mcnach

If there's an issue it is more with how hot the output of a bass is, which affects how many pedals sound. But that's not an active/passive thing as there are actives with mild and even lowish output and passives with high output. Active = high output is a myth. Most basses are ok with most pedals, and at worst, you may need to turn down the volume on your bass a bit if a pedal does not work the way you want it due to a high input. You can also use an EQ or clean boost pedal before that tricky pedal to lower your signal... there's a number of ways to get around it. In short: I would not worry... get the bass you want, and see what happens. Chances are NOTHING will happen. You may need the drive knob a bit higher or lower than you're used to (because no two basses are alike), but that's likely all. And if not, there are simple solutions but I would not worry until you're there. I never had much trouble, playing a mix of active and passive basses.

what's the point of this list? I can post another list of players that play what I prefer... say red basses... so, what is the point exactly? (this thing about "if X is good enough for Y, who am I to argue?" really bugs me (in a non-very-serious kind of way)

. I thought the same but found it really didn't make much (any?) difference, having both lined and unlined fretless basses simultaneously. I don't really look at the TOP of the fingerboard. You'll have side dots, which on a fretless should typically be placed AT the fret positions, not between frets, and that's enough help. I added smaller dots (stickers) on one of the basses at every fret position on the side for a while and that was helpful at first. So I'd go with the look you prefer. Lined fingerboard, on top, makes little difference in practice.

I do. They would not be my only string, but if I can have a spare bass with them, I like that. The black nylons vary quite a bit. The Rotosound TruBass are thumpy and woody sounding... if you want a double bass vibe, these are the ones. The D'Addario ones are very nice. I use those on my fretless Precision. You can still get a very thumpy vibe, but they have a lot more going on and you can get a very nice thick sound with them. They feel very nice too. I've recently tried Status ones (apparently made by Picato but I don't have direct evidence) and they sound very nice but they're a little soft and flimsy feeling. It takes a bit to get used to them, but they sound good. But my absolute favourites are Labella White Nylons. They are not like the others I mentioned. They retain more of a rounds vibe, with a tamer top end, so you can get a very nice slap tone with these if you wanted to (just not the very zingy ones ala Marcus Miller etc), and they have a very nice thick but defined bottom end and low mids. They're also very low tension, which can feel a bit strange at first, but you get used to it, and they are very responsive. They feel great. You can still get the duller sound of other nylons with these, but they give you a lot more options.

The EWS semiparametric pedal mentioned earlier would do the job. Alternatively, this cheaper Artec pedal can be very useful too, if slightly bigger: http://artecsound.com/effect/se-peq.htm

I ordered medium scale based on your recommendation! They did fit my Precision just fine. I got the 45-105 set... and it's growing rapidly on me. However I really wish they were thicker. I had to measure them with my electronic calipers as I thought they were more like a 40-95 or 40-100 perhaps. I really wish I could get something like a 50-110 set. The thinner strings in particular feel too thin. The Labella white nylons I got are a 50-105 set and those feel suitably 'girthy', while still very soft to play. But I like the sound of the Status blacks. More 'thumpy' than the white nylons, but not like the TruBass or even D'Addario ones... and on the Precision, rolling off treble a bit and bumping the low mids... it's such a lovely thick tone. Yum!

Yes. Strange as most manufacturers would call them Long Scale... but the medium Status strings fit Precision/Jazz basses (4-in line, so 2+2 would be ok too)

Indeed, and getting just the right amount of "clickety-clack" when hitting the strings... but so satisfying when you get it right

same here, I couldn't tell you what's my favourite 'action'... I just know what it is, and I adjust my basses to feel that way. I do admire those who take a more systematic approach and are able to get the bass just right by measuring things here and there. I measure very few things and go mostly by feel.

Lovely and disturbing in equal measure. Mesmerising... Thank you!

So are these different from what they used to sell?

I don't have a tab but I saw this video which seems right to me (althought I haven't analysed it in detail), so it may be useful if there's a particular section you have doubts about

I thought it would be Adrian You can't go wrong either way then. And if you want it light, ask him, you'll get light.

My view is that any inherent differences are swamped by the kind of effect that strings, electronic circuitry and playing style have... so I go for what I like best, which is alder. A nice lightweight with nice grain ash body in a well balanced instrument can be a thing of beauty (especially if that manufacturer starts with an M ;)) Ash!

That's what I figured... Annoying when it happens. I had a set of strings on a Stingray (3+1 configuration) and one day I went to fit them to a Precision... oooops.

Are you sure you didn't trim them? I had Tru Bass strings on a Precision and they were fine lengthwise...

adjusting the truss rod is one of the things that *may* be needed to adjust the action. The 'action' is the result, which you achieve in a number of ways (neck curvature, neck angle if bolt-on, saddle heights, nut height, and fret levelling if uneven).

I don't think so. I play a lot but I have no problem with touch screens... I think some people just have thicker skins and adding a callus may just take them over the edge of sensitivity?

Mine came packaged as Status...

As opposed to golf, that Scottish sport, which is truly fascinating

No, I *love* Fat Beams. It's Hi Beams he's comparing them to. Fat beams is my regular string. In mid January I restrung one of my Precisions with what I thought were Fat Beams and I was not happy with the result... I started wondering why it sounded so different from what I remembered, even accounting for the extra brightness of new strings, it was not right... then I saw the package: I had bought Hi Beams by mistake It's an expensive trip, trying strings... but when you find some cool ones it can make it all worth it

Ah but it's only the evil dragons that are used for this, not fluffy friendly ones.

Hmmm, clearly I wasn't paying much attention to the guy talking as he said they're essentially Hi Beams but coated. I don't like Hi Beams, so I think I'm no longer intrigued

Yeah I've seen a few videos... none sound terrible... or fantastic... and it doesn't tell me much without comparing to other type of string, really. That's what I'm hoping to hear some first hand experiences

They are stainless steel coated strings and they intrigue me, but I can't figure out how they differ from other strings I may be more familiar with like DR Fat beams or even Black Beauties coated ones, or nickel D'Addario EXL ones, or various other stainless steel ones (D'Addario, Fender, Warwick...) Has anybody here used them and can please write a bit about what they thought?