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Word on how hard they are to get on! It took me and the tech at 12th Fret to stretch them enough to get them on the peg (you have to cut the pahoehoe's real short or else you'll have tons of wrap). There's got to be a better way
Re:
I had to wear rubber gloves to keep the strings from slipping thru my fingers -- worked like a charm though, made it much easier to maintain a grip on them while stretching and getting that initial wrap around the tuning peg. I just wish there was a way to keep all of the strings from slipping off the tuning peg without having to do that "knot trick" from the YouTube instructional video (with much patience and persistence I did finally manage to keep the top 3 strings from slipping, but the bottom string still needs the knot to stay on).
Word on how hard they are to get on! It took me and the tech at 12th Fret to stretch them enough to get them on the peg (you have to cut the pahoehoe's real short or else you'll have tons of wrap). There's got to be a better way
I had to wear rubber gloves to keep the strings from slipping thru my fingers -- worked like a charm though, made it much easier to maintain a grip on them while stretching and getting that initial wrap around the tuning peg. I just wish there was a way to keep all of the strings from slipping off the tuning peg without having to do that "knot trick" from the YouTube instructional video (with much patience and persistence I did finally manage to keep the top 3 strings from slipping, but the bottom string still needs the knot to stay on).
Bump to see if anyone knows where I can find a reasonably priced sound hole plug for one of these?
Follow up to my original post: To be fair, I thought I should give the flatwounds a more extensive tryout so I salvaged the E string and strung up the remaining 3* as well (*no problems with those unraveling like the E string). IMO, while they look and feel great, unfortunately they still sound flat and dull - especially above the 7th fret. Also, they're difficult to keep in tune, and VERY sensitive to the most minor of adjustments on the tuning pegs. I realize there may be methods to compensate for the limitations of these particular strings, but that's something better left to those more knowledgeable and accomplished...for me, I just want to string up and play. I didn't have this problem when trying out the Silverbacks, so I'm not sure why the flatwounds are giving me such a vastly different experience.
I am excited to find this forum! I bought my Microbass a couple of months ago and am loving it. The only negative, as many of you are discussing, are the strings. Does anyone know if Aquilla ever released the red series strings? I saw some on Juststrings.com, but am unclear as to which to try. Also, I may try the Ubass strings. I really love the deep rumble sound of the rubber strings and want to keep that.
Also, I tried a little powder, but it seemed to make the strings stickier (wasn't baby powder), so I rubbed the strsings down with a damp cloth and dried them, and they feel less sticky. Maybe the secret is keeping them clean? Anyone else think that?
Also, I tried a little powder, but it seemed to make the strings stickier (wasn't baby powder), so I rubbed the strsings down with a damp cloth and dried them, and they feel less sticky. Maybe the secret is keeping them clean? Anyone else think that?
For me it didn't matter what I did to the Aquila Thunderguts, they continued to be sticky, and dent (sausage) at the frets. I also tried the Thunder Reds, but they were too sticky. I don't get using powder and such, way too much trouble and mess. Now I only use Road Toad Pahoehoe when I need poly strings, which come with the Kala U-bass. The grayish Rumblers are also too sticky. (I'm actually planning to buy the new Kala Journeyman in red that come with Thuderguts, and use a set of red Pahoehoe I have.)
Cool! So you have the Pahoehoe Reds? Which ones do you have? For the Gold Tones would we use the Pahoehoe Red Std Set 22.5 to 24"? string_store Are they hard to install? I will take to a luthier, but earlier someone said they are really slippery? Also, can you send a link where you will purchase the Kala Journeyman strings? Thank you!
I re-strung mine with Pahoehoe blacks and found them extremely hard to install, the reason being the hole in the centre of the tuning pegs that the strings are supposed to go into. Because the strings stretch so much, you have to cut them short. It took the guitar technician plus me to stretch them enough to get them in the hole and and holding on while he turned the pegs to get them to start wrapping. Alternatively, you can leave the strings longer and have a ton of wrap. Agree with other players who complain about the denting of the Aquila's. For me, this cause problems with intonation. The sound of the Pahoehoe's are different than the Aquila's. I kind of preferred the Aquila's, but a couple of musician friends said they liked the sound of my bass better with the Pahoehoe's.
I never use the hole in the spool for Pahoehoe strings, pretty much impossible to make it happen. I do the loop over after I stretch the strings, but sometimes they will need a second wrap, cutting off excess., and yes, they are a pain to install, but they feel so much better than Thunderguts that I make the effort.
Buy the strings according to the scale of the instrument. The Pahoehoe strings are all hard to install, as I've mentioned. I buy Pahoehoe from the same link you show at Road Toad Music.
I made a soundhole plug today for my GT Microbass - out of a pair of flipflops at the dollar store:
Excellent...very clever.
I'm going to borrow your idea and cut out a pair for the f-holes of my Hofner President.
I hope you remembered to cut it out of the "flip" part and not the "flop" part!
I think the pics answer that, lol...
Pahahoe, or reds? Lasting and highest tension with less grab than silver backs. Leaning towards pahahoes but have not had on fretted mb which this one is. Also considering cutting ghs light gauge pressure wounds
I've had pahahoestrings on a fretless I've had Silvers on here and currently I have original thunders
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Im not a bass player...
(and so Im new to this forum)
but the MicroBass made me buy a bass
First Soundtest:
Still fighting with the sticky stock strings.
I spent past hours to read most of the posts in this topic.
Thanks a lot for all this good info!
Im writing now, because I have a small issue with the Microbass electronics.
The PU/electonics seem to be weakly shielded.
If I put my hand over the bridge it induces a (soft but noticable) hum.
Beside that it seems to pick up all kind of buzz/hum from nearby transformers/power supplys.
I have guitars with piezo PUs and dont have similar problems with them.
So im wondering, if its just my MicroBass or can anyone confirm these shielding issues?
Thanks!
(and so Im new to this forum)but the MicroBass made me buy a bass
First Soundtest:
Still fighting with the sticky stock strings.
I spent past hours to read most of the posts in this topic.
Thanks a lot for all this good info!
Im writing now, because I have a small issue with the Microbass electronics.
The PU/electonics seem to be weakly shielded.
If I put my hand over the bridge it induces a (soft but noticable) hum.
Beside that it seems to pick up all kind of buzz/hum from nearby transformers/power supplys.
I have guitars with piezo PUs and dont have similar problems with them.
So im wondering, if its just my MicroBass or can anyone confirm these shielding issues?
Thanks!
