Mystery strings on my "new" bass

[g-dude]

So one of the joys of buying used is that you have no idea what strings are on it...

Here's what I can tell you:

- No silks, top or bottom.
- G has no taper after the nut. D and A have a one step taper. E and B have two steps of taper.
- Ball ends of strings are all bronze color.

Digital caliper measurements:

B: 0.128"
E: anywhere from 0.099" to 0.105" depending on how firmly I close the caliper or wiggle it.
A: 0.08"
D: 0.065"
G: 0.045"

It was purchased from a guitar center, but I doubt they changed the strings when it was traded in -- these strings are so old and dead that they could make a cameo in the video for "Touch of Grey".


You'd think they'd be decent strings given that they are on an Alembic, but then again it's not like this is a collector worthy bass - it's obviously been used.

 

[michael_t]

Here's what I can tell you:

- No silks, top or bottom.
- G has no taper after the nut. D and A have a one step taper. E and B have two steps of taper.
- Ball ends of strings are all bronze color.

Digital caliper measurements:

B: 0.128"
E: anywhere from 0.099" to 0.105" depending on how firmly I close the caliper or wiggle it.
A: 0.08"
D: 0.065"
G: 0.045"

Nothing unique about the features listed above. Too generic for any positive ID.

Can you do something? Measure the E string from the ball end to the first taper at the tuner end to see how long the "winding length" is. Thanks.

 

[michael_t]

It also might help to have a couple of pics of the strings for subtle visual clues - one at the headstock and one at the bridge. Thanks.

 

[g-dude]

Nothing unique about the features listed above. Too generic for any positive ID.

Can you do something? Measure the E string from the ball end to the first taper at the tuner end to see how long the "winding length" is. Thanks.

It also might help to have a couple of pics of the strings for subtle visual clues - one at the headstock and one at the bridge. Thanks.

Appears to be about 37.25 to 37.5 - hard to get an exact measurement.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

When I sell basses, to G.C. or whatever--whoever, I take off the strings that are fresh or that I like and put on ones that I really did not get along with.

I'd just grab a fresh set.

 

[michael_t]

Appears to be about 37.25 to 37.5 - hard to get an exact measurement.

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Based on the fairly generic features and the winding length, my best guess would be the Ernie Ball Slinky 45-65-80-100-130.

 

[g-dude]

When I sell basses, to G.C. or whatever--whoever, I take off the strings that are fresh or that I like and put on ones that I really did not get along with.

I'd just grab a fresh set.

I have some Alembic strings on order. I figure I might as well give them a shot as my other strings of choice are Thomastik Infelds of varying types.

Based on the fairly generic features and the winding length, my best guess would be the Ernie Ball Slinky 45-65-80-100-130.

Thanks! I feel like you might be right based on a bass that previously came with those strings.

 

[Swerve]

Definitely Slinkys. Most used basses I deal with seem to wear them. Very popular strings outside TB.

 

[J Wilson]

GHS Bassics?

 

[michael_t]

GHS Bassics?

Possibly... except the Bassics factory 5-string set is 44-63-84-106-130.

 

[sxaxsx]

I'm confused why everyone always wants to know what strings are on basses they buy? Are they that special that you would want to buy a fresh set? You said they were old and dead. I always just change to strings I know I like and move on.

 

[r_bnks]

I'm confused why everyone always wants to know what strings are on basses they buy? Are they that special that you would want to buy a fresh set? You said they were old and dead. I always just change to strings I know I like and move on.

Exactly

 

[Stan_da_man]

Could be old Dunlop Nickels.
Ernie Ball Slinkys.
SIT Power Wounds.
DR.

 

[michael_t]

Could be old Dunlop Nickels.
Ernie Ball Slinkys.
SIT Power Wounds.
DR.

The first three do share the same features, including the winding length. I ruled out DR as they would be longer in winding length at 37.75"-38'.

 

[g-dude]

I'm confused why everyone always wants to know what strings are on basses they buy? Are they that special that you would want to buy a fresh set? You said they were old and dead. I always just change to strings I know I like and move on.

I wanted to find out the string gauges to understand the likelihood that I would need new brass saddles due to the potential for the slots to have been altered. Mission accomplished before I made my post.

If it turns out that I need new saddles, then I can hold off putting on my new strings until I get them and possibly just get a set of replacement strings of the same type to minimize the amount of setup work I need to do.

 

[nickpc]

I'm confused why everyone always wants to know what strings are on basses they buy? Are they that special that you would want to buy a fresh set? You said they were old and dead. I always just change to strings I know I like and move on.

Same reason every Classified posting for a bass has someone asking "Weight?" in it (even if the OP has the weight listed...).

I don't know what that reason is, but it's still the same.

 

[Baker69]

They look like Harley Benton strings to me?

 

[michael_t]

They look like Harley Benton strings to me?

The last time I checked, Harley Benton strings had orange silk on them.

 

[Baker69]

The last time I checked, Harley Benton strings had orange silk on them.

I bought a set of 5 string Harley Benton’s, no silks and the tapers look the same.

They were very cheap strings but weren’t too bad as I recall, wouldn’t buy them again though. Thomann stock them, perhaps the seller thought they’d put a new cheap set of strings on to sell the bass with?

I assume Harley Benton sell their basses fitted with their own strings and the photos of their basses show them without silks.

 

[rojo412]

Is it weird to assume that someone who owns an Alembic wouldn't want to ever put a set of Harley Benton strings on it?
Just curious...