Naked Strings

[GTHintz]

I know that it complicates the logistical side and may subtract from the bottom line but it's not that crazy. And I wouldn't really provide more than say 3 options because when you're talking every color of the rainbow of course that gets rediculous. Thing is that you guys all have a couple silk colors anyway so making a string with like a bare metal, blue, or black option isn't too insane an idea. Some already do this anyway some alternate colors per set like Rotosound. Not trying to argue but just be devil's advocate. Lol

 

[Element Zero]

Fodera strings have no silks and are QUITE good IMO.

 

[Jon Moody]

I know that it complicates the logistical side and may subtract from the bottom line but it's not that crazy. And I wouldn't really provide more than say 3 options because when you're talking every color of the rainbow of course that gets ridiculous. Thing is that you guys all have a couple silk colors anyway so making a string with like a bare metal, blue, or black option isn't too insane an idea.

If we were a small custom shop that offered a slew of options, this would have some merit. For a fairly large production facility? Little changes equate to big costs and lost time.

Couple quick things. First, in an echo chamber like Talkbass, this may garner some following. But custom colored silk for customers is not something I hear from people on a regular basis. Most do not care.

Second, silk colors are marketing/brand recognition. Precision Flats are iconic and instantly recognizable by their purple silk. Why would I entertain offering someone the option of having those with gold, dark blue, black, et al. silk colors?

Some already do this anyway some alternate colors per set like Rotosound. Not trying to argue but just be devil's advocate. Lol

And how many sets does Rotosound do that on?

 

[N4860]

I know that it complicates the logistical side and may subtract from the bottom line but it's not that crazy. And I wouldn't really provide more than say 3 options because when you're talking every color of the rainbow of course that gets rediculous. Thing is that you guys all have a couple silk colors anyway so making a string with like a bare metal, blue, or black option isn't too insane an idea. Some already do this anyway some alternate colors per set like Rotosound. Not trying to argue but just be devil's advocate. Lol

I'm with Jon on this one, I can't see that working for a large string manufacturer. There is already a ton of SKUs a manufacturer would have to produce considering how many different models of string a single manufacturer might offer. Consider this, let's say a manufacturer is producing 4 types of strings: flats, NPS rounds, SS rounds, and pressurewounds. They might also have to produce each of those in various gauges so that could be up to like 12 SKU's already if they have 3 gauges for each type of string. Now if you are going to offer 3 colours of silk and an option for no silk for each string, you're potentially up to 48 SKUs. I can't see any retailer being interested in stocking all of that.

 

[Jon Moody]

I can't see any retailer being interested in stocking all of that.

An easy way to visualize this point is to look at all the color options that DR offers (in their coated strings) on their website, and compare that to the amount of color options at a dealer, or on a dealer's website.

 

[Bill Murray]

If we were a small custom shop that offered a slew of options, this would have some merit. For a fairly large production facility? Little changes equate to big costs and lost time.

Couple quick things. First, in an echo chamber like Talkbass, this may garner some following. But custom colored silk for customers is not something I hear from people on a regular basis. Most do not care.

Second, silk colors are marketing/brand recognition. Precision Flats are iconic and instantly recognizable by their purple silk. Why would I entertain offering someone the option of having those with gold, dark blue, black, et al. silk colors?

I'm with Jon on this one, I can't see that working for a large string manufacturer. There is already a ton of SKUs a manufacturer would have to produce considering how many different models of string a single manufacturer might offer. Consider this, let's say a manufacturer is producing 4 types of strings: flats, NPS rounds, SS rounds, and pressurewounds. They might also have to produce each of those in various gauges so that could be up to like 12 SKU's already if they have 3 gauges for each type of string. Now if you are going to offer 3 colours of silk and an option for no silk for each string, you're potentially up to 48 SKUs. I can't see any retailer being interested in stocking all of that.

Yea I’d have to agree. this all makes sense. You’d never offset the cost, probably 1 out of 500 people care about having no silk haha. However, I should check out some small custom shops, that never crossed my mind.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I have been using primarily DR Hi Beams on quite a few different basses over the last ten years and never had any issue with the silkless string end chewing up a post.

Recently I have also been using Pete Skjold's Hybrid Nickel Steel strings. Really nice strings with a medium tension, good balance sound between nickel and steel, and good longevity. They are silkless as well. Can be ordered from his site directly. Not sure who makes them for him but they are made in the USA

 

[N4860]

I know that it complicates the logistical side and may subtract from the bottom line but it's not that crazy. And I wouldn't really provide more than say 3 options because when you're talking every color of the rainbow of course that gets rediculous. Thing is that you guys all have a couple silk colors anyway so making a string with like a bare metal, blue, or black option isn't too insane an idea. Some already do this anyway some alternate colors per set like Rotosound. Not trying to argue but just be devil's advocate. Lol

Perhaps a better solution would be a product that a user can apply to the strings themself to customize the look of their strings? Not sure if such a product exists or if it is possible to apply something like silks to a string by an average person.

 

[jdjk7]

I apologize if this has been brought up already. I’m on the hunt for strings that are just bare as can be.

I’ve been rolling with Slinky’s because they have no coloring on the bottom or top end (the bottom as in the part that slides through the bridge and the top as in what coils around the tuners), but wondering if any other brands are available like this?

All string styles welcome

Out of curiosity, and not taking the time to read the whole thread... why?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I apologize if this has been brought up already. I’m on the hunt for strings that are just bare as can be.

I’ve been rolling with Slinky’s because they have no coloring on the bottom or top end (the bottom as in the part that slides through the bridge and the top as in what coils around the tuners), but wondering if any other brands are available like this?

All string styles welcome

Elixirs

 

[Hevy T]

If you are Canadian the Long and McQuade house brand strings are like that, and are pretty decent strings

 

[bdplaid]

And here I am thinking this thread is about the old brand named Naked Strings.

 

[BobDeRosa]

I hope you're not seeking naked just because they "look cool." I have to question whether someone who would buy strings just for their looks is really a bass player or a performance artist.

 

[bdplaid]

I hope you're not seeking naked just because they "look cool." I have to question whether someone who would buy strings just for their looks is really a bass player or a performance artist.

Is that true of the DR colored strings? Speaking for myself, I like to goof around every now and again.

 

[Jon Moody]

I hope you're not seeking naked just because they "look cool." I have to question whether someone who would buy strings just for their looks is really a bass player or a performance artist.

I thought bassists WERE performing artists?

 

[WarwickE36]

Dr HI Beams and likely other DRs...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Just when i thought i read it all here...

and this being a PG web site and all…..

 

[logdrum]

Leave the silk color options to the Double Bass string manufacturers who can pass the cost to the consumer. Just look at how expensive the strings are. They actually use the silks colors to identify the string model and gauge and you want silks to protect the string from breaking. Pirastro owns this game, because they even have multi-colored silks

 

[Bill Murray]

I hope you're not seeking naked just because they "look cool." I have to question whether someone who would buy strings just for their looks is really a bass player or a performance artist.

haha consider me a professional performance artist then (which is actually technically accurate). It’s not that they look cool, it’s that the silk doesn’t look cool and doesn’t vibe with the finish on my basses.

 

[sotua]

I apologize if this has been brought up already. I’m on the hunt for strings that are just bare as can be.

I’ve been rolling with Slinky’s because they have no coloring on the bottom or top end (the bottom as in the part that slides through the bridge and the top as in what coils around the tuners), but wondering if any other brands are available like this?

All string styles welcome

DR, D'addario XLs, and I think dunlops as well.