jimmyjazz
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 47
Twin Cities
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Posted on Aug 10 2007 03:09 PM
bigtikidude
ah what do I know I am just a bass player,
but seems WR and Danny may need to discuss the difference, huh?
Jeff(bigtikidude)
Me too. Since all my guitar buddies play surf and they needed a bass player, I offered. Good thing they offered a bass too. It's a Squire P-Bass. 
Since I'm just learning how to play a bass, I haven't thought about different strings. I am working through the top 10 (or 12) surf tunes you guys put together.
BTW, I'm old and never played a guitar or bass or anything bass clef. I used to play a trumpet. Never heard of the Ventures before last year.
I am open to bass string suggestions. Or just keep playing along with Los Straitjackets (banged out Last Date last night).
— Looking for some jazz and a little libations - js
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11058
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Aug 10 2007 03:15 PM
Welcome to the world of surf music JimmyJazz. I put flats on my bass, as did my buddy Steve who plays in both my bands. It's much easier on the fretting hand, and sound great to me. Brightness is typically not desirable in a bass anyway, especially in this genre.
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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jimmyjazz
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 47
Twin Cities
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Posted on Aug 10 2007 04:59 PM
DannySnyder
Welcome to the world of surf music JimmyJazz. I put flats on my bass, as did my buddy Steve who plays in both my bands. It's much easier on the fretting hand, and sound great to me. Brightness is typically not desirable in a bass anyway, especially in this genre.
I just realized I should be reading the 'string' thread not this 'gauge' thread.
Thanks for not flaming me.
I did get through the 17 pages of what is the best surf guitar. Now it is off to the string subject. I'll look at some flats.
— Looking for some jazz and a little libations - js
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SGF
Joined: Jul 08, 2007
Posts: 106
Brittany
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Posted on Aug 14 2007 11:57 PM
I played 13-56 chromes for years before going to 12's a few years ago. Now I'm considering going back to 13's.
I remember while chatting with Dave Wronski once he told me he hated big strings because to him they sounded dead. I wasn't really surprised considering the picks he uses (more on that later*). Bigger strings require heavier picks and picking to get the same attack (simple math). What you get is a bigger sound and more sustain, but you lose fretting speed (considering you have to apply more pressure with your fingers). Dave's speed technique and light touch do not mix well with heavy strings, yet he's one of the greatest guitarists I've had the honor to see perform. Simply put, there's no "ultimate" string gauge, it's all in the way you play, the sound you're after and balancing these two things. Don't limit your potential by joining the macho contest. If you're in heaven playing .09's, you win.
*Playing with Slacktone on the same bill one night, Dave gave me some of his picks, the green "gells" and asked me to give them a try and so I did (mind you I still played 13's). Playing with this pick made the strings sound dead indeed, as I tried to apply more picking pressure to compensate, the pick snapped halfway the first song.
— Matter is just energy waiting to happen.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Aug 15 2007 12:14 AM
I think the Dunlop Gels are the best sounding pick there is, especially for acoustic guitars or roundwounds. Also, you need to try Thomastik flatwounds, they blow Chromes out of the water both in feel and tone.
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SGF
Joined: Jul 08, 2007
Posts: 106
Brittany
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Posted on Aug 15 2007 07:50 AM
JakeDobner, different strokes etc...
I ordered a whole box of Thomastik Infeld 13's (was cheaper) a few years ago after reading all the positive reviews about them. Turns out I really didn't like them. Same for the Pyramids. Nickle flatwounds sound dull to me, kind of like chromes after a month or two. I can see why people like them for a particular sound, but it's just not my thing.
I also think the gels sound good (bright snap) but they also burr very easily giving a scratching sound that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up (not in a good way, kind of like dragging a fork over a chalkboard), and breaking picks in the middle of a song is a no-go. I regularly use Dunlop tortex (wich sound darker but not as dark as nylon) but recently found some no-brand picks that seem to be halfway between tortex and gels. Great snap and I broke a few but not nearly as much as gels.
— Matter is just energy waiting to happen.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Aug 15 2007 08:25 AM
I only use Tortex live. I break those gels so fast as well. If I'm recording something other than rhythm I'll use gels or if I'm just playing lightly.
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2684
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Aug 15 2007 02:13 PM
What is the advantage of flatwounds in the Surf Guitar World?
I don't know if advantage is the right word since half the surf guitarists, including Dick Dale don't use flats. I find flatwounds are much easier on the fingers and have a sound I prefer.
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Aug 15 2007 04:13 PM
Stormtiger
What is the advantage of flatwounds in the Surf Guitar World?
I don't know if advantage is the right word since half the surf guitarists, including Dick Dale don't use flats. I find flatwounds are much easier on the fingers and have a sound I prefer.
I think stormtiger is right on the money here: many use flatwounds, but many also play roundwounds...some even play both types! it sort of depends upon what you prefer and what kind of tone you're chasing. i think the main factor concerning string is gauge size. i'm pretty devoted to heavy gauge string (13s) whether they are flat or round. the heavies give me the sound and feel i'm after.
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Aug 15 2007 04:17 PM
wooza
I think I've finally settled on what I like in strings, having tried a couple options on the new electric. I just today put 13's on my guitar and they feel and sound so friggin' great I'm overjoyed. I tried putting some on myself the other day (jumping up from 12's) but the bridge was getting pulled up and I got frightened so I brought it in to get tweaked. All the guys in the shop were like "13's? What the hell is wrong with you?" but I got them on anyways... So worth it. I love them already. 
...the guys in guitar shops never seem to know what "surf guitar" even is...that is until you whip out some tasty reverberated licks on one of their crappy amplifiers...then they get it...and they wonder "Hey...How do you get that awesome Chris Isaak tone???" Stupid guitar shop guys!
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SurfBandBill
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
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Posted on Aug 15 2007 05:29 PM
I play both flats and rounds, it just depends on the guitar.
~B~
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Aug 17 2007 11:39 AM
I've been playing D'Addario 11s (round) for close to 13 years. I would like to take a crack at some .12 flats though, just to compare.
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Aug 20 2007 11:59 AM
So I decided to slap on some D'Addario Chromes (.12s) on my JM. I played back to back gigs with them this weekend. Holy Crap!! I thought my forearm was going to buckle. 
But, the more I play them, the more I dig the tone they can conjur up. On slow melodic tunes, they're really nice. Really strong tonal qualities. Also, they really help keep staccato picked notes together much better than my .11 rounds. I think I'll stick with them for a while and see how I do. I've been looking for a way to eliminate that 'knife in your ear' treble that's plagued me forever.
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
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spy
Joined: Mar 29, 2007
Posts: 815
Athens, Greece
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Posted on Aug 30 2007 08:45 AM
dp
...the guys in guitar shops never seem to know what "surf guitar" even is...that is until you whip out some tasty reverberated licks on one of their crappy amplifiers...then they get it...and they wonder "Hey...How do you get that awesome Chris Isaak tone???" Stupid guitar shop guys!
— Every word is like an unecessary stain on silence and nothingness.
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spy
Joined: Mar 29, 2007
Posts: 815
Athens, Greece
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Posted on Aug 30 2007 08:48 AM
I'm using 12s flats for a long time now (with Dunlop Tortex). I'd like to use 13s though........ It'll be my next set of strings. The sad thing is that I can find only Fender's over here. Also Chromes round but prefer the flats...
— Every word is like an unecessary stain on silence and nothingness.
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vulture
Joined: Jan 14, 2007
Posts: 68
australia
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Posted on Sep 03 2007 03:57 AM
anyone used dean markley 16s?
where could i get 16s?
— image
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spy
Joined: Mar 29, 2007
Posts: 815
Athens, Greece
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Posted on Sep 03 2007 09:24 AM
16s?
— Every word is like an unecessary stain on silence and nothingness.
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vulture
Joined: Jan 14, 2007
Posts: 68
australia
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Posted on Sep 04 2007 01:58 AM
spy
16s?
dick dale uses 16s.
— image
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Spud
Joined: Jul 23, 2007
Posts: 666
Oz
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Posted on Sep 04 2007 05:25 AM
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wilkat1
Joined: Dec 03, 2007
Posts: 107
southern Illinois
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Posted on Dec 19 2007 10:35 PM
Forget strings, I want to know more about this plexi Strat
image
I love that!
And I want to know more about how to do that Nokie-style string squeak. I love that too.
I tend to use 10s, but I'm not strictly a surf guitarist.
— Swing! Twang! Shake! Twist!
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