I am not much of a bass player - but I have recently acquired a lovely old Shergold Marathon bass that I'm really enjoying playing. Thing is, the strings that are on it are knackered. This gives a lovely percussive yet woolly mellow sound on the low string but that isn't even with the G string, as that hasn't absorbed as much sweat/rust/cack.
I'm thinking about fitting flatwounds to it in an attempt to preserve that woolly, thuddy sound but to even it up a bit. Plus, as I'm not the greatest bass player I'm thinking the flats wouldn't transmit so much finger noise.
I've measured whats on there with a micrometer and its got an odd set going from 105 (measuring 103... so there or there abouts) to 50 (measuring 49). So I reckon a standard 105-45 set would work without fiddling too much with the set up (insanely good intonation on this bass).
Whilst I kinda know what I'm doing with guitar strings, I'm not an expert on bass ones... so what would folks recommend? (Brands etc)
Many thanks
Never Ever Bloody Anything Ever.
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Reasonably high tension, plenty of thump but some top end retained so they don't sound too "lifeless" - last for years and nice to play.
I use them a lot (in fact, every bass except one which has La Bella low tension flats on, cos they seem to suit it better)
Guve them a try - if you don't like them, unlike guitar strings you'll be able to flog them.
If I remember correctly, the woods in Shergolds make for a bright unamplified sound. Roundwound strings will sound fairly wiry unless you roll back the tone control a bit.
If your example has the dual output "stereo" wiring harness, you could split the signals for each coil of the pickup and EQ them separately.
One advantage of the plastic control cavity cover plate is that it could be modified (or entirely replaced) to add active EQ.
Shergold were shipped with Picato strings... whilst these are old, I'm not sure they are the originals!!
I understand where you are coming from. Rotosound roundwound strings are kinda weird when they are brand new. They have chewed through the varnish and into the fingerboard of my factory fretless Precision Bass.
I started using them on some bass guitars to get the over-sized low E. This helps when doing the Billy Sheehan Hipshot D-Tuner stunts. Strangely enough, I now have D-Tuners on some other bass guitars. On those, I use my usual gauges with no ill effects.
Hijack over.
Have you tried the cheap 'Roto Bass' ones? I did as a temporary measure when the shop had run out of DRs - having previously discounted them because I hate Swing Bass, and these cheaper ones could only be worse, right? - and they're so good I have still never got around to replacing them with DRs. They're so much better than the more expensive Swing Bass it's actually funny.
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The Chromes gave me the most p bass thump - and once you get used to them they have great harmonics to boot.
I liked the la bellas a lot but found them a bit flat sounding, and TIs tension worked against my finger style a bit too much. Tho that might be me just being a crap player
Pyramid Golds are a very rich, dark and '60s sounding string. I've had a set on for about 5 years and they're still fab.
Thomastiks are amazing-feeling at first but I find they have a slightly contemporary, parpy, upper-middy sound (compared to LaBellas or Pyramids). Luscious (and loud) but not exactly woolly.