NSD! Any one use S.I.T. Strings' "Silencers"?

[Clark W]

So I broke down and ordered a set of strings for my latest acquisition from a few weeks back. A 2000 Peavey Millenium BXP 5. I didn't want rounds, but didn't want flats either since most of my basses are now sporting Chrome Flats, and one has LaBella Gold Flats. I was looking at GHS Pressure Wounds but in another discussion here on TB about GHS Pressure Wounds one person mentioned the "Silencers" by S.I.T.

Since one of my favorite guitarists and good friends is a S.I.T. endorsed artist I thought I'd give 'em a shot. Anyhow, they're here, and I'll put them on sometime tonight.

 

[michael_t]

SIT Silencers do get mostly positive reviews around here, although I haven't tried them for myself.

As a regular user of the GHS Pressurewounds, one thing I'm curious about the Silencers is their longevity and how they age. Thanks to Alloy 52, the PWs usually last at least twice as long as typical NPS rounds for me. But the Silencers, being flattened NPS rounds, would they last longer than regular NPS rounds?

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

......As a regular user of the GHS Pressurewounds, one thing I'm curious about the Silencers is their longevity and how they age. Thanks to Alloy 52, the PWs usually last at least twice as long as typical NPS rounds for me. But the Silencers, being flattened NPS rounds, would they last longer than regular NPS rounds?

I’m also a big believer in Alloy 52, and GHS PWs.

I don’t think I’ve ever tried any of SIT’s strings. I think I’ll buy a set of Silencers for one of my 4-strings and give them a try.

 

[Clark W]

Well I strung the B string while leaving the rest of the older strings on just so I could get somewhat of a comparison on the sound of new vs old.

First, the feel, it's not slick like a flat, but it's close enough. It sounds a little clanky to me. What I mean by "clanky" is say when I press the B string down on the fifth fret to play an "E". You can hear the string slap the fret. Now if I'm very direct, quick on the note, and firm, that "slapping the fret" sound is very diminished. But play a little sloppy and the strings are going to tell on you just like a new round would. We all know that will go away with use. So for now a little fiddling around with my amd settings and I can eq the clankiness out fairly easy.

I'm running all sound tests using a Hartke HA3500C head into a Hartke 410 cab, and I have a Sansamp BDDI running into the fx send/return with the head's fx balance knob sitting at 50/50. The head's contour knobs, basically a LPF & HPF are very useful for this at the moment. How will that translate to using this bass with these strings on my GK gear? Don't know, and won't know tonight. The other piece of gear I'll test as well will be running direct into a Zoom LiveTrak L-20 from the bass, and running into the L-20 via my Sansamp BDDI.

The thing I hate the most is that I have gotten away from using rounds and sticking mostly with flats until I bought this bass. It had rounds, but very worn rounds, and although worn, they have been producing a tone that I do like. Will these Silencers get there? Probably, but how much use is it going to take to wear them out enough to get there?

It's kind of weird, most of us want our strings to last a while as they are not cheap, but here I'am wanting them to wear out rather quickly.

 

[michael_t]

The thing I hate the most is that I have gotten away from using rounds and sticking mostly with flats until I bought this bass. It had rounds, but very worn rounds, and although worn, they have been producing a tone that I do like. Will these Silencers get there? Probably, but how much use is it going to take to wear them out enough to get there?

It's kind of weird, most of us want our strings to last a while as they are not cheap, but here I'am wanting them to wear out rather quickly.

What you're saying is you like the tone of "well worn-in" rounds, not "worn out" as such. Isn't that right?

That's another thing I like about the GHS Pressurewounds. One of the characteristics of Alloy 52 is it takes very little time to break them in, and then, once nicely worn in, they tend to stay that way for a long time before they're worn out.

 

[Clark W]

What you're saying is you like the tone of "well worn-in" rounds, not "worn out" as such. Isn't that right?

That's another thing I like about the GHS Pressurewounds. One of the characteristics of Alloy 52 is it takes very little time to break them in, and then, once nicely worn in, they tend to stay that way for a long time before they're worn out.

Yes worn in, not worn out. The problem for me with the "Silencers" is that I have no idea how long that will take whereas with GHS you say it takes very little time to break them in.

I'm definitely not going this route

 

[michael_t]

The problem for me with the "Silencers" is that I have no idea how long that will take...

Well, there is only one way to find out...

 

[Clark W]

Well, there is only one way to find out...

This is very true, and the one major pitfall of buying any strings that you have never used before. Guess I'll give them a good workout this weekend.

 

[michael_t]

This is very true, and the one major pitfall of buying any strings that you have never used before. Guess I'll give them a good workout this weekend.

You might as well enjoy the whole process of trying out new strings and getting to know them by spending quality time with them. One benefit of that is you'll be a better player after spending all that time trying to wear them in.

 

[Clark W]

You might as well enjoy the whole process of trying out new strings and getting to know them by spending quality time with them. One benefit of that is you'll be a better player after spending all that time trying to wear them in.

Well I'll have plenty of time this weekend. Having some issues with Plantar Fasciitis, severe heel pain due to a ton of time on my feet and not letting them get much rest. Been on them 40 -60 hours a week with work with a lot of moving, stretching, and a lot of very quick direction changes involved. Then add in a bunch of jam / recording sessions that have lasted anywhere from 4 to 7 hours with no breaks over the last two months, again on my feet the whole time. And it all adds up to you better slow down and take a break. So this weekend that's what I'm going to do. Chill on a couch with a bass.

 

[Stan_da_man]

SIT Silencers just get better with age. I left them on for a year before taking them off but they could have gone longer. GHS Pressurewounds die really quickly IMO and sound very dull.

 

[michael_t]

GHS Pressurewounds die really quickly IMO and sound very dull.

One's "dead" is another's "well worn-in"... If the OP is looking for the tone of "old rounds", PWs may not be a bad idea.

Alloy 52 (PW) is unique in its tonal character, which can be good or bad depending on one's taste; it's not for everyone. I can see why the Silencer's NPS is more agreeable for some people. Always good to have choices.

 

[Scootbass1]

I use the SIT Silencers on my fretless SSDNS4CR and my fretless Zon Sonus bass. I really like them for fretless. They break in and lose their zing fairly quick, and sound somewhere between rounds and flats with a nice mid range tone I like. I just changed the set on my SSD after several years on that bass, they were sounding like old thumpy flats at that time. I like them for the minimal wear they have on my finger boards. I use rounds on all my fretted basses most of the time, occasionally I use Ernie Ball Group III or Group IV regular flat wounds on fretted bass. They are the only SIT strings I have actually liked well enough to use them long term. The gauge set you got should feel comfortable tension wise. Put them on and give them a few weeks to get broke in. Thank you for reminding me to order a couple more sets for in the future.
Peace,
Mike

 

[e-flat]

The Silencers in 45-100 are terrific on my Jazz. I haven’t experienced the “clank” that the OP mentions, though. They have a great midrange and a little higher tension than a typical round wound set of the same gauge IMO. Lows are taut & punchy and the highest treble is rolled off without affecting clarity & definition. Perfect for my taste- I’m curious to see if they age well ... They’re one of the only strings I’ve tried where I’m thinking “I hope these stay like THIS” rather than “I hope these break in soon”

 

[Dincrest]

I absolutely LOVED Silencers on a Warwick Corvette 4 I used to own. The MEC electronics were too harsh and peaky, but the Silencers tamed them down to something beautiful. Definitely the best SIT strings I've used. I haven't used Foundations yet

In my current quest for "my" string, Silencers are on my to-try list for the ReBop 5 I acquired last year.

 

[Scootbass1]

I absolutely LOVED Silencers on a Warwick Corvette 4 I used to own. The MEC electronics were too harsh and peaky, but the Silencers tamed them down to something beautiful. Definitely the best SIT strings I've used. I haven't used Foundations yet

In my current quest for "my" string, Silencers are on my to-try list for the ReBop 5 I acquired last year.

I am seriously considering putting Silencers on one of my Rebop four string basses. I love the light weight, ergonomics and the sweet mids of the alder bodies mine are made of. Might also try them on my Spector Sarzo bass. I am really taking to the SimS Super Quad pickups on that one. The Silencers have a round wound kind of tone with a lot less finger noise, and age well to me.
Peace,
Mike

 

[funkinbottom]

I am seriously considering putting Silencers on one of my Rebop four string basses. I love the light weight, ergonomics and the sweet mids of the alder bodies mine are made of. Might also try them on my Spector Sarzo bass. I am really taking to the SimS Super Quad pickups on that one. The Silencers have a round wound kind of tone with a lot less finger noise, and age well to me.
Peace,
Mike

I'm using the Silencers on my Spector. A great match

 

[wintremute]

My tech guy is an SIT guy, and he's always trying to get me to switch. I'm sticking with my GHS Brite Flats, but one day I may have him put them on a bass just to try it out.

 

[Allan Allan]

I already have a lifetime supply of La Bella's

 

[stretch80]

I have a set of GHS PWs on a G&L L2500, and I love the way they sound and feel - enough tension for low action, smooth, ...except that the B string is a little more subdued than I'd ideally like.

I'll have to try the SIT silencers as well...