String & Bass update... (IHMO content only)
If you've been perusing the TB classifieds well before the holidays, you might have seen that I've been rotating out basses - out with the >4 strings and in with the new 5ths tuned 4 stringers. While my new Tom Clement 4 string Kim is being built, I though that I'd give an update on 5ths tuned strings that I've found that work well.
(Side note as a FYI for this exercise) I figured I'd string up each bass (with a variety of strings) that would serve either a specific or a "broad" musical purpose... Of course adjusting the tone controls changes the tonal palette - but I'm really digging the focused attention that a bass oriented with specific strings and towards a specific purpose brings to the party.
I ended up with:
- Streamer is my slap king and modern sounding bass and wears DR Hi Beams - FWIW, the reversed P pickup on the Streamer works very well and can sub for a Fender P with a normal P pickup position - I do notice that the higher notes ring a bit more clearly on the Streamer than on any of my current or former Fender Precisions (MIM, USA & Japan)
- Urge II is my all around go to Bass and wears Fat Beams - I can get just about anything out of this bass/string combination - well, except for a deep reggae/dub tone as the tone knob only goes to Zero and doesn't go to -10
- Thumb fretless is to mimic my upright during the cold Colorado winters and wears GHS Black Nylon Tapewounds - Terrific string and most places no longer have any stock left - mine came from GHS directly and through their custom shop - I will definitely be ordering more of these and soon so that I have them on hand in case a string fails...
- Thumb fretted is another all around go to bass and wears GHS Pressure Wound strings - a bit less string noise, ballsy tone, wide range of tone control, slap is great, finger style is superb, tension is just right
- MIM Precision has LaBella 1954 original heavies - yes, I still like these strings and consider them the best of the strings available for a flat wound strings with heavy tension - pick tones and fingerstyle is superb
- (and) I'm pretty sure that the new Tom Clement Kim will also wear GHS Pressure Wound strings for the long haul - in this build with Tom, I was going for a bigger tone than the Roscoe Beck IV that I had (and sold) - and truly loved that bass too - I think that the TC Kim with a pair of Nordstrand BigMan pickups (switched front coil, rear coil and parallel for each pickup) will be the tone bomb.
FWIW, I also tried:
- LaBella DTFs on my precision - tension was sort of wacky and they didn't sound good after ~20 hours of play time
- TI Jazz Flats on the Hoppus - these are really my favorite lower tension flatwound string for 5ths tuning. Luckily, I had an old/used set to install (and even bought a new 5 string set to have on hand) and they're great. If I wasn't working to get a Graham Moby sound for some Joe Jackson tunes, I'd have kept them on the P/J Hoppus
- Kalium on the Urge - loved the set, but wanted to go up in tension from what I ordered - found a set of Hi Beams on sale and tried them - outstanding strings
- Dean Markley SR2000 - had a set from my old 7 string days - okay tension, bright as the sun, but the Hi Beams are better
- Chromes on my Thumbs - I wanted more mids and lows and tried them - Chromes do have overwhelming mids on a Thumb and I couldn't get any joy after about 20 hours or so of hard playing - I really wanted to love them, but this is my second go around with Chromes and I'm still not a fan
- DR Sunbeams - flexy string - good, but not my cup of tea.
So, hear's the deal - each set that I tried (except for the LaBella DTF's) worked well for 5ths tuning. Each string intonated properly and there was ample range on the bridge adjustment (on my basses at least). Even the 1954's intonated properly at the 12th fret. No fat out of phase warbles when playing on the C string higher than the 12th fret either - which was not always the case when tuning in 4ths. Also, all are/were strung at the top of the bridge, though the TI's are strung through body on my Hoppus as the bridge cannot top load strings at all.
Finally, once I figure out "my" desired string tension, I'll likely go back to Kalium for custom 5ths string sets. In the interim, the GHS Pressure Wound seems to be my "go to" round wound string set for 5ths. Black nylon tape wound strings are still a joy to play and they virtually never wear out, nor does the tone change much as they age. Also, I do like the tighter feel of Hi Beams, and my Streamer seems to love them. Oh, and the Rotosound Tru Bass 88's capture a specific tone on a P/J that I was after and they're staying too - I just wish that their tension was a bit higher... (and) that GHS hadn't discontinued their version of the Black Nylons.
Again, here's to those that tune in 5ths and for daring to be different!
Cheers,
John
