Switching string brands - flatwound advice needed

uwe · January 22, 2015, 06:24:18 AM

I can't find a huge magic with Pyramids, they are fine strings, but so are the ones from 20+ other brands.

In my book, the only strings that are really different-different-different from all the rest are Thomastiks - whether you like that or not is however entirely a matter of taste.

Granny Gremlin · January 22, 2015, 07:34:42 AM

Well, at jam last night they felt awesome. The tension change made me a bit clumsier than usual, but I think I like it. They seem more focussed than TIs, but they are still fresh - so could just be extra top end (even the A vs what I'd heard - never trust the internet/talkbass). Seem to have a leaner bottom than the TIs as well but we'll see about that when they break in..... also somehow, lower output.

Denis · January 23, 2015, 06:27:03 AM

Quote from: Granny Gremlin on May 29, 2014, 09:39:56 AM
Any of you try those La Bellas on a shorty? Just wondering if the tension/stiffness is alleviated by the shorter scale length at all.

I put a set of LaBella flats on my Danelectro Longhorn and it's now an amazing sounding little bass. Elderly Instruments had them for a killer price a couple of months ago and I bought two sets (I think $49 to both with free shipping).

Granny Gremlin · January 24, 2015, 06:00:46 PM

So I got the refret back on Friday. Amazing that it was done earlier than they said it would (Thursday, just couldn't get out there). All looks well, I asked for narrower frets so there's a few chips in the fretboard around 2 frets from where the original ones dug in a bit too much, but a great job otherwise; nicely dressed and polished.

Anyway, threw the Rotos on and no good. E string has a weird vibration (I thought something was loose in the control cavity) and unless I mashed down as hard as I could with my fretting hand and got my fingers perfectly placed, there was way too much fret noise (especially as you release). Suspecting that this was due to the high action (bridge can't go any lower, old neck reset not helping) + higher string tension, I changed the Rotos out for an old set of TIs, and there's my girl! Not quite buttah; but that's not possible on this ole girl.

I'll try the Rotos on the RD; being the eldest of the herd, Lucy appears to need a lower tension string or she starts complaining.

Granny Gremlin · February 24, 2015, 11:02:44 PM

FYI guys, long scale Pyramids (at least the E) won't work on shorties; when the actual proper wrap (after the silk ends) goes around the post once it splays and snaps the core somehow. Happened a second time with the replacement E but all was fine with the shortie they sent me after that.

BTW, Uwe (or anyone else) would you mind confirming that the Pyramid long scales have light purple silks vs dark green on the shorties?

I had to loosen the truss rod all the way; could just be the thinner E string vs the TIs but the tension is lower, which I did not think possible. Think I was able to get the action down a bit lower than before too.

Aussie Mark · February 25, 2015, 03:51:54 PM

Quote from: Granny Gremlin on February 24, 2015, 11:02:44 PM
BTW, Uwe (or anyone else) would you mind confirming that the Pyramid long scales have light purple silks vs dark green on the shorties?

I don't know about the long scale Pyramids, but the shorties are definitely dark green.

Dave W · February 25, 2015, 04:11:12 PM

I don't know about the shorties, but the long scale silks on the set I had were light purple. That's been over 10 years ago though.

Granny Gremlin · February 25, 2015, 06:12:01 PM

That's good enuf for me; thanks fellas.

uwe · March 04, 2015, 02:12:03 PM

I'v never had long scale Pyramids, but the shorties are green thread.

Pilgrim · March 04, 2015, 02:45:05 PM

Quote from: Dave W on February 25, 2015, 04:11:12 PM
I don't know about the shorties, but the long scale silks on the set I had were light purple. That's been over 10 years ago though.

I have long suspected the 40-year-old strings on my P-bass are Pyramids, as that seemed the best fit to the responses I got when I asked a similar question on TB. Here's a shot....Dave, are these similar to yours? These strings have lasted awfully well!

Granny Gremlin · March 04, 2015, 03:16:11 PM

Yeah, those look like my longscale Pyramids. I was just surprised when the shortie was a different colour.

Pilgrim · March 04, 2015, 04:27:46 PM

Well, a brand of flatwound string that was installed in 1972 and still sounds good is a pretty nice thing to know about!

Thanks!

Granny Gremlin · March 04, 2015, 04:42:04 PM

For the price they better sound good after a few decades!

Pilgrim · March 04, 2015, 08:29:01 PM

Quote from: Granny Gremlin on March 04, 2015, 04:42:04 PM
For the price they better sound good after a few decades!

No kidding! I'd have tried them on other basses but for the price. It also happens that I like Labella Deep Talkin' flats, which makes me more reluctant to shell out for the Pyramids.

Dave W · March 04, 2015, 09:08:49 PM

Quote from: Pilgrim on March 04, 2015, 02:45:05 PM
I have long suspected the 40-year-old strings on my P-bass are Pyramids, as that seemed the best fit to the responses I got when I asked a similar question on TB. Here's a shot....Dave, are these similar to yours? These strings have lasted awfully well!

Yes, as best as I can remember.