Yep, old out, new in. Just a normal setup for string height and intonation was needed (and if I can do that, you can too). Hint: Don't use the allen keys that come with the bridge, they suck.
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Yep, old out, new in. Just a normal setup for string height and intonation was needed (and if I can do that, you can too). Hint: Don't use the allen keys that come with the bridge, they suck.
Sorry to hijack, continue past my post, but has anyone tried any sgd lutherie pickups, if so was it the NDs or sidewinders?
Well, the new Bird landed.
Fedex dropped her off and it seems to have made the trip without problems at first check.
SO now begins the journey into un chartered Gibson waters for me.
After a quick tune and a 20 minute play, I can say that Gibson ships their "high end" basses with really crappy strings....hahaha.
I think a trip to the music store for better strings is in order right away before really giving this an honest opinion for sure!
The new Musicman and G&L basses I have bought in the past come with much better strings. I understand why the Musicman basses come with good strings, after all they make strings, and pretty decent ones.
I know strings need be replaced from the git go, so this is really no biggie.
Just was painfully obvious on this one more so than others I have bought new.
The initial "set up" that Sweetwater Music gave it is not bad...considering it was in transit for several days in various conditions. The intonation and overall set up is not to shabby.
Sure does look beautiful though!!!
This thing is a real looker for sure!
Tons of curb appeal and eyeball!!
What strings do you guys use on your Birds?
I have always liked the tried and true Nickle Rotosound round wound RN 66LD's.
Not a big fan of overly bright strings normally.
I would prefer a warmer string and get my "brightness" from the bass or amp settings when I want it.
And this bass sounds like it wants to be the thumpy bad boy of the bunch....mega low end bass.
So guessing I might go with those as a first string replacement on this one.
Thoughts?
**** (Sorry for the long winded novel)
Fedex dropped her off and it seems to have made the trip without problems at first check.
SO now begins the journey into un chartered Gibson waters for me.
After a quick tune and a 20 minute play, I can say that Gibson ships their "high end" basses with really crappy strings....hahaha.
I think a trip to the music store for better strings is in order right away before really giving this an honest opinion for sure!
The new Musicman and G&L basses I have bought in the past come with much better strings. I understand why the Musicman basses come with good strings, after all they make strings, and pretty decent ones.
I know strings need be replaced from the git go, so this is really no biggie.
Just was painfully obvious on this one more so than others I have bought new.
The initial "set up" that Sweetwater Music gave it is not bad...considering it was in transit for several days in various conditions. The intonation and overall set up is not to shabby.
Sure does look beautiful though!!!
This thing is a real looker for sure!
Tons of curb appeal and eyeball!!
What strings do you guys use on your Birds?
I have always liked the tried and true Nickle Rotosound round wound RN 66LD's.
Not a big fan of overly bright strings normally.
I would prefer a warmer string and get my "brightness" from the bass or amp settings when I want it.
And this bass sounds like it wants to be the thumpy bad boy of the bunch....mega low end bass.
So guessing I might go with those as a first string replacement on this one.
Thoughts?
**** (Sorry for the long winded novel)
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,901
- 142,278
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Ken Smith Rockmasters, .45 -.105. Like Roto's but they last more than a week - warmer than DRs. BTW with the exception of my Lull I've never kept the strings any of my 'Birds shipped with.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 79
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
Ken Smith Bass Burners, nickel version of Rock Masters for me. Sound more like the original Rotos than the current Rotos do IMO. I ship my basses with Rockmasters, Bass Burners or Rotos nickel or stainless depending on customer preference.
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,901
- 142,278
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I like those Burners too Carlo, but I broke them quite a bit more than the Rockmasters, tho that may have been on one particular bass - I'll have to try them again!
I hear ya.
I really never have left factory strings on a bass for long.
Only a few of my basses have been bought brand new.
So the norm is to swap out strings right away for me as well.
But on one musicman bass, the ernie ball slinkys were decent enough to play with for a week or two till I could get to buy new ones and oil the board and swap them out.
These Gibson installed Strings are just flat out yuck.
But no biggie at all...Strings are cheap.
I will get a set of rotos I guess tomorrow and oil the board ( looks dry) and then look into ordering the Strings you two mentioned and try those out asap!!
I doubt the local GC has those on the shelf. So will look them up online for pricing and who has them in stock.
Thanks for the help and input!
Yes I would want Nickle strings on this Bird I am pretty sure.
I bought it for the thump...Not looking for brightness on this one.
I have other basses set up for brighter tones...
I want this one to be more ballsy and lowwwww.
Thanks for the help!! Will get on looking those strings up and see where to grab a set.
I used the old school Rotos on all of my basses back in the day.
Like early and mid 80's back in the day...hahaha
Loved them back then...
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,901
- 142,278
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
I play pickstyle primarily so the stainless Rockmasters do work better for me, but I'd quite forgotten the nickel Burners that Carlo mentioned, which if you play fingerstyle may be more to your liking.
- Jul 1, 2005
- 4,291
- 21,932
- 79
- Disclosures
- CataldoBasses: Designer/Builder ThunderBuckerPickups:Consultant
I get my Ken Smith's from Strings and Beyond.com. Good pricing and free shipping on orders of $35 and above.
Yes I do the finger thing these days.
Kind of on the aggressive side.
Have not used a pick since back in the 80's band days...
Been wanting to give it a try again. ( pick that is )
I have been enjoying the new finger style I am using.
I can be really aggressive and really mellow depending on a songs time changes and get all sorts of cool little nuances going on in between. Has been fun changing over and teaching myself something different.
I think maybe I will try the Nickle burners to start off.
Will grab the roto nickels tomorrow locally to quickly dump these stock "strings". Then will do online searches where I can order up the burners.
Thanks everyone! Everyone in this club is awesome, truly!
Just checked out your website and the JAEbirds.
Very cool stuff!!
Really like the old school green color with the pearloid pg and maple neck.
Might end up speaking to you about one of these....
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,060
- 38,446
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I use Rotos RS66LD have for years I can't warm up to anything else. I use pick and fingers and can get all sorts of tones from bright and aggressive to warm and woody. I have found that when Gibson ships their basses the set up really needs a good tweak. The bridge pickup is way to high (for me) which in turn makes the bridge itself way to high. The post '89 birds have a greater neck angle and less headstock angle than 60's and 70's birds so the bridge needs to be set higher. I bring the bridge down as low as I can. My Cherry bird has great low action I'm very pleased with mine congrats on your new bird!
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,060
- 38,446
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Carlo makes great stuff I have one of his JAEbirds and I love it! I am going to order one of his NRs also, maybe after xmass Carlo. Sure I could build one but between work family and band I have no time. Carlos work get a big thumbs up from me.
Yea I noticed the bridge pup is reeeeally high. and the bridge is high too....your spot on with this one man.
And this is after sweetwater said their tech worked on setting it up to my specs I asked for.
I am thinking , slap better strings on it first.
Give it over the weekend to get used to it and give myself a chance to fall for it.
If that happens...I will buy that hipshot bridge and bring it to a decent tech here locally and have HIM install the bridge and give it a better set up.
Thanks again!
Yea they look very cool to me.
I could see myself grabbing one of the green ones with pearloid pg possible all chromed out.
Cool vintage cali surfer dude vibe going on with that one...hahaha
- Mar 13, 2008
- 18,901
- 142,278
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist Mike Lull T Bass pickups, The Bass Shop, Seattle WA.
Just my .02 on that Hipshot bridge.
Aesthics alone prevent me from using it on any my basses, it hangs over the center block - no, thank you. It's a fine design effort and as that I don't critisize it. Take the bass to a luthier that *knows* how to set up a 3 point and save the $$$. Lull does my set ups and trust me, done right, a 3 point is an excellent bridge that will do anything a Hipshot does, plus look like it actually belongs on the bass.
This is my '89
And my '09
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