daflewis

The string trial programme is now closed to new applicants - sorry!

Thanks David, it was good to chat after all these years! You're on the list.

Done!

Hi David, My pleasure - you're on the list

Hi Everyone, It's a little sad, but things have definitely got a lot quieter in the past year so it's been decided that, for now at least, the subforum has run its course... I'm going to lock the string trials threads and let them run to their natural conclusion, but I'll leave it a day or so, so if anyone's been thinking of signing up you still have a chance... and I'll still be lurking around if anyone has any questions - (I was a member of Basschat way before the whole Innovation thing anyway ) There's a small part of me that's relieved - it'll be nice to have a bit more time to practice!... The string trials in particular took a lot more work than I was expecting, but I do hope they were a useful resource for people; and the reviews that people wrote will continue to be of use to others considering trying Innovation, so thank you to all for those. The threads are going to be incorporated into the main EUB/Double bass section, so I'll see you in there! Cheers, Daf

Hi Monster, Yeh, it turns out Burg had moved house and forgot he had them... They were sent to Bassbadger at the end of (this) September; you're next on the list, so it might be worth dropping him a PM to see if he's done with them. Cheers, Daf

Thanks guys, some great comments and observations there - much appreciated!

[size=4][color=#000000][font=Helvetica]Hi Paul,[/font][/color] Nice to hear from you! [color=#000000][font=Helvetica]Ooh, that looks like a fun new toy! I composed this reply and then saw your edit - a little confusing, because none of Innovation's strings use a steel core. That said I don’t think that the polymer core would be a problem anyway, as it has virtually no stretch in it. I think my only real concern would be the barrels that are the ball ends of the innovations - It’s a bit difficult to make out exactly how they locate in the Xtender, but i’m not sure how secure they’d be. It might be worth emailing Golihur - i know they stock Innovation strings and I’m sure they’d be happy to take a look… That said, if it is a problem, I’m sure the factory could make you up a set with some “normal” ball ends. Hope that helps! Cheers, Daf[/font][/color][/size]

Yes, of course I've noticed that nothing seems to have happened since February! so I'll chase things up and see where they are at the mo... Cheers, Daf

Yeh, I certainly wouldn't worry too much about a hairline crack or split - it should be sorted, of course; but unless it's directly behind the sound post it's really no big deal, and even if it is, it's always sortable... I can't remember whose signature it is but I've always loved the quote, "Double Bass - an airfix kit waiting to happen!" sooo true! I would add that, with all due respect to TheRev, personally I'll never go back to T&G Martin after the way they ripped me off.

Ah, yes.... Thanks Walbassist, I hadn't thought of that - i don't have much experience of them as I've used Elixir for years - and they don't come much smoother than that!

Hi Tom! It's been a while... must catch up properly... I don't know actual figures, i'll see if i can get some idea from the factory - as steel is brighter, I'd imagine players who like steels might change them more often to maintain that sound...? but my reason for the question is a concern that there may actually be a problem rather than just personal preference...

Hi Beer, Thanks for that, that's exactly the kind of thing i was looking for! - the time scale doesn't matter.... Cheers!

Hi All, As some of you will know, I work for Innovation double bass strings and I run a sub forum in the EUB and Double Bass section... Now... Innovation is part of Picato strings, and the reason I've surfaced from the depths of DB land is that i have a question for anyone who has used Picato electric bass strings - particularly the 766 steels and/or 735 nickels.... The company sells far more of the 735s and very few 766s, and I'd love to find out why - has anyone had any problems with the 766s? is there something in the sound/tone/evenness across the set?... etc.... Just a bit of feedback please, if that's ok.... Thanks very much in advance. Cheers! Daf

Hi Beer, Thanks for that; the unevenness of the G has been sorted in the latest prototype, by dropping the tension of the G slightly and bringing up the others to match. I really must get the latest version out to replace the one that you've tried... That said, they retain the "gutty" sound that characterises Innovation, so they probably wouldn't be right for anyone who likes the growl you get from spiros. (More Charlie Haden than NHØP if you know what I mean...) They're really aimed at people who do a fair amount of acro as well as pizz, like show and classical players, who also play jazz; though if you prefer a darker more gutty sound then they're a reall nice jazz string anyway... Here are two sound files of the latest prototypes played pizz and arco on a quality German flatback (the one T&G Martin screwed up and then overcharged me by £1000 for work on! ) She's now playing beautifully after being rescued by our very own "henrynorton" (Lawrence Born) in Letchworth They're recorded perfectly flat with a high quality Ehrlund condenser mic... contact me for more details! [url="https://soundcloud.com/daflewis/polychrome-pizz-1"]https://soundcloud.c...lychrome-pizz-1[/url] [url="https://soundcloud.com/daflewis/polychromes-arco-1"]https://soundcloud.c...ychromes-arco-1[/url]

Fretmeister, Hopefully the string from walbassist will do you for now until we can locate tonys formula? then we'll sort you out a new one. Cheers, Daf

That's great - Thanks! If you do try both, please let me know which you prefer (assuming tony used different colours on the silks), and we'll try and sort out adding it to the catalogue... Ta! Daf Edit: sorry just noticed that you mentioned that tony labeled them... Perfect!

Ah, thanks for that walbassist, I had a feeling... Can you remember roughly when you got them? It might make it easier to locate in Tonys notebook (or, "The Bible" as it's referred to in the factory... ) Ta! Daf

P.S. If the NXT is the same as the CR5 then the full size should fit fine...

Hi Fretmeister, This is a new one on me... Sorry I didn't reply earlier but I was waiting to speak to the factory before getting back to you. It turns out that we don't make a B for the silver slaps, so I can only guess that Tony, the old chief tech at the factory made them as specials (in which case they would have been a "best guess" experiment) Perhaps walbassist could confirm? That said, I'll see if we can find the formula in his old note books, in which case we might be able to sort something.... Otherwise, I'll add it to my list and try and come up with a new formula for you asap... Cheers, Daf

Hi Steve, Consider it done!

Hi Ambient, Looks like a laminate from what i can see - (nothing wrong with that!) so maybe somewhere between 1940-1970?? (i think the first laminates came out in the 30's) The laminate means there are less likely to be any major cracks/problems as they tend to be much more sturdy. There's been a neck repair, but it looks like an old one, so is probably fine.... my biggest concern would be that the sound post has almost certainly dropped out at some point, so given the position of the bridge in the photos and the fact that he says he's put it back in the "right place", then any tension on the strings could mean that the top has been/is being damaged. Tricky to judge without being in the same room, (and there's always the danger of these things becoming a money pit), but to be fair it looks pretty good - especially at it's current price! Cheers, Daf

Hi Beer, Yes, things had gone a bit quiet, but i PMd Johnny a few weeks ago and he said he was getting them off to FloydElgar... So they should be coming your way soon....ish... i hope! Cheers, Daf