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You are very welcome, Enrique!
I try not to pooh-pooh anyone's choices, but speaking from my personal experience, I tried DR Pure Blues once and immediately took them off. I don't mind bright strings, but for whatever reason, they were not only too bright, but for whatever reason, they created a keening, acoustic buzzing sound in that split second between when they came in contact with the frets and when I had full pressure on the string. It certainly wasn't a matter of weak fingers, since I'm a massage therapist by trade. Short story...they were too noisy, so off they went.
I like "EB Cobalt flats" idea by @induction. They are very interesting strings. Never before have I discovered something that lives in that narrow, hazy space between flats and rounds. Or, to put it another way, they are the brightest flats I've ever encountered. So much so, that I used them for a while to "tame" some of the higher-end, "clangy" sound of my modded Fender Blacktop Jazz, but while still retaining it's fundamental aggression.
It's worth noting that I've since switched to Fender Pure Nickel strings. Much like the Cobalt flats, they retain the clarity, but keep the filling-rattling "clang-clang-clang" down.
Going back to the Cobalt flats, I have an idea. I have some extras lying around. If you like, I could send you a pre-cut set for you to try out at no cost. Whether or not you like them, we can work something out in the future. Wanna take a set for a spin? (Call it "paying it forward". That, and a cheapy novella I read back in high school had some chapters set in Moscow, Idaho, so there's an undeniable literary connection at work, too.)
I just listened to the mix of our last rehearsal. No doubts the mids are intense. But ... in the mix vs. isolated ... the mix sounds pretty good. I want to leave these pick ups in, and the PBs on for a few more sessions before I decide.
And ... you may have convinced me to start with strings, I have never used flats, but recently ordered a set of DR Legends for my Aerodyne Special J. The plan was to have the J with Flats (Reggae) and the P with Rounds (Dusty Hill) ... but maybe I put the DR Flats on the P, or just try flats on both. I have been thinking about those EB Cobalt flats for awhile. (I'll reconnect if I want to take those Cobalts off your hands, at the moment ... I may work with what I got, and got coming.) Thanks.
Glad you had the foresight to check out how it sounds in a mix, because ultimately, that's really what matters most when you're playing with others!
I always appreciate @Malak the Mad's comments, always just the right combination of information and entertainment! Personally, for what you describe, I'd go with lowering the pickups first, as there is no associated cost to that, assuming you have an appropriately sized screwdriver
. Of course, nobody offered ME free Cobalts!
I finally discovered EB Cobalt flats and they are on most of my basses now. They are the brightest flats I've come across, have great growl, but don't give up any low end at all. Any overly aggressive mids are easily tamed with EQ. I also dabble in reggae and my Aerodyne is my preferred bass for that. My band, however, is all rock'n'roll, and the mids I'm getting with Chromes on my Aerodyne are outstanding.
Awww...thanks, Doctor!
Very smart, in that "measure twice...cut once" ballpark.Personally, for what you describe, I'd go with lowering the pickups first, as there is no associated cost to that, assuming you have an appropriately sized screwdriver
"For the times, they are a-changin'..."Of course, nobody offered ME free Cobalts!
That, and you forgot to add "spontaneity" above.
I mean, I wouldn't want to curb that, especially for someone living in my great-grandmother's "Show Me" state...even though it sounds like you're already covered on the "cobalt flats" front.I forget if I'd mentioned it earlier on this thread, but I, too, am thinking of re-embracing Chromes for my P/J 'Dyne. The black-coated, Rotosound Nexus strings it's currently wearing are nice, but when I do a side-by-side with my other Projekt basses, it kinda gets it's a$$ ki¢ked.
Then, I remembered how much "thump" I got from adding Chromes to an MIJ Foto-Flame Jazz to it's build.
In the grand scheme of things, let's just say it would be very appropriate for me to cycle through a considerable number of string-based experiments on my Aerodyne, only to circle back around to the ones I started with in the first place. And, if they don't have the "growl" I want, I can always fall back on the Cobalt flats or even some Fender Pure Nickels. After all, it's the Nickels that I settled upon with the aforementioned Fender Blacktop's current incarnation.
Quick question for my fellow Aerodyne players.
I'm thinking of trying a set of GHS Balanced Nickels on my recently acquired 2018 Fender Aerodyne PJ, but that bass has a 7.25" radius (as far as I know) fingerboard, and the train of thought is that balanced tension sets don't work as well with such a round radius neck since the A and D strings are further from the pickups. Conventional gauged sets have thicker A and D strings to compensate for that whereas balanced tension strings have thinner A and Ds.
Has anyone tried a set of Balanced Nickels on a vintage radius-necked Aerodyne and what were your results?
I'm thinking of trying a set of GHS Balanced Nickels on my recently acquired 2018 Fender Aerodyne PJ, but that bass has a 7.25" radius (as far as I know) fingerboard, and the train of thought is that balanced tension sets don't work as well with such a round radius neck since the A and D strings are further from the pickups. Conventional gauged sets have thicker A and D strings to compensate for that whereas balanced tension strings have thinner A and Ds.
Has anyone tried a set of Balanced Nickels on a vintage radius-necked Aerodyne and what were your results?
Ok, so I posted in the wrong place and was directed here by @Malak the Mad
Sis and her BF gifted me this last Friday for my Birthday. Don’t know much about them…here to learn. But I do know I love this freaking bass!
Sis and her BF gifted me this last Friday for my Birthday. Don’t know much about them…here to learn. But I do know I love this freaking bass!
Sick Aerodyne @marsquake . Are those Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders in it? I'll bet the tone on that thing is volcanic!
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Great Aerodyne, @marsquake! You’ll find all the knowledge you need and more here, but you don’t really need to know much. Just play the heck out of that thing! 
Yeah, nice axe @marsquake!
Good pickup @Dincrest (pardon the pun
). Got me looking closer: those control knobs look like the ones that came with the Audere preamp that I put in mine. You were born into a righteous family my man, and your sister seems to have scored a decent bloke!
So sis’s BF was in a touring band for decades, amassed a huge collection of guitars and basses. Unfortunately he had a series of strokes the year before last and can’t play anymore. He’s been offloading his collection. They wanted me to have this one. I’m blown away!
It looks like from what I can tell, that the control knobs are aftermarket, and I saw where the tuners were originally a gunmetal/grayish color. This bass only has one tuner that color, the rest are chrome. It has a Badass II bridge in black, which I take is aftermarket. And maybe the pickups are too?
Next time I see him I’ll ask. It’s plays and sounds amazing though. My other basses are getting lonely.
It looks like from what I can tell, that the control knobs are aftermarket, and I saw where the tuners were originally a gunmetal/grayish color. This bass only has one tuner that color, the rest are chrome. It has a Badass II bridge in black, which I take is aftermarket. And maybe the pickups are too?
Next time I see him I’ll ask. It’s plays and sounds amazing though. My other basses are getting lonely.
You are correct. The bridge, the knobs, the pickups and the E, A and G tuners are aftermarket. Possibly the electronics as well, although the control cavity is very narrow, and it’s hard to fit different pots, let alone anything else in there.So sis’s BF was in a touring band for decades, amassed a huge collection of guitars and basses. Unfortunately he had a series of strokes the year before last and can’t play anymore. He’s been offloading his collection. They wanted me to have this one. I’m blown away!
It looks like from what I can tell, that the control knobs are aftermarket, and I saw where the tuners were originally a gunmetal/grayish color. This bass only has one tuner that color, the rest are chrome. It has a Badass II bridge in black, which I take is aftermarket. And maybe the pickups are too?
Next time I see him I’ll ask. It’s plays and sounds amazing though. My other basses are getting lonely.
On the P/J Aerodyne, the neck pickups are a bit slanted. One of the benefits is that you can position them at your preferred distance, nearly string by string.
You don't need that for the bridge J pickup
BTW, Hello everyone! Happy to be here.
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Been a long time Fender bass player, but never been around these basses. Can you tell me a bit about what makes them different than a regular jazz or p-bass?
Different. I haven't decided on good/bad yet.
The bridge PU alone doesn't sound quite like a P bass. The pair doesn't sound quite like a J-bass. I haven't played with knobs, strings, PU height enough to find a unique and special tone yet, so that's on me. But it's different.
Have fun playing around with it!
P.S. But dang, I love me the looks of my export model! I haven't chipped the finish yet so she sure is pretty!
