Mark Dyer Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Bit of spare time this afternoon so I thought I'd put some new strings on the new Spector, had it about a month now, it's done a few gigs, rehearsals etc, strings were starting to sound a bit on the dull side. The bass came supplied with D'Addario Nickel wound 45 -105, I usually have DRs (of the same gauge) on all my basses (except one, but I'll get to that later) but I was very impressed with the sound of the D'Addarios so I ordered another two sets. I always start with the G string and work my way up, one at a time, get to the E and I find it doesn't fit into the bridge, the windings on the end are too thick to slide through the slot, I open 2nd packet and try that E string, exactly the same thing. I check the old string that came with the bass, fits in no problem. I check the gauge, defo the same gauge but, on closer inspection I find that whoever strung it at the factory had crimped the end windings flat, probably in some large bench vice I expect. I don't have one. Why supply a bass, strung with a set of strings that you know do not fit and you need to crimp the ends!? What is the point of that? Now, I also had the same problem with my Corvette 5-string, the bridge slot wasn't big enough to allow the DR 'B' to fit. In the end I searched around for a manufacturer who offered tapered ends, Ken Smith strings seems to be the best I could find. D'Addario don't supply tapered end versions, I can't seem to find any on their site anyway. And this isn't the first time I've had problems with D'Addario strings, I purchased two sets of DB end strings for the Status last year only to find the E string was too short on both sets. Thomann refunded my costs thankfully and I now use GHS on the S2. But my questions here are: Who is at fault here, the guitar companies or the string manufacturers? And has anyone here come across any of these issues? And, last question I promise, does anyone here have a solution to the problem? Before I go out and purchase a large, industrial bench vice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockfordStone Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 (edited) I had this with my warwick thumb, apparently it was a common problem in warwicks of a certain age. as mine as a typical bridge saddle set up rather than a through body job, I just filed down the relevant slots. I will eventually (or if I sell the bass) get a new saddle, but for now, it does the job just as well Edited May 28, 2014 by RockfordStone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Black & Decker, metal drill bit. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I had the same problem with my Warwick - you can pinch the sting with a decent pair of mole-grips or pliers quite easily - nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dyer Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 Yep, I think the pliers/vice route will be the one I go down. Not convinced about the Black and Decker solution on a £2000 bass geoffbyrne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sykilz Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 How disappointing, I speed read the thread title as " Sting " rant, and was looking forward to people saying that he was crap ever since the second Police album. Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 [quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1401299420' post='2462242'] How disappointing, I speed read the thread title as " Sting " rant, and was looking forward to people saying that he was crap ever since the second Police album. Oh well. [/quote] Got to agree with this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Me too. My left eye is defective at the moment;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 [quote name='Mark Dyer' timestamp='1401294596' post='2462185'] Yep, I think the pliers/vice route will be the one I go down. Not convinced about the Black and Decker solution on a £2000 bass geoffbyrne [/quote] TWO GRAND FOR A SPECTOR?!?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 (edited) [quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1401299420' post='2462242'] How disappointing, I speed read the thread title as " Sting " rant, and was looking forward to people saying that he was crap ever since the second Police album. Oh well. [/quote] Sadly it would probably have got a lot more replies as well. Edited May 28, 2014 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dyer Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 [quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1401310603' post='2462414'] TWO GRAND FOR A SPECTOR?!?!?! [/quote] Well, just shy of £2000 but may as well have been. I got fed up of waiting for the right one to come onto the S/H market so I took the plunge and purchased new, sometimes us Lefties don't have a choice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 haha i just read the title and thought oh no whats he done now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 [quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1401299420' post='2462242'] ...I read the title as 'Sting Rant' and was looking forward to people saying that he was crap ever since the second Police album. [/quote] Sting was crap ever since the second Police album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sykilz Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1401368959' post='2462873'] Sting was crap ever since the second Police album. [/quote] Thanks mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'Addario Rep Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Mark- PM sent. Thanks, Tom Spaulding, D'Addario Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 (edited) [size=4][quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1401378948' post='2463035'][/size]Thanks mate! [/quote] Edited May 29, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 [quote name='D'Addario Rep' timestamp='1401389638' post='2463210'] Mark- PM sent. Thanks, Tom Spaulding, D'Addario [/quote] Hey Tom, welcome to the forum. Nice to see companies taking an interest in their customers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dyer Posted May 30, 2014 Author Share Posted May 30, 2014 (edited) After receiving a PM from Tom Spaulding I double checked the strings and bridge again this morning, I now know why the E string doesn't fit. The bass (LH) has been fitted with a RH bridge, so the E string doesn't fit in what is the G string slot. To say I'm annoyed right now is an understatement, in process of talking to Mark at Bass Direct, I fear the worst... Edited May 31, 2014 by Mark Dyer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 So it's a two grand bass with the [i]wrong bridge [/i]on it? poor show, that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2elliot Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Nice touch, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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