String-topic

[Musicmaestro]

For if there is/was not a string-topic:

what strings for the 4003?

(or 4001, 4002, 4004, 4005)

[blueflamerick]

Whatever strings you like best. I prefer D'Addario XL 220s.

[berth]

I like Rickenbacker strings best so far. Unfortunately they are a bit hard to get over here in Holland. I order them in England now.

[Musicmaestro]

I like Rickenbacker strings best so far. Unfortunately they are a bit hard to get over here in Holland. I order them in England now.

Hoi Berth

where do you order them? thanks

[berth]

where do you order them? thanks

rickysounds shop via ebay They are not the cheapest, but combined with postage they are cheaper than ordering at American shops. (Are American (ebay) shops allowed to sell strings to people abroad?) DirkWitte in Amsterdam used to sell them but the 45-105 set is not on their website anymore. I didnt yet bother to phone them as they informed me earlier that they where not able to get accesoiries and other boutique stuff. Theoreticaly your local shop should be able to supply them but I dont think there's much change with so little buyers. If anybode knows of other European webshops which are cheaper than stringsdirect.co.uk then please tell.

[edit] and please note that there are many forumites who think brands lots cheaper are also very good. I am just a litle bit stuborn in that I tend to stick forever with something I find good.

[paologregorio]

Does anyone use Rotosound swing bass? I used to use those on my 4001(I know, it's supposed be flatwounds only, but the neck never protested or bowed), and use them on the GL J bass. I'll probably use them on my next Ricky bass as well

[Scotty_Guitar]

I have used Rotosound Swing Bass strings on a 1972 Jazz and 1981 Carvin, but none of my Ricks. When I first became a traveling pro bassist, Rotos were IT. But I've tried many different brands, primarily due to availability around the country in the late 70/early 80s). I used to think the Hofners were pretty dead. But a decent "fresh" set proved otherwise, and now hold the top spot for at least my Hofner basses.

I have also used D'Adarrio and Fender strings (guitar and bass), but its been a while for these brands on bass, and I no longer remember my impressions... So far, my faves are the Hofner (Pyramid?) and La Bella.

I recently purchased a new 4003... It has RIC RWs on it, which I'm not fond of. I look forward to trying RIC's flats. Any idea who makes 'em?

[geddeeee]

I only use Rotosound Swing Bass. I know they only stay bright for a couple of weeks but..... THAT sound Yee-Ha!!!
I've tried nearly every string on the market in 30 years, and the Rotos IMHO are THE best.

[pacealot]

Another Swing Bass user here. I have to use other strings by force on some of my "specialty" basses like the Hamer 12 and the Schecter 6 because of gauge and scale length availability, but if I could, I'd have Rotos on everything. I also have Tru Bass nylon and Jazz Bass Monel flats each on two Jazz Basses I have, and I loved the Tru Bass set straight away. The Monel are finally starting to "break in" nicely after about nine months on!

Of course, the V63 is designed to handle the tension of the Swing Bass set, but I also put Rotos on my mother's '66 4005 OS throughout my teen years with no ill effects. YMM, of course, V, and these days I would be much more cautious with a '60s bass.

All that said, the forum has got me curious to try some alternatives, like DR Hi-Beams for rounds, or TIs or Chromes for flats, just to see....

[2112]

Rotosound Swing Bass for me as well on my 4001's.
For awhile I was using DR's Hibeams because they lasted so damn long!
But, in the end they just did not have that Rotosound "sound" to them.

[jingle_jangle]

I also put Rotos on my mother's '66 4005 OS throughout my teen years with no ill effects.

[johnallg]

I also put Rotos on my mother's '66 4005 OS throughout my teen years with no ill effects.

Yeah, I caught that too! Care to elucidate, Paul H.?

[pacealot]

My parents played together in the bars around the Bay Area in my early years. My dad played a mid '60s 360 round top, and my mom got a '66 4005 OS from Leo's Music in Oakland. When I "came of age" (or at least was old enough to have the run of my mother's gear), I learned bass on that 4005, and played it quite a bit into my early 20s. Now, after borrowing it too long one too many times about seven years ago, it's off limits to me and under lock and key deep in my mother's clutches....

I think that may be one reason I'm so driven to "sixtify" my V63 so thoroughly - to reclaim a piece of my "birthright"!

I've always fantasized that it was the Larry Graham bass, since it did show up in the East Bay around the time he was last spotted with his, and did have a couple unidentified holes where an extra/bigger p/g may have been screwed down, but that may just be my delusions of grandeur talking....

[badeggs]

1) Ernie Ball Super Slinkies (my favorite)

...or...

2) Rotosound Swing Bass (.100s, which can be hard to find)

[sloop_john_b]

GHS Flats, sometimes D'Addario Chromes.