Thunderbird Club

[MCF]

So, to help out the economy, you paid full price. Well done!

Look like nice straps. How wide? I find that regardless of padding or no, I like wider than 2" and 3" is the sweet spot.

Nah, I took the discount. They’re 4” suede backed. Although you can get leather backed. I like them.

 

[nabilhuakbar]

Great! I like Slinkys well enough but get that some don’t. They sound good to me after a good stretch. They are inexpensive, but don’t last all that long.

For inexpensive rounds I think D'Addario XLs have a little more character to them and they last a lot longer

 

[BklynKen]

With EB slinky’s intonation on E is perfect, unfortunately those Slinky’s are not my cup of tea. Cobalts flats are next to try.

Curious why, when the two you've mentioned you liked are two of the brighter strings out there, that you're going to flats. I know a lot of people love them, but it seems like you're going in the wrong direction. A common description is that they sound the most like rounds of the flats, but I like strings like the RS66 and even a lot of rounds I've tried haven't had enough balls for me. I can't see a round-like flat getting anywhere near that arena.

 

[MCF]

Exactly no character. The best results I got so far were with lo riders and rotos 77 flats. I heard that cobalts are rough for some. The roughest and stickiest strings I have tried were ddadario pro steels. Cobalts can’t be worst than pro steels in terms of roughness.

You’re talking cobalt flats, right?Some will scoff at this, but install them per the instructions on the pack.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

something about NRs....

 

[Jon Clegg]

You're using those transducers, right? Did you check that their output, and the effect on the pickup of that output, is linear?

I haven't analyzed pickups in isolation yet, but in the past I have recorded the instrument's output into Audacity, then selected a portion of that a few seconds long, then with Menu ...Analyze ...Plot Spectrum (set "Size" as large as possible (this improves resolution), I was able to isolate the tone=0 peak of which I spoke (around 300Hz), easily if I remember right. EDIT: I did that just out of curiosity, not a serious test.

TBH it may be somewhat non-linear -- it is basically a Q&D setup I built for looking at tone cap values, etc.

 

[nabilhuakbar]

Curious why, when the two you've mentioned you liked are two of the brighter strings out there, that you're going to flats. I know a lot of people love them, but it seems like you're going in the wrong direction. A common description is that they sound the most like rounds of the flats, but I like strings like the RS66 and even a lot of rounds I've tried haven't had enough balls for me. I can't see a round-like flat getting anywhere near that arena.

+1 to this.

Cobalt flats are zingy and trebly -- for flats. They still sound like dead rounds even in the best of times.

I can't say I'm too impressed with the Cobalt Rounds yet, but that also could be because the bass I put them on doesn't like them. And I don't know that you'd get what you want out of them on a T-bird anyways, because what really matters for great T-bird tone more than anything else is a good high-mid response. T-birds don't put out a ton of treble and it seems like all of that sparkly zing is mostly going to get lost.

 

[Marky83dam]

Exactly no character. The best results I got so far were with lo riders and rotos 77 flats. I heard that cobalts are rough for some. The roughest and stickiest strings I have tried were ddadario pro steels. Cobalts can’t be worst than pro steels in terms of roughness.

I get the cobalt slinky’s on my guitars and love the feel will have to get a set for my bass someday

 

[dagrev]

someone say grand parenting?...
View attachment 4002639

Are helmets required when riding with you? Parents don't trust you or what?

Great pic! A nice break during a busy day.

 

[dagrev]

There's a good grandpa!

"Now throw that helmet off and let's tear it up!"

 

[dagrev]

New straps today! @JJR58 turned me on to Cali made Italia straps a while back. Made up @ChuckyStiletti ’s way. They always have 2 for 1 offers for mail list subscribers. And every few months there’s a coupon that basically covers the sales tax. So wanting to help our economy, I bought a blue one for the NR and another black one for one on the other basses. Here’s a pic of a couple bluebirds.
View attachment 4002657

I bought a used Italia from the classifieds years ago. Nice strap. Pebble finish and slick on the back.

 

[dagrev]

Exactly no character. The best results I got so far were with lo riders and rotos 77 flats. I heard that cobalts are rough for some. The roughest and stickiest strings I have tried were ddadario pro steels. Cobalts can’t be worst than pro steels in terms of roughness.

Well.....

 

[tom_t]

Curious why, when the two you've mentioned you liked are two of the brighter strings out there, that you're going to flats. I know a lot of people love them, but it seems like you're going in the wrong direction. A common description is that they sound the most like rounds of the flats, but I like strings like the RS66 and even a lot of rounds I've tried haven't had enough balls for me. I can't see a round-like flat getting anywhere near that arena.

You’re talking cobalt flats, right?Some will scoff at this, but install them per the instructions on the pack.

+1 to this.

Cobalt flats are zingy and trebly -- for flats. They still sound like dead rounds even in the best of times.

I can't say I'm too impressed with the Cobalt Rounds yet, but that also could be because the bass I put them on doesn't like them. And I don't know that you'd get what you want out of them on a T-bird anyways, because what really matters for great T-bird tone more than anything else is a good high-mid response. T-birds don't put out a ton of treble and it seems like all of that sparkly zing is mostly going to get lost.

Yes, cobalt flats.
Want to try them because many here like them and are happy with how they sound. It’s adventure. It may not be what I like, it may be something I love.
If it’s not something I like there are plenty other string choices out there to try.

 

[nabilhuakbar]

Yes, cobalt flats.
Want to try them because many here like them and are happy with how they sound. It’s adventure. It may not be what I like, it may be something I love.
If it’s not something I like there are plenty other string choices out there to try.

And hey, to be real, I absolutely love my Cobalt Flats on my P-bass. They sound great -- really thick and middy -- just don't expect them to be bright or sparkly.

 

[tom_t]

And hey, to be real, I absolutely love my Cobalt Flats on my P-bass. They sound great -- really thick and middy -- just don't expect them to be bright or sparkly.

No expectations, curiosity.

 

[BklynKen]

Yes, cobalt flats.
Want to try them because many here like them and are happy with how they sound. It’s adventure. It may not be what I like, it may be something I love.
If it’s not something I like there are plenty other string choices out there to try.

Looking forward to your thoughts on the Cobalt Flats then! I know I sound like a broken record, but if you like the RS66 and Low Riders, I'd suggest also checking out the SIT Power Steels.

 

[b-bottom]

Does anyone know of a place where I can find the USA hipshop ultralites mini clover tuners in chrome? The only place that I have come across that does have them is Hipshot.....and I don't want to pay $160 for four of them if I don't have to.

 

[PillO]

Are helmets required when riding with you? Parents don't trust you or what?

Great pic! A nice break during a busy day.

Chucky may have had some 'splainin to do if he had gone this direction.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Are helmets required when riding with you? Parents don't trust you or what?

Great pic! A nice break during a busy day.

nah, solely his request.... we were watching Ford vs Ferrari...

 

[BklynKen]

This is a really good video comparing strings.