4004cii Strings

[rickenbrother]

my new favorite, the LaBella 760FX (Deep Talkin' Flats). The Fender CLs are a bit mellower and have a bit more tension than the LaBella FX set.

As far as output, growl or both.

[cassius987]

Output is about the same, and I was thinking not so much of "growl" as the more upper mid "burp" that is smoother-sounding than growl but also helps a note find its place in the mix. For reference, I think this puts the LaBellas in closer sonic territory to TI JF344s than the Fenders, but again it's really somewhere in between. I think when plucked hard the Fenders are probably the better growlers of the two because of their higher tension. The wraps including the length between nodes along the wrap is nearly identical; possibly the biggest differentiating factor here is the slight but noticeable drop in tension from low 40s to high 30s.

[rickenbrother]

Output is about the same, and I was thinking not so much of "growl" as the more upper mid "burp" that is smoother-sounding than growl but also helps a note find its place in the mix. For reference, I think this puts the LaBellas in closer sonic territory to TI JF344s than the Fenders, but again it's really somewhere in between. I think when plucked hard the Fenders are probably the better growlers of the two because of their higher tension. The wraps including the length between nodes along the wrap is nearly identical; possibly the biggest differentiating factor here is the slight but noticeable drop in tension from low 40s to high 30s.

Well, I'm still trying to decide on what flatwound set to put on my '73 4001. I'm not spending $60+ on a set of TI's, especially if they feel too loose or sound too mellow for my liking. I don't care who makes them or likes them. I might give La Bella FX set a try. I guess I'd have to get them on line. LaBella strings used to be the strings I saw in any musical instrument store or even record shops. Now I never see them.

[iiipopes]

Are the 9050CLs a better fit for the Rics than the 9050Ls?
Or do you just personally prefer the 105 vs the 100?

Both, in my not-so-humble opinion, with gauging approaching RIC factory stock as well.

Joey, they're the cheapest flats out there -- go for it!

[jps]

Joey, the only way to really know if a particular string set is to your liking or not is to try them, obviously. There must be someone in SoCal who has TIs on a 4001/3. You can try them on my 4004 when you stop by here on your way to visit NY. After having them on Ruby for a while and gigging with it I don't really notice any difference in tension between the strings (and they do not feel loose, to me), and Shari says it has a very nice growl (the bass, not me! ). I get a very nice full, deep band stand filling sound with them on the 4004, and likewise, when I had them on the 4005WB.

[rickenbrother]

There must be someone in SoCal who has TIs on a 4001/3.

NOPE! No one that I know of, especially that I could borrow the 4001 to see how it fits into my band situation,

After having them on Ruby for a while and gigging with it I don't really notice any difference in tension between the strings (and they do not feel loose, to me), and Shari says it has a very nice growl (the bass, not me! ). I get a very nice full, deep band stand filling sound with them on the 4004, and likewise, when I had them on the 4005WB.

You could get a very nice full, deep band stand filling sound with a 4004 if you strung it up with rubberbands (if there was a magical way to magnetize them).
Go ahead, Jeffo, let out a good growl yourself. I wanna know what Shari thinks of that!
...and thanks for the offer. Someday we may surprise you!

[jps]

...and thanks for the offer. Someday we may surprise you!

We'll have the dungeon guest room ready.

[marquezdl]

greetings all. I have a 4004Cii on order (it's been on order since last year!) and I am hopefully optimistic that Rickenbacker Corp will deign to build a batch of 4004Cii's later this year.
I am already thinking about strings...
I have a couple of fretless basses, and they all are strung with my beloved LaBella 760N tape wounds.
however for the 4004Cii with the funny little metal things all over the neck, I am thinking I might want to venture into the world of Roundwound strings.
any suggestion for round wounds that aren't terribly high tension and don't have the wear characteristics of a flat ******* file?

[marquezdl]

Oh come on moderators!!!!
A Flat B.....d file is a standard shop tool, and that IS the correct nomenclature!

[Isaac]

I didn't care for flat wounds on my Cii. I switched to half rounds, and have been quite pleased. I can't tell you what kind they are. They came on another bass, apparently cost quite a bit, and have purple silk on the ends.

[jps]

TI Jazz Rounds are super smooth feeling and sound great for a long time. They are very low tension but it does not take long to get used to that, IME.

[woodyng]

Before i defretted my Cii,i had used my usual DR Sunbeams on it to great effect,and later,a set of the the old Maxima /Rick strings sounded fabulous on it. I have to admit i miss having that bass/string combination available!
The Cii has seen about 5 string changes since it went fretless,and i can't quite seem to settle on anything for it now. It currently has a very light set of ghs pressurewounds on it,which feel great,but i'm not digging the fretless rw sound....but I digress.....

[jps]

The Cii has seen about 5 string changes since it went fretless,and i can't quite seem to settle on anything for it now.....

Intonation problems?

[woodyng]

The Cii has seen about 5 string changes since it went fretless,and i can't quite seem to settle on anything for it now.....

Intonation problems?

Nope,Operator satisfaction issues.....
So far,i have still preferred the Maxima's to everything else i've tried on there....my ideal fretless sound is a sort of URB sound overall...with just a soupcon of upper register mwah....

[rickenbrother]

Has anyone tried a La Bella Low Tension flatwounds set?