Might be an intonation thingy? Dunno. My tuner says my A on the E-string is off, too. By ear, it doesn't sound like it.
So might be your tuner reacting to overtones or something as well.
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Praise Report: GHS Precision Flats
- Thread starter Linnin
- Start date
Might be an intonation thingy? Dunno. My tuner says my A on the E-string is off, too. By ear, it doesn't sound like it.
So might be your tuner reacting to overtones or something as well.
That's done. Ahhh - now that's what I'm talking about!
And sure enough, I'm riding a little high at the nut. I'm no whiz with fine measurements such as these, but I believe 0.022" is roughly the thickness of a credit card. At that height, even these hulking fat boys should feel pretty sweet up at the first fret.
And fat they are. I must have had the GHS Precision light set, because the La Bella A is same or larger gauge as the the GHS E.
I have this set on my yamaha sbv-500.
They will be on there for as long as I own that bass.
Great to see a major string manufacturer have a presence on this board and really listening to their customers!
The precision flats were one of my contenders for ordering my first flats recently, but another brand (the name of their flatwound string starts with a C) was the only one with a B-string with enough tension to balance with even light gauges for the other 4 strings.
Would you please make a precision flats B-string that is balanced in tension with a medium gauge set?
The precision flats were one of my contenders for ordering my first flats recently, but another brand (the name of their flatwound string starts with a C) was the only one with a B-string with enough tension to balance with even light gauges for the other 4 strings.
Would you please make a precision flats B-string that is balanced in tension with a medium gauge set?
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
Thanks for the comments, and it's on my list. I'm working on getting the tension for our bass strings, at which point it'll be easier for me to go forward with a number of these kind of requests.
Yes, the nut is cut properly. The 0760M are in a league of their own with maybe the Rotos 77 when it comes to tension. I have small, frail hands so your mileage may vary.
They do sound fabulous though.
In my case the tuner says the notes are in tune but my ear says no way! It probably is something in the string harmonics tricking my ear into thinking those notes are off tune. Like maybe the fundamentals are correct (as the tuner reports) but the overtones are not harmonics of the fundamental?? I'm an engineer so I like to understand things like this, otherwise I would have just changed the string and let it go without comment. As I said the string has earned its keep but the problem is just so interesting.
Overtones can be out of tune for a variety of reasons:
fret misplaced
inconsistent core diameter
inconsistent wrap diameter or placement
corrosion - anywhere, from the ball ends, over the bridge saddle, along the length, binding in the nut, around the tuning post, etc.
body resonance at the wrong frequency
neck resonance at the wrong frequency
twist or kink in the string
pickups too close to the strings, causing magnet pull
nut slot not cut properly (usually on the first few frets)
bridge saddle not cut properly (so the string binds when tuning)
bridge/pocket joint not secure (shape, loose screws, gaps, etc.)
Or a number of other minor aspects.
There are a number of texts out there, from Hemholz forwards, that talk about the inherent nature of strings to be out of tune with themselves, due to the perpendicular vibrations microscopically winding and unwinding the string from barrel-style bridge saddles, and other minutiae that can also cause strings to appear out of tune.
When tuning, to get the most fundamental, I use the pickup closer to the neck and roll the tone, or treble if you have active eq, down at least half.
For the above reasons, I sometimes tune the E string at the 12th fret harmonic instead of open, and tune the B string for what I'm going to be doing: 4th fret Eb for horns, 3rd fret D for playing with open tuning guitarists, etc., including sometimes just tuning the string up to C when playing with keyboard players.
I would do two things: 1) get a new string of the same make, model and gauge; and 2) ever so slightly tweak the truss rod tighter to change the mechanical impedance (or stiffness) of the neck, but not so much that it changes the relief requiring a new setup.
Then report back your findings. Good luck!
fret misplaced
inconsistent core diameter
inconsistent wrap diameter or placement
corrosion - anywhere, from the ball ends, over the bridge saddle, along the length, binding in the nut, around the tuning post, etc.
body resonance at the wrong frequency
neck resonance at the wrong frequency
twist or kink in the string
pickups too close to the strings, causing magnet pull
nut slot not cut properly (usually on the first few frets)
bridge saddle not cut properly (so the string binds when tuning)
bridge/pocket joint not secure (shape, loose screws, gaps, etc.)
Or a number of other minor aspects.
There are a number of texts out there, from Hemholz forwards, that talk about the inherent nature of strings to be out of tune with themselves, due to the perpendicular vibrations microscopically winding and unwinding the string from barrel-style bridge saddles, and other minutiae that can also cause strings to appear out of tune.
When tuning, to get the most fundamental, I use the pickup closer to the neck and roll the tone, or treble if you have active eq, down at least half.
For the above reasons, I sometimes tune the E string at the 12th fret harmonic instead of open, and tune the B string for what I'm going to be doing: 4th fret Eb for horns, 3rd fret D for playing with open tuning guitarists, etc., including sometimes just tuning the string up to C when playing with keyboard players.
I would do two things: 1) get a new string of the same make, model and gauge; and 2) ever so slightly tweak the truss rod tighter to change the mechanical impedance (or stiffness) of the neck, but not so much that it changes the relief requiring a new setup.
Then report back your findings. Good luck!
I like these strings, I got them on a couple of my basses. They are better than the other popular brand I tried (chromes) which were just too clickety.
OK it's been roughly six months since I put these on. They are excellent. I did have to re-intonate twice after the initial set-up. Along with ongoing tweaking of bridge saddle hight and pickup tweaking for even string volume.
All is well & good. Tone is solid. Ability to keep tune is unequalled in my 44 years of bass playing experiance. Just as I suspected, six months is the magic number. They are perfect now, and I hope they stay that way for at least 66 more months.
All is well & good. Tone is solid. Ability to keep tune is unequalled in my 44 years of bass playing experiance. Just as I suspected, six months is the magic number. They are perfect now, and I hope they stay that way for at least 66 more months.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
I appreciate the "after the honeymoon is over" update. The winders in the back definitely take a lot of pride in what they do.
You're most welcome, Jon! Please tell the winders I send them my utmost appreciation for the fruits of their labor.
The Tweaking Is Over! Let The Twerking Begin!
Fat Steve
The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
I got the GHS Precision Flats Long+ Medium: .045 .065 .085 .105 for my first set of flats. I had no idea of the tension difference between flats and wounds. Luckily I play DB, so it wasn't a total shock but man there was some tension. At first I didn't like it at all, but now I'll never go back to wounds. I may get some lights though for my other basses.
You could also try DR Legends. Very smooth. Not too stiff, not too floppy.
Got light guage set on order, for my 72 pbass. Waiting patiently. I have played Chromes and Fender and went with the lightest guage. Just put light guauge chromes on my jbass an boom made in heaven. I'm hoping the same for the GHS.
I'm sure they're good, Daniel. I like DR Lo-Riders and Neons. I bought GHS Precision Flats for the deep, dark tightly focused fundamental tonality that no other string has. It's a tone signature that you have want. Lots of tweaking and waiting for the tone to come through, but come it does. In spades. Deep; dark, & delicious.
Good review. I ordered a set for new 6 string SX j style I intend to tune b: b because I think in guitar.
After some time with Chromes (45-100) on a Squier CV P bass I switched to GHS Precision flats (45-105) to give them a try and I must admit that these strings are really providing the tone I was after.
I was quite disappointed at the first time to lose the clank side of the Chromes and found the GHS a bit dull and boring... although string to string balance was excellent.
This was before I played the GHS with the band. In fact they sit wonderful in the mix and my finger style sound is much more percussive and focused now.
Played with a pick they also sound fantastic, especially palm muted with tone rolled off a bit.
I also do a bit of slap at times and it sounds really good too!
On the tension side I find them perfect for my taste, just required half turn on the truss-rod to get the neck right back.
After three month of playing them they seem to sound even better.
I'm really impressed by the sound of these strings and strongly recommend you give them a try!
My Squier has a fender 62 original pickup and the combination with GHS flats is perfect.
I was quite disappointed at the first time to lose the clank side of the Chromes and found the GHS a bit dull and boring... although string to string balance was excellent.
This was before I played the GHS with the band. In fact they sit wonderful in the mix and my finger style sound is much more percussive and focused now.
Played with a pick they also sound fantastic, especially palm muted with tone rolled off a bit.
I also do a bit of slap at times and it sounds really good too!
On the tension side I find them perfect for my taste, just required half turn on the truss-rod to get the neck right back.
After three month of playing them they seem to sound even better.
I'm really impressed by the sound of these strings and strongly recommend you give them a try!
My Squier has a fender 62 original pickup and the combination with GHS flats is perfect.
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
You're most welcome, Jon! Please tell the winders I send them my utmost appreciation for the fruits of their labor.
The Tweaking Is Over! Let The Twerking Begin!
Uh oh, twerking has taken over Talkbass...
And, I printed up the thread and posted in the breakroom for all the workers to read. I know many of them will appreciate the words and comments.
