Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm interested in Pyramid Long Scale "Gold" Flatwounds for my 4001FL... any reviews? I've read some reviews elsewhere and they were incredibly bipolar. I'd really like some more input if I can get it. Anyone?

I had Pyramids on a 4001c64 I once owned. I loved the tone and feel of them, but almost immediately the tailpiece began noticeably lifting and the neck became quite bowed. I believe they have since scaled down the tension a bit.

Very tight feel from the high tension, (not necessarily a bad thing), but "gunk" all over the strings, and a very dead E string, (and I tried two sets), led me to abandon them for the TI's.

i concur completely with what john said. they sound and feel great,and if you can find a lighter gauge would probably be ok. the only gauge i had ever been able to find to purchase was 45-105,and they caused my 4000 bridge to start lifting. of course,not all rick necks are created equal,when it comes to being able to handle the tension.

Gauges I'm looking at are 40-55-75-105. Seems like it'd be very tensionally balanced, with each larger string picking up the slightest half-pound or so of extra tension as the gauges go up (kind of a good thing in my experience). Link: http://www.juststrings.com/pyr-bfl40.html

86kubicki wrote:Very tight feel from the high tension, (not necessarily a bad thing), but "gunk" all over the strings, and a very dead E string, (and I tried two sets), led me to abandon them for the TI's.

Define "gunk" a little better for me... is there some kind of coating?

The dead E string is actually a huge problem I've always had with TIs, which is why I stopped using them. Funny (and sad) that you say this.

It was like the strings weren't clean - I noticed a dark film on my hands after handling them. I ran a clean cloth along them to clean them, (after which they were fine), but I thought it was strange that they were covered with this stuff right out of the package. As far as the dead E goes, I found the Pyramids much worse than the TIs.

86kubicki wrote:As far as the dead E goes, I found the Pyramids much worse than the TIs.

How odd, because the tension should be far more balanced based on the gauging...

Pyramid has a new formula for their strings that are slightly lower tension and use round cores like TIs and original '60s flats. These new strings are also much fresher as they just started making them fairly recently. Most stores won't have the new formula in stock as a single dealer had an exclusive deal to sell them up until recently. You can find them at: http://tone-man.com/pyramid.htm

I've been using them for a few months on a J-bass and my 4001 and prefer them to anything else out there, and I've tried them all. TIs are well-made but too floppy for me. I don't like Chromes much and they're actually higher tension than the Pyramids. I've tried other assorted brands just for the hell of it, Roto, Fender, etc, all the usual suspects, but the Pyramids fit me the best.

Interesting Wes - sounds like they might be worth a second look!

Wes, if you could, what are the individual gauges? 40-55-75-100? That would be perfect. 40-60-80-100 would be tolerable.

cassius987 wrote:Wes, if you could, what are the individual gauges? 40-55-75-100? That would be perfect. 40-60-80-100 would be tolerable.

Josh, they're 40-55-75-105. Note the "round-core" sticker that you won't see on older sets of Pyramids:

On the link you listed they only have "40-100" gauge sets... Is that what you ordered?

cassius987 wrote:On the link you listed they only have "40-100" gauge sets... Is that what you ordered?

Hmm, must be a typo because the short scale set is 40-100. As far as I know long scale Pyramid flats are always 40-55-75-105. Might wanna email Don about that.

Good call. Mucho obrigado, Wes!

Yup, according to Don they are just as Wes described.