Thunderbird Club

[dagrev]

You could possibly put some clear nail polish on the silk somewhere behind the saddle then carefully cut the silk. Or buy some D'Addario's.

Why do you think Stealth would have nail polish?

 

[Stealth57]

Why do you think Stealth would have nail polish?

Borrowed from V

 

[BklynKen]

I could never tell a difference in tone. I've funny about tone, but I almost never worry about it any longer. I'm sure it makes some difference, but wether it's really noticeable is another matter.

Only if they're purple. Otherwise, they're purely cosmetic.

 

[Instagator]

Happy Friday T-Birdians.
Just a customer service shout out to the Hipshot company.
I called on the phone ( who does that anymore) to hipshot and explained my missing ferrule situation and tried to buy a set of four zinc replacements.
We talked for a little bit while as he was pulling up my account from previous business. He confirmed my address was still the same.
I asked how much they were going to cost with shipping. (had my credit card in hand) He said no charge, they are already on the way to your house.

Old school customer service.. gotta love those guys!

Cheers!

 

[GBassNorth]

Folks, just wanted to let you know how disappointed I am with La Bella customer service. I definitely will never buy their strings again. I sent them a photo of the silks on their 750N tape wounds. Clearly there is a quality issue with the D string having about twice the silk length of any other string (see photo below). This makes using the Mod-Bar to move the silk off the saddles worthless.

Here was the response from La Bella:

"The tolerance is normal and the silk sitting on the barrels should not affect the tone in any way."

View attachment 5016935

Any suggestions on cutting the silk or just swap out the strings for another brand?

I’d just chalk it up to a bad set and buy another new set. Chances are the new set will be fine. These strings last forever. I’m almost at year 20 on one set, and they still sound fantastic.

Out of curiosity - did you go with the standard gauge or did you go light gauge? Also, if it’s not asking too much, what is the approximate length of the silk wrapped portion of the string (including the ball all the way to the end of the silk wrap)?

 

[Stealth57]

I’d just chalk it up to a bad set and buy another new set. Chances are the new set will be fine. These strings last forever. I’m almost at year 20 on one set, and they still sound fantastic.

Out of curiosity - did you go with the standard gauge or did you go light gauge? Also, if it’s not asking too much, what is the approximate length of the silk wrapped portion of the string (including the ball all the way to the end of the silk wrap)?

I believe La Bella calls the 750N medium gauge (0.050-0.105). The three normal strings are ~1" from ball end to top of silk. The D is ~1.5".

 

[bobyoung53]

Only if they're purple. Otherwise, they're purely cosmetic.

I've heard purple silks impart a rather somber tone.

 

[bobyoung53]

I believe La Bella calls the 750N medium gauge (0.050-0.105). The three normal strings are ~1" from ball end to top of silk. The D is ~1.5".

If those are the tape wounds they call them light. Tape wounds have tiny strings inside them. I've only used them once.

 

[bobyoung53]

So cycling is 3 x easier on your body than jogging?

I think it's much easier on your joints etc. I warm up before I run by walking.

 

[KaraQ]

Folks, just wanted to let you know how disappointed I am with La Bella customer service. I definitely will never buy their strings again. I sent them a photo of the silks on their 750N tape wounds. Clearly there is a quality issue with the D string having about twice the silk length of any other string (see photo below). This makes using the Mod-Bar to move the silk off the saddles worthless.

Here was the response from La Bella:

"The tolerance is normal and the silk sitting on the barrels should not affect the tone in any way."

View attachment 5016935

Any suggestions on cutting the silk or just swap out the strings for another brand?

That much of a length difference would get on my nerves *so* much!



......the silks being on the saddles? Not a problem, for me.



The idea of using clear nail polish (or super glue?) on the portion you want to keep, and an x-acto knife on the rest, would be the way I would go.



If you became committed to changing brands, I would suggest checking out DR Legends, to see if they might work for what you need, but..........you'd not have the purple tone-silks any more

 

[TBird1958]

I've heard purple silks impart a rather somber tone.

Ken Smith's, best purple silk anywhere!

 

[Gaolee]

Only if they're purple. Otherwise, they're purely cosmetic.

Exactly. Purple makes them tone silks.

 

[Gaolee]

Ken Smith's, best purple silk anywhere!

As I recall, Bass Burners didn't have silks. Rock Masters must be the ones we all need. I can never remember. I didn't like Bass Burners right away, but once they broke in, they were fantastic. As I recall they were .50 to .110. I liked them a lot on the Flamingo. It has EBCFs on it for now. With purple silks, and it sounds very good.

 

[GBassNorth]

Folks, just wanted to let you know how disappointed I am with La Bella customer service. I definitely will never buy their strings again. I sent them a photo of the silks on their 750N tape wounds. Clearly there is a quality issue with the D string having about twice the silk length of any other string (see photo below). This makes using the Mod-Bar to move the silk off the saddles worthless.

Here was the response from La Bella:

"The tolerance is normal and the silk sitting on the barrels should not affect the tone in any way."

View attachment 5016935

Any suggestions on cutting the silk or just swap out the strings for another brand?

I believe La Bella calls the 750N medium gauge (0.050-0.105). The three normal strings are ~1" from ball end to top of silk. The D is ~1.5".

OK, I gotta admit that silk wrap looks ridiculous and would send my OCD over the edge. You could try cutting the silk back but be very careful not to cut into the plastic wrap or it’ll unravel.

The La Bella tapes are far better sounding than any other tape I’ve found on the market, so it’s worth trying to salvage them if you can.

If shaving the silk off doesn’t work PM me. I currently have a relatively new set (maybe a few years old) of 750N light gauge (.050 to .105) black tapes on my FrankenGoth that I’ll donate to your cause. Both Eppi and Gibby Tbirds with three point bridges use small diameter tuning pegs so these should work on your bass. The silks on mine are relatively even and all about 1” in length at the bridge end. I‘m afraid if I send you just the D string the silk colors might not be a perfect match, which would look equally horrible.

As for silks on the saddles, it’s supposedly not ideal, but I have yet to hear or feel a difference when that happens. Let me know if you want the strings.

 

[BklynKen]

As I recall, Bass Burners didn't have silks. Rock Masters must be the ones we all need. I can never remember. I didn't like Bass Burners right away, but once they broke in, they were fantastic. As I recall they were .50 to .110. I liked them a lot on the Flamingo. It has EBCFs on it for now. With purple silks, and it sounds very good.

Bass Burners have orange silks. Rock Masters have purple.

 

[Gaolee]

Bass Burners have orange silks. Rock Masters have purple.

Then that means any Ken Smiths that go on anything from now on will be Rock Masters. I'm liking the sound of stainless windings more and more anyway.

 

[Stealth57]

OK, I gotta admit that silk wrap looks ridiculous and would send my OCD over the edge. You could try cutting the silk back but be very careful not to cut into the plastic wrap or it’ll unravel.

The La Bella tapes are far better sounding than any other tape I’ve found on the market, so it’s worth trying to salvage them if you can.

If shaving the silk off doesn’t work PM me. I currently have a relatively new set (maybe a few years old) of 750N light gauge (.050 to .105) black tapes on my FrankenGoth that I’ll donate to your cause. Both Eppi and Gibby Tbirds with three point bridges use small diameter tuning pegs so these should work on your bass. The silks on mine are relatively even and all about 1” in length at the bridge end. I‘m afraid if I send you just the D string the silk colors might not be a perfect match, which would look equally horrible.

As for silks on the saddles, it’s supposedly not ideal, but I have yet to hear or feel a difference when that happens. Let me know if you want the strings.

Thanks. I am talking to Strings and Beyond and they seem more interested in helping. On another front, installed a Mod-Bar on my CP and that got the EBCF silks off the saddles.

 

[BklynKen]

Thanks. I am talking to Strings and Beyond and they seem more interested in helping. On another front, installed a Mod-Bar on my CP and that got the EBCF silks off the saddles.

View attachment 5017071

The ball ends aren't perfectly aligned.

 

[BklynKen]

Then that means any Ken Smiths that go on anything from now on will be Rock Masters. I'm liking the sound of stainless windings more and more anyway.

One thing I don't like about Ken Smiths is that they have a longer winding length than most strings, so the meat of the E string goes up on the post a little. Ken Smith said that's fine, but it bothers me. YMMV.

 

[bobyoung53]

Then that means any Ken Smiths that go on anything from now on will be Rock Masters. I'm liking the sound of stainless windings more and more anyway.

I've always liked stainless no matter whether they're round or flatwounds. Nickle sounds like mush to me. Oh, no don't!!!!