High-tension roundwound strings
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
...the Kramer SS with light blue end taping, ring like a piano and if you adjust your 4001 truss rods on them you can easily separate your fretboard from the neck overnight!
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
"Floppy DRs" It's good to know where they fit in the tension parameter.
Pete - what happened exactly with your bass? The Kramers created so much tension at pitch that it caused excessive bow on your neck?
Pete - what happened exactly with your bass? The Kramers created so much tension at pitch that it caused excessive bow on your neck?
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
....exactly, this was 35 years ago and I didn't have the slightest idea what I was doin'.walker wrote: Pete - what happened exactly with your bass? The Kramers created so much tension at pitch that it caused excessive bow on your neck?
The Kramers were obviously built for their Alu-necks. I had these strings as a present from the Frankfurt International Music Fair. They just sounded awesome! 
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
Interesting. Do they still make them? They might be a good match for my older basses with back-bow tendencies.
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
I should clarify that I was referring to Hi-Beams only and in these gauges: .45/.60/.80/.105. They're a high quality string with a great tone, but the feel was just too "loosey goosey" for me. The D'Addarios I picked up had the same great tone and the tension was perfect for me. I have a lighter touch but I still like to have a little resistance when I play.walker wrote:"Floppy DRs" It's good to know where they fit in the tension parameter.
“'What was that note?' I told him it was a B natural, the third of G dominant 7 going back to C minor, and I can't talk while I'm playing so don't ask me any more questions." - Ron Carter to Miles Davis
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
Absolutely, Michael. Understood. I've been feeling the need for a little more resistance too, as well as hoping that a higher tension string will work better will my basses that have a tendency to backbow during dryer weather. The DRs play like butter, but when I really punch it, (which is most of the time) the sustain gets choked out a little bit, sometimes a lot. I may just raise the action a little, and I'm in the process of bending the neck forward a little to see if that helps, but if I can keep the comfortable range I'm used to just by switching strings, then that's the 'A' plan.
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
I've heard about Dean Markley 2674 Blue Steel, being similar to the old Kramers, but they are not seen in my regional GCs.
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
No, Kramer no longer has their own strings; they've been a subsidiary of Gibson since sometime in the '90s. The Dean Markleys sound
interesting; will have to give them a try on my Kramer ('78 450B lefty). Have 50-110 nickel flats on it now, and the sound is thunderous.
interesting; will have to give them a try on my Kramer ('78 450B lefty). Have 50-110 nickel flats on it now, and the sound is thunderous.
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
have you tried a humidifier?walker wrote:,,,, hoping that a higher tension string will work better will my basses that have a tendency to backbow during dryer weather.
The only thing we can perceive are our perceptions - George Berkeley
Re: High-tension roundwound strings
Yeah, Tom. I've got a little DIY in the case now, but it's not something I keep in the case year-round since it can mold up. I was late putting it in this year. I've also got a towel wrapped up in the case pushing down on the neck between the 9th & 12th fret to reset the curve of the neck. This method worked pretty well last year. I may just give it the more drastic heat press, though, so I won't have to do this every year. Right now the truss rods are just hanging loose with nothing to do.