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Kalium Strings Alive and Well
- Thread starter Mike U
- Start date
Yet another long-time Kalium/Circle K customer here. Have used their strings exclusively for well over a decade. I have a beautiful custom 5-string that was my primary bass all through the 90s and beyond. Sounded and played great, but I always had a problem with the B string - consistently felt loose and had dull tone. I heard about the balanced tension sets and looked into it and got the .136 SS tapered set. Put them on and got a full setup and minor fret level, and it was like I had a brand-new instrument - couldn't believe how perfect the tone and tension was from those strings.
I recently reached out to them and was reassured by Skip that they will deliver to Australia. Will probably cost an arm and a leg, but will be worth it for me.
-M
I recently reached out to them and was reassured by Skip that they will deliver to Australia. Will probably cost an arm and a leg, but will be worth it for me.
-M
Been using Kalium strings for a long time. First started using them when I was experimenting with 5ths tuning, and I currently have a balanced set tuned F#-G on my 6-string fretless. They're solid, the strings feel and sound great, and Skip is great with communication and any last-minute changes.
Can someone give an idea of what Kalium strings sound like, specifically the nickel hybrid ones? I've been curious about them since Circle K, didn't pull the trigger, then saw the posts about issues. I really like the balanced tension of my current strings, so I'm still very curious about these. What do they compare to, sound-wise?
Like nickel equal tensions to my ear, maybe a little better.
I think they have the best possible 5 string sets. Skip is a very long time online friend.
Their shipping issues were really shameful and hurt their business.
I'm glad if it is all fixed.
Their shipping issues were really shameful and hurt their business.
I'm glad if it is all fixed.
I hope it's true and that he's gotten his poop together. Maybe I'll try out some Bass VI strings after there's more data back that they're consistently shipping orders nowadays.
Ordered a set of Bass VI strings, their ordering process seem responsive. Sent a question about strings for my Quake, Skip got back to me today, ordered a new set of strings starting at .170 for the Low E (E0, a full octave below the usual E). Skip noticed the two orders and emailed me saying he'd pack together and refund the extra shipping charge. Seems good to me, I'll update when they arrive. Eager to hear the Quake again, I've actually got a cab now to faithfully reproduce that E0! (Definitive Technologies "Trinity" subwoofer)
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Guys if you can do support Kalium, for a smaller operation they offer value way above their size, and they do so despite regulations that aren't exactly friendly to smaller businesses whereas D'addario and Ernie Ball can handle it.
Posting my Quake again just because.... 
Skip built this for me, maybe 20 years ago now? Been a while. Don't play it nearly enough.
Skip built this for me, maybe 20 years ago now? Been a while. Don't play it nearly enough.
$9.65 via Priority Mail Flat Rate!Must be extra shipping charges getting there to the comet's tail, huh??
Glad to know things are running smoothly now.
Years back I put a set of Circle Ks on a Squier and that alone turned it into a serious bass.
Years back I put a set of Circle Ks on a Squier and that alone turned it into a serious bass.
Posting my Quake again just because....
Skip built this for me, maybe 20 years ago now? Been a while. Don't play it nearly enough.
that is awesome is it a 40" scale?
im messing about with similar tunings on a 37 so i can really apreciate this beast
Just under 40", 39.55", if I recall correctly. Tuning it EADGC, starting at E0, one full octave below a normal 4 string bass. The low E is .170 in this set. Shakes the very ground!
