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Strings are Very Important
- Thread starter LedBelli Bass
- Start date
I think it's interesting that a guy that builds and sells $3,000+ basses thinks the strings are the most important part!
I think it's interesting that a guy that builds and sells $3,000+ basses never paid attention to this before.
and to all the rest . . .
Here's my last remarks on this topic -
When I said the strings are the most important part, I meant that in it's most simplistic sense: no strings . . . no instrument. Of course there are other considerations. But the string's importance cannot be diminished.
Next, strings marketed and sold to fit on a 35" scale bass should fit - end of story. I don't see how that's even debatable. But, apparently it's worth thousands upon thousands of words of so called "debate."
Many of you (many trolls too) comment as though I've never strung a bass up before. To you I would say, use some common sense. I've been stringing guitars and basses for decades . . . this issue should not be a problem from a company of LaBella's reputation.
The owner/manufacturer of DarkHorse Strings agrees with me. They contacted me about the problem after seeing the picture posted on my FB page. www.darkhorsestrings.com
Many other remarks and comments make it plain there is a great deal of ignorance abounding, not just on this detail, but on bass guitar construction in general. I find the remarks about "cutting" the ball end of the strings most amusing of all; or that trimming the excess string from the terminal end somehow effects the length of the winding! . . . really?
But, to the heart of the matter:
As for customer service - after sending LaBella complete photos and description of the problem, bridge pics, nut pics, pics with the strings laid out side by side, yadda, yadda . . . LaBella has been completely unresponsive. The best I got was, "Well, we'd need you to send us the strings back and then we'll see what we can do." Mesa-Boogie, they are not. (Mesa once shipped me a Titan V-12, under warrantee, via overnight delivery to be sure I had it in time for a gig.) I won't be using LaBella's again.
So, that's that on my end. I'm surprised at the amount of derogatory and hateful "debate" such a simple topic has fed. But, then again, in hind-sight I'm not surprised. I was away from the Talkbass.com forums for nearly 4 years because of exactly the kind of postings this thread has generated. During that time, (including an 18 month layoff to deal with a health issue) I developed my work to where the testimonials to my work are sterling.
You can find those testimonials here: Link Removed
One particular testimonial puts my $3000.00 bass on the same level as basses costing twice as much! So, in that aspect my work is a bargain. But I'm certain most of you doing the bashing won't bother taking the time to go read those testimonials, so just for you, I have this:
From TODAY . . . This is Victor Wooten playing the bass in question (sans LaBella's). After playing the bass, he stood up, held up the bass, and said to the line of autograph seekers and everyone else in the room, "Hey everybody! Ya'll need to get in line for one of these!" I've got about 100 witnesses . . . and then he asked for my card.
So, that hot off the press testimonial is for all of you trolls, bashers, haters, ignorants, and whatever else "forums" produce . . . those of you like "Coolhandjjl" above.
Those who can, do; those who can't - criticize and berate those are are doing.
A fond adieu, friends!
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and to all the rest . . .
Here's my last remarks on this topic -
When I said the strings are the most important part, I meant that in it's most simplistic sense: no strings . . . no instrument. Of course there are other considerations. But the string's importance cannot be diminished.
Next, strings marketed and sold to fit on a 35" scale bass should fit - end of story. I don't see how that's even debatable. But, apparently it's worth thousands upon thousands of words of so called "debate."
Many of you (many trolls too) comment as though I've never strung a bass up before. To you I would say, use some common sense. I've been stringing guitars and basses for decades . . . this issue should not be a problem from a company of LaBella's reputation.
The owner/manufacturer of DarkHorse Strings agrees with me. They contacted me about the problem after see the picture posted on my FB page. www.darkhorsestrings.com
Many other remarks and comments make it plain there is a great deal of ignorance abounding, not just on this detail, but on bass guitar construction in general. I find the remarks about "cutting" the ball end of the strings most amusing of all; or that trimming the excess string from the terminal end somehow effects the length of the winding! . . . really?
But, to the heart of the matter:
As for customer service - after sending LaBella complete photos and description of the problem, bridge pics, nut pics, pics with the strings laid out side by side, yadda, yadda . . . LaBella has been completely unresponsive. The best I got was, "Well, we'd need you to send us the strings back and then we'll see what we can do." Mesa-Boogie, they are not. (Mesa once shipped me a Titan V-12, under warrantee, via overnight delivery to be sure I had it in time for a gig.) I won't be using LaBella's again.
So, that's that on my end. I'm surprised at the amount of derogatory and hateful "debate" such a simple topic has fed. But, then again, in hind-sight I'm not surprised. I was away from the Talkbass.com forums for nearly 4 years because of exactly the kind of postings this thread has generated. During that time, (including an 18 month layoff to deal with a health issue) I developed my work to where the testimonials to my work are sterling.
You can find those testimonials here: Link Removed
One particular testimonial puts my $3000.00 bass on the same level as basses costing twice as much! So, in that aspect my work is a bargain. But I'm certain most of you doing the bashing won't bother taking the time to go read those testimonials, so just for you, I have this:
From TODAY . . . This is Victor Wooten playing the bass in question (sans LaBella's). After playing the bass, he stood up, held up the bass, and said to the line of autograph seekers and everyone else in the room, "Hey everybody! Ya'll need to get in line for one of these!" I've got about 100 witnesses . . . and then he asked for my card.
So, that hot off the press testimonial is for all of you trolls, bashers, haters, ignorants, and whatever else "forums" produce . . . those of you like "Coolhandjjl" above.
Those who can, do; those who can't - criticize and berate those are are doing.
A fond adieu, friends!
Vic playing a rude luthiers bass. Cool.
Anything I've had to say doesn't hold a candle to what's been said, my friend. Throw your insults at will . . . it's the best you've got.
Not all of it was . . . but I'll give you some of them, sure. Thanks for at least reading all of the post! My guess is, most won't.
Why should they, it starts off by insulting them. You sound like the world owes you something, but the reason you got all the attitude is the way you started out by insulting people who tried to help you, no more, no less.
You know, on all the basses I have with silk ended strings, the B and E tend to have the silk an inch or or lower than the other strings. TI jazz flats, Daddario Chromes, La Bella Copper Tapes, and GHS Pressure wounds, if I remember correctly, all are this way. Why that is I couldn't say, but it doesn't seem to be an uncommon thing.
Fair enough, bro . . . but like I said, at least you gave me the time for the whole post. Thanks
Well, I don't know what to say . . . but I've never encountered this problem in the past to anywhere near the degree pictured in the photos. Like you say, I also have used strings from multiple manufacturers over the years. But something to this extent . . . I'd never encountered. Thanks for your comment, and check out www.darkhorsestrings.com
Some people here claim that string are not so important.I just do wonder how exactly they choose exact brand?
Why(if) they bother if their basses would be winded with some particular brand but whatever one?
I am curious about.
Why(if) they bother if their basses would be winded with some particular brand but whatever one?
I am curious about.
Some people here claim that string are not so important.I just do wonder how exactly they choose exact brand?
Why(if) they bother if their basses would be winded with some particular brand but whatever one?
I am curious about.
The strings I have used more than any others are Dean Markley "Blue Steel" strings. They are consistently true and well manufactured, and I have never, not even once, had dead string in a set. I also . . . ahem . . . have never had a set of Markley "Blue Steel" strings come up "short", if you get my drift.
They are great strings . . . they just don't make the application I am looking for, for this bass guitar. Thus, www.darkhorsestrings.com
which justifies some of what I read? . . . okay, dude. You're doing it as we speak. So, here you go:
As I said to whoever: "Keep the insults coming . . . it's the best you have."
And that's all you have, your little forum presence that gives you some kind of "voice". So, show us all what you are made of.
"Don't act like a know it all?" . . . okay, then you show all of us how to build a bass guitar from bare wood and hardware. Have YOU ever built a bass for a client under a deadline and a budget?
I didn't think so. . . but here is your chance: We are waiting . . . please, put your money where you're mouth is.
Will I be seeing one of YOUR builds in the hands of Mick Vaughn or Victor Wooten? No . . . I won't. Will I be seeing one of your builds featured at The Gorge Amphitheater? Or in Geneva, Switzerland, or in Sao Palo, Brazil, or in Santiago, Chile?
NO. NONE of us will, Mr. Luckydog.
So tell us . . . how do you do it, Mr. Luckydog?
Oh, and build it for a client who has prescripted the instrument under a deadline. Then we want to hear how tolerant YOU are of strings like the ones LaBella sent me.
You are a damn fine critic under the hidden wand of a screen name.
Good for you, and good for anyone like you.
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