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Bass strings [message #3406] Wed, 31 December 2003 13:49 Go to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
I need to get some new strings for my old Bass. What does everyone here prefer. I don't change em but about every year or so. So what are your recommendations and why.
Re: Bass strings [message #3413 is a reply to message #3406] Wed, 31 December 2003 15:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JB
Messages: 32
Registered: January 2003
Location: Maryland
Member
I'm not really a bass player but have Thomastics Flats on both my Hofners, I've had them for about 2 yrs on one bass and 1 yr on the other and still sound great. I don't play every day, once or twice a week. IMO Best for the money.
Re: Bass strings [message #3417 is a reply to message #3406] Wed, 31 December 2003 22:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
Well Jb if you, I, and Brian did'nt live in Maryland, Alabama, and Georgia we'd have that Beatles and CCR band now. My old bass is a 68 silvertone Hofner imitation bass and I run it thru all Kustom's. I'm not a bass player either really but I could play one on T.v or a in nice band like that LOL..
Re: Bass strings [message #3452 is a reply to message #3417] Fri, 02 January 2004 23:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
KustomBlues
Messages: 490
Registered: June 2001
Location: Michigan
Senior Member
For that thumpy classic bass sound, I use D'Addario Half Rounds, 40-95 gauge. They are easy on the fingers and your frets. Deb
Re: Bass strings [message #3456 is a reply to message #3413] Sat, 03 January 2004 15:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky
Senior Member
Of course it depends on the bass and the sound you are trying to get. I used Roto Sound for years then ran into several sub standard quality sets of strings in the mid 90s. I use GHS Bass boomers on my 4001 Ric and my Jazz. I also have a Jay Turser copy of a Hofner Beatle bass that came with some kind of round wounds on it. They are original and they sound fine. I like the fullness of the tone of rounds as my ears do not hear flats the way they used to!BC
Re: Bass strings [message #3459 is a reply to message #3417] Sat, 03 January 2004 17:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
I'm ready for playing some Beatles and CCR. Too bad we're not in closer proximity to each other. I have never owned a bass before but just traded into a Sting Precision bass. I love it but know nothing about strings. If I keep it I'll be sure and experiment with different brands and types.
Re: Bass strings [message #3462 is a reply to message #3459] Sat, 03 January 2004 21:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
I'll bet that sting bass is oh so right. Yes its too bad we're not a little nearer each other. There are some gigs out there that pay well for a tribute band. I'd just need to shave this bread, get a wig, and shea jacket and man we'd be ready.
Re: Bass strings [message #3465 is a reply to message #3406] Sun, 04 January 2004 05:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JB
Messages: 32
Registered: January 2003
Location: Maryland
Member
Dan, a Silvertone Hofner copy? never had the pleasure of seeing one of those, I bet it would sound great with some flats on it. Yea, I wish there were more folks here in MD that liked jamming on some CCR tunes. We haven't learned a new CCR tune in ages. Aint easy getting these guy's rockin out on the CCR stuff, especailly the bass player. Don't understand it. I think Stu is totally under rated as a bassist. Well if you guys ever make to town look me up!
Re: Bass strings [message #3469 is a reply to message #3465] Sun, 04 January 2004 15:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
I'll do it John. I love Baltimore. Used to spend time up there on business about 12 years ago. The Inner Harbor is great; and you may as well forget about buying crab cakes any where in the South after you've had them in Balmer.
Re: Bass strings [message #3470 is a reply to message #3465] Sun, 04 January 2004 15:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
JB I've only been up your way a couple of times and that was for another hobby. I enjoyed being there. The only complaint I had at the time was that the entire state seemed to be under construction LOL.. Which made it kinda hard for new fella to get around. Yes my old silvertone Hofner is a good bass to me. My first two bands that I made money playing in were as a bass player and this old bass was made in the sixties as a cash in by silvertone on the Beatle bass no dout. Kustom made a guitar around that time too that looked almost like a Rickenbacker for that Beatle effect. Many people hate to admit these things but its true and why not these old guitars and basses are still cool instruments. Hofner has been lucky thru the years for three big reasons. One is they make a nice bass. Two they've always had fairly good mangement that kept a good product. Third Paul played one. If not for those things Hofner would have been like Kustom and died too. But I'm glad there still around. My imi Hofner is a not a real one of course but I've come to like it very much. The neck is narrow like a Ric guitar and it puts the strings close together so its easy to reach the next one with almost no hand movement. Its a short scale and that makes it easier than long scale basses to reach your fretting fingers out. The pickups are like a Hofner well spread out to get a variety of sounds. Lastly its a true hollow body with real bound F holes. I have considered buying a Rogue copy though. Has any one here ever played one of those. I'm like you too I try and get the bands I get into to learn and older set of music too combined with one new set of music. Then by constantly changing the old set you finally get to play all of your old favorites. It goes like this a set of about 18 new ones and a set of 18 old ones. But I think it would be fun to really do a tribute act. Get the wigs the customes the whole thing going and really make a nice period show LOL.. I would like to limit it as well to amps simular to ones that were available in that period as well as period looking instruments. Playing thru a Peavy or modern botique amplike a Z or a Riveria just does'nt look right to me. I have'nt gone as far as playing a left handed bass or anything yet though LOL..
Re: Bass strings [message #3478 is a reply to message #3470] Mon, 05 January 2004 20:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
Jay Terser has copies of various guitars and basses and my brother, John, who also contributes to this site, bought a Beatle Bass for his daughter. These things are VERY nice. The price is reasonable, I saw a music store in Milwaukee that had them for under $300. They sound great and play like a million. Check them out. Jay Terser has a web site, WWW.jayterser.com and all his products are there. Good Luck. Conrad
Re: Bass strings [message #3482 is a reply to message #3470] Mon, 05 January 2004 22:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
axeman
Messages: 25
Registered: March 2003
Location: Overland, MO (near St. L...
Junior Member
Qmoder, I've never played a Rogue Beatle bass copy, but the Harmony-Central reviews are pretty good. I do have an Epiphone Viola, which is also a nice Beatle copy. I paid $300 for it used at GC and I really like its hollow body tone. It even has reasonable flexibility. No, you'll never play heavy metal or slap on it, but for classic stuff it would be fine.
Re: Bass strings [message #3483 is a reply to message #3482] Mon, 05 January 2004 23:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
Thanks guys. I'm gonna check those out. The jayterser sounds like it might be a good. Does anyone here know T for Terry.
Re: Bass strings [message #3484 is a reply to message #3406] Mon, 05 January 2004 23:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JB
Messages: 32
Registered: January 2003
Location: Maryland
Member
Brian, the Inner Harbor is a great place our group has played in the Ampatheater there for last couple of years and we love it. Hopfully we'll have it again this summer. Dan, your right about so many amp/guitar companies cashing in on the "Beatles Gear" yea, even Kustom. I'd hate to think where Hofner, Rickenbacker, even Gretsch would be if the Beatles hadn't used them. I'd probably be using Dano guitars, why not? they sound good, not to mention Silvertone guitars they look pretty cool and those amps built into thier cases, Real cool. Hey, Greco made a nifty Hofner copy too, a friend of mine has one, it plays and sounds great. I've played the Rogue it too is a quality copy and i found it possible to get that later Ric sounds from a Rogue. The Tursor and the Rogue are very simular.
Re: Bass strings [message #3486 is a reply to message #3484] Tue, 06 January 2004 18:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
Danos are great guitars. One of the best sounding rigs I ever owned was an old Silvertone 1482 amp and a new Dano U2. It was the best sounding $250 rig I ever owned. Why can't we be satisfied with that kind of setup instead of having to buy Les Pauls, Marshalls, Ricks and Voxes? I guess it's only money, huh?
Re: Bass strings [message #3487 is a reply to message #3406] Tue, 06 January 2004 18:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
Monkey see Monkey do There Brian. So some companies have made bigger monkees outa of us I guess LOL.. Believe I would have probably bought a real Hofner to begin all those years ago is I had the cash. Any one heard of a Gavleston Hofner copy or where you can get one? I hear they are nice. Does any one T on here either?
Re: Bass strings [message #3538 is a reply to message #3487] Mon, 19 January 2004 00:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pleat is currently offline  pleat
Messages: 1453
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi
Senior Member
Bass Strings? I'm not a bass player but have to say that Darco Strings, made by Martin are the best strings on the market. I have been using them for 25 years now and used to do a lot of restinging of the bass players bass. The darco's are the longest lasting best sounding stings I have ever used. Best of all, their cheap. American Musical supply sells a dozen sets for 25 bucks and the bass strings run 9.95 a set. Try some and I think you'll be hooked. The only problem is they don't make a 5 string bass set yet. Don
Re: Bass strings [message #3541 is a reply to message #3406] Mon, 19 January 2004 15:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JB
Messages: 32
Registered: January 2003
Location: Maryland
Member
Don, you are right on the money about Darco's. They make excellent Round wound electric guitar strings that sound great! Really cheap compared to most. I havent tried thier bass strings yet but since I've heard they're good I'll give em' a try too, thanks.
Re: Bass strings [message #3544 is a reply to message #3541] Tue, 20 January 2004 02:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
Thanks for the reply fella's. I've been considering putting some earnie balls on it. I use them on my guitars and they sound pretty good there so I thought they might be good on the bass too. However I have put down the Darco strings to think about giving them a try too. Most of us tend to leave out bass strings on too long away.
Re: Bass strings [message #3584 is a reply to message #3406] Wed, 28 January 2004 22:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
I finally broke down and ordered some new strings along with some Pa long run cords for my Pa cabs. I ordered some Earnie balls slinkies that are a little thinner than the usual big old round wounds I have used. My Hofner imi will fret out on the F note on the D string if I lower the action any more. The old girl might have a high fret or a little bit of back bow to her. But a little thinner string might help too. It already is nicer playing than a P bass to me now. But how amongest us musicians does'nt always want better if we can get it LOL..
Re: Bass strings [message #3712 is a reply to message #3406] Sat, 14 February 2004 18:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
I'm slow but I finally got tweaked the old basses truss rod and put on the new strings last night. What a difference its like I just bought a new bass.
Re: Bass strings [message #3748 is a reply to message #3406] Sat, 21 February 2004 12:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
My brother gave me an old Univox Lectra Beatle bass copy that sounds pretty danged awesome. Great neck, and with the light weight body, it feels nice along the fourth hour of the gig. I have a set of round wound Fender strings on it, lots of range in the pickups, too. I usually take three basses to a gig....The Fender Jazz Bass, The DeArmond Starfire, and the Univox. Lots of different sounds available between them. Thrill Bill
Re: Bass strings [message #3749 is a reply to message #3748] Sat, 21 February 2004 19:55 Go to previous message
QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003
Senior Member
Thats a lot of basses there Bill but they are some nice choices. The dearamond and the Jazz are nothing alike but thats nice. No offense to any one but the P bass is a little over done in my opinion a one trick pony. Its a pretty good trick but still only one. I like the hollow bodies too and my back really does. I thought at first the new strings I got might be on the thin side. They are 45 to 100 Earnie balls but I love them on there. The old Hofner imi has a fanastic sound now thru any of my double cab Kustoms. I'd like to change out my 2x12/2x10 lead cab to bass speakers some time. I think it would be a blast with them.
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