Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm sure I saw the answer to this recently, but I can't seem to find it.

Next month I'm going to be bringing my '75 in for the usual set up etc. (it's been quite awhile - haven't really pulled it out until I started posting here ). I have the 4001CS (.40-.95 Rotos) that's dedicated to the Squire sound, and I'd like to think of the '75 as my go-to for the Geddy FTK/Hemispheres sound. I'm wondering if I should be investigating other strings (who knows, there might be something out there that I'd love but haven't tried) - I used to be a strictly Rotosound buyer, but that got a bit price prohibitive as I got more basses, and for awhile I kept getting packs with dead strings (usually just one per set, but that's enough). It's never before been much of a consideration, but now that I know better, I'd like to keep low tension as a main priority (and I'm talking roundwound, of course). DR's are one brand I'm considering that I've never tried, but have heard good things about. Thoughts?

I use D'Addario XL EXL 170 on all my basses except my fretless.

4001's were designed for flats, although I know a lot of people use rounds to get "the growl". If you use rounds you should keep it to the lighter guages.

Personally, I use flats on my 75 4001-certainly NOT a Squire or Geddy sound, but the axe has enough high end to be distinctive. My favorite strings are Fender 9050 ML's (0.50 - 0.100).

Easily Roto 66s, .45s

Thomastik Infield Jazz Rounds! Low Low tension, very good for 4001 necks.

Cole

I second the TIs.

I like TI's and Daddario XL-170's.

Okay, looks like I may already be in the ballpark, as I forgot to mention that, besides the CS, I've used D'Addario EXL 220's on all my basses for years.

edit - can TI's give that mid '70's Geddy sound? For some reason, I thought they were a 'smoother' sounding string.

I prefer nickel wound round wound strings ... .105 - .45

Ernie ball slinkies 40-95...get that Geddy twang...

So I guess the answer is buy some light heavy stainless nickel round flats. I like the same tones that you have described and I use DR highbeams on most of my basses. They have that bright Roto like sound without the heavy pull and the fret wear. I still love that Roto sound but DR 's are much easier on the bass.

Try stock Ric rounds, nice sound and fairly light tension and they last a long time. Those med. light Fender flats are like telephone wires, nothing light about those at all. I used to use them all the time.

**Those med. light Fender flats are like telephone wires**

Yeah, I like the THUD they get...

I used Rick strings, 45-105, for a while. They were OK, but the think I don't like about rounds is how quick they lose their tone, and how tough they are on the fingertips...

Now I use alleged telephone wires, so my fingertips still get a workout. I just like the fell and the percusive effect of flats, and the 50-100 range IMO evens the tonal response across strings. With rounds I always felt that my E and A strings lost their cutting ability, now I feel like the bass cuts through fine on all 4 strings.

TI Jazz Rounds have a good rep, never used any TI strings, but I'm thinking I might...the 4001 is going to need new strings before the J Bass the rate I'm playing either of them, so I'm not constrained to keep using anything in particular. I only put the flats on the 4001 because it had sat for a couple of years in the case and the Rick RW's on it had gotten pretty nasty. I was playing guitar at the time, and the other guitarist in the band chastised me on the condition of the strings on such a fine instrument. Well deserved criticism, I might add.

I didn't mean to sound so negative about the Fenders flats, I like them also, I have flats on most of my basses, just thought they were a little heavy for an old 4001. I used to use the mediums on my V63's.
TI's are good but I have to raise the action though because they are so light. You don't get as much thud out of them, they are very warm sounding, kinda like that old Gibson bass sound, great for 60's British type music. I have them on an 81 4003 and they are deep with a click, sound nice. But they don't really have the bottom end others do. Pyramids have a nice old school sound to them but don't seem to last as long as some of the others, Fenders last forever. TI's also seem to have a long life so far.

No problem, Bob! Glad to see there's another flats-man around!

I keep a very close eye on the nut area...about 21 years ago I had a problem with the fingerboard lifting up. The neck is probably stronger where it's been fixed than over the rest of it, but I'm still paranoid.

Hmmm, your opinion is TI's don't quite have the bottom end as the Fenders? I like a lotta bottom