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EB-0 suggestions

RyanKW

RyanKW

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Jul 1, 2015
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#1
I asked this question in another forum, but it may be too unrelated there to get answers.

I just got an Epi EB-0 over the weekend. I've never had anything Gibson or Epiphone, and I was GASing big time. I really like the thing a lot, even with the poopie strings it came with. So here's the deal. Normally, I would go with what seems to be the conventional wisdom on here and put flats on that bass. However, I'm planning on using it for a new project which is going to be mostly early 90s alternative covers.

I can hear, even with the crappy rounds it came with, that rounds are PROBABLY the best answer for this. I've never owned anything short scale either. So, anyone who uses rounds on an EB-0, or any other like short scale...what do you use or recommend, keeping in mind the style of music I listed?
 
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#4
I just bought an EB-0 as well. Immediately whipped off those rounds and put a set of LaBella flats on there. But after a couple of weeks I don't think thats the answer. Sounds like they are overpowering the pickup and the sound is undefined. Also, the flats make the bass feel clumsy and slow. This coming from a guy who loves flats! At times it is good but not versatile. (Not that this bass is extremely versatile anyway) I thought about steels but decided to order D'Addario nickels first. If I like that then I won't bother with the steels. In the meantime I threw the original strings back on and I think rounds are the way to go regardless of whether they are steels or nickels. On a side note, I also ordered a mod bar. That will go on with the new strings and make it easier to intonate. I have played Fender style basses my entire life so the first couple of weeks were tough. Took me the entire time until today to get over my bias of how a bass should sound and feel. Once I got over the issue of putting my strap as long as it will go and playing right up under the neck ( both of which were required for me to enjoy the tone and playability) I started to really see myself making this ( or other short scales) part of my arsenal. I'm interested to hear how others experiences with steels are and also how you have had to tweek your amp settings in order to get the sound your looking for. For me the bass has been turned down and the volume turned up. Furthermore, this bass does not sound good with any midrange added in. That knob stays on 1 or 2.
 
#5
Yaralag said:
I just bought an EB-0 as well. Immediately whipped off those rounds and put a set of LaBella flats on there. But after a couple of weeks I don't think thats the answer. Sounds like they are overpowering the pickup and the sound is undefined. Also, the flats make the bass feel clumsy and slow. This coming from a guy who loves flats! At times it is good but not versatile. (Not that this bass is extremely versatile anyway) I thought about steels but decided to order D'Addario nickels first. If I like that then I won't bother with the steels. In the meantime I threw the original strings back on and I think rounds are the way to go regardless of whether they are steels or nickels. On a side note, I also ordered a mod bar. That will go on with the new strings and make it easier to intonate. I have played Fender style basses my entire life so the first couple of weeks were tough. Took me the entire time until today to get over my bias of how a bass should sound and feel. Once I got over the issue of putting my strap as long as it will go and playing right up under the neck ( both of which were required for me to enjoy the tone and playability) I started to really see myself making this ( or other short scales) part of my arsenal. I'm interested to hear how others experiences with steels are and also how you have had to tweek your amp settings in order to get the sound your looking for. For me the bass has been turned down and the volume turned up. Furthermore, this bass does not sound good with any midrange added in. That knob stays on 1 or 2.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've kinda come to the same conclusion. I haven't put flats on mine, but even the rounds it came with are telling me that rounds are the way to go. This bass sounds amazing even as is. I played it out for the first time last night, and I have a feeling my other basses may end up getting jealous. I think it's kinda yin and yang (deep bucker with bright strings) that makes it what it wants to be. Now I'm just trying to figure out WHAT rounds I want.
 
#6
RyanKW said:
Yeah, I've kinda come to the same conclusion. I haven't put flats on mine, but even the rounds it came with are telling me that rounds are the way to go. This bass sounds amazing even as is. I played it out for the first time last night, and I have a feeling my other basses may end up getting jealous. I think it's kinda yin and yang (deep bucker with bright strings) that makes it what it wants to be. Now I'm just trying to figure out WHAT rounds I want.
Click to expand...
Like I said I'm going with D'Addarrio nickels for now. The question after that would be how do steels sound?Think I would try rotos since that's my favorite steel string. But I've never tried pro steels either.
 
#7
Yaralag said:
Like I said I'm going with D'Addarrio nickels for now. The question after that would be how do steels sound?Think I would try rotos since that's my favorite steel string. But I've never tried pro steels either.
Click to expand...
Get the heaviest gauge Rotos you can in short scale. I tried two sets on a Danelectro Longhorn, both light gauge and I couldn't get them to intonate at all! Not a lot of offerings in short scale, and while I'm not a fan of D'addario's except tapewounds for long scale, the Nickel rounds worked quite well on the Dano, although they didn't seem to last very long.
 
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#9
For a flatwound string that sounds a lot like a roundwound (at least that sounds like what this bass needs), try Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. I have a set of these on a Squier Cabronita, and they have a surprising amount of highs for a flat. Might be worth considering.
 
#10
EB Cobalt flats don't come in short scale, at least last I looked they didn't. I don't think you would want to cut these strings or wrap the string itself around a tuning post. Flats tend to snap from that, and the Cobalts had issues early on with breaking when you looked at them crosseyed. If you are going to use long scale on a short scale I would stick with rounds.
gary m said:
For a flatwound string that sounds a lot like a roundwound (at least that sounds like what this bass needs), try Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. I have a set of these on a Squier Cabronita, and they have a surprising amount of highs for a flat. Might be worth considering.
Click to expand...
 
#11
1stnamebassist said:
EB Cobalt flats don't come in short scale, at least last I looked they didn't. I don't think you would want to cut these strings or wrap the string itself around a tuning post. Flats tend to snap from that, and the Cobalts had issues early on with breaking when you looked at them crosseyed. If you are going to use long scale on a short scale I would stick with rounds.
Click to expand...

If this is an Epiphone EB-0, the string run might be a bit longer due to the size of the peghead. In the past, I've been able to coax a set of long scale Fender flats onto an Epi EB bass, but that doesn't mean the Ernies would cooperate. Shame, because those strings have a nice bright tone.
 
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#12
I have a set on my P bass and a set on rotation for my Rick also. They mellow a bit but still have more high end and great punch than any other flat I've tried! If you go through the Cobalt flat thread you will see my posts
where I broke a few of these strings just trying to install them! Thankfully EB customer service is excellent as is Jason at basstringsonline. I had the sets replaced and they arrived within 3 days! And my second favorite flat is the Fender 9050! Great flat for short money! Once they are broken in anyway!
 
#13
Wow, guess I got lucky with my set of Ernie flats! The winding instructions that came with the strings seemed odd to me, so I just strung them up the way I knew how but brought them up to pitch very slowly. The winding part of the string is very thin and seems fragile, but I didn't have any issues. Still getting used to the strings themselves...I'm used to GHS flats and these seem very light and flexible. Not sure if I like them for everything, but their brightness could be an advantage on a dark or muddy sounding bass. Wish I still had my old EB-3L...these strings would be just the thing.
 
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#14
gary m said:
Wow, guess I got lucky with my set of Ernie flats! The winding instructions that came with the strings seemed odd to me, so I just strung them up the way I knew how but brought them up to pitch very slowly. The winding part of the string is very thin and seems fragile, but I didn't have any issues. Still getting used to the strings themselves...I'm used to GHS flats and these seem very light and flexible. Not sure if I like them for everything, but their brightness could be an advantage on a dark or muddy sounding bass. Wish I still had my old EB-3L...these strings would be just the thing.
Click to expand...
The bad sets of Cobalts would make a strange "pinging" sound when you were bringing them up to pitch! I went and got a pair of safety glasses and put them on because I had a bad feeling about them! Sure enough the D string broke and I was still a full step or more away from being in tune! I wound them both ways and had issues. They had some bad sets get out and they have been great about taking care of the issue!
 

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