String Tension

[cheyenne]

Just curious Joshua,,, what guage do you run on your basses?

I'll have to check a set out.

[cassius987]

Right now I have a "Balanced Standard 106" set and a "Balanced Standard 100" set, as well as a "Balanced Standard 130" set on a bass tuned BEAD. Basically the bigger the gauge the more fundamental you get in the sound is what I've noticed, as well as the change in feel. The .100'' E balanced set is my favorite at the moment. The .096'' E (in the BEAD set) is very, very snappy and sizzly but almost more than I want--of course I'm a dummy and I play unplugged a lot, plugged in it typically sounds as full and rich as the others but still with a few more highs. The .130'' B sounds really wonderful by the way.

[iiipopes]

I run 45-60-80-105 on my electric basses. On the 4002 I use GHS Progressives, and on my custom fanned fret bass I use the Fender 9050CL set, although I used to use Roto Swingbass in the same gauges. Over the decades I've played bass, I experiment from time to time, and always come back to this setup for ease of maintenance and consistency of tone, intonation and feel. And over the decades I've always had to purchase singles until the Fender set came out.

[cassius987]

Yeah, the GHS Progressives on Scott's 4002 felt very good and had a great sound that complimented his bass. So I would recommend them especially if you don't like nickel.

[Kopfjaeger]

Joshua,

I was contemplating putting a set of Circle K's when the time comes to replace the factory Rick strings. Since you've already done this, did you have to tweak your truss rods after the swap or was it it a clean swap out. Was your Ric a 4001 or 4003??

Sepp

[iiipopes]

Not mine. Mine is a '95 with only string through. I am even holding the bass in my hands as I am typing. I bought the bass used and it does not appear the bridge was changed as far as I can tell. The only other holes in the bridge have screws in them to adjust the saddles back and forth.

Take the bridge off, mark the spot at the bottom of the flange that corresponds to the position of the hole in the plate, take a punch and put a small divot on it with one good hammer blow so a drill bit won't "walk" on you, and just put it on a drill press and drill a hole in the flange with any standard 1/8 inch drill bit. Then you'll have top load. You really only have to worry about it on the low E string, with its diameter, as everything else will go body through just fine.

[rickenbrother]

No, they're a small business originally from Denver, CO but now located in Seattle, WA; I believe they have three co-owners, and one of them is the guy who builds those huge 42'' scale 6-string basses.

They must have some kind of association with each other to be in the same booth, whether it's just friendly or otherwise.

[cassius987]

Joshua,

I was contemplating putting a set of Circle K's when the time comes to replace the factory Rick strings. Since you've already done this, did you have to tweak your truss rods after the swap or was it it a clean swap out. Was your Ric a 4001 or 4003??

Sepp

I've put the .106'' set on both my 4001FL and my 4003FL and 4003. That's around 160 lbs tension and none of the basses need any adjusting afterward, least of all the the 4001FL. The .100'' set is my highest recommendation though because it's a bit easier to play and has richer harmonic content. When you get smaller than that, though, it's a bit too easy to choke the strings if you ever play hard for an accent/dynamic effect.

These are not hugely different from Ric factory strings on a superficial level but the core is much more flexible (for a hex core) resulting in some really cool changes to the sound I haven't heard in any other string. I will probably never play another roundwound, and the company has been very good to me so far, even e-mailing me private discount codes along with other customers who have stuck with them for a while.

[Kopfjaeger]

Thanks a million! I was planning to get the ,106 set since it seemed to match closest to the factory Ric 4003 gauge.

Sepp

[Kopfjaeger]

Guys,
I just swapped out the factory Ric strings for a balanced set of .106 Circle K's and man-o-man do they sound and feel great!! I must have jammed for well over an hour since I just did not want to put it down!! When my 1973 Autumnglo 4001 arrives, i know what I'll be doing first. That's right, installing a set of Circle K's!!

Sepp

[NFB-418]

I've been thinking about checking out Circle K. I have my eye on the 34 to 35 Scale Balanced set (.106 .079 .059 .043). Right now I have Fender 9050CLs on my 4003 and I'm looking to switch to rounds for an upcoming recording project. I've used GHS, D'Addario and Fender rounds in the past, but Circle K has been getting great reviews from folks around here, especially from Joshua C.

I do have a question - does Circle K silk wrap their strings?

[Kopfjaeger]

Jay, nope no silk wrap on Circle K's . I thought that would be a detractor for me but nope. No big deal. Sepp

[coolingitdown]

Circle Ks are indeed wonderful! I put the balanced .112 set (tuned DGCF) on my 4003 and have been all smiles since! The tone and the feel are great, and the price is right too!