Strings for Sterling 34CA...

[Count Bassie]

I've got a frying set of black D'Addario tapewounds on it, and although I like them, I'm getting a lot of bright "thwack" accompanying the nice fat punch. I think it the strings hitting the frets, and is that because these string are so flexible?
I'm considering:
*Smith Slick Rounds (ground down rounds, like half-rounds, I'm to understand)
*EB Cobalt Flats
*Dunlop Super Bright Flats
*...?
I'm mostly a rock style player, but sway into dub, stoner doom, prog-style riffing, yada yada...
Open to suggestions. Thanks for your time.

 

[five7]

cobalt rounds are nice

 

[timmus]

I have black Warwick tapewounds on my Ibby acoustic bass and I have that same clicking sound you're experiencing. It's annoying sometimes but I found if I throttle back the highs on the onboard EQ somewhat it becomes much more tolerable. I keep the strings on the bass because other than the clicky sound, I really like the sound they give me.

 

[Count Bassie]

cobalt rounds are nice

Those are going to be a little heavy on string noise I should think, in light of how bright the Cobalt flats are. But I appreciate the suggestion.

 

[Count Bassie]

I have black Warwick tapewounds on my Ibby acoustic bass and I have that same clicking sound you're experiencing. It's annoying sometimes but I found if I throttle back the highs on the onboard EQ somewhat it becomes much more tolerable. I keep the strings on the bass because other than the clicky sound, I really like the sound they give me.

Same. They are effective to get the depth-heavy push I'm liking. I would like *just a little bit* more middy growl from it, but a lot of that can be reasonably eq'd in... But I'm not otherwise losing the click. Playing from above the strings with my right hand, rather than slamming the strings down from alongside, has been my only relief. But that's not me exactly...
I may be stuck with it.

 

[timmus]

Same. They are effective to get the depth-heavy push I'm liking. I would like *just a little bit* more middy growl from it, but a lot of that can be reasonably eq'd in... But I'm not otherwise losing the click. Playing from above the strings with my right hand, rather than slamming the strings down from alongside, has been my only relief. But that's not me exactly...
I may be stuck with it.

The other thing I found is if I set up my bass with not a lot of distance between the strings and the frets (lower the action), I find it easier to control the click. I also don't play nearly as aggressively on the Ibby as I do my non acoustic basses and that helps too.

I actually bought the Ibby and the tape wounds to sound more like a URB and it does OK in that regard within the context of the rest of the band...soloed, not so much but it is what it is I guess. I just raise the lows, pull up the mids a bit and drop the treble down on a Boss EQ pedal and it does OK.

 

[Count Bassie]

The other thing I found is if I set up my bass with not a lot of distance between the strings and the frets (lower the action), I find it easier to control the click.

This is interesting...
Thanks man!

 

[timmus]

This is interesting...
Thanks man!

Anytime my friend. I lowered my action to the point to where the strings were buzzing on the adjacent frets and then raised the action just a bit. My Ibby is a medium scale bass so not as much tension as I'd like on the strings but it does the job. Good luck!

 

[michael_t]

I'm considering:
*Smith Slick Rounds (ground down rounds, like half-rounds, I'm to understand)
*EB Cobalt Flats
*Dunlop Super Bright Flats
*...?

Of the three mentioned, the EB Cobalt Flats are the brightest, followed by the KS Slick Rounds (groundwound/half-rounds), then the Dunlop Flats. Comparing similar gauges, the KS would be the stiffest in feel, followed by the Dunlop, then the EB Cobalt Flats.

And yes, tapewounds in general tend to be more flexible than either flats or half-rounds. It's either you lighten up on your technique or switch to a stiffer string with a lower action in order to minimize the "clack".

 

[michael_t]

*...?
I'm mostly a rock style player, but sway into dub, stoner doom, prog-style riffing, yada yada...
Open to suggestions. Thanks for your time.

Seeing this is for a Sterling, I might also suggest the Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (aka "Group Flats"). They're not quite as bright or roundwound-ish like the Cobalt Flats, but still provide a nice midrange for clarity in a semi-modern flavor, similar to the Dunlop Flats.

 

[Count Bassie]

Seeing this is for a Sterling, I might also suggest the Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (aka "Group Flats"). They're not quite as bright or roundwound-ish like the Cobalt Flats, but still provide a nice midrange for clarity in a semi-modern flavor, similar to the Dunlop Flats.

Saw those. Thanks.

 

[Yahboy]

I've got a frying set of black D'Addario tapewounds on it, and although I like them, I'm getting a lot of bright "thwack" accompanying the nice fat punch. I think it the strings hitting the frets, and is that because these string are so flexible?
I'm considering:
*Smith Slick Rounds (ground down rounds, like half-rounds, I'm to understand)
*EB Cobalt Flats
*Dunlop Super Bright Flats
*...?
I'm mostly a rock style player, but sway into dub, stoner doom, prog-style riffing, yada yada...
Open to suggestions. Thanks for your time.

All EB string are good to go with your 34 CA.

Dumlop SBN may sound a bit shy , she actually has no such bright and attack tonal that we wishing.

DR lo rider nickel and SS are my round wound choice if I own the 34CA .

 

[Count Bassie]

I put an old set of Dunlop Super Bright Stainless on my 34CA, 45-100. I like them pretty good so far. Very different than the D'Addario tapewounds that were on it, I think I'm over the tapes for this bass.
I also got a set of Smith Slick Rounds, 44-103, and a set of DR Lo-Riders, 45-100 from Fret Nation.
The Smiths are interesting gauges:

I hear the Smiths are a little on the stiff side, so the lighter gauges for A and D in that set are interesting... Gonna run with the Dunlops for a bit first.

 

[michael_t]

The Smiths are interesting gauges:
View attachment 7416477

I hear their a little in the stuff side, so the gauges for A and D are interesting...

Ken Smith Slick Rounds, made by GHS, are the closest sibling to the GHS Brite Flats, which are Alloy 52 (nickel-iron) groundwound/half-rounds. And yes, they tend to be stiffer in feel than typical rounds of similar gauges.

GHS is one of the companies who put the actual measured gauges on their packages, vs. traditional 40-100, 45-105, etc.

 

[Count Bassie]

Ken Smith Slick Rounds, made by GHS, are the closest sibling to the GHS Brite Flats, which are Alloy 52 (nickel-iron) groundwound/half-rounds. And yes, they tend to be stiffer in feel than typical rounds of similar gauges.

GHS is one of the companies who put the actual measured gauges on their packages, vs. traditional 40-100, 45-105, etc.

I used those GHS Bright Flats on a record about 10 or 12 years ago, I had a schecter neck through bass with a DiMarzio model 1, put the bright Flats on and played it with a pic. I really liked what I was getting out of that setup.

Fixed those danged typos...