Bass String Question

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Mon May 15, 2006 2:34 pm

Prompted by the pic of John Biscutti's C64 in his for sale post, and other pics: who makes the flatwounds with the purple silk on the tuner end? They look nice and smooth! Thought I tried every flat known to man, but haven't run into these yet. And, to those of you who have them, how do they sound on Rick basses, and does anybody know the guages? Thanks all!

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Mon May 15, 2006 2:41 pm

The only strings that I've used so far that had purple silk wrapping on the tuner end of was the Ken Smith brand.

bottom4 · Post by **bottom4** » Mon May 15, 2006 3:24 pm

I believe they are Pyramids

joev4001 · Post by **joev4001** » Mon May 15, 2006 3:24 pm

thomastik-Infeld maybe? I have a pair of the roundwounds TI's with purple silk at the end...

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon May 15, 2006 4:57 pm

TI flats have red silk.

TI Jazz Flats.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon May 15, 2006 6:03 pm

Pyramid Golds most likely, many here use them, I do and they are great strings, pricey but last forever. They sound great, I don't know the gauges off hand but that doesn't matter that much, tension does, they are a medium tension string, tight enough to sound punchy but still supple.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon May 15, 2006 6:33 pm

I am not a flats guy ... but if I were I would use Dean Markley flats ... I put some on an ovation fretless for a forum member ...

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue May 16, 2006 4:46 am

I had a set of rounds with purple wrap. I can't remember what brand, though.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Tue May 16, 2006 4:57 am

It's been a long time, about 25 years since I've seen a set of the old Rickenbacker 4001 flatwound strings. I don't remember them having any silk wrap on the tuner side, but wasn't there a purplish colored silk wrap on the bridge end of the strings?

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue May 16, 2006 4:59 am

It's been 20 years since I've seen 'em too. The RIC rounds have no wrap.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:50 am

Did you notice any tonal difference with that hipshot bridge Jeff??

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:50 pm

I think GHS flats have purple silk. I vaguely remember having a set that did.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:52 pm

Fran, those were Pyramids.

Be careful, they lifted the tailpiece really quickly.

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:10 pm

I heard that about the Pyramids. I'm surprised because the Pyramids I had on my Hofners really felt floppy. I definitely wont use anything that will exacerbate the tailpiece lift. Are there any sources that list tensions of all the strings we talk about? Or do we need to just go to individual websites and figure it out for ourselves? Lazy aren't I???

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:16 pm

I absolutley loved the Pyramids, they were the best strings I ever used. I switched to light Chromes and they don't even begin to compare.