Ibanez BTB747 String sets

[Nighttrain1127]

I prefer EB Cobalt flats, GHS Pressure Wounds or DHS Balanced Nickel Strings. And am wondering if there is a way to make a 7 string set with any of these. I don't like rounds in any way shape or form so this will be my deciding factor in if I grab a 7 or not.

 

[mmbongo]

GHS Balanced Nickel are 100% rounds. Pressurewounds are rounds as well, just slightly flattened. So what exactly are you looking for?

 

[Aidil]

I prefer EB Cobalt flats, GHS Pressure Wounds or DHS Balanced Nickel Strings. And am wondering if there is a way to make a 7 string set with any of these. I don't like rounds in any way shape or form so this will be my deciding factor in if I grab a 7 or not.

I used to have my BTB7 strung with Ken Smith Compressors and GHS Pressurewounds in various sets:

First set was Ken Smith CRL Compression Wound Light (040 058 080 102) + C125-T Compression Wound Low B w/Taper Core + C028 Compression Wound High C + B.020 (from Ken Smith Bass Burner series for the high F, which actually was just a plain steel string, but it had the same purplish silk color at the tuning post side, just like the rest of the strings).

Then I switched to GHS L7200 Pressurewound Light (040 054 076 096) + PWB128 Pressurewound Low-B + PWB28 Pressurewound High C and kept on using the Ken Smith high F from the previous set.

Then I wanted to try the highest tension and switched to M7200-5 Pressurewound Medium (044 062 084 106 128) while maintaining the High C and High F strings from the previous set.

For the fourth set, I took only the previous set EADG strings off the bass and installed the ML7200 Pressurewound Medium Light (044 058 080 102) set. So, the Low B, High C, and High F were still from the previous set.

 

[Nighttrain1127]

I have played Pressure wounds for many years and they do not sound like rounds in most respects. I know the BN strings are rounds but they are much darker sounding then say Boomers that is what I am talking about. I don't like the typical round wound Zing. So I appreciate the correction now it is clear what I am looking for.

 

[ixlramp]

Low F# or high F?
If high F, you might be able to use a wound guitar string of gauge .022 or .020, it will possibly reach the tuner post. Thread a detached bass ball end onto it to make the ball end the right size.
However, a .020 or .022 at F is at a fairly high tension, a particular guitar string may not have a core thick and strong enough to cope.
Alternatively you can use a guitar plain steel string of around .018-.020, these will be far stronger, and cheaper.

 

[michael_t]

I used to have my BTB7 strung with Ken Smith Compressors and GHS Pressurewounds in various sets:

First set was Ken Smith CRL Compression Wound Light (040 058 080 102) + C125-T Compression Wound Low B w/Taper Core + C028 Compression Wound High C + B.020 (from Ken Smith Bass Burner series for the high F, which actually was just a plain steel string, but it had the same purplish silk color at the tuning post side, just like the rest of the strings).

Then I switched to GHS L7200 Pressurewound Light (040 054 076 096) + PWB128 Pressurewound Low-B + PWB28 Pressurewound High C and kept on using the Ken Smith high F from the previous set.

Then I wanted to try the highest tension and switched to M7200-5 Pressurewound Medium (044 062 084 106 128) while maintaining the High C and High F strings from the previous set.

For the fourth set, I took only the previous set EADG strings off the bass and installed the ML7200 Pressurewound Medium Light (044 058 080 102) set. So, the Low B, High C, and High F were still from the previous set.

A couple of questions for you...

1. Out of the three different sets of PWs you've tried, which set matches up best with the PW 128B in terms of TONAL BALANCE (not tension balance)?
2. How does the KS Compressor tapered 125B compare with the PW 128B in terms of clarity and definition?

 

[Aidil]

1. honestly, I couldn't remember the exact. Probably the M7200-5 set has the closest tonality balance. But, I do remember the first 128 low B single that I used (with the L7200 set) suffered the PW sudden death syndrome thus made it different in tonality than any of the rests. And I still remember the L7200 set was the closest match in terms of balanced tension with the 128 low B (and 28 high C). Very comfortable to use on an ERB which has a lot of strings to press like a 7 strings bass.
2. I think I remember the KS C125-T was better in those terms. Frankly, if I were to put another compression wounds on my BTB7, I would choose the KS again. Although, this might be less likely to happen soon, as I've already had a few 6 string sets of (custom) Cobalt rounds, Super Bright NPS, and NYXL waiting in line to be tried on this bass (I'll just keep on using the plain steel .020p or .018p string which I've already had for the high F). Currently, it is carrying Elixir NPS Nanowebs.