Bass Guitar Question

Subject: Tech: Bass Guitar Question
From: GUEST,Banjoman
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 07:13 PM

I just received an early Christmas present, a New Fender Bass Guitar.
My question: It has round wound strings on it and I'm getting a lot of "scratch" sound. Would it help to restring it with Flat Wound Strings? I'm just an intermediate player (church and small gatherings). Any help would be appreciated.

Banjoman

Subject: RE: Tech: Bass Guitar Question
From: Mooh
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 07:28 PM

I've always used flatwounds on all my basses, fretted or fretless. They get a better uprightlike tone, are easier to fret/finger, and are sometimes faster to play. As well, they record better for my ears, with less strident treble tone.

Great present!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Tech: Bass Guitar Question
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 08:26 PM

My son's the bassist in the family. He's always preferred flat-wound strings. But, judging from the fact that Elderly Instruments carries fifteen round-wound varieties and only three flat-wound, it would seem that flat-wound fans are in the minority.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Tech: Bass Guitar Question
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 09:26 PM

Does "getting a lot of scratch" mean you're using a pick? Or is it just the left hand fingers sliding on the strings?

At least one acqauintance, who plays bass guitar in his group but regular guitar for most of our informal jams, uses a noticibly different technique on the bass. He seems to lift the left hand fingers clear when moving betweeen positions on the bass, more like I'd expect with a standup bass - more of a "jump" to the next fret than just a slide. Maybe he's just adapted to get rid of the "slide" noise?

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Bass Guitar Question
From: Mooh
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 05:16 AM

Oh, and btw, I generally used those black nylon tape wound over stainless steel flatwound strings from Fender until I couldn't get a set when I switched exclusively to 5 string. D'Addarios are my choice until a set of LaBellas like the Fenders arrive. The nylon outer shell has the slinkiest feel. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Tech: Bass Guitar Question
From: mooman
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 05:45 AM

Expensive...but Elixir bass strings are great and are noticeably quieter (last forever too).

Peace

moo (confirmed Elixirophile!)

Subject: RE: Tech: Bass Guitar Question
From: C-flat
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 10:40 AM

Do bass guitar strings take a while to play-in? Whenever I re-string my 6-stringers I need to play them for an hour or so to settle them.

Subject: RE: Tech: Bass Guitar Question
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 12:07 PM

As an electric bassist for a longtime (still play my 1977 Fender Precsion bought new), unless you are planning on doing some John Entwhistle type playing, go get the Fender flatwounds. Yes, like new guitar strings, they can be a bit bright for a short while.

Subject: RE: Tech: Bass Guitar Question
From: PapaWhiskey
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 05:54 PM

How do flat wound and/or coated strings affect the volume of an acoustic bass guitar or an A/E played acoustically? The acoustics I've heard seem a mite volume-challenged. I was wondering if you could squeeze out a little extra volume with round-wound strings.

Subject: Tech: More Bass Guitar Questions
From: Banjoman_CO
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 02:24 PM

Hey guys and gals, thanks for the comments on my first inquiry about my new bass. I will get flat wound strings.
Another question plese.
My new bass, a Fender precision, seems to be a little out of tune when you are not on an open string. As you go up the neck, some notes are sharp and some are flat. (This is checking with a tuner). Is this normal for an electric bass? It isn't real bad, but its annoying.
Also, what is a good tuner for bass. I have a Seiko ST767 and a Sabine ST-1100. Appreciate your help for a novice bass player.

Banjo man

---

I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: GUEST,Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 27 Dec 03 - 06:31 PM

Mooh, I didn't know you was a bass person. Ever neat!

Banjoman, before you jump straight to flatwounds (flatwounds on a P-bass will give you that 'thunky' sort of sound characteristic of 50's rock 'n' roll), you should know that there is a medium step you might consider. There is a type of string known as a groundround. It maintains much of the fullness of a roundwound but plays much more smoothly, and you'd lose that "scratchiness" you're talking about.

There are various brands: GHS Pressurewound, Rotosound Compressors, etc. I preder D'Addario Half-Rounds on my fretted bass (and LaBella Black Nylon Tapewounds on my fretless)

The question is asked, "Do bass guitar strings take a while to play-in?" Well, I do know that Ralph Schipper, Fred Eaglesmith's bassist for many years, used to use stainless steel wound (i.e. usually for electric bass) strings on his Guild B-40 acoustic bass guitar. He told me that he never felt he had the right sound until they'd been on for 2 years!

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: GUEST,satchel
Date: 27 Dec 03 - 10:17 PM

Banjoman--keep the round wounds.

I've been playing electric bass for 15 years, mostly with active pick-ups. If you think the potential for scratch is high on your new Fender, imagine how loud it is with an on-board preamp.

Without being too harsh, keep the round wounds and practice your chops some more. The "scrathy" sound is really a result of using the guitar, banjo, mandolin, or fiddle techniques of "sliding" between notes on an electric bass. As you have likely just discovered, the bass is a different instrument. After a few days or weeks of becoming REALLY annoyed with the scratchy sound, you will begin (subconsciously or otherwise) to lift your fingers slightly off the strings while changing notes.   

The tonal qualities of round wounds are worth sticking with them, as is the improved technique you will have to develop in order to become a bass player rather than someone who plays bass.

And yes, bass strings break in just like other stringed instruments. As McCaw suggests above, several years is not uncommon. I once had a lovely set of nearly six-year-old strings when my bandmates finally revolted and forced me to change them. The bass was never the same again. Strings mellow as they build up a patina over time.   To hasten this, I suggest eating peanut butter and fluff sandwiches followed by a few slugs of Southern Comfort or schnapps before each practice session. Good luck!

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: Bassic
Date: 27 Dec 03 - 11:14 PM

PapaWhiskey

Have just changed the Original Fender Round wounds to Fender Flat wounds on my Fender AE Bass. Its a trade against comfort on the fingers with the flats (right hand blisters) for more Brightnes/Volume/Penetration with the Rounds. Maybe the half rounds are the best compromise. Let us know if you try them cos I may try it as well if you go that route. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: Mooh
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 07:21 AM

Jeremiah...How ya been?

Et al...I generally leave my strings on until they don't intonate well, which can be years depending on use. Long life contributes to the thump I like.

Cool thread, thanks.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: C-flat
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 08:53 AM

I've heard of bass players boiling old strings to rejuvenate them rather than put new ones on.

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: Bassic
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 09:12 AM

Boiling old Bass players to rejuvenate them is cruel and shouldnt be allowed! I now play the violin and will be changing my name to Fiddlestick in case any of you start getting ideas!! :-)

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: Banjoman_CO
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 03:04 PM

Thanks to all of you. It's amazing what you can learn when you talk to people who know more than you do.
Could someone answer the second part of the question I had about the tuning of the Bass and about the types of tuners you use. Thanks

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: Mooh
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 07:35 PM

Sounds to me like your instrument should be treated to a good set-up, meaning the string height set, nut slots optimised, saddle positions corrected for intonation, neck relief set (with trussrod), frets crowned and polished properly, and whatever else a decent tech will do. These things aren't necessarily completed at the factory, and need to be revisited periodically over time. Your instrument CAN be set-up right and you'll appreciate it even more.

Most any electronic tuner will do the job you require of it, ie tune open strings, but check octaves and some fretted pitches to be sure.

This help?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: red max
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 08:07 AM

One of the reasons I've always loved playing bass is that there isn't much you can say about the instrument. Just play the damn thing! While guitarists and drummmers get all excited about their equipment and can discuss its finer points at great length, we can just plug in and go OOM-PAH DOOM-PAH BOIIIIIING!

Never mind tuning it or worrying about strings, just get yourself an Ampeg stack and make some big deep noises

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: C-flat
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 03:10 PM

I think I may have shared a stage with you sometime, red max. :-)

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:02 PM

I have a question. I bought my bass about two months ago and the strings are starting to ring. Should I get new strings or is there something wrong with my bass?

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:25 PM

Ring?

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 04:34 PM

Yeah. I'm not sure really how to describe it. But it makes this like weird sound that isnt even a note.

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 04:36 PM

Maybe "scratchy" would describe it

Subject: RE: Bass Guitar Question
From: rangeroger
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 08:28 PM

Wolf tones ?
rr