Thunderbird Club

[PillO]

If you got really good at it you'd be doing Geddy Pro Bono.

Anything I do free of charge is Pro Bozo

 

[gidbass]

Just some more VP string data points from my trials and tribulations...

...

Cobalt Flats - nearly perfect in every regard with this bass. Probably the best flat wound for the VP if you're not looking for a pure traditional Roto type flat wound sound. More grit and growl when wanted, more top end when wanted, more complexity in tone than Rotos, yet still very deep and smooth on the bottom, well balanced mids. Some say they have a bit more grip than most flats, feel about the same to me. You will be heard loud and clear in a mix.

...

I use to run these on all my basses and I agree, they are great strings but now they are just on my L2K tribby.

I do love them, but wanted to branch back closer to roundwound territory. I have two new, and one used set of these...maybe i should string up the used on it for kicks and give it a spin....

EDIT: I have the water on to boil the old set...yeah, i'm one of those...

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I use to run these on all my basses and I agree, they are great strings but now they are just on my L2K tribby.

I do love them, but wanted to branch back closer to roundwound territory. I have two new, and one used set of these...maybe i should string up the used on it for kicks and give it a spin....

EDIT: I have the water on to boil the old set...yeah, i'm one of those...

make sure you filter that water!..

 

[PillO]

make sure you filter that water!..

How do you retain the mojo if you filter the water before drinking it?

Thunderbird!

 

[gidbass]

Just some more VP string data points from my trials and tribulations...

DR Silver Stars (essentially the same as Black Beauties but Silver) - E string seemed floppy, sucked too much top end out of the bass. Otherwise good and smooth with nice bottom end. Can get lost in the mix.

Helbourg Strings - plenty aggressive sounding, not as smooth on slides as I'd like, a bit too much top end for my tastes. Probably a good string for a pic player in an 80's band. No problem cutting through a mix.

Cobalt Flats - nearly perfect in every regard with this bass. Probably the best flat wound for the VP if you're not looking for a pure traditional Roto type flat wound sound. More grit and growl when wanted, more top end when wanted, more complexity in tone than Rotos, yet still very deep and smooth on the bottom, well balanced mids. Some say they have a bit more grip than most flats, feel about the same to me. You will be heard loud and clear in a mix.

Fender 7150 Nickel Rounds - so far my favorite round wound on the VP. Delivers nearly everything the Cobalt Flats do but with a true round wound sound (the Cobalts are almost halfway between a round and flat in sound). Perfect top end, deep rich bottom end, nice low mid punch. Very versatile on the VP, can cover full round wound range and as the tone knob is rolled off even does a decent job of inching into flat territory. Sounds great in a mix.

Roto Swing Flats - very traditional flat wound sound, kind of low and mid range focused. Not a great top end but ok. Feel great, well balanced nice tension. Just a middle of the road string on a stellar bass.

That's it for now, as always, this is a very subjective topic. With different ears, hands, amp, cab, playing style and environment you might get completely different results. But the information is probably directionally correct at least.

So, what a difference!

The used set as cut for a 2x2, which i only managed to figure out after boiling.... i decided to just run the the E and A on it...uh, yeah...one of my new sets of cobalt flats are going on it once i get the nut cut...they sound GLORIOUS on it...

EDIT: I wonder if it is the hot pickups combined with the bright GHS (bright to me anyways) Pressurewounds is what I don't like...The Cobalts seem to always sound good regardless of the bass...

 

[GonePlaid]

Thanks for the links! I've wondered what the YYZ sounds like. Seems interesting. I use a VT SansAmp as my DI. Used to use it to get better tone out of SS amps. It's amazing. Yet I was still never able to get "good" distortion or breakup for my purposes. Possibly I'm not smart or patient enough. Both likely true.

You and thousands of others.

 

[Engle]

So, the GHS pressurewounds aren't striking my fancy so ordered some DR LowRider SS, which I already have on my Ric and like. I like the reduced finger noise of the GHS, but the tone isn't grabbing me, which is funny as I remember liking this string way back....oh well, I'm sure my tastes have changed many times since then...

I also ordered the gig bag. I considered the hard case, but with the strap extension i don't think it'll fit, so gig bag it is.

And still working on the nut...getting closer, but need to create some more files as two came unglued. E and D are so close now...still some work on A and G. Luckily have a crap load of sticks, and a set of RS66 (slightly used) that i can cut up and make several files for each string. I hope that is enough to get it done as I don't want to drop ~$80 on files...or leave it with a tech.

$80?
Homedepot #707475 @ $18.75 would do it.

 

[gidbass]

$80?
Homedepot #707475 @ $18.75 would do it.

I appreciate the vote of confidence, I really do, but I don't think I'd be successful with my skills with anything less than nut files...

But, did you have a particular set in mind? I'd like to look at them.

EDIT: NM, I see the part number...checking now

So...I have read of folks successfully using needle files, but I guess I can't get my head around how if the file doesn't match the string gauge already....and if the bottom of the file isn't round like the string.

For $20 bucks though, it's worth trying to figure it out.

Or, for $4 Invalid Link Removed

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

You and thousands of others.

 

[GonePlaid]

I appreciate the vote of confidence, I really do, but I don't think I'd be successful with my skills with anything less than nut files...

But, did you have a particular set in mind? I'd like to look at them.

EDIT: NM, I see the part number...checking now

So...I have read of folks successfully using needle files, but I guess I can't get my head around how if the file doesn't match the string gauge already....and if the bottom of the file isn't round like the string.

For $20 bucks though, it's worth trying to figure it out.

And they're great for filing needles.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I had a Phase 90; liked it a lot. Someone else liked it even more.

Extreme DISlike.

 

[GonePlaid]

Extreme DISlike.

Yeah. Who knew they could 'walk'?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Thanks for the links! I've wondered what the YYZ sounds like. Seems interesting. I use a VT SansAmp as my DI. Used to use it to get better tone out of SS amps. It's amazing. Yet I was still never able to get "good" distortion or breakup for my purposes. Possibly I'm not smart or patient enough. Both likely true.

We use one at church. I don't care much for the distortion, but it's great as a DI.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Just some more VP string data points from my trials and tribulations...

DR Silver Stars ...
Helbourg Strings ...
Cobalt Flats ...
Fender 7150 Nickel Rounds ...
Roto Swing Flats ...
That's it for now, as always, this is a very subjective topic. With different ears, hands, amp, cab, playing style and environment you might get completely different results. But the information is probably directionally correct at least.

Excellent review. Thanks! I can only comment on the Chromes, but I totally agree.

 

[GBassNorth]

So, what a difference!...
EDIT: I wonder if it is the hot pickups combined with the bright GHS (bright to me anyways) Pressurewounds is what I don't like...The Cobalts seem to always sound good regardless of the bass...

IMHO - the VP pups have a ton of detail on the top end without sacrificing the lows and mids. I have found that strings that are relatively bright just end up being too much of a good thing on this bass. It's the same story on my Stingray basses. Once you tame the top end everything else just falls in place. The Cobalts seem to do that very well on the VP as do the Fender 7150's.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

How do you retain the mojo if you filter the water before drinking it?

Thunderbird!

Yeah! I wanna pee like an angry piano!

 

[GBassNorth]

Yeah! I wanna pee like an angry piano!

Hey, no tinkling on the keys!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

I just want to say how much I love this community. The depth and breadth of knowledge of THUNDERBIRDS (and much more) is is excellent, and the generosity and kindness is awesome. Thanks to everyone who participates; you have definitely made my life with Birds (and in general) better.

May your flocks ever flourish.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Hey, no tinkling on the keys!

LIKE one, not ON one!

-Miles THUNDERBIRD O'Neal

 

[gidbass]

IMHO - the VP pups have a ton of detail on the top end without sacrificing the lows and mids. I have found that strings that are relatively bright just end up being too much of a good thing on this bass. It's the same story on my Stingray basses. Once you tame the top end everything else just falls in place. The Cobalts seem to do that very well on the VP as do the Fender 7150's.

I can see that...well, you sold me on the cobalts...

The DR's i have coming will just be a spare set for my ric or spector...