Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Still trying to try Pressurewounds
- Thread starter GwenOnBass
- Start date
Just one more little detail... GHS PW - black silk only at tuner end; KS Compressor - purple silk at both ends.
Just one more little detail... GHS PW - black silk only at tuner end; KS Compressor - purple silk at both ends.
To be honest I'd forgotten about that. I only ever see the ball ends when I'm installing or removing strings, the rest of the time they're hidden inside the body of the bass.
Ken Smith has always insisted on putting silk at both ends "to protect your valuable hardware". But that would only apply to top-loading and not thru-body, wouldn't it?
I'm not even sure it would do much to protect my hardware on a top load. Where is that little strip of silk wrapped string going to sit? Probably between the end of the bridge and the saddles. Ideally you don't want silk on or beyond your bridge saddles anyway, right? So what's the point?
I'm with you on this. I would much prefer strings with no silk at the ball end.
I've never tried the coppers only because I don't have an extra bass to put them on. Rotos are an acquired taste for many bassists. I used them for a decade because many of my influences used them.
Still trying to try Pressurewounds, and [MaxwellSmart] missed by that much [/MaxwellSmart]
Two friends just love their Pressurewounds. The recordings they share sound great. Have to try a set, have to try a set someday ...
Bit over two years ago, bought a short scale set of Pressuewounds in anticipation of the Nordy Cat bass' arrival. Installed GHS Balanced Nickels instead, and the unopened Pressurewounds went in the string larder.
Come time to change strings on the Cat, install Balanced Nickels again. These are the strings for this bass.
The new string zing reminds me that I really enjoy roundwounds. I wonder what a set of Pressurewounds will sound like on My 'Ray. Order a set of Pressurewounds and
absolutely unable to pull the 16 month-old EB Group IV flats off the instrument. It's an early 79 — I bought it just about this time of year 44 years ago! — that was played mostly with Rotosound SB 66, and Dean Markley Super Rounds. The Dean Markleys were great strings!
Learned here the bass came new with GHS Brite Flats. Bought a set just for the bass when it completed rehab a year and a half ago. Love the tone, not so big on the feel. Gave the Brite Flats three months. They became very playable down there below the 7th fret. The stickiness didn't ease off so much above the 12th fret because of less time spent up there.
Gave up the Brite Flats for some flat flats — all the while thinking about Bernard Edwards "back then".
Now the EB Group flats are broken in nicely. They sound beautiful to my ears. Do I really want to swap out these flats for strings I haven't tried? And the Bass Player Magic Eight Ball replies NO
And now I have two brand new packs of Pressurewounds, with no place to go. No place to go, that is, except to my two friends who play them. The short scale set goes on my friend's Cat bass, and the full scale set goes on my other friend's Jazz bass.
Both ladies inform me I need a new Jazz bass so I can try Pressurewounds
Yes! You need to buy a new bass to try a set of Pressurewounds on!
When I bought my Spector Euro 6LT in June of ‘21, I intended to put a set of PWs on it. But after the D’Addario XLs that came on it went dead, I realized I like how much I like it’s sound with NPS roundwounds, I restrung it with GHS Bass Boomers.
And I’m sticking with GHS Bass Boomers on this particular bass. It’s an incredible sound.
Still trying to try Pressurewounds, and [MaxwellSmart] missed by that much [/MaxwellSmart]
Two friends just love their Pressurewounds. The recordings they share sound great. Have to try a set, have to try a set someday ...
Bit over two years ago, bought a short scale set of Pressuewounds in anticipation of the Nordy Cat bass' arrival. Installed GHS Balanced Nickels instead, and the unopened Pressurewounds went in the string larder.
Come time to change strings on the Cat, install Balanced Nickels again. These are the strings for this bass.
The new string zing reminds me that I really enjoy roundwounds. I wonder what a set of Pressurewounds will sound like on My 'Ray. Order a set of Pressurewounds and
absolutely unable to pull the 16 month-old EB Group IV flats off the instrument. It's an early 79 — I bought it just about this time of year 44 years ago! — that was played mostly with Rotosound SB 66, and Dean Markley Super Rounds. The Dean Markleys were great strings!
Learned here the bass came new with GHS Brite Flats. Bought a set just for the bass when it completed rehab a year and a half ago. Love the tone, not so big on the feel. Gave the Brite Flats three months. They became very playable down there below the 7th fret. The stickiness didn't ease off so much above the 12th fret because of less time spent up there.
Gave up the Brite Flats for some flat flats — all the while thinking about Bernard Edwards "back then".
Now the EB Group flats are broken in nicely. They sound beautiful to my ears. Do I really want to swap out these flats for strings I haven't tried? And the Bass Player Magic Eight Ball replies NO
And now I have two brand new packs of Pressurewounds, with no place to go. No place to go, that is, except to my two friends who play them. The short scale set goes on my friend's Cat bass, and the full scale set goes on my other friend's Jazz bass.
Both ladies inform me I need a new Jazz bass so I can try Pressurewounds
It sounds like you experiment with different brands and types of strings, looking for the best sound and feel for each one of your basses. I do the same thing.
Flatwounds really haven’t tickled my fancy as of yet, but I admit, I only tried a set of D’Addario Chromes for a couple of months. First, I need to buy another bass to try flats on
, and then give them a fair chance.PWs are the absolute best strings in the world on my Ristola-6. Their tone and feel are perfect.
I’ve been using GHS Brite Flats on my Rickenbacker 4001 since the early 80’s. Yeah, I know: Groundwounds on a Rickenbacker?!? Yep, they’re perfect for it, for the sound that I want.
I bet when you buy your new Jazz Bass, you’re going to love Pressurewounds!
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,164
- 256,832
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Brite Flats sound great on My 'Ray. Just ran out of patience. Usually I give a set a minimum of eight months play to make a decision. Brite Flats lasted three months.
EB Group IV flats settled in too nicely to bin. "Middle of the road" flats might be accurate but sounds like a left-handed compliment
They do sit tonally (to my ear) in between Cobalt Flats and La Bellas. I imagine I hear a special sauce in the upper mids that compliments the StingRay.
Will be trying my friend's jazz bass with Pressurewounds soon enough. Open mind, and all that.
EB Group IV flats settled in too nicely to bin. "Middle of the road" flats might be accurate but sounds like a left-handed compliment
They do sit tonally (to my ear) in between Cobalt Flats and La Bellas. I imagine I hear a special sauce in the upper mids that compliments the StingRay. Will be trying my friend's jazz bass with Pressurewounds soon enough. Open mind, and all that.
Brite Flats sound great on My 'Ray. Just ran out of patience. Usually I give a set a minimum of eight months play to make a decision. Brite Flats lasted three months.
EB Group IV flats settled in too nicely to bin. "Middle of the road" flats might be accurate but sounds like a left-handed compliment
Will be trying my friend's jazz bass with Pressurewounds soon enough. Open mind, and all that.
Something strange happened last night...but in a very good way. A pleasant surprise...
Now that I have my two Yamaha 5'ers dressed up with GHS Pressurewounds/Ken Smith Compressors, I decided I wanted something a little different in tonal flavor for my Jazz. It just so happened I had a brand new set of GHS Brite Flats (45-98) in my stock looking for a home, so I decided to give them another shot after three tries that didn't turn out too well in the past (once on J and twice on P). And what do you know... They sound great! And the biggest surprise for me is they FEEL great with only a hint of the stickiness I've complained about before. What happened? I have no idea, but I have a good feeling these BFs will stay on for a while.
Meanwhile, I have two sets of EB Group IV Flats on order, which should be arriving this week. They will go on my P. So, it will be an interesting comparison between these two sets of flats/semi-flats.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,164
- 256,832
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Brite Flats really do sound good, and I just ran out of patience
because[back story]
my StingRay (February-March 1979) was in Santa's Workshop for seven months. It was in need of serious rehabilitation, slowed in great measure by supply chain issues in the time of The Thing That's Going Around.
Which gave me all the time in the world to research here to determine what kind of strings were on the bass when I bought it. Brite Flats, is the TB consensus. Bernard Edwards and all of that.
And with the Brite Flats instaled, the rehabilitated StingRay was back to "as new" spec for the first time since I brought it home from the shop.
That was when I chucked the OEM strings for Rotosounds because Everybody.
I use the instrument differently today than I was then. Listening for different things, maybe even listening differently.
Today's bass lesson is all work above the 12th fret
and that's why the Brite Flats left. Ran out of patience
Well worth trying again
Enjoyed GHS Pressurewound (nickel-iron, Alloy 52™) compared to Rotosound Solo Bass ( stainless steel).
This month I had chance to strung two basses at home, and compare them.
GHS, black sik-end, are smoother, softer to touch, some bright tone.
Rotosound, darkgreen silk-end, has a slight extra bright tone, and are less smooth.
Both are good, if I had to pick one, it would be GHS, because I dig mellow tone and smoother touch.
This month I had chance to strung two basses at home, and compare them.
GHS, black sik-end, are smoother, softer to touch, some bright tone.
Rotosound, darkgreen silk-end, has a slight extra bright tone, and are less smooth.
Both are good, if I had to pick one, it would be GHS, because I dig mellow tone and smoother touch.
Last edited:
Agreed.
I also tried the SIT Silencers a couple of months ago. Being nickel-plated steel, the tone was warmer than the other two, but they felt very sticky with a lot of friction and drag when sliding.
Wanna give a new try with SIT Silencers.
Had them on a bass, but I sold it a few years ago.
I am using the same set of pressure wounds for must be 3 years now at least AND I have taken them off multiple times to use them on one of my other basses.
So for those who like a well broken in tone with longevity, I can give these the seal of approval! The peg ends look like crap, but there is no reason for me to change them.
Pressurewounds scantily clad with black silk... There is something very sensual about them.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,164
- 256,832
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
The package is the same color as the silks, like another company does
There is a question in my mind as to "what shade of blue". The silk on these flats used to be darker, but it's been getting lighter in the last couple of years.
I'll find out tomorrow when I open the package.
Latest posts
-
Curious what the percentage of bass players use rounds vs flats is.- Latest: Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati
-
-
TC Electronic Spark Booster. Underrated champion of low-gain overdrives- Latest: John D Harris
-
-