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Pyramid Gold Flatwound. my 2 cents
- Thread starter morehorn
- Start date
I have one set of pyramids on my SG short scale. Love is not a strong enough word to describe them.
I do have to admit that when I first put them on the “E” sounded clunky and horrible, and I wondered if I had made a mistake by buying them. It mellowed out fairly quickly.
I had read up on them prior to buying and crimped prior to cutting, and I do that with all bass strings now.
Where do TBers buy pyramids? I can’t remember where I sourced mine from.
I will be looking for a set for my fretless Pbass build. Top Load 34” scale. which set should I be looking for?
I do have to admit that when I first put them on the “E” sounded clunky and horrible, and I wondered if I had made a mistake by buying them. It mellowed out fairly quickly.
I had read up on them prior to buying and crimped prior to cutting, and I do that with all bass strings now.
Where do TBers buy pyramids? I can’t remember where I sourced mine from.
I will be looking for a set for my fretless Pbass build. Top Load 34” scale. which set should I be looking for?
I love pyramids, I have them on both my basses. The short scale set is perfect
For me, on a fretless P, the black Pyramid Tapewounds are my favorite. But if you're playing with a pick, maybe the nickel flatwounds (like on your SG?)
Has something happened to pyramid? my nee set isn’t smooth at all. The roughest dullest flats I’ve played. I had a set of the 640/1 ten years ago and they were like glass smooth, and shiny. Not this set I’ve just bought. Take a look compared to optimas.
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The "dull/dead E" thing is fairly common with flats. And, as you found; if you play new flats for a while (how long a while can vary a good bit), the E string mellows/gets brighter, and the other strings lose their brightness. When they meet in the middle? They're broken in, and sound like they should...
Where do TB'ers buy Pyramids? Most probably online; I doubt most of us (in the USA, anyhow) live near a music store that carries them. Personally, Pyramid flats are one of the small handful of flats that I've never tried. But, should I get around to it, I'll probably buy them from Invalid Link Removed. I've never had a problem with them, and they have a number of brands that you seldom see in this country...
The Pyramids look like they’ve been around the block. Twice.
Where did you buy them, from a reputable source?
I have in the past few years played some short scale Pyramids & thought they felt rough. The long scale have been like glass
Some time after I posted this, I acquired a NOS 2017 Hofner 500/2 Sunburst Club Bass. Because Hofner doesn't see fit to make lefty Chinese Club basses? I put one of my credit cards on life support, and bought a German one. Like a lot of companies, Hofner's willing to make you a lefty - but there's a VERY hefty surcharge for it (Gibson is another one with a surcharge that'll take your breath away). Anyhow...The "dull/dead E" thing is fairly common with flats. And, as you found; if you play new flats for a while (how long a while can vary a good bit), the E string mellows/gets brighter, and the other strings lose their brightness. When they meet in the middle? They're broken in, and sound like they should...
Where do TB'ers buy Pyramids? Most probably online; I doubt most of us (in the USA, anyhow) live near a music store that carries them. Personally, Pyramid flats are one of the small handful of flats that I've never tried. But, should I get around to it, I'll probably buy them from Invalid Link Removed. I've never had a problem with them, and they have a number of brands that you seldom see in this country...
I thought that the bass had it's factory Hofner strings on it but... I'm not so sure. I bought a set of short scale Pyramid Gold flats as back up (I have a backup set for every one of the 26 basses I own), 'cause I thought "WTH, they make Hofner's strings anyway, right?" But, the Pyramid's are identical to the strings it's wearing now. Absolutely identical... I'm not complaining, though; the Pyramids suit this bass down to the ground. And, like pretty much EVERY non- mainstream flatwound string I buy, I did get the Pyramids from @Stringsbymail.com. Going to put an order in for some other strings today, in fact...
they can be hit and miss. they are handmade and the operation is very small. i emailed the company about an issue once and Max Junger the CEO emailed me back and was the customer service dept who resolved my issue (he mailed the fix as well). they are hand polished to finish them off.
i'm not saying this to excuse them, just that maybe they had a bad day that day, i have owned many pyramids of the years and 90% have been smooth as glass without issue, but i have had some little issues and yes i've had rough strings before (usually the A string). nothing sounds like them so i have stuck by them.
i'm not saying this to excuse them, just that maybe they had a bad day that day, i have owned many pyramids of the years and 90% have been smooth as glass without issue, but i have had some little issues and yes i've had rough strings before (usually the A string). nothing sounds like them so i have stuck by them.
For some reason, I have noticed that the long scale Pyramids are much smoother feeling than the shorties
I've played Pyramid flats on my Hofner basses since 1971. Not all of the sets have been glass smooth, but they all sounded correct when broken in.
D
I've used Pyramid Golds for around 30 years. I've currently got them installed on three basses and the oldest set has been installed for around 20 years. I've never had any issues with them whatsoever and I've never crimped the strings. Of course, it won't hurt to crimp them to be on the safe side but it really shouldn't be necessary with hex core strings.
However...
I only like the short scale sets. They are my absolute favorite short scale strings in ANY category. In my opinion they are the best balanced short scale sets you'll ever find and I absolutely LOVE the tone (which admittedly isn't for everyone or suitable for all styles of music).
I don't like the long scale sets though. They're not nearly as nicely balanced as the short scale sets and the E-string is just too dead/thumpy for my taste. Pyramid Golds are available as singles so I've often thought about buying a single .100 E-string to replace the .105 E-string in the long scale sets. I have a feeling this could help a bit with the dead E-string. But I haven't gotten around to it yet as there are so many other great options out there for long scale flats. Optima Chromes can be a great alternative for long scale. They don't sound or feel QUITE like the Pyramid Golds but it's the closest I've gotten and the E-string is MUCH better.
I think the "problem" with Pyramid Golds is that unlike most strings they were actually designed for short scale (specifically for Höfners). Which means the situation is the exact opposite to most other strings which are usually designed for long scale and the short scale sets are junk.
However...
I only like the short scale sets. They are my absolute favorite short scale strings in ANY category. In my opinion they are the best balanced short scale sets you'll ever find and I absolutely LOVE the tone (which admittedly isn't for everyone or suitable for all styles of music).
I don't like the long scale sets though. They're not nearly as nicely balanced as the short scale sets and the E-string is just too dead/thumpy for my taste. Pyramid Golds are available as singles so I've often thought about buying a single .100 E-string to replace the .105 E-string in the long scale sets. I have a feeling this could help a bit with the dead E-string. But I haven't gotten around to it yet as there are so many other great options out there for long scale flats. Optima Chromes can be a great alternative for long scale. They don't sound or feel QUITE like the Pyramid Golds but it's the closest I've gotten and the E-string is MUCH better.
I think the "problem" with Pyramid Golds is that unlike most strings they were actually designed for short scale (specifically for Höfners). Which means the situation is the exact opposite to most other strings which are usually designed for long scale and the short scale sets are junk.
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Trying Pyramid Golds for the first time, the heavy long scale set (105-85-65-45) on my Player Jazz bass. I was going to put them on my Precision, but the purple silks just look too nice with the Tidepool finish on my Jazz. Priorities, right? 
So, first impressions. First off, they were GRUNGY. The white packets the strings came in were all stained black where the strings were touching. So thank you, TalkBass, for turning me on to alcohol pads. I had to spend some time wiping off the strings, using several pads each on the E, A, and D strings. The G wasn't bad.
Tension-wise, they're not as stiff as Roto 77's, but they're sturdy. Had to tighten the truss rod quite a bit. They don't feel hard to play, though. I'd rank them somewhere around GHS Boomers in the same gauges in terms of tension.
When it comes to sound, the E, A, and D strings were nice and mellow right out of the package. But the G rings out loud and proud, bright as a roundwound. So I'll be playing one-string scales up and down the G string for the foreseeable future (or maybe I'll just bust out the Eucerin).
I'll try to remember to come back in a month and let ya'll know how they're progressing. Flats don't always make the greatest first impression, but of course it takes time to let them come into their own.
So, first impressions. First off, they were GRUNGY. The white packets the strings came in were all stained black where the strings were touching. So thank you, TalkBass, for turning me on to alcohol pads. I had to spend some time wiping off the strings, using several pads each on the E, A, and D strings. The G wasn't bad.
Tension-wise, they're not as stiff as Roto 77's, but they're sturdy. Had to tighten the truss rod quite a bit. They don't feel hard to play, though. I'd rank them somewhere around GHS Boomers in the same gauges in terms of tension.
When it comes to sound, the E, A, and D strings were nice and mellow right out of the package. But the G rings out loud and proud, bright as a roundwound. So I'll be playing one-string scales up and down the G string for the foreseeable future (or maybe I'll just bust out the Eucerin).
I'll try to remember to come back in a month and let ya'll know how they're progressing. Flats don't always make the greatest first impression, but of course it takes time to let them come into their own.
The assertive G string was a sonic imbalance in my first set of Pyramid Gold flats. After several months, it mellowed out, and after about 5 years it settled completely in with the rest. Now, with over 20 years on that set, they sound super fat and tubby. Just what I wand in a flat on my short scale P-bass.Trying Pyramid Golds for the first time, the heavy long scale set (105-85-65-45) on my Player Jazz bass. I was going to put them on my Precision, but the purple silks just look too nice with the Tidepool finish on my Jazz. Priorities, right?
So, first impressions. First off, they were GRUNGY. The white packets the strings came in were all stained black where the strings were touching. So thank you, TalkBass, for turning me on to alcohol pads. I had to spend some time wiping off the strings, using several pads each on the E, A, and D strings. The G wasn't bad.
Tension-wise, they're not as stiff as Roto 77's, but they're sturdy. Had to tighten the truss rod quite a bit. They don't feel hard to play, though. I'd rank them somewhere around GHS Boomers in the same gauges in terms of tension.
When it comes to sound, the E, A, and D strings were nice and mellow right out of the package. But the G rings out loud and proud, bright as a roundwound. So I'll be playing one-string scales up and down the G string for the foreseeable future (or maybe I'll just bust out the Eucerin).
I'll try to remember to come back in a month and let ya'll know how they're progressing. Flats don't always make the greatest first impression, but of course it takes time to let them come into their own.
Best of luck!
Are there still a lot of happy users of pyramid golds (long scale)? I can't find much recent information on these strings.
I got a set recently, e string was quiet compared to the others. They sent me a new e, same thing, so they must just be imbalanced to start. I honestly can’t be bothered to break these in right now so I’ve but my labellas back on, maybe one day I’ll put these on. The other issue I have is they are pretty low tension and I have a band I play with that is exclusively in Eb and the floppyness isn’t great for that.
They are an expensive string to just try but it is nice to try them and see, might for you, who knows.
yes i have used them and still use them (long and short scale) for years. they are my favorite string.
this is common, they just need played for a bit to all break in and then they match tonally, it's common with other string brands as well.
That's great to hear! What makes them your favorite string? I keep trying to love flats and labella LTFs are the closest I've come. What kind of basses do you use with these strings?
I've had a set of Pyramid Gold flats on my short scale P-bass for over 20 years. They are exactly what I wanted in strings for that bass: thick and thuddy. Some may hate them, but I love them.
And yes, it took a while for them to really completely even out (about 2 years) but they were pretty good from the start and just kept getting better and better.
what makes them my favorite is the lack of sustain or the quick decay. it sounds like so many of the motown/soul records bass that i love. a lot of people will put a foam mute, i find the pyramid decay so quickly, you don't need a mute, it's built into the string. that "dead E" sound is what i love. eventually the rest of the set mellows to be the same, it just takes a little playing. In addition to that, i also love the tone, they are super heavy/thick in the bass and midrange, (especially the midrange, the mids are so beefy and fat) and light up top. as a soul/blues/jazz guy, i want all beef, no sizzle, and that's what they provide. basses i use with them have been fender jazz and hofner club bass. Labella are a nice string too, they sound great on fenders (hello jamerson, jerry jemmott, etc.), they are a classic for a reason. most unique flats are nice. TI are cool for more of a woody sound with midrange/trebly type flat sound with lighter deep bass. GHS precision flats are nice and similar to Labella just a different flavor.
the pyramids are handmade and finished, that's why you get black all over your fingers after playing them fresh out the pack. that's graphite or some other polishing compound. a week later you won't have that anymore, but it's something else unique they do that makes them smooth.
