oboylebass - 23
Aetheldrea - 24
basscase - 25
MrRubi04 - 26
Christcr - 27
Interceptor - 28
gjbassist - 29
GretshWretch - 30
KJMO - 31
rogerbmiller - 32
tallboybass - 33
philipgannon - 34
HawldieMPB - 35
Yahboy - 36
Shardik - 37
M4verick - 38
pauljude - 39

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

Strong work Rip, you started your own group. Woo Hoo! Nico says thanks.

 

[moody]

The list so far:

Rip Topaz - 1
tkonbass - 2
lz4005 - 3
the ombudsman -4
sharkbait130 - 5
bassrich- 6
LoTone - 7
danster- 8
Fleebag- 9
ScarfFace - 10
wraub- 11
Growlmonkey - 12
JakobT - 13
scotch - 14
Woofer - 15
Bruce Johnson-16
SkulliesBass - 17
G-sleeve-18
BigJohnAZ-19
ZuluFunk-20
jjmuckluckjr - 21
physics-21
Tuba_samarai-22
oboylebass - 23
Aetheldrea - 24
basscase - 25
MrRubi04 - 26
Christcr - 27
Interceptor - 28
gjbassist - 29
GretshWretch - 30
KJMO - 31
rogerbmiller - 32
tallboybass - 33
philipgannon - 34
HawldieMPB - 35
Yahboy - 36
Shardik - 37
M4verick - 38
pauljude - 39

I've dropped off again, I was 24

 

[Rip Topaz]

Crap!!

I promise you, moody, this is simply me being absentminded.

You are #24. This is my first club where I handle the numbers. I'll eventually get it in gear. I guess that's what I get for updating the list while in still on my first cup of coffee!!

The updated list:



Rip Topaz - 1
tkonbass - 2
lz4005 - 3
the ombudsman -4
sharkbait130 - 5
bassrich- 6
LoTone - 7
danster- 8
Fleebag- 9
ScarfFace - 10
wraub- 11
Growlmonkey - 12
JakobT - 13
scotch - 14
Woofer - 15
Bruce Johnson-16
SkulliesBass - 17
G-sleeve-18
BigJohnAZ-19
ZuluFunk-20
jjmuckluckjr - 21
physics-21
Tuba_samarai-22
oboylebass - 23
moody - 24
basscase - 25
MrRubi04 - 26
Christcr - 27
Interceptor - 28
gjbassist - 29
GretshWretch - 30
KJMO - 31
rogerbmiller - 32
tallboybass - 33
philipgannon - 34
HawldieMPB - 35
Yahboy - 36
Shardik - 37
M4verick - 38
pauljude - 39
Aetheldrea - 40

 

[Rip Topaz]

I've got band practice tonight. Trying to decide which Chromes-loaded bass to take.

My 60th Anniversary P is an amazing bass, and the flats are nicely broken in.

My MIM P in Lake Placid Blue is also a great playing/sounding bass, but the Chromes are still really new and need some hours on them.

May actually have to take BOTH tonight. Since I got the MIM, I've been pretty much playing it exclusively (new bass syndrome). I figure a couple more band practices with it and the Chromes will settle in and lose that harsh-ish top end.

Either way, I love both basses. Anyone else have trouble deciding which bass to play?

 

[moody]

I've got band practice tonight. Trying to decide which Chromes-loaded bass to take.

My 60th Anniversary P is an amazing bass, and the flats are nicely broken in.

My MIM P in Lake Placid Blue is also a great playing/sounding bass, but the Chromes are still really new and need some hours on them.

May actually have to take BOTH tonight. Since I got the MIM, I've been pretty much playing it exclusively (new bass syndrome). I figure a couple more band practices with it and the Chromes will settle in and lose that harsh-ish top end.

Either way, I love both basses. Anyone else have trouble deciding which bass to play?

I currently only have one bass with chromes...... So no.

Every time I pick up my old yamaha the strings feels really really rough.

 

[Shardik]

Personally I have found a combo of bass, strings and amp that I really, really like. I am not a professional musician, and my budget is limited, so I am really happy with my:

Sterling by MusicMan Ray34 loaded with d'Addario Chromes into a MarkBass F1 into a Kustom Deep End 210 + 115 stack. (I actually had a new cab stack on backorder, but when I tested this bass with these strings, the pieces fell nicely into place.) I am really happy wth my sound now. My old favourite, a Squier Precision Vintage Modified PJ, also with Chromes, is suddenly in danger of being sold because it gets so little playing time.

 

[Jamvan]

You can go ahead and add me to the list as well. I currently am running a set of ECB82's on both my VM Fretless as well as my Chris Aiken P w/GZR's. I absolutely love the sound, especially after I've had to play some steels for a while. It's like coming home.

 

[Rip Topaz]

I've gotten into the habit of wiping my Chromes down with naphtha before installing to get rid of the black oily crap on them during manufacturing. Only takes a few seconds but is so important when all your basses have maple fretboards.

It also seems to get rid of that sticky feeling the strings get when they are new. Kinda starts the breaking in period before even installing them.

I sometimes also use 91% rubbing alcohol. Only use it when I can find the 91% stuff, not the 70%. I should warn against using alcohol on a nitro-finished fretboard (if wiping down after installing/playing. Alcohol will damage the nitro. Naphtha does the same thing but doesn't seem to happen as quickly as with alcohol. Either way, exercise caution when using solvents on/near your bass. Be sure that whatever you're using won't damage your finish.

What do you guys use to clean your Chromes?

 

[Rip Topaz]

Shardick -41
Jamvan - 42

 

[Shardik]

I put them on and play them. Cleaning is limited to wiping off the neck and strings with a dry, lint free cloth after playing and occationally a damp cloth when I see dust or specks.

Even if I do not like the dullest flats, the Chromes sound great to me when they get broken in. They actually give the sound I hoped the half rounds would provide.

 

[Shardik]

Shardick -41
Jamvan - 42

Thanks, but I actually got a number already (where my nick was spelled correctly, too).

 

[Rip Topaz]

I gotta agree. The Chromes definitely fill the space that other flats just don't. It's that high mid/top end brightness that makes them the fantastic string that they are.

For someone coming from decades of using rounds, Chromes are an awesome introduction to the world of flatwounds.

 

[JollySpudd]

Callooh! Callay! Count me amongst the flattened throng I got them for an acoustic bass (well mentioned in another string thread) and really like them a lot. I have a Frankenbass fretless build in progress and plan on using them on that and can't wait to gliss about on them. Yar! I is a Chrome-y

 

[Shardik]

Yup. And BTW: I tried d'Addario Half Rounds before testing the Chromes. I have never been so disappointed with a string set before. I thought I should get flats feel and thump while retaining some definition, but the opposite happened: Not full flats feel, no good thump and no definition. The Chromes are flats, with flats playability and thump, while still having some definition that many flats lack. I am not a slap player, but I think they even can do slap'n pop just great with a little EQ tweaking.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Thanks, but I actually got a number already (where my nick was spelled correctly, too).

Oops. Ok, so number 41 is still available.

It would appear that I'm not so good at assigning numbers!
We may have to nix the number thing at some point. lol.

 

[Shardik]

Callooh! Callay! Count me amongst the flattened throng I got them for an acoustic bass (well mentioned in another string thread) and really like them a lot. I have a Frankenbass fretless build in progress and plan on using them on that and can't wait to gliss about on them. Yar! I is a Chrome-y

I'd love to hear more about how they work on fretless. I have a frankenfretless myself, but while the Fender flats on it works OK, I guess I hoped for more definition and mwah. I am considering to switch to Chromes on it, but do not play it often enough to make the investment just yet.

 

[Rip Topaz]

JollySpudd - 41

 

[Rip Topaz]

Yup. And BTW: I tried d'Addario Half Rounds before testing the Chromes. I have never been so disappointed with a string set before. I thought I should get flats feel and thump while retaining some definition, but the opposite happened: Not full flats feel, no good thump and no definition. The Chromes are flats, with flats playability and thump, while still having some definition that many flats lack. I am not a slap player, but I think they even can do slap'n pop just great with a little EQ tweaking.

The Chromes to me are a perfect bridge between rounds and flats. I slap on mine all the time. It's definitely an acquired taste, especially when using them on my P-basses. The mids sound awesome but you gotta kinda keep a tight grip on them or they'll get away from you rather quickly.

They sound amazing with my band, but slapping them when playing alone definitely requires some tweaking to the EQ. Still, my slap technique has improved with Chromes due in part to the higher tension/lower action. Plus I really only slap in two songs that we play, so it's not a huge deal. Not worth switching basses over it.

At home is a different story. I tend to slap a bit more at home while I'm goofing around.

My home practice room: