bright

hobosexual · Tadpole Joined: 08 Aug 2002 Posts: 21

i know everybodys strings go dead eventually but im looking for some strings that will stay bright forever right now i use DRs and the e just sounds like crap after 2 weeks or just after a full day of playing and it makes me very angry because i hate having to take them off and boil them almost as much as i hate going and spending $25 to get new ones. anyway does anyone know of some string that will stay bright forever i know it must happen because ive picked up pawn shop basses from the 80s that had brighter strings than this crap

bassman80189 · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 4:26 pm Post subject:

No strings are going to keep that "new" bright sound for more than 2-3 weeks. My Ernie Balls are generally only bright for 1 week, (last 3-4 months) but that's not what I buy them for. I know GHS strings tend to be pretty bright and cheap, but they don't keep that sound very long either. It's really something you have to do with your tone controls.

As far as strings that last go Elixers are king, but they're not that bright I don't believe.

Beowulf · Growing Lion Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 876

Yeah, Elixers live forever.

But the brightness you're talking about is generally a bad thing in my eyes. When the strings start sounding more warm and earthy, I call that "wearing them in". It usually takes a few weeks, but that's my goal, that's the sound I'm going for.... to have a "matured" sound to my strings. Not dead, but just broken in.

You know what I think? You should try a different bass. If you're looking for that bright, clangy, chimey sound you should experiment with different amp settings and different body materials. Even when my strings are worn in, I can still make them sound like a tin can if I screw with my amp knobs enough. I never do, because I hate that sound, but if that's what you're going for, you should be able to achieve it without switching string brands.

And like I said, try different basses. If a "bright" sound is what you're after, get something made out of maple, like an Epiphone Grabber (or is it the Ripper that's maple?). Or try a bass that's made out of composite wood, like a Danelectro. Danelectros give you a plasticy sound like no other instrument in the world. "Plasticy" is the perfect word for it... it sounds rattly and cold. But if that's YOUR sound, then GO FOR IT! Fat Mike from NOFX said he made the switch to Danos permanently recently. He says that's the tone he's been going for for years.

gibson_thunder · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:06 pm Post subject:

Gibson Rippers are maple,Gibson Grabbers are alder Twisted Evil

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Beowulf · Growing Lion Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 876

*nods* There you have it. As I'm sure Gibby can attest, the alder and mahagony Gibsons have a different tone than the maple ones. I know I've said NUMEROUS times that the best way to change your tone is to get new pickups and get a better amp, but body material matters, too. There's really only so much you can do with strings, because you're rubbing your naturally greasy hands all over the freakin things. They're going to lose their original, fresh-out-of-the box brilliance, so work on altering your tone in other ways.

gibson_thunder · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:22 pm Post subject:

Mahogany is king! Cant have thunder-mud without it!!! Twisted Evil

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Beowulf · Growing Lion Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 876

Here's how I look at it.... there are always exceptions to the rules, but as a good rule of thumb to go by -

Mahogany gives you warm, thick, heavy tone. It can be a *sometimes angry female* to lug around, but it's a NICE-SOUNDING *sometimes angry female*. My Les Paul is mahogany and there's no guitar on the face of God's green earth as heavy as a Paul. In every sense of the word. Good for lows, midrange and highs that sustain.

Maple is bright, sharp and aggressive. My Strat has an alder body with maple fretboard... but it works out because the glassy highs and boisterous lows that the Strat is known for goes hand-in-hand with maple fretboards. I've never owned an instrument that's made ENTIRELY out of maple, but they're out there. Probably very bright.

Alder is well rounded. My bass is alder and there's not a lot alder can't do. Very balanced and good at grounded, rounded out low end.

Composite wood is like I said above, rattly, cold and jangly at times. Like I said, composite wood instruments like Danelectro are cheap, but if that's the sound you're going for that's what you should get. Jimmy Page put down his vintage 59 Les Paul Standard (the epitomy of rock guitars) and picked up a Dano when he wanted that glistening yet idiosyncratic tone.

Ash, like alder is super-popular with bass players. It's very dense, and it also has a brighter characteristic. Look into it, it might be worth your while. Keep in mind Hard Ash is more dense and contributes to longer sustain whereas Swamp Ash is more open and porous.

Basswood is light and soft, but has a thick warm tone. It's popular with dudes who want that warm low-end but don't want the weight of mahogany.

Anyway, those are only the ones I know about. There are TONS out there I'm not familiar with. A lot of people like African woods and expensive laminates. Sorry that I can't offer much advice about your strings, but I just wanted to let you know brightness has to do with more than just string quality.

supermau · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:02 am Post subject:

My Gibson RD Artist in made entirely of maple, body, neck, fretboard. I'd say it does sound brighter than your average bass. However, I am able to dial in great tones via my SWR 350 Pro and a Boss Bass Limiter. I have to agree with the theory on strings though, you can only expect so much out of any brand of strings, and they're not all THAT different anyway.

Rufio · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2003 12:05 pm Post subject:

I have the chance to get some elixer strings for 40 bucks, do you think I should take that deal or not? I mean they are suppsoed to last a really long time.... 82.50 retail price.... WOW!
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Rufio · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2003 1:20 pm Post subject:

I just bought them.
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gibson_thunder · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2003 1:24 pm Post subject:

do ya dig em?
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Rufio · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2003 2:34 pm Post subject:

I haven't put them on yet... I'm waitin for my other strings to die out. I jsut wanted to get 'em now to save 10 bucks. THey'll be on in another two weeks probly.
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Rufio · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2003 3:00 pm Post subject:

I just put them on! So far so good... sound as bright as anything Twisted Evil

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hobosexual · Tadpole Joined: 08 Aug 2002 Posts: 21

yeah im not really looking for it to have like a cold and empty sound i think it already has a good amount of bass but i just like i enough treble if i want to play with a pick which i do most of the time or slap or something cause practicing is just not fun for me without bright strings just makes me want to put it down

i can make it sound clangy with only my eq it just sounds bad because that takes away from the bass response which i have a good amount of both bass and treble with new strings

theres no way i have enough money to buy a whole new bass though i think i may get a maple neck right now i have maple with rosewood fretboard which i think is horrably ugly and just wipe my strings off after everytime that should help

dr just made some strings by bootsy from parliament that are coated like elixers i think they are probly cheaper than elixers ill try those out if i see them at guitar center whenever i go next

Dark Lord Vigo · Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2003 12:36 am Post subject:

I have a streamer which is a neck through flamed maple design with a wenge fingerboard. It can be bright but it can also be lower than hades. You can pluck a string, go back 5 mins later and still feel the body vibrating. I think this is more down to the neck through than anything else. Now I've tried it, I would never be without a neck through.

You can get neck through's fairly cheap from Carvin. Question

I'm surprised more of you guys in the US don't have Carvins. From what I've seen on their site , the build quality that you get for the (factory direct) price is unbeleivable. Is there some sort of stigma attached to them?
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