Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Well, I decided to put a new set of bridge cables on my 75 4001. Yes, I put on the same Fender 9050 ML's I've been using...

WOW! What a difference! The old adage about "piano-like sustain and ring"...well it's there in SPADES. Guess I should have expected that.

It'll be interesting to hear how it sounds with the band, as even the old dead strings were sounding very good in the mix. Next Saturday we're going to spend the afternoon in a studio.

Cool to know that a Rick still sounds like Rick even with a new set of flats. I don't think I'll be so hesitant to change my wires in the future. (Try to remember I hadn't played this bass much for maybe 10 years before last August).

Yeah they keep that sound for a while too, Fender flats seem to mellow more slowly than most flats I've used. Incidently I did a demo CD in Lima Peru with a 78 4001 with med. light bridge cables on it that were 2-3 years old with a miced SVT head and a B-15 cab and everyone that heard it thought it was a Fender, haha! I was actually going for that sound as the music called for it.

Chromes keep their brightness for a long time. I have a set on my '73 4001 that have been on since March '03 and they still have a very nice growl to them.

Yeah they do, I have a set that's at least a year old (I think they're chromes anyway) and they are still bright. They are blue but don't have the different colored ends.

If they don't have the different colored ball ends, they are not D'Addarios.

Bob, I have a set with the brass ends, I also thought they were Chromes. Bob Scott found out they are Ernie Ball's. They are great strings.

George

I went on a flatwound buying binge several years ago trying them all out and don't know what kind some of them are, thanks.

Below is the response I got back from the Ernie Ball people.

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.

Man, when I was ending my guitar playing stretch, I was very disappointed in Ernie Balls. Used them for the better part of a decade, but in the last year or so I could hardly get a rehearsal out of them without breaking a D string. I can't count how many times I ended up playing my buddy strat while I put my Dakota in it's case.

Not that the 96 USA custom Strat was bad, it is a fine guitar. But the 650 was MINE. I wanted to be plaing my own axe.