Signature strings discontinued...

[carvinbassplyr]

So here's the thing. I had a good thing going with Fodera in that I had a signature set of custom gauge strings through them where I could just call em up and say "hey it's Adam again I need some more sets of my strings" and they knew exactly what to send me. Well the last time I called they informed me that they had "discontinued" one of the gauges that I use in my string set and so they would no longer be available, which is unfortunate because I loved how the Fodera strings felt.[] So now I'm on the quest for a new brand of strings. I've been talking with Ken Smith and they offer all the gauge sizes I need/use but I've never used their strings and before I blow $40 on a test set I wanted to get some opinions hoping that at least one person here has tried the Fodera nickel strings and ken smith burner strings. Any thoughts?

The Boy
http://www.myspace.com/carvinbassplyr
SWR SM-900, 2 GIII 4x10's(
Carvin LB75: custom Bartolini 18V preamp and pickup upgrade.
Tobias Classic V
Yamaha BB5 fretless: custom Seymour Duncan fretless circut preamp
Original Leo Fender StingRay MusicMan

[John the Barbarian]

My old luthier used to love Ken Smith strings because they were very easy to set up and very consistent.  I found that they didn't add any "color" to the instrument and found that I liked various other brands for specific instruments.  $40 does seem a bit much though.  Have you tried Juststrings.com to see if they can put the set together for you more cheaply?

[carvinbassplyr]

quote:Originally posted by John the Barbarian

My old luthier used to love Ken Smith strings because they were very easy to set up and very consistent.  I found that they didn't add any "color" to the instrument and found that I liked various other brands for specific instruments.  $40 does seem a bit much though.  Have you tried Juststrings.com to see if they can put the set together for you more cheaply?

-jda-

I've gone through juststrings.com before and thought when I looked up the ken smith prices they were more expensive than the ken smith website...but I'll check again. Nice to hear, at least from you, that Ken Smith strings are consistent, I'm tired of getting sets of strings where one is dead and the rest are bright...

Update:
Just checked juststrings.com and they're total came to $45.13 without shipping. At the Ken Smith website it came to a lil over $38 so I guess getting them straight from them is the cheapest way to go...

The Boy
http://www.myspace.com/carvinbassplyr
SWR SM-900, 2 GIII 4x10's(
Carvin LB75: custom Bartolini 18V preamp and pickup upgrade.
Tobias Classic V
Yamaha BB5 fretless: custom Seymour Duncan fretless circut preamp
Original Leo Fender StingRay MusicMan

[Tim Bishop]

Buy them from Ken directly and you'll get the best deal.  

I've been using Smith Strings for about 12 years now.  I use the Medium Taper Cores (Stainless Steels) on my Smith Basses.  I'm not a fan of nickels of any brand (with the exception of TI's), however, I've used many other name brand strings such as DR, GHS Super Steels, R. Coccos, and D'Addario Pro Steels. I have ALWAYS gone back to the Smith Medium Taper Cores on any of my basses.  In the 12 years I've used Smith strings, I can only recall 1 time where I had a bad B or D string.  Ken sent me replacements at no charge.

I think you at least owe it to yourself to try the Smith strings of your choice and determine for yourself whether you like them or not.  If you do buy them directly from Ken, tell him I sent you.


Here's the link for Smith strings:

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Strings/default.html

[John the Barbarian]

Great info.  My luthiers put them on everything they could.

[carvinbassplyr]

For anyone wondering, this was the end result...
http://www.bassstringsonline.com/Adam-The-Boy-Saylor-Signature-Set-040--120T--Ken-Smith-Burners_p_431.html
Pretty excited about it!

The Boy
http://www.myspace.com/carvinbassplyr
SWR SM-900, 2 GIII 4x10's(
Carvin LB75: custom Bartolini 18V preamp and pickup upgrade.
Tobias Classic V
Yamaha BB5 fretless: custom Seymour Duncan fretless circut preamp
Original Leo Fender StingRay MusicMan

[Redbutton]

Keep in mind many "smaller" brands have their strings made by the same few companies and then they slap their names on them.
DR makes their own strings in their Emerson, NJ factory. I've been using their Lo-Riders for a few years, and recently been switching over to the Fat Beams.

[John the Barbarian]

The lo riders are really great fo basses that have sort of a mid-range honk to them.  They sort of even the volume out across the frequencies.  Their Hi Beams, conversely are great for older Gibsons and such that are sort of muddy.  I haven't tried the Fat Beams, but my experience with DRs is that they do "color" the sound, but in predictable ways that make them very useful.

[carvinbassplyr]

quote:Originally posted by Redbutton

Keep in mind many "smaller" brands have their strings made by the same few companies and then they slap their names on them.
DR makes their own strings in their Emerson, NJ factory. I've been using their Lo-Riders for a few years, and recently been switching over to the Fat Beams.

I used DR Lo-riders for quite a while. For what I was paying for my set(s) they were going dull WAY too fast on me and the string tension never felt comfortable to me. I liked Fodera because they too wind their own strings.

The Boy
http://www.myspace.com/carvinbassplyr
http://www.bassstringsonline.com/Adam-The-Boy-Saylor-Signature-Set-040--120T--Ken-Smith-Burners_p_431.html
SWR SM-900, 2 GIII 4x10's(
Carvin LB75: custom Bartolini 18V preamp and pickup upgrade.
Tobias Classic V
Yamaha BB5 fretless: custom Seymour Duncan fretless circut preamp
Original Leo Fender StingRay MusicMan

[TobiasMan]

The DR long life, coated Black Beauties I use on my Tobias seem to last at least 6 months with about 6 - 8 hours a week of playing time.

At that rate, I don't find the cost of a new 6 string set too high.

[John the Barbarian]

I've been using SIT Rock Brights on my 55-94 and they have a loonnnggggg lifespan, particularly if you don't care as much about the "bright" part.

[Redbutton]

quote:Originally posted by carvinbassplyr


I used DR Lo-riders for quite a while. For what I was paying for my set(s) they were going dull WAY too fast on me and the string tension never felt comfortable to me.

Nickel or Stainless Steel?

[carvinbassplyr]

quote:Originally posted by Redbutton

quote:Originally posted by carvinbassplyr


I used DR Lo-riders for quite a while. For what I was paying for my set(s) they were going dull WAY too fast on me and the string tension never felt comfortable to me.

Nickel or Stainless Steel?

Nickels, don't like the feel of stainless steel and too much fret wear. I do care very much about the bright part, especially on my Tobias because the pau ferro fretboard is so warm/dull sounding naturally so old strings make the bass sound thuddy and boxy.

The Boy
http://www.myspace.com/carvinbassplyr
http://www.bassstringsonline.com/Adam-The-Boy-Saylor-Signature-Set-040--120T--Ken-Smith-Burners_p_431.html
SWR SM-900, 2 GIII 4x10's(
Carvin LB75: custom Bartolini 18V preamp and pickup upgrade.
Tobias Classic V
Yamaha BB5 fretless: custom Seymour Duncan fretless circut preamp
Original Leo Fender StingRay MusicMan

[MSUsousaphone]

quote:Originally posted by TobiasMan

The DR long life, coated Black Beauties I use on my Tobias seem to last at least 6 months with about 6 - 8 hours a week of playing time.

At that rate, I don't find the cost of a new 6 string set too high.

I was using these for a while...when the store I buy them from ran out I want back to the DR Bootzillas and noticed that the Zillas just sound more alive at first. I really wish I wouldn't have recorded with the Black Beauties.

[dbsfgyd1]

I've been using DR Low riders myself for a long time. I loaded a fresh set on about a month ago and have been pounding them for the last 3 weeks ( 3 hours a day exploring the capabilities of my WTDI + performances on weekends). They're still hanging in there, no dead soldiers yet. I'll change them out before my next gig though, but they are plenty good enough for spares. My problem with these strings is the local music stores, and the big box stores, are always out of stock. Oh they have plenty of of other DR strings, like those previously mentioned High Beams,  the worst sounding strings I've heard since they put plastic tape on strings back in the 60's

Also, for a mail order store, try: Stringsandbeyond.com Good folks and great prices.