ead Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I'd never encounterd these until recently. Has anybody used them on here and do the feel as good as the PR says they should? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I use them on my downtuned 6 string, it definitely feels and sounds more even across the strings, and I'm convinced it keeps the output level a bit more consistent, so you're not using a different technique on the lower ones as opposed to the higher ones. You wont notice the benefit so much on say a 4 string I don't think. Definitely worth a try though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Can you linky? I love my Newtones but I've always got my eye out for new stuff to try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixdegrees Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Are these the ones that Alex C alluded to in his recent BGM? And +1 for the link request! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 22, 2012 Author Share Posted March 22, 2012 [quote name='sixdegrees' timestamp='1332411637' post='1587814'] Are these the ones that Alex C alluded to in his recent BGM? And +1 for the link request! [/quote] The very same! I looked on t'interweb and found a couple of US based suppliers here: [url="http://circlekstrings.com/store/Gauges_And_Tension.html"]http://circlekstrings.com/store/Gauges_And_Tension.html[/url] The tension pdf download is interesting, and if you look at the different tensions on a "standard" set of 105-85-65-45s there's a huge difference compared to the balanced tension offerings. There's also these guys [url="http://www.bassstringsonline.com/Custom-Balanced--Stainless-Steel-Round-Wound_c_23.html"]http://www.bassstringsonline.com/Custom-Balanced--Stainless-Steel-Round-Wound_c_23.html[/url] you can actually nominate your gauges in a pick and mix although it looks like some companies are less generous with the variety of gauges on offer. Ken Smith strings seem to give the best spread. Not seen a UK based supplier yet although I'm sure I've seen posts about companies that will let you specify what you want, not sure about costs though? Postage,duty and VAT clearly apply on US goods, but if there's some demand then I could potentially organise a bulk order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 (edited) I get mine from Newtone, I just worked out the tension and gauges myself using a chart I found on the Circle K site (cheeky I know!) they are amazing and 2 sets of 6 stringers cost me about £65 incluing postage! Edited March 22, 2012 by chrismuzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexclaber Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Circle K are the ones I was alluding to - I've known Skip for ages and he and I are on the same page regarding strings and instruments (longer scales, balanced tension, simple electronics but great pickups etc etc). Check out his awesome Knuckle basses too! Glad to hear that you can put together balanced sets with Newtone - the Circle K are hybrid nickel/stainless which sounds and feels great but it's the balanced tension which is the long overdue paradigm shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 Anybody selling them over here? The postage to the UK is more than a set of the strings!! Maybe we should do a joint order on here... and we can get some strings while we're at it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Ah is this the way that Newtone do my drop C tuning without changing the gauge? Cheeky blighters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I don't think it makes a difference because the length that requires the tension is between the nut and bridge, so it doesn't matter how far away from the nut the tuner is, the working area of the string is the same. Same the other end for thru body / tailpiece strung. Also, 4 a side tuners generally have a string tree. The balanced tension strings make a whole lot of sense to me. I've always found my E and G a bit baggy in feel (insert your own innuendo here) compared to A and D, and I nearly always pop the G off its saddle at some point in a gig. Looking at the tension chart for a standard 45-105 set the A and D are under a lot more tension than the E and G. So for a consistent tension along the lines of a standard A and D I'd need to get 118 - 87 - 65 - 49! Quite a difference in tension, and not easy to go back once you've adjusted the nut and truss-rod. Does anybody sell them over here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 I presume the rules apply to flats too, but all the strings I've seen on-line so far are rounds. Yet to check Newtone though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Yes I think same applies to flats, halfround etc. it's all about evening the tension between the strings. I've concocted a set from singles I've found available in the UK, just d'addario's 45-60-80-110 which is roughly tension balanced looking at the chart and under £20 for the set so I'll experiment with this for now and see what the difference is... Hopefully someone will start offering the circle K sets over here soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Probably quite true, maybe they are rounded off to the nearest 5... Just spoke to Stringbusters and they are looking into bringing the Circle K strings to the UK, so "watch this space" as I was told... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 [quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1332510012' post='1589367'] I've concocted a set from singles I've found available in the UK, just d'addario's 45-60-80-110 which is roughly tension balanced looking at the chart and under £20 for the set. [/quote] May I ask where you sourced them? The cheapest I've managed to find for the same strings came to £24.20 + P&P (stringsdirect website). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Is it worth reopening the debate on tension vs compliance? http://liutaiomottola.com/myth/perception.htm#mozTocId234250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 (edited) [quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1332750228' post='1592333'] Is it worth reopening the debate on tension vs compliance? [url="http://liutaiomottola.com/myth/perception.htm#mozTocId234250"]http://liutaiomottol...#mozTocId234250[/url] [/quote] No Edited March 26, 2012 by brensabre79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 (edited) [quote name='ead' timestamp='1332747303' post='1592304'] May I ask where you sourced them? The cheapest I've managed to find for the same strings came to £24.20 + P&P (stringsdirect website). [/quote] [url="http://stringbusters.com"]Stringbusters[/url], 19.90 (ex VAT) Also, it turns out Ken Smith strings do make what they call balanced tension sets, but the guages do not correspond to the chart from Circle K - this may be due to the different materials used and the mass of the strings. I might try them next though... Edited March 26, 2012 by brensabre79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 Just found Ken Smith Balanced string sets on String Busters [url="http://www.stringbusters.com/Ko-Bespoke/productlist.asp?cat=1/BASS+STRINGS/BASS+STRINGS+KEN+SMITH"]http://www.stringbusters.com/Ko-Bespoke/productlist.asp?cat=1/BASS+STRINGS/BASS+STRINGS+KEN+SMITH[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 [quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1332767866' post='1592755'] [url="http://stringbusters.com"]Stringbusters[/url], 19.90 (ex VAT) [/quote] Thanks for that, just noticed your price is ex VAT mine was inc VAT (P&P was foc) so the same really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 [quote name='ead' timestamp='1332839319' post='1593656'] Just found Ken Smith Balanced string sets on String Busters [url="http://www.stringbusters.com/Ko-Bespoke/productlist.asp?cat=1/BASS+STRINGS/BASS+STRINGS+KEN+SMITH"]http://www.stringbus...RINGS+KEN+SMITH[/url] [/quote] Yep, they are the ones. But nothing like the Circle K balanced sets according to their chart - however it has been mentioned this may be due to the different wrap wire so who knows...? [quote name='ead' timestamp='1332839525' post='1593662'] Thanks for that, just noticed your price is ex VAT mine was inc VAT (P&P was foc) so the same really [/quote] Yeah fair enough, get yourself VAT registered! Even with VAT though its still a lot cheaper than buying two sets and throwing away four perfectly good strings, or importing a set of the Circle K ones (over $50 in. p&p + whatever customs deem appropriate). However, as I said, Stringbusters said that bringing the Circle K strings to the UK is currently in the pipeline, so watch this space... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 27, 2012 Author Share Posted March 27, 2012 Since I can't get hold of the "right" gauges in the D'Addario Chrome flats I'm going to try a set of Thomastik JF344 that get a bit closer to balanced tension at 43-56-70-100 to see if my fingers find it easier to deal with - if only the A had been 75... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brensabre79 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 The Thomastiks are a nice string actually. Just a bit light for me. Don't forget to set up your intonation again with different guages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 [quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1332427745' post='1588210'] Circle K are the ones I was alluding to - I've known Skip for ages and he and I are on the same page regarding strings and instruments (longer scales, balanced tension, simple electronics but great pickups etc etc). Check out his awesome Knuckle basses too! Glad to hear that you can put together balanced sets with Newtone - the Circle K are hybrid nickel/stainless which sounds and feels great but it's the balanced tension which is the long overdue paradigm shift. [/quote] Are there any sound sample? I'm looking at re-stringing a bass BEAD but with the tonal difference in some places on different strings means a lot of songs for my band would mean I need two basses for!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 28, 2012 Author Share Posted March 28, 2012 I put an e-mail request to Strings Direct today to ask to be notified when more D'Addario singles were in stock only to get a reply saying that they were being discontinued. Don't know if anybody else has heard this. Was offered a set of Roto flats in the same gauges (45-68-80-110) for £30 delivered (inc VAT ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete1967 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 All, I read Alex's articly about balanced tension strings with real interest. It all seems sooooo logical to me and it made me realise that I'd come to the same conclusion, but without the science which I'm very happy to leave to Mr C. To cut to the chase I really want to try a set of CIrcle K 43 - 142's on one of my 34" Shuker 5ers, but ordering a single set is way expensive. If I ordered 5 sets it makes the per set price reasonable after shipping, import duty and VAT at around £34. So my question is... are there four more folks out there that would like to give a set a try? The deal would be that I finance the 5 sets and get them delivered to me then forward on to you in exchange for the cost price, which should be around £34 for the strings and at a guess a couple of quid for postage. I have absolutely no interest in making a profit out of this and its just a way of me getting a set to try at a reasonable price! If anyone's interested PM me. If I get more than four responses I may be persuaded to order more sets. Cheers Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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