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Roscoe Club
- Thread starter JOME77
- Start date
Well I guess that you know that if you install any brand other than Ken Smith string on a Smith bass it voids the Warranty!
Just kidding (maybe). But Ken did post in a thread on TB years ago that if you don't use KS strings the bass will not sound like a Smith bass. They were designed to optimize the sound of his basses!That is a true story .....
I've only owned one Smith (BSRGN5 neck-thru). Bought it new From Jim at ABG. It definitely had the Smith sound but had a quite a bit of fret buzz with a medium low action.
Not a huge fan of neck thru basses. Kind of hard to replace the neck on the neck-thru models!
I've read that about neck thru basses, but I still like the neck thru look over the bolt-on.
The thing with Ken Smith neck-thru basses is you have to use Smith strings to keep the neck from developing any issues and to keep the warranty active!
Well I've got a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwound strings coming. I'm going to install them on my fretted JB bass and see how close I can come to an old school P-bass tone. I'm also considering taking a piece of one my older Roscoe t-shirts to mute the strings at the bridge ........ I'd use an old white t-shirt but since it has black hardware I'm thinking black would look better.
@JOME77
I don’t think you will get there with the Cobalt Flats as I’ve used them on several basses. They are the closest Flats you’ll find that sound exactly like rounds. They are my favorite flat with TI’s being right there with them.
I don’t think you will get there with the Cobalt Flats as I’ve used them on several basses. They are the closest Flats you’ll find that sound exactly like rounds. They are my favorite flat with TI’s being right there with them.
You may be right Shane. I've got them on one of my fretless basses and they do sound really close to RW nickels. They still have a cool flatwound kind of tone though. I haven't tried them on a fretted bass yet.
It looked like Don Was had on a set of TI Flat's in the Allman and Friends concert. They had that kind of shine to them. The bass tone sounded so cool. So old school.
I think my good buddy JohhnyR might have an extra set of the TI flats ........ Maybe he doesn't need them.
Oh Johnny!
Speaking of strings, are any of you players extending the life of your old strings by either the Denatured Alcohol soak or boiling them?
I use to boil them way back in the day. It definitely works but they quickly go dead the 2nd time around.
These days I just extend the life of my strings by keeping my basses in the case.
You may be right Shane. I've got them on one of my fretless basses and they do sound really close to RW nickels. They still have a cool flatwound kind of tone though. I haven't tried them on a fretted bass yet.
It looked like Don Was had on a set of TI Flat's in the Allman and Friends concert. They had that kind of shine to them. The bass tone sounded so cool. So old school.
I think my good buddy JohhnyR might have an extra set of the TI flats ........ Maybe he doesn't need them.
Oh Johnny!
I have a set that would sell you, but as soon as I do I'll get a call for a passive bass with flats!!
I use to boil them way back in the day. It definitely works but they quickly go dead the 2nd time around.
These days I just extend the life of my strings by keeping my basses in the case.
I'm currently trying the Denatured Alcohol soak thing, but I've yet to use a set of soaked strings to see how much life they have and last the second time around.
View attachment 2950403
For the other teachers in the group.
Just got done rehearsing 120 2nd graders for a musical...8 mics, lots of sound. I feel some red coming on.
I get to retire in 2040. Am I allowed to be jealous of the newly retired or soon-to-retire?
Yes.
Yes on the denatured alcohol soak. I made a PVC tube with a cap on the bottom, and a hook (for the ball ends of the strings) threaded into cork that was glued into the removable PVC cap (sorry, I know that's wordy). It did in fact work, especially for nickel strings, and the strings seemed to stay fresher much longer than boiling. I ended up tossing it after about 6 years and just tried to invest in new strings. In retrospect, it did save a lot of money while I was a much more active gigger.
Thanks!!! That's how I made mine. So far I've soaked three sets of strings, but I have them marked to go back on the bass the came off of, so I haven't needed to use them yet. If it doubles or better the life of a set of strings the way I use them, then I'll consider that a huge win!!
You may be right Shane. I've got them on one of my fretless basses and they do sound really close to RW nickels. They still have a cool flatwound kind of tone though. I haven't tried them on a fretted bass yet.
It looked like Don Was had on a set of TI Flat's in the Allman and Friends concert. They had that kind of shine to them. The bass tone sounded so cool. So old school.
I think my good buddy JohhnyR might have an extra set of the TI flats ........ Maybe he doesn't need them.
Oh Johnny!
Gottcha covered Joe. Think I have a couple 5 string sets stashed away. But first.........
Well I've got a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwound strings coming. I'm going to install them on my fretted JB bass and see how close I can come to an old school P-bass tone. I'm also considering taking a piece of one my older Roscoe t-shirts to mute the strings at the bridge ........ I'd use an old white t-shirt but since it has black hardware I'm thinking black would look better.
View attachment 2950492
Where'd ya get the hat?
I used to put my used set of strings in an ice cream pail with rubbing alcohol. Cover them up and put it in the back of my car. Drive around with them In the car and after a week or so they would go back on. Had them in rotations and saved me a bunch of $$.
Lol
Funny that you should ask that ......
I'm really not much of a hat man but I picked this one up while vacationing at St. Simons this weekend. Might be a good gigging hat!
You guys and your multi thousand dollar instruments trying to cut corners and reuse strings lol. Actually I was watching a video of the PVC tube setup with the alcohol and it working on old stings. I wonder on old strings like several months old does it actually make them sound like fresh strings? I've thought about trying this myself and figured it wasn't worth the hassle.
