Hello all! First, I am writing this as an aid to those having trouble finding strings for their long(er) scale bass and those who are not happy with their floppy B or E strings. I also want to give credit where it is due for the excellent service I had. Warning: wall o' text incoming!
To business: it was time to replace the strings on my 35" scale Schecter C-5, which I tune A-E-A-D-G. I had been using Elixirs but was disappointed with the gauge options for the 35" scale. I shopped around some of the other well known manufacturers to find the same situation pretty much across the board. I browsed through the forums and was directed to Circle K strings. I was immediately impressed by the huge variety of gauges available in scale lengths up to 40"(!)
Skip, the main man for Circle K, is actually a poster here on TB so I pm'd him and struck up an email conversation. Skip was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and professional. He quickly directed me to a set which would alleviate my floppy (low) A string and offer balanced tension (and output) across the fretboard. No surprise, it was going to be a big step up in gauge (from 45-65-85-105-130 to 43-61-84-112-166!). Once I placed my order, turnaround was very quick (I think I ordered Sun and had the strings Wed).
Due to the huge change in tension I figured a truss rod adjustment would be needed, and since my bass could do with a setup anyway, I contacted Dave Bush (at the recommendation of a TBer) a luthier in Columbus, OH. Dave was friendly and professional and took good care of me.
And now, the before/after: obviously before my low A string was ridiculously floppy. I had subconsciously developed a technique which accounted for that. Also, since the tension on my D and G strings was so much higher than my lower strings, I had accounted for that in my technique as well. In fact, the tension was so much higher that in order to get even output from those strings I had to pluck the crap out of them. I realized once I played with the new strings that I had been avoiding playing my D and G strings and was getting by on A E A strings! With the new strings I get much more even volume across all my strings.
I am having to adjust my technique on my low A string a bit, simply because I'm not used to plucking it as hard as my other strings. I feel this is a good change in my technique as it will lead to much more consistent playing. Additionally, the sound of my low A string is changed a bit. No doubt this is due to the different (probably greater) harmonic content brought by the greater tension.
Overall, I am very pleased with the changes. The strings were definitely worth the money and I would heartily recommend Skip and Circle K strings to anyone.
old strings:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
new strings:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
new strings nut view:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
To business: it was time to replace the strings on my 35" scale Schecter C-5, which I tune A-E-A-D-G. I had been using Elixirs but was disappointed with the gauge options for the 35" scale. I shopped around some of the other well known manufacturers to find the same situation pretty much across the board. I browsed through the forums and was directed to Circle K strings. I was immediately impressed by the huge variety of gauges available in scale lengths up to 40"(!)
Skip, the main man for Circle K, is actually a poster here on TB so I pm'd him and struck up an email conversation. Skip was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and professional. He quickly directed me to a set which would alleviate my floppy (low) A string and offer balanced tension (and output) across the fretboard. No surprise, it was going to be a big step up in gauge (from 45-65-85-105-130 to 43-61-84-112-166!). Once I placed my order, turnaround was very quick (I think I ordered Sun and had the strings Wed).
Due to the huge change in tension I figured a truss rod adjustment would be needed, and since my bass could do with a setup anyway, I contacted Dave Bush (at the recommendation of a TBer) a luthier in Columbus, OH. Dave was friendly and professional and took good care of me.
And now, the before/after: obviously before my low A string was ridiculously floppy. I had subconsciously developed a technique which accounted for that. Also, since the tension on my D and G strings was so much higher than my lower strings, I had accounted for that in my technique as well. In fact, the tension was so much higher that in order to get even output from those strings I had to pluck the crap out of them. I realized once I played with the new strings that I had been avoiding playing my D and G strings and was getting by on A E A strings! With the new strings I get much more even volume across all my strings.
I am having to adjust my technique on my low A string a bit, simply because I'm not used to plucking it as hard as my other strings. I feel this is a good change in my technique as it will lead to much more consistent playing. Additionally, the sound of my low A string is changed a bit. No doubt this is due to the different (probably greater) harmonic content brought by the greater tension.
Overall, I am very pleased with the changes. The strings were definitely worth the money and I would heartily recommend Skip and Circle K strings to anyone.
old strings:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
new strings:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
new strings nut view:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
begs the question why do I keep it that way? mostly bc I"m used to it
