Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

George, I got a response back from Erie Ball customer service, and they are claiming that these are indeed their strings. I guess I'll have to get some.

Thanks Scott, that's great. That's what they thought over at the Pit also. Im going to order a set and try them on my mapleglo.

George

George, Here is their reply.
Let me know what you think of the new strings.


Bob,

You are correct, those are Ernie Ball Flatwound Bass Strings. We make the sets with the royal blue cloth at the ends, and are thrilled with the recent increase in sales for flatwound sets.

Let me know if you need any help in locating these sets.

All The Best,

Brian Ball
Ernie Ball Inc.

Thanks for checking, Bob. That should be it, then. I was sure these weren't the LaBellas from your description, and they sure seemed to fit the description of the Ernie Ball Group IIIs I had. Hope it turns out that they are the same ones you liked so well. I never tried them on a Ric, only on a Jazz and I sold them with the bass. Maybe I'll try them on a 4003 next time.

Dave, thank you. You are the one that first thought they where Ernie Balls.

You're welcome, Bob, but when you get a set, please let us know for sure if they're the same ones you played.

Anyone have any suggestions as far as brand and guage go?

I've just got the factory strings on it right now.

I'm considering a switch to flat-wound strings on my 4003, but I've been out of the Bass playing loop (long story) for such a long time, I have no idea what to look for.

I just know in order to get the McCartney sound I want, I should go flatwound.

Oh yeah, greetings fellow Rick owners!

Welcome Craig! Wow, the number of new members is staggering!!!

I use D'Addario Chromes on all my RIC basses, in a custom light guage of 40-55-75-95. I buy a super soft set and replace the .060 D string with a single .055, which gives a better balanced feel to the set.

Craig, you might not like this answer, but, to find which flats sound best you have to buy a few sets and try them for yourself. I keep coming back to the Pyramid Gold flats. As Jeff said the Chromes are also great strings. I found the Roto's and the Chromes are the brightest sounding flats, I don't care for the Roto's though. The Labella and Ernie Ball and the GHS flats have a good old school thump to them. Even the Fender flats have a great thump. A lot of people like the TI flats. I find they lack in the low end thump, but have a great midrange. The TI's are very low tension, while I love there sound they are too floppy for me. After a lot of money and time I've settled on the Pyramids (I think). With the Chromes a close 2nd. But that's just my ears. You might like a different set to get your sound. Unfortunately you have to try them too see what you like. Break out the charge card and happy hunting.

Edit: I feel the Pyramids come the closest to the Sir Paul sound. YMMV

George

I too have settled on Pyramids at least for the time being, Fenders also sound good but are very high tension and I think Pyramids sound better. TI's are floppy for me also. I have heard good things about Labellas, have limited experience with Chromes but for me Pyramids are a nice balance between too bright and too dull and they feel good tension-wise

Thanks for the advice!!

This site is a Godsend!!

One more thing, I feel Pyramids have a more complex midrange than other ones I have played, you can get a nice poppy jazzy sound with the bridge pickup favored.

When I purchased my '68 4001, it had Thomastic Flats (never had used them before this!) and I fell in love with them. I use Pyramids on others and they are great as well. It truly has that McCartney tone with these Thomastics.

Ron, when my lefty C64 arrives that is probably what I'm gonna do, put a set of TI flats on it...my other two Rickenbacker basses have round wounds on them already, and I want one set up for flats..

When I first tried a C64 in a shop I thought it weird that it had RW strings, would have figured all that time/energy spent recreating a '60s bass, flats would have been a no-brainer. Posted as much here and people couldn't understand what I was talking about