What strings are these?

[GTHintz]

I have my guesses but here's what I know
Green silk on both ends
Brass ball ends on all strings
I think they are nickel or nps roundwound
E string is 37 & a half inches ball to taper.
E and a string are bridge tapered.
These came to me in a zip lock baggie so no labels. Can't beat free strings though

 

[michael_t]

Roundwound with green silk at both ends? Alembic, maybe...? The only thing I'm not sure about is whether Alembic strings are supposed to be tapered on E and A or not.

 

[GTHintz]

This one is a puzzler. The lady I got them from didn't have a clue. I don't think they are roto solo bass pressure wound or GHS balanced nickel. Maybe Dean Markley skull busters? They are interesting strings to say the least. Btw they are a 4 string set. I'm just putting them on a 5 string bass with something else for a b string.

 

[michael_t]

I don't think they are roto solo bass pressure wound or GHS balanced nickel.

Roto Solo Bass 55's do come with green silk at both ends, but I think it's a much darker shade of green than what's in the pics. GHS Balanced Nickels have green silk only at the tuner end.

 

[GTHintz]

Also I think these are actually steel strings. They are almost the same color as the stainless Smith b string I put on.

 

[michael_t]

Maybe Dean Markley skull busters?

Here's a pic of DM Skullbusters. As you can see, no silk at the ball end or tapered ends.

 

[michael_t]

How do those strings feel in terms of surface texture?

If they're in fact Alembics, they should feel smoother than typical roundwound as the final cover is compressed length-wise (= "elliptical profile"), meaning more winds per inch, resulting in a finer texture.

 

[GTHintz]

Definitely a bit lighter than the skull busters green. They feel pretty smooth. Do you know if alembic strings are nickel plated or steel or both? These feel nice to play and have great brightness. Someone had them on a fender style headstock due to how they are cut. My e string is really short but it's sounding fine and holding tune.

 

[GTHintz]

I don't know if it's just me but it feels like they are a little stiffer than the set of tapercore Smith strings I got my b string from.

 

[michael_t]

Do you know if alembic strings are nickel plated or steel or both?

According to the specs, they're "nickel steel alloy". Doesn't say "nickel-plated steel", though.

 

[GTHintz]

I'll have to look up alembic strings and do some investigating. How long have they been making strings? I definitely don't hear a lot about them.

 

[michael_t]

How long have they been making strings?

That I have no idea.

 

[GTHintz]

I'll find what I can and post it here.

 

[GTHintz]

i found this. It's an alembic bass being reviewed by ove Bosch. These strings are turquoise on both ends. I'm guessing these are alembic strings due to the fact this bass was sent to him for review by alembic themselves.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

View attachment 4522598i found this. It's an alembic bass being reviewed by ove Bosch. These strings are turquoise on both ends. I'm guessing these are alembic strings due to the fact this bass was sent to him for review by alembic themselves.

Those look like Fender flats.

 

[hihat]

How old could the strings be? I ask because Trace Elliot strings had green silk at both ends and the strings were tapered a bit. But Trace Elliot stopped making strings in the mid 2000s.

 

[FranF]

Trace Elliot perhaps.

 

[Manticore]

View attachment 4522598i found this. It's an alembic bass being reviewed by ove Bosch. These strings are turquoise on both ends. I'm guessing these are alembic strings due to the fact this bass was sent to him for review by alembic themselves.

I'm color blind, so can't help with the silk, but Alembic strings aren't tapered.

 

[GTHintz]

I'm going to guess that they are pretty old. Trace Elliott could be a viable guess.

 

[michael_t]

Trace Elliot strings had green silk at both ends and the strings were tapered a bit.

Trace Elliot perhaps.

Alembic strings aren't tapered.

Trace Elliott could be a viable guess.

I was just doing some research on Trace Elliot strings last night and learned they did have all the features discussed here. Green silk at both ends with tapered ends.