Anyone tried these? I tried the SIT Silencers which are also a compression wound string and I didn't really like them due to a lot of finger drag. I was wondering whether the Smith's are any better.
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Ken Smith Compressors
- Thread starter no-logic
- Start date
I've been using the compressors pretty much exclusively for 4-5 years now and absolutely love them. They are a lot like roundwounds but are noticeably smoother feeling and are still slap happy. They also last forever. The set I have on my bass now were put on last winter some time and they don't sound dead to me. They are also reasonably priced. Cool purple silks as well.
The last few sets I've had were actually a little bit "grabby" at first but the feeling goes away after a few days. I don't know why that is, maybe there is some sort of lubricant used in the manufacturing process that lingers around for a few days. Other than that I'm completely happy with them.
Compressors are almost my favorite strings! They're just as bright as a lot of other nickel roundwounds, but they have that smooth feel. Unfortunately for me, they have a little more tension than I like (I like the tension of round-core roundwounds like DR Hi-Beams) otherwise, I would probably use nothing else...
I have a set that I got a few weeks ago. I haven't used them much, probably less than 10 hours and the E and A string are both very dead. It is not really a bad sounding dead. Very buttery soloed, but not a tone that will cut through the mix. I might find a use for them as is, but my experiences do not match what I have read. Did I get a bum set? I know, necro.
I used to use them on my 5-string fretless, but just didn't get along with the sound or feel. On that bass I needed a little more twang and brilliance, so I wound up switching to Ken Smith's stainless steel roundwounds ("Rock Masters").
Ironically (or coincidentally...or conversely?) on my latest 5-string fretless, I'm coming at it from the other direction: I wanted something a bit warm and almost (but not quite) thuddy, so I strung it up with Ken Smith Slick Round. The sound is more-or-less okay, but I'm finding I really don't like the feel. So...I'm probably going to wind up back with Compressors on that bass!
Ironically (or coincidentally...or conversely?) on my latest 5-string fretless, I'm coming at it from the other direction: I wanted something a bit warm and almost (but not quite) thuddy, so I strung it up with Ken Smith Slick Round. The sound is more-or-less okay, but I'm finding I really don't like the feel. So...I'm probably going to wind up back with Compressors on that bass!
