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Double Bass Lycons...Att. ThomastikMike

Paul Warburton

Paul Warburton

In Memoriam
Aug 17, 2003
9,424
663
84
Denver, Co.
#1
Michael, I have a question that maybe only you can answer. Do you know what happened to Lycon strings?
For youse guys that don't know, Lycons were THE best jazz string to come along, ever! This is IMHO!, and these strings were great, but only for those of us who like a whole buch of sustain. Red Mitchell turned me on to them in about 1959. Suddenly, they disappeared from the market.
Do you know what happened? The last time I saw, and played on them was around 1969. They had light blue silks on each end. And souded and felt similar to your Thomastik Orchestra line.
Thanks and i've been wanting to thank you for your time and expertise!
 
#2
Hi Paul, I saw your question... I know nothing about Lycons, are they Thomastik strings? I'm sort of curious to hear what others have to say, because I was wondering about the fact that Superflexibles have light blue silks, and wondering if they have some relationship to Lycons from years past.
 
#3
jimclark68 said:
Hi Paul, I saw your question... I know nothing about Lycons, are they Thomastik strings? I'm sort of curious to hear what others have to say, because I was wondering about the fact that Superflexibles have light blue silks, and wondering if they have some relationship to Lycons from years past.
Click to expand...
Jim, as far as I know they didn't even have strings for the other members of the string family. Thay had nothing to do with Thomastik. I wish I had more inf. They came out with a Ray Brown endorsed package with his autographed picture...nicley package in plastic. If Ray were still around, i'd call him...his specials were a bit lighter than the regular ones.
I loved these strings. You can see them on that Red Mitchell/Harold Land Quintet record--Hear Ye, Hear Ye.
By the way Ray's specials had red silks and were packaged in red.
I guess you gotta be over 60 to remember these strings.
I know we got some old people here besides me....c'mon!
 
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#4
Check this ad:
 

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#7
I loved the Lycons! They were wonderful for arco as well. In fact, back in the 70's, when I playing classical almost exclusively, they were my string of choice. I am attaching some pics of an original package I still have. As you can see, they were made in Denmark and were an all-steel string with a core of "several strands of special steel spun in definite angles." They were a true joy to play. The descriptions on the package are quite true! What I always found amazing about them was that when they were off the bass, they felt like limp pieces of rope. You could wrap them all around. They were not stiff at all. To the best of my knowledge, the company folded.

It sure would be nice to have them back again! Maybe you can never go home-- I wonder if I'd prefer them over my Dominants.

By the way, I guess I'm one of the younger Lycon lovers-- I'm only pushing 50.

Click for full-size:
Img_1885.jpgImg_1886.jpg
 
#9
Alexi David said:
That Lycon image should be your new Talkbass avatar Paul!
Click to expand...
I'll never give up my Bowed B****, Alexi. It would be fun to do just to see who the first jerk would be to steal her!
Thanks to all youse guys, 'specially DRUB and Francois for the attachments. Francois, I was of course, going to go to you first, being the string slut you are, but I thought went through all this before and didn't come up with much. Thanks Ike and jayd as well for your 2cents. Ike, I didn't know about the Oak Rosin though.
At least you cats will know that i'm not as bizzarre as I seem! The Ray Brown pack was a thing to behold....bright, shiny red plastic with clear plasic in front, so we could see Rays autographed image, complete with a snap button to close it all up!!!:D
PS...and by the way, thanks to DRUB, we know that they were made in Denmark. I'm more than sure that NHOP used these when he was a young'un! I remember a Dexter Gordon side that Nils did where he had to have been playing Lycons....Ray, Red, and NHOP....quite a group i'd say! Damn, i'd love to have a set! Then we could say: Ray, Red, NHOP and PW..... doesn't quite work does it?
 
#11
Paul Warburton said:
Jim, as far as I know they didn't even have strings for the other members of the string family. Thay had nothing to do with Thomastik. I wish I had more inf. They came out with a Ray Brown endorsed package with his autographed picture...nicley package in plastic. If Ray were still around, i'd call him...his specials were a bit lighter than the regular ones.
I loved these strings. You can see them on that Red Mitchell/Harold Land Quintet record--Hear Ye, Hear Ye.
By the way Ray's specials had red silks and were packaged in red.
I guess you gotta be over 60 to remember these strings.
I know we got some old people here besides me....c'mon!
Click to expand...

No relationship as far as I know. Honestly, I've never heard of them.
 
#13
DRURB said:
I loved the Lycons! They were wonderful for arco as well. In fact, back in the 70's, when I playing classical almost exclusively, they were my string of choice. I am attaching some pics of an original package I still have. As you can see, they were made in Denmark and were an all-steel string with a core of "several strands of special steel spun in definite angles." They were a true joy to play. The descriptions on the package are quite true! What I always found amazing about them was that when they were off the bass, they felt like limp pieces of rope. You could wrap them all around. They were not stiff at all. To the best of my knowledge, the company folded.

It sure would be nice to have them back again! Maybe you can never go home-- I wonder if I'd prefer them over my Dominants.

By the way, I guess I'm one of the younger Lycon lovers-- I'm only pushing 50.

Click for full-size:
View attachment 40368View attachment 40369
Click to expand...


Jargar are also made in Denmark? Any relation you think? Maybe the Jargar people might know.?
 
#14
Am I wrong in thinking that these were the first steel string. I am fairly confident that they were the first steel string that jazz players liked. might be wrong

EDIT: Nevermind about being the first steel string (the package reveals that)

Also If someone were real interested in finding out the real deal about these strings I bet that could look up and track down information concerning the patent #s listed on the packaging.
 
#19
Having just started checking out TB lately, Paul's note re Lycons got me interested in trying them. Back in the 80s the great English bass player Danny Thompson borrowed a bass from me on his Australian tour and he gave me a couple of NOS Lycons to try. I can't remember trying them maybe because there was only a D and A string but after this reminder about Lycons I found them in a box last week and I put them on an old bass which has always worked best with gut strings. Wow they feel looser and more flexible than any metal string and lovely arco sound too. By pure chance next day i saw a box of old strings on ebay here in Australia and bought them as i saw a Lycon packet on the pics. I recieved them and what luck amongst the dross was a Lycon E and G! Quite used but I put them on and bingo they sound great. best arco and pizz hybrid of all. Why can't someone discover their secret and reissue them? Also received the same day a set of Belcantos to try. Put them on my other bass and they are very nice but not as free and open as the Lycons - more like Flexocors with more life for pizz, but thats another thread i guess.....
 
#20
labravajazz said:
Having just started checking out TB lately, Paul's note re Lycons got me interested in trying them. Back in the 80s the great English bass player Danny Thompson borrowed a bass from me on his Australian tour and he gave me a couple of NOS Lycons to try. I can't remember trying them maybe because there was only a D and A string but after this reminder about Lycons I found them in a box last week and I put them on an old bass which has always worked best with gut strings. Wow they feel looser and more flexible than any metal string and lovely arco sound too. By pure chance next day i saw a box of old strings on ebay here in Australia and bought them as i saw a Lycon packet on the pics. I recieved them and what luck amongst the dross was a Lycon E and G! Quite used but I put them on and bingo they sound great. best arco and pizz hybrid of all. Why can't someone discover their secret and reissue them? Also received the same day a set of Belcantos to try. Put them on my other bass and they are very nice but not as free and open as the Lycons - more like Flexocors with more life for pizz, but thats another thread i guess.....
Click to expand...

Welcome to the Lycon Fan Club! I swear i'd pay anhthing for a set of those Mothers!
 

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