What about Strings: Flat, Tape, Round

[mickeyj4j]

Recently i started a post Plucking hand woe's it was mentioned that i try flat wound strings. Been researching stuff and heard lots on youtube. sometimes i like the sound of flats, other times rounds. then there are Tapewound, half round etc.

I am currently using a set of round wound strings on my bass. I can't remember what brand/gauge. its either ghs or Earny Ball's and one gauge up from the lightest i think? will take better notice next time i get some new strings. I do love the tone of these strings and am happy using them for now.

I have a Karina Bass with passive pickups and no onboard eq. Here are some images of my bass if that helps.

Full View: - Karina

• mickeyj4j
• Nov 17, 2014

Full view of the this bass

Head:- Karina

• mickeyj4j
• Nov 17, 2014

The head of the bass.

Controls:- Karina

• mickeyj4j
• Nov 17, 2014

Top:- neck pickup volume
Middle:- Bridge Pickup volume
Bottom:- Tone

Pickups:- Karina

• mickeyj4j
• Nov 17, 2014

The pickups.

What are your thoughts.

P.S. If anyone knows what type of bass this is it would be nice to know.

Thanks.

 

[mickeyj4j]

MMMMM oh well i dont know. sorry about that.

 

[deeptubes]

How old are your strings? I've experienced strings that get almost sticky when they get old. This would add friction and would compound the irritation to your fingers. What kind of tone do you want? Rounds are brighter. Stainless steel rounds have a harder outer wrap than nickel rounds, and some are more textured which can really eat at your fingers. Flats are both smooth feeling and smooth sounding, once they break in, but they're also rather stiff. Tapes are very warm and thumpy and the ones I have are wrapped but almost feel like a single stretched out piece of nylon. There are also half rounds, which are somewhere between rounds and flats, both in feel and sound. When I started playing, I would get blisters, too. After about 6 months, the skin thickened and they stopped showing up. At the same time, that was 28 years ago and I don't have 6 hour practice sessions anymore. How frequently do you practice, and for how long? I have basses with rounds, flats, and tapes. The past year or so, my tapes bass has been getting all the love. Tapes would look solid on that black bass. Mine are on a silverburst.

Now, about your bass. It is an Ibanez SR clone. You have a split P pickup and a jazz pickup near the bridge. This configuration is commonly referred to as a P/J. Have you had it set up? You can pay a tech to do it, but why? It's a good idea to know how to set up one's own tools. I've been doing my own setups for about 25 years. I do all of my basses twice a year, after the weather turns. It's a very good idea to do this after changing brands, gauges, or types of strings, as the tensions are different. While changing strings, it might also be a good idea to give it a good cleaning. A simple damp rag wipe and followed with a dry rag will suffice. If your rosewood fretboard looks dry, a little lemon oil or mineral oil will condition it. Wipe on, sit for 5, wipe off. If you let it sit too long, it can seep into the fret grooves and give an oil stain to the wood around the frets. When my boards are particularly scuzzy, I use #0000 steel wool with lemon oil and rub with the wood grain. The oil and steel wool work really well polishing frets, too. Shards of steel wool on the pickups? Dab them with tape to remove. There are stickies on setups in the Setup Forum and plenty of videos on Youtube. First time will be intimidating. You will need: a tuner, a capo, a fine measuring tool (I use a digital caliper), screwdrivers, and likely allen wrenches. Just follow the steps, and make sure you re-tune frequently. If you want a hand when the time comes, start a private conversation with me and I'll walk you through it.

 

[mickeyj4j]

How old are your strings? I've experienced strings that get almost sticky when they get old. This would add friction and would compound the irritation to your fingers.

I have had these strings on for around 3 months and i clean them with Fast Fret cleaner once a week, although i try to do it more if i remember.

What kind of tone do you want? Rounds are brighter. Stainless steel rounds have a harder outer wrap than nickel rounds, and some are more textured which can really eat at your fingers. Flats are both smooth feeling and smooth sounding, once they break in, but they're also rather stiff. Tapes are very warm and thumpy and the ones I have are wrapped but almost feel like a single stretched out piece of nylon. There are also half rounds, which are somewhere between rounds and flats, both in feel and sound.

Well after watching some videos on youtube and understand more about different bases and strings. I dont mind the sound of the strings i currently have. really Bass strings can be more expensive than guitar strings. on my guitar I use elixir nanaweb strings. these are around $35 Here in New Zealand. i would love to try some elixir bass strings but they are nearly $100 a set.

When I started playing, I would get blisters, too. After about 6 months, the skin thickened and they stopped showing up. At the same time, that was 28 years ago and I don't have 6 hour practice sessions anymore. How frequently do you practice, and for how long?

well i have been playing most weeks for at around 10mins-1hr every 2nd day. I am noticing that after my blisters have gone this last time that the fingers are a bit more tougher. I am now not plucking as hard as i did and taking it easy. but still playing.

I have basses with rounds, flats, and tapes. The past year or so, my tapes bass has been getting all the love. Tapes would look solid on that black bass. Mine are on a silver burst.

right tapes may look nice.

Now, about your bass. It is an Ibanez SR clone. You have a split P pickup and a jazz pickup near the bridge. This configuration is commonly referred to as a P/J.

Thanks never knew that

Have you had it set up? You can pay a tech to do it, but why? It's a good idea to know how to set up one's own tools.

No i never paid anyone to set it up. i have learnt to do my own acoustic guitar, (but even then i take that in every 2 years for a service it being old and aged now). I just looked up some youtube videos on how to wet up an electric bass guitar. I lowered the strings as i like a low action. and it feels a bit better to play since i tweaked it.

I've been doing my own setups for about 25 years. I do all of my basses twice a year, after the weather turns. It's a very good idea to do this after changing brands, gauges, or types of strings, as the tensions are different. While changing strings, it might also be a good idea to give it a good cleaning. A simple damp rag wipe and followed with a dry rag will suffice. If your rosewood fretboard looks dry, a little lemon oil or mineral oil will condition it. Wipe on, sit for 5, wipe off. If you let it sit too long, it can seep into the fret grooves and give an oil stain to the wood around the frets. When my boards are particularly scuzzy, I use #0000 steel wool with lemon oil and rub with the wood grain. The oil and steel wool work really well polishing frets, too. Shards of steel wool on the pickups? Dab them with tape to remove. There are stickies on setups in the Setup Forum and plenty of videos on Youtube. First time will be intimidating. You will need: a tuner, a capo, a fine measuring tool (I use a digital caliper), screwdrivers, and likely allen wrenches. Just follow the steps, and make sure you re-tune frequently. If you want a hand when the time comes, start a private conversation with me and I'll walk you through it.

nice never new this thanks for the info. instead of a calliper one youtube video said to use a credit card so i use that as the thickness.

you have given me lots of helpful tips, tricks and ideas to think about. so awesome dude. Really appreciate all this

P.S. as you are such a knowledgable person on bass, you may also be able to help with another problem i have. see my post Extra hum: - normal or not.