Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

John-i just noticed that i didn't really address answering your question directly...sorry,so....
1. Circle k stings are a ss/nickle "hybrid" according to their website...
2. The sunbeams i have been using for years are nickle.
3.most every flatwound i prefer is nickle.
All of these strings seem to have a softer feel to them,so i can only imagine that along with being easier on your fingers,they are also less abrasive to frets as well. In fact DR makes that claim for ALL of their rw strings. "Won't eat your frets"....also,in a 40-100,seem to be fairly low tension,which is probably desirable for that '72 of yours.
This is what i was trying to convey,but upon reviewing my initial response,realized i had not really done so.

Thanks Woody - this was more in line with what I was looking for! No worries.

Just received a set of Optima 4099 flats for Christmas. I put them on my 76 4001 FG and I can say they are very close to the old RIC Maxima flats. I have a set of those too and the feel and thump are so close.

Well just bought another set Ti flats and put them on my recently purchased 2008 4004cii. Love the sound and feel of them on that bass

Pyramid Gold flats - best flat wound sound I've had on any bass in 40+ years of playing! Of course TI Jazz flats are also nickel wound. If you like TIs, but they are too floppy (which is my opinion), Pyramids WILL float your boat!

Not sure why I haven't tried Pyramid RWs yet (other than price)... But I do like the GHS Pressure-Wounds. Not as rough as typical RWs, and seem to keep the "zing" longer. Could just be my limited experience... They are the best substitute for the Dean Markley "Ground Round Wounds" I used for almost 3 decades...

Johnallg,Good to hear another report that the new Optimas are similar to the old maxima flatwounds.i believe i will order a set for my Italia bass,then!

D'Addario XL170's They tick all the boxes for me! Being tight-fisted, the'y last a LONNNNNNNGGGGGGG time and resonance combined with HB1/Hi-gains in both my 4001 and 4003 is spot on! 22 quid for 2 sets is an absolute steal! I've tried loads of brands, and these are the best for me.

I even clean them in methylated spirits (denatured alcohol to you guys over the pond) , every month or two, and they come out like new!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-SETS-DAddar ... 231973ea64

vulcan_creedler wrote:D'Addario XL170's They tick all the boxes for me! Being tight-fisted, the'y last a LONNNNNNNGGGGGGG time and resonance combined with HB1/Hi-gains in both my 4001 and 4003 is spot on! 22 quid for 2 sets is an absolute steal! I've tried loads of brands, and these are the best for me.

I even clean them in methylated spirits (denatured alcohol to you guys over the pond) , every month or two, and they come out like new!

Naphtha works even better than denatured alcohol to clean strings.

I use Rotosound RS66LD on my Ricks and my Jazz bass...however..

I have an Epi EB3 fretless with flatwounds on it at present and Ihave been looking at possibly trying DR HiBeams (short scale roundwound) for
a different edge to the sound.
Can anyone tell me if the DRs are steel at both ends..ie no cloth cover at the ends?
This is because I was going to put Rotos on the EB but the covering comes as far as over the bridge saddles on certain strings.
I rang the guy at Strings Direct who didnt have a set of DRs to hand but I just know someone here is bound have a set of DR HiBeams somewhere.

Thanks in advance guys.

Cheers,Pete!
All of the DR strings i have used (fatbeams,sunbeams)do not have any silk wrap at either end. Can't say for sure about hibeams,but they are likely the same. You might want to check out the fatbeams,the main difference from hibeams is the core is round versus hex. (More flexible)

Thanks Woody.
Yes I read about the hex versus round core so I am guessing thats the only differece.
There arent any good photos of string detail such as ball and tuner endings on any of the string maufacturers websites which is surprising really.
I looked at a photo of Bootsy and one of Marcus Miller to get some clues.
I suppose I'd better dig deep and order a set.

If they impress I will try them on the CS.

Cheers,
Pete.

Pete,

I've had Hi-beams on my V63 for about a year and just put a new set on my '67 RM last week. No silk wrap on the ends. IMO, they sound great with the aggressive HS on my V63. It's a round-wound tone monster! But, I will probably go back to the NOS flats or maybe TI Jazz Rounds on the '67 RM. For whatever reason they are too much of a good thing in that application ( too much string noise and high's for my taste).

teeder wrote: ( too much string noise and high's for my taste).

Lower winding on the higains. More clarity.

Lower winding on the higains. More clarity.

I have the re-worked old HS in the '67, but I'm sure it's the same going on, not to mention the old 500K pots as opposed to 330's (?) in the reissue?

teeder wrote:

Lower winding on the higains. More clarity.

I have the re-worked old HS in the '67, but I'm sure it's the same going on, not to mention the old 500K pots as opposed to 330's (?) in the reissue?

Any lower winding coil would do it. There's even a difference between a current 12k higain and the 70-80s 8.4k higains.