Elixir strings on Thumb 6 strings: Does they fit?

Teobass88

Teobass88

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Another Day, another Topic

Recently I'm searching the way to render my 6 Strings Fretless Thumb a little more expressive.

After considering (And discarded) a Pick-Up change, a friend of mine, a lutist, said to me that my strings are "stuffy" for the fretless sound.

I want a very mid-oriented sound, with definition (This is a need because I play very fast phrasings also on the lower notes) and I want the tipical "meow" of the fretless basses quite present.

Actually I use D'addario Chromes strings which keep that features and the timbre I like, moreover they're flat, so they don't scratch the fretboard....I don't like to see these signs...(This not a real feature I want)..

...the problem is that flat strings "suffocate" the fretless meow!

Now, I'm thinking about it, maybe if I change strings I will obtain the increase of the expressivity?! And what's the Elixir's timbre?
Do this strings fit inside the Thumb tailpiece?
And what's the difference between the LowB .130 and the LowB .130 TaperWound?

I want a mid-low timbre, and I don't know many other choices...


Experts, I pass the word!!
 
Hey Matteo,

I'm no expert, but I had the exact same experience as you with my RB Corvette FL, sure it is very different from the Thumb, ;) but I had Chromes and they 'muffled' the sound, think flatwound strings as more of going towards the sound of an acoustic bass. If you want a 'modern' fretless bass sound (like JPT and Forest), roundwounds are the way to go. Don't worry much about the fretboard scratching, it will look bad in the beginning, but Ebony is very resilient and it will soon become unnoticeable.
I like to have on my fretless 'worn-out' roundwounds, after the chromes I had at first Warwick (the Red Box ones) and now I have Elixirs, they sound very good, articulate, the lows are defined, heaps of mwah...
I think it is more dependent on the setup, any roundwound set with decent brightness will have these qualities with the right setup for it, D'addario roundwounds, Warwick EMPs, etc.

Elixirs fit my Corvettes fine, I have on all three of them, so you should not have problems with your Thumb.

As for the difference between tapered and untapered, we're going to have to ask someone else, :d I got a .130 TaperWound Low-B on my $$ and I like how it sounds, very heavy and focused.

Hope you find the right set of strings for the sound you wanna get :)
Cheers
 
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Additionally, not all round wounds are the same. For example the DR Sunbeams are extremely smooth nickel roundwounds. They should be easy on your board and have a nice high-mid zing. :)
 
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Ok guys, here's the situation! :)
motor what you've wrote about Elixir strings sounds very good to me!!

jester, here's your answer on the other topic:
jester said:
I love nickel D'Addarios for their tension, but I discover they have a little nasty low mids, that are kind of dry and too aggressive. I believe this shows mostly on mid-heavy basses like the Thumb BO I 've tried them on. I wonder if their steel strings are equally tight, they should provide a different tone. Ever tried ProSteels Matteo?
Click to expand...
I don't like steel strings, they'r too bright.

I like mid-low-frequencies but I'd like to have more expression on my bass!
I think I'll try elixir strings...maybe I will use 45-100 for the "central" strings, lighter strings means more meow, is that right?!
Not so light, bytheway.....I play Death Metal!!
 
:eek: You play Death Metal and you want your bass to go "meow"? :)
 
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Actualy the Jaco sound with some extra gowl is not a bad choice for death metal IMHO :-)
 
I agree with Florin here. Too much *CLANKCLANKCLACK* in the regular death metal bass world. The Jaco sound would be so awesome, you'd actually hear what the bassist was playing. Lots of mids punching you in the stomach :)
 
It is nothing bad to have good models around you if you ask me. It is not important if you copy Jeroen or not, the most important thing is to make the music you like :-)
 
Florin said:
It is nothing bad to have good models around you if you ask me. It is not important if you copy Jeroen or not, the most important thing is to make the music you like :-)
Click to expand...

Yeah I totally agree with you! I play Progressive Death and Obscura and Pestilence work is a huge inspiration for me! I grew a lot thanks to Jeroen's Music!!

I'm trying to make my Thumb more expressive and dinamic! I thought about Bartolini but on different forums they've advised against to them and one friend of mine, who's a lutis, is totally contrary.
Many people said to me that with EMG I can do a better with my bass...
I don't know what's better to do...on top of that I cannot even try EMG and then come back: they'r too big! I should widen the Pick-Up's lodging...
I'm tented to consider EMG 45TW (Single and Dual Coil)...or 45P-X...or a mix of Them...I don't know..
 
Hey Matteo,
I always have 0.040 - 0.095, they sound good for my taste. I think it is good for you to start with the gauge you are used to play with and change only in case they do not meet your expectations.

Is your Thumb a Bolt-On with MECs? It is already an aggressive sounding instrument. Defined and growly.
In my opinion, from the idea you gave us about the sound you search for, MECs would be great.

Anyway, I suggest you to try roundwounds before thinking in changing pickups, maybe different head/cabs, think changing pups as a last resort, specially if they don't fit the body and you have to make changes.

BTW, I listened your songs a bit and you guys have some great ideas, reminded me of Early prog/tech Death Metal bands, keep it up :)

Hope you find "your sound" :d
Cheers!
 
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I agree with Jose here.

MEC pickups are aggressive. Trying the Elixirs is a good Idea, they can complement a thumb BO very nice.
 
Motor said:
Hey Matteo,
I always have.....
Click to expand...

Yes, I think I'll buy the Elixir's medium scale. Thank's a lot! :)

Motor said:
Is your Thumb a Bolt-On with MECs? Defined and growly.
In my opinion, from the idea you gave us about the sound you search for, MECs would be great.
Anyway, I suggest you to try roundwounds before thinking in changing pickups, maybe different head/cabs, think changing pups as a last resort, specially if they don't fit the body and you have to make changes.
Click to expand...

Yes, my bass had MECs PUps and Electronic...well..I think thery'r awesome, but I need more dynamic. Maybe these are only "impressions" and with roundwound everything will fit perfectly.
Obviously before consider to exchange PU I try different strings! For the Amp question now I use an amazing cabinet, handmade by an Italian sound engineer, he build fenomenal amps also and I will buy one of them as soon as I can. Incredible sound and tone!!


Motor said:
BTW, I listened your songs a bit and you guys have some great ideas, reminded me of Early prog/tech Death Metal bands, keep it up :)

Hope you find "your sound" :d
Cheers!
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot!! This is a great compliment for us!! I have a great part in composition and find people that like our Music is very motivating!! We're recording our EP with a better production! (That Demo on MySpace is horrible). If you appreciate our work maybe we can send one copy to you!! :)
 
This is great! Be sure to tell me when you have the EP ready and I'll get one, maybe we can make trades :d
Check out my band Desecrated Sphere, we have our debut full-length out now.
Keep it up!

Cheers
José
 
Motor said:
This is great! Be sure to tell me when you have the EP ready and I'll get one, maybe we can make trades :d
Check out my band Desecrated Sphere, we have our debut full-length out now.
Keep it up!

Cheers
José
Click to expand...

Well, guys you're very professional than us!!! :D
Great Death Metal, it reminds me the better works by Suffocation! If you will come to North Italy let me know, we'll be there!!
 
At least maybe I found a different solutions for Pick-Ups...there's an Italian artisan that will made for me a total custom Pups...
This project will get off after summer work...
I need money to made this project real! :)
 
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