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Golden strings?!?

B

bigd4207

Apr 28, 2006
380
1
40
In the clouds
#1
Never seen any golden strings before? Brass I am sure. Can anybody tell me where I can pick up some of these puppies? Anybody use them?


goldenwhite.JPG
 
#3
#4
They are gold? That's extremely interesting. I figured they were brass for that tone, I wouldn't think GOLD would give as bright of tone anyway. Not saying that's a bad thing but the video I got that pic from was awesome. Purely slap style, tons of tone so I guess gold's good. How does it eat the frets? Gold is softer than steel, right? Shouldn't it be the strings that get damaged?
 
#5
Most frets are made out of nickel these days. I dunno which is softer, gold or nickel, but upon examining a set that I've had on my MTD 635 for about 5 months shows that there is a little wear on the strings where the frets meet. There is also wear on the frets where the strings meet, so it looks almost equal. I do know that the strings have a metal core, whether it is steel or nickel, I dunno. I agree that it has a gorgeous ummm...thump tone.(I don't say 'slap' sorry). Comparing the strings to regular nickel strings does show that the gold strings don't wear as fast and as much. They also age to a nice buttery soft tone that is not quite dead, but very useable, so they are good to save the old sets for that day when you need a good "broke in" sound". I'll soon check out the gold flats, but was just told by the distributer they stopped making the flats. I would like to hear the flats on my Citron AE5 fretless. Right now I'm using LaBella Deep Talkin' Black Nylon wound.

bigd4207 said:
They are gold? That's extremely interesting. I figured they were brass for that tone, I wouldn't think god would give as bright of tone anyway. Not saying that's a bad thing but the video I got that pic from was awesome. Purely slap style, tons of tone so I guess gold's good. How does it eat the frets? Gold is softer than steel, right? Shouldn't it be the strings that get damaged?
Click to expand...
 
#6
Yeah, I guess they are nickel huh. I should have realized that, I am a metal worker. But then again with strings rubbing it kinda buffs it out or something. And actually yes, I believe nickel is mildly sofer than gold. Good thing frets aren't made of lead, there would be not frets. Some flats would be cool, I have never used flats but as soon as I get some extra cash I am going to. Probably good ol ernie's for now. I have always wanted to experience that smoothness, more so on a fretless especially with nylons, that gets me going. What's it like? :) Can you honestly say that the gold's are worth the $70+? They are extrmely enticing, although it might look kinda goofy on my black hardware/grey body bass.:) It's got lots of tone but just the thought of even more always excites me.
 
#7
I like the smooth feel of nylon on fretless, and I also have steel flats on a fender bass with high action that has a nice old school vibe, think Motown (James Jamerson). I alos like roundwound and groundwond on fretlees, so you might say that I like to switch up a lot. I mainly use nickel roundwounds on my other fretted basses, but that changes from time to time. The Gold's are worth their weight in....gold.

bigd4207 said:
I have always wanted to experience that smoothness, more so on a fretless especially with nylons, that gets me going. What's it like? :) Can you honestly say that the gold's are worth the $70+?
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#11
Yep. White painted fretboard is Larry's signature Moon bass, with gold hardware. The deciding factor is the white suit on the player. Only Larry Graham can wear white after Labor Day.

I picked up a set of Optima's for $40 on eBay and loved them. Unfortunately, D'Addario's are a little nicer on my wallet and I get free tshirts after every four sets. :)
 
#12
bigd4207 said:
TI wouldn't think god would give as bright of tone anyway.
Click to expand...

Actually, God's tone is warm and inviting. With all the overtones of a roundwound, but the punchy-ness and boom of a flat.
The brightness is silky smooth, not harsh. Like a flowing gown or the light at the end of a tunnel.
The mids are mellow like the angles playing harps on clouds.
The low end is very present and deep, like...well...the voice of God.
Over all a very comforting tone.


















sorry, I couldn't resist that typo!!!!:D
 
#13
Yeah that's Graham, I captured it from one of his famous super slap videos. One word...BADA$$. His bass trips me out though. It is awesome, just the completely white and gold thing threw me off. I have never seen a completely white bass, mainly referring to the neck and fretboard. Then the gold strings and I was like ***? At first I thought the frets were gold too, they should be to "complete the theme".:) Simply awesome bassist and bass in all.
 
#14
MikeBass said:
Actually, God's tone is warm and inviting. With all the overtones of a roundwound, but the punchy-ness and boom of a flat.
The brightness is silky smooth, not harsh. Like a flowing gown or the light at the end of a tunnel.
The mids are mellow like the angles playing harps on clouds.
The low end is very present and deep, like...well...the voice of God.
Over all a very comforting tone.


















sorry, I couldn't resist that typo!!!!:D
Click to expand...
That's crazy I never miss! NOOOOOO, typo fixed.
 
#18
bigd4207 said:
Never seen any golden strings before? Brass I am sure. Can anybody tell me where I can pick up some of these puppies? Anybody use them?


View attachment 36143
Click to expand...

Gold is not magnetic so there's no logical reason it would make a string brighter. It probably works great with monster-cable though.:D

Also gold is relatively soft so why would it 'eat' your frets?
 
#19
Neither is nylon and teflon, but if you coat the strings with it, you get a different tonal response from them. Also the tone isn't actually brighter....they are not as bright as brand new steels, however they are much cleaner tonal wise, not a lot of overtones That tone lasts for months, it lasted for five months on mine being hammered on everyday......I don't exactly know why it "eats" the frets, but that might also be due to the steel core of the strings. I'm sure that physics states that if you add the steel inner core + Gold outer wrap > weight of nickel frets.........

jzucker said:
Gold is not magnetic so there's no logical reason it would make a string brighter. It probably works great with monster-cable though.:D

Also gold is relatively soft so why would it 'eat' your frets?
Click to expand...
 
#20
BassSlave said:
Neither is nylon and teflon, but if you coat the strings with it, you get a different tonal response from them. Also the tone isn't actually brighter....they are not as bright as brand new steels, however they are much cleaner tonal wise, not a lot of overtones That tone lasts for months, it lasted for five months on mine being hammered on everyday......I don't exactly know why it "eats" the frets, but that might also be due to the steel core of the strings. I'm sure that physics states that if you add the steel inner core + Gold outer wrap > weight of nickel frets.........
Click to expand...

The Steel core is probably why it's brighter. The teflon and nylon dampen the vibrations of the string. I doubt a 24k coating of gold would do that. The reason the nylon does is that it's a looser wrap (relative to a nickel wrap). Not sure about teflon since I've never seen or played a set of those.
 

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