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Gold Tone MicroBass Talk

#981
I didn't think this was worth starting a new thread over, but it was a big deal to me so I thought I'd share.

Background; bought an original Kala Fretless U-Bass very soon after they were available. It was cool, but the early Pahoehoe strings were never fully in tune for long until going flat. I discovered Thunderguts shortly after they were available, and they were much more stable, but I apparently have the body chemistry to cause the stickiness problem to the extreme!! I tried powder, baby oil, cooking oil, fast fret, corn starch, and nothing worked for very long until it wore off and the stickiness returned.

I sold the Kala after playing a Gold Tone M Bass, but of course it came with Tguts, so the longer scale is nice, but sticky strings are still a problem.

Well, I discovered Silverbacks and ordered a set, but they haven't arrived yet. While waiting, I've been experimenting with something anti-sticky for the Thunderguts and I found something new.
I was in my shop near where I keep car care products and noticed Armor-All vinyl protectant. Might as well try it. I sprayed it on a rag and rubbed down the length of the strings. It works better than anything I've ever tried before. It lasts longer than anything I've tried. I do have to reapply, but not until playing steadily for well over 1/2 hour. The only downside I've found is a slight squeak when my fingers contact the strings. It's not noticeable playing amplified, but you can hear it while playing acoustically. I may leave the Thunderguts on the bass until after an upcoming music festival.....
 
#982
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Silverbacks are ordered and will hopefully be here soon. I can't get these strings off fast enough. Hafta buy some new batteries tomorrow though. The stock ones are dead.
 
#983
So I've been trying different strap positions. I gave up on the standard strap buttons as they seem to make the bass top lean outwards from my belly (pointing at the ground). Not ideal.

What I have been liking is an upright style. I re-located the neck button to be on side and it allows the bass to stand almost upright towards the shoulder. Looks goofy but feels good and you can do two finger upright style etc. After a while though I felt it in my carpel tunnel... So, back to a more regular style. I tried using an acoustic strap attaching by the nut which is better but still not great balance. Seems like something in between the base of the neck and the nut would be ideal (but impossible without a brace). One last thing to try is relocating the other button towards the front of the bass perhaps. More holes (and attempts) here though are much more obvious.
 
#987
HelpImaRock said:
New strings showed up. They're on, and they're spectacular. They are indeed louder. More importantly, they feel familiar and hold tune. Totally worth it.
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Same here. Silverbacks are on th M-Bass. I did remove the shim under the bridge saddle after removing the Thunderstickies. I also reworked the slots in the nut for the E, A, & G strings. Strangely enough, the D string slot was at the depth it should be.

A few items I experienced.

1. Pickup stopped working. After some pushing on the saddle from both directions, it started working intermittently. I ended up loosening the strings, removing the pickup, and widening the saddle slot just a hair. With the shim out, the pickup goes deeper into the bridge saddle slot and was apparently binding in the slot due to going the additional depth.

2. Nut slots didn't absolutely have to be modified, but the bass would not have played well at all with the Silverbacks resting in the nut slots cut for the Thunderstickies.

3. The Silverbacks are still stretching after being on the bass for about 24 hours, but are definitely stabalizing.

4. Tone is totally different from the Thunderstickies. Brighter, more sustain, quicker response. The two string types couldn't be any more different tone-wise.

That's about it. I may add a few more comments as more time lapses & I experience other differences.
 
#988
Tim Skaggs said:
Same here. Silverbacks are on th M-Bass. I did remove the shim under the bridge saddle after removing the Thunderstickies. I also reworked the slots in the nut for the E, A, & G strings. Strangely enough, the D string slot was at the depth it should be.

A few items I experienced.

1. Pickup stopped working. After some pushing on the saddle from both directions, it started working intermittently. I ended up loosening the strings, removing the pickup, and widening the saddle slot just a hair. With the shim out, the pickup goes deeper into the bridge saddle slot and was apparently binding in the slot due to going the additional depth.

2. Nut slots didn't absolutely have to be modified, but the bass would not have played well at all with the Silverbacks resting in the nut slots cut for the Thunderstickies.

3. The Silverbacks are still stretching after being on the bass for about 24 hours, but are definitely stabalizing.

4. Tone is totally different from the Thunderstickies. Brighter, more sustain, quicker response. The two string types couldn't be any more different tone-wise.

That's about it. I may add a few more comments as more time lapses & I experience other differences.
Click to expand...

Update; the Silverbacks finally settled down and hold tune about as well as any other string type. The initial brightness lasted a couple weeks, but has diminished greatly, which is a good thing. The strings were too bright and had way too much finger contact noise for a while. The silver plating causes a black residue on my fingers, but so does phosphor bronze & nickel, so that's not a problem. The best thing about the strings is that they are not sticky like the Thunderguts, which was the reason I bought the Silverbacks. I played the bass a ton at a festival after installing the strings and enjoyed them immensely. My only concern, which isn't much, is that the strings are showing significant wear of the windings where they contact the frets. I'm guessing the silver plated copper winding wire is softer than nickel or stainless used on more common string types. I'm pleased with them and plan to play them until they are so dead they can't be tuned & then get another set.
 
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#990
banditcosmo said:
Anyone have a Gold Tone solid body fretless ? How do you like it ? I was thinking of getting one. I have a acoustic version which I like but I'm wanting to try the solid body more for gigging.
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I had a fretted. In my experience with the gold tone or any other sub short scale bass with these kind of strings, they all sound the same, more or less. Hollow or solid really doesn't make much of a difference in the sound.
 
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#992
I loaned mine to a friend of mine who typically only plays a double bass. He was going to acompany a female singer that plays a ukulele, and wanted something smaller. He had previously seen and heard me playing my Goldtone. Here is his gig report:

When I took it out if the case at the venue the guys doing sound snickered and said what is that? I told them to just plug it in and see what they think. Their system was set up for a major outdoor concert venue and had major subs. That uke THUMPED! The sound guys giggled like little girls and made it a point to talk to me after the show.
 
#993
lucyfur said:
I loaned mine to a friend of mine who typically only plays a double bass. He was going to acompany a female singer that plays a ukulele, and wanted something smaller. He had previously seen and heard me playing my Goldtone. Here is his gig report:

When I took it out if the case at the venue the guys doing sound snickered and said what is that? I told them to just plug it in and see what they think. Their system was set up for a major outdoor concert venue and had major subs. That uke THUMPED! The sound guys giggled like little girls and made it a point to talk to me after the show.
Click to expand...
I used mine with 4 big-butt subs yesterday at a brewfest. Holy Cow! It made a believer out of some skeptics.
 
#997
Gorn said:
It won't work with the stock strings. You can get BEAD pahohoes but I don't know about thunderguts.
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Curiosity got the best of me and I turned down with my Thunderguts. It isn't too bad actually. The B is floppy, but not bad by any means. And G string (Now tuned D) doesn't look like it will snap any second. I would recommend doing.
 
#998
LKBass1 said:
Curiosity got the best of me and I turned down with my Thunderguts. It isn't too bad actually. The B is floppy, but not bad by any means. And G string (Now tuned D) doesn't look like it will snap any second. I would recommend doing.
Click to expand...

Bravo to you for not listening to nay-sayers and trying it yourself. I've learned that lesson too, only your own experience will tell you what will and will not work.
 
#999
I bought a set of Pahoehoe strings 22" to 24" standard for my Gold Tone MBass25 but they seem too short. I realize the strings say 22" to 24" but I remember reading somewhere these would fit the 25" scale Gold Tone's. Will these stretch to fit this bass ? It seems unlikely looking at it as the string end just comes up to the tuner.
 

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