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D'Addario Chromes User Group- Chromeys Speak Out!

#141
Just to even out the field a bit, I used to use PJ basses almost exclusively for a couple of years. I felt I needed the J pickup in addition to the P to get the tonal flexibility. But about half a year ago, I got my eyes up for the Music Man Stingray. Of course, that is a pretty expensive instrument, but I recently got a good deal on a second hand Sterling by Music Man Ray34. The rounds on it were NOT what I was after, but when putting the Chromes on it, I suddenly felt I had a pretty simple bass providing all of the tonal range I needed. I thought I was at home wiht my PJs, but here I found myself even more at home. The Chromes were a necessity for me either way. ;) I even got a decent slap sound on this.
 
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#143
I haven't tried the balanced sets yet. Definitely on the list of strings to try but given that these are flatwound it may be YEARS before I get to them!!

The big "a-ha" moment for me was moving to a heavier gauge of Chromes.

When I first discovered Chromes it was the ECB81 set that seems to be the most popular. I have them on my main player, an American P.

My thinking was that if I used a heavier gauge on my second in line, a MIM standard P, that it may get my tone a bit closer to the American.

In a way it was a success. The MIM sounds great and the heavier strings give it a much more pronounced low end, but it's also a completely different character. So much so that when I wear out the set of ECB81's that are on the MIA, I'm planning to go to the heavier ECB82's to replace them.

I was a bit worried that the extra tension of the heavier Chromes would make them very hard to play comfortably, but that's not the case. With the increased tension comes the ability to lower my action and the ECB82's are actually easier on the hands than the ECB81's!!

The thing that drew me to Chromes in the first place was the lighter gauge of the 81's but the tone I get with the 82's is just more of what I love about Chromes. Just a great tone all around.
 
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#144
tallboybass said:
Yes, Garth is a good spokesman for Chromes!

Lately, I've fallen under the spell of balanced tension sets. My next set of Chromes will most likely be a custom 45-60-80-105 set. Right now I'm rocking those gauges in a Fender flat set on my Jazz and loving them!
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Those are the only bass gauges I play. ;)

I have mailed d'Addario begging them to release a 045 060 080 105 set of Chromes, but AFAIK they do not have such a product in their pipeline. I find it a bit strange, since they have other balanced tension sets for guitar and for roundwounds.
 
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#146
Rip Topaz said:
Is the balanced string tension that noticeable?
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It depends. To be fair, a lot of great players have never subscribed to this idea. Myself, I started noticing the uneven tension of "standard" sets on guitar a couple of years before seriously switching to bass, and carried it over. Personally I find it to be even more important on bass. Often, the D string (on a standard EADG tuning) is the tightest, while the E string has the least tension, making it flop around if you hit it too hard. It is also easier and less straining to be able to fret a string only with the force needed. With differing tension, some strings are noticeably harder to fret.

But like I said, many players don't care, and why should they if cheaper, easily available standard sets work for them? Whatever floats your boat. :)
 
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#149
tkonbass said:
@Jamvan , It really sounds as though there is enough about that bass you don't like to just move it and try something...
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Well, I played it some more this afternoon and decided to throw it out on Craigslist. A little over two hours later and it's sold.

Now I can pull this one out of it's case in the utility room and let my wife know I have it! :thumbsup:

(Yes, it already has Chromes in it!)
image.jpg
 
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#152
(No number required thanks Rip.)

As a complete chromes (and flats) noob what is the life expectancy of them? Sorry if this has been asked previously.

I have just put a set of ECB81M on my violin bass and are loving them. (Thanks go to Jason @ Bass Strings Online :thumbsup:.) The last time I had a bass with flats was in about 1968, that was on a Hofner Senator and I hated it and the flats, it is the only bass I have never regretted selling in fact I regretted ever buying it.
 
#154
Panther said:
So..I'm a week into Chromes and there's a sticky feeling to these that I'm not digging....is it just a coating that will we're away with play or does it....ummm...stick around??
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It's the residue of the compound used in the final polishing. It's recommended any flats be wiped clean with a dry cloth before installation.

That said, the stickiness will eventually wear out so no worries.
 
#158
I always wipe mine down with naphtha or rubbing alcohol before installing. Gets rid of the black gunk and the stickiness at the same time.

WARNING: Certain solvents don't play well with certain finishes.

Alcohol is the enemy of nitro lacquer. In other words, don't wipe the strings with alcohol while they are on the bass. It's fine for poly finishes.

I've found naphtha to be the best at removing the crud. Again, best done before installing.
 
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