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Ashbory Bass > Ashbory Discussion > Ashbory: General Topics > New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To

March 10, 2010, 04:25:44 PM
News: Welcome to Large Sound 3.0 -- The forums! Let me know if you see anything odd or wrong. Thanks! -Brock (frazier@largesound.com)

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Author Topic: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To (Read 5691 times)

Wiley	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #15 on: February 26, 2009, 03:23:38 PM »
Newbie Posts: 27 Livin' Large in Orygun, USA	Quote from: redstriper on February 26, 2009, 05:57:52 AM I still worry these Pahoehoes may eventually go the same way, (hope not). Steve. I just passed 3 months of daily play on my first set of Pahoehoes. They have been under tension the entire time. To my eyes and ears, they've remained rock solid performers, and I've never been at all apprehensive about playing a gig. Good point about getting the last wrap down as close to the bottom of the peg spool as possible. The break angle over the nut does have an influence on the overall tone. One thing I noticed... The "A" string is a little narrower than the slot on the nut. I got a bit of buzz that was easy to fix. It's a common elastic hair band: Click the images to enlarge them... « Last Edit: February 26, 2009, 03:33:40 PM by Wiley »

redstriper	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #16 on: February 26, 2009, 06:11:23 PM »
Newbie Posts: 26 ROOTS ROCK REGGAE	Thanks for the update Wiley, I am also loving the pahoehoes and will use them for the first time live at my next gig on March 21st. I don't see me going back to the silicone strings despite having plenty. I like the hair band string retainer and I'll give it a try - I guess you have to loosen it when tuning. I'm thinking of buying a second Ashbory as a spare because I'm a bit paranoid about mid gig string breakage and/or electrical malfunction. I usually take a standard short scale bass to gigs as a spare, but it feels too heavy and cumbersome after the Ash. The only thing I miss from my standard basses is the frets and I'm getting better with my intonation now, so I hope to stop missing them eventually. --------------------------- All tracks recorded with my Ashbory - http://myspace.com/redstriper

Wiley	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #17 on: February 26, 2009, 07:27:52 PM »
Newbie Posts: 27 Livin' Large in Orygun, USA	Hey Steve, I don't know... Buy a backup 'bory? OK, so I'm not a full time musician with a lot of gigging experience...as you may be; so what follows may not be at all realistic: Here's a challenge... Try to figure out an efficient way to remotely stretch a spare set of strings. What kind of a device can you DIY? How about stringing-up a strategically notched board of appropriate length? Getting the strings under tension, no matter how, will yield the same result...no? For sure, once polyurethane stretches, it stays stretched. Eventually, you would pull the set off of the board, bag 'em up, and take them along with you. If the worst should happen at a gig, you might be able to make a quick repair, then jump back in...without too much trauma. A little pre-performance restringing practice would go a long ways toward getting you comfortable with the idea. What'cha think?

redstriper	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #18 on: February 26, 2009, 07:48:13 PM »
Newbie Posts: 26 ROOTS ROCK REGGAE	Hi Wiley, There's often no time for messing around at gigs and festivals with a limited time slot, so a back up instrument makes sense, but maybe I should stop worrying and live a bit closer to the edge....... I like the idea of pre stretching the strings and I think Tho (see below) has something rigged up for his custom Ashborys. I guess an alternative would be to use a set for a month or so and then replace them with a new set, keeping the used ones as pre stretched spares. In fact, that's exactly what I'm gonna do when the new set arrives. I still worry about the electrics though, if they fail there would be no sound, which is why I've never really liked purely active basses, but I'm probably over cautious, after all I might be struck by lightning or fall down the stairs on the way to the gig! --------------------------- All tracks recorded with my Ashbory - http://myspace.com/redstriper

byronbuckles	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #19 on: March 09, 2009, 09:47:13 AM »
Newbie Posts: 8	After getting a little experience using these strings, I have come to like them. I am still trying to come up with a solution for a string retainer. I am considering the Floyd Rose part mentioned on the tech board. The hair tie is interesting, but if I go that route, I will use an elastic capo behind the nut again to improve the angle on all the strings. Once I got the capo on and had it in tune, it worked well and stayed in tune for extremely long periods. But getting it to that point was a challenge. How often do you use the lubricant on these strings? When I first used finger ease, I felt like it was the opposite extreme -- quiet by extremely slippery strings instead of squeaky and sticky. So I don't find it necessary to apply each time I play. With the original strings, I always felt like I needed the powder each time I got out the instrument. Finally -- did you remove the red plastic pieces on the strings before you installed them on the bridge end? Will this make a difference in sustain? Sustain has always been a challenge for me with the Ash.

redstriper	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #20 on: March 09, 2009, 11:50:06 AM »
Newbie Posts: 26 ROOTS ROCK REGGAE	There is no need for a string retainer if you make sure the strings leave the winding posts right at the bottom. It's worth re-winding them to achieve that because you will get a much better open string sound and more stable tuning without the need for a capo or anything else. These strings take about 3 weeks to settle in and once fully stretched stay in tune very well, with only slight tweaks needed. The silicone spray seems to last longer than the talc on the old strings. I generally just spray my fingers and run them along the E and A strings when they feel tacky. I removed the red plastic pieces because of the limited space at the bridge and I don't think it affects the sustain. Sustain is not a strong point of Ashbory's and these strings are possibly slightly worse than the originals, it doesn't bother me because I don't use much sustain anyway. BTW - I have just bought an old Guild Ashbory as a spare bass and I will fit these new strings when it arrives. --------------------------- All tracks recorded with my Ashbory - http://myspace.com/redstriper

Mike Tavener	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #21 on: March 09, 2009, 01:05:51 PM »
Full Member Posts: 121	Definitely keep the Guild as the spare :-) It'll be interesting to see how the friction uke machine heads handle those urethane strings. Mike --------------------------- Mike Tavener Supplier of replacement G & D string for the Ashbory bass. Details on http://ashborystring.website.orange.co.uk

redstriper	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #22 on: March 09, 2009, 04:58:30 PM »
Newbie Posts: 26 ROOTS ROCK REGGAE	I take it that you think the Guild is inferior to the Fender? Maybe I won't fit the new strings to the Guild if the machine heads can't handle them, although I don't know why they shouldn't. I bought the used Fender blind off ebay and luckily I've been very pleased with it apart from string breakage, which I'm hoping will be better with these new strings. I have also bought the Guild blind for not much money, purely as a back up in case of mid gig string breakage or electrical failure and I haven't received it yet. Do you think it may not be possible to fit the new strings to the Guild and if it is possible what are the problems I am likely to face? --------------------------- All tracks recorded with my Ashbory - http://myspace.com/redstriper

Mike Tavener	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #23 on: March 10, 2009, 12:50:16 PM »
Full Member Posts: 121	Hi Steve The Guild is perfectly playable, and won't feel any different to the newer models. It will do the job but the output is likely to be weaker. The friction machines are its main weakness, and if the urethane strings are higher tension they may slip, but they handle the silicone strings OK. Don't be tempted to overtighten the screws holding the buttons, as they may shear. Brock has posted a side by side comparison of the Guild/DeArmond on the site. Mike --------------------------- Mike Tavener Supplier of replacement G & D string for the Ashbory bass. Details on http://ashborystring.website.orange.co.uk

redstriper	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #24 on: March 10, 2009, 01:41:56 PM »
Newbie Posts: 26 ROOTS ROCK REGGAE	Thanks Mike, I'm looking forward to trying the Guild and I'll see how it works with the new strings. They don't seem much higher tension than the old ones, so I'm hoping they will be fine on the Guild if only as somewhere to stetch and store them. It is one of the first Ashborys, bought new in the 80s and hardly used and it comes with a purpose made mini flight case, which is nice. I still have plenty of the old strings if the new ones don't work, so I will have a spare Ash one way or the other anyway. Steve. PS There's probably a market for UK produced Pahoehoes if you can get them. --------------------------- All tracks recorded with my Ashbory - http://myspace.com/redstriper

Brock	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #25 on: March 10, 2009, 05:38:38 PM »
Sr. Member Posts: 363	Quote from: Mike Tavener on March 10, 2009, 12:50:16 PM The Guild is perfectly playable, and won't feel any different to the newer models. It will do the job but the output is likely to be weaker. The friction machines are its main weakness, and if the urethane strings are higher tension they may slip, but they handle the silicone strings OK. Yup, those tuners and the high percentage of pickup failure. The deeper headstock on the Guild is an advantage, but learning how to work Guild tuners is a skill no one should have to master. The Guild tuners are also known to bend (one of mine has some bend) and snap, so I'd be *really* careful with any string that have more tension. More on the folly of the Guild tuners here: http://web.archive.org/web/20031004082815/www.ashelec.demon.co.uk/ashbory/guild.htm#top -Brock « Last Edit: March 12, 2009, 12:37:25 AM by boardmaster » --------------------------- A to the S to the H to the B - O - R - Y!

redstriper	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #26 on: March 10, 2009, 05:53:13 PM »
Newbie Posts: 26 ROOTS ROCK REGGAE	Can the Guild tuners be replaced with anything more reliable? --------------------------- All tracks recorded with my Ashbory - http://myspace.com/redstriper

Brock	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #27 on: March 12, 2009, 01:09:48 AM »
Sr. Member Posts: 363	Here's one man's take on replacing the Guild tuners with DeArmond/Fender ones: http://www.largesound.com/ashboryarticle/mod/tunerretrofit/ In short, he decided it wasn't worth it. I suppose it depends on how ambitious you are when it comes to modding. An option not mentioned in the article is that you could grind the center post shorter (carefully) and then screw the spindle back on and over. The post has o'plenty of threading on it to be shortened, plus when you put the spindle on, it would cover the ground metal for a clean look. The drilling won't go away though. You'll have to widen the holes in the headstock and also drill two tiny holes per tuner for the tuner screws. It is doable, and you'll have a more durable, more usable instrument at the end. It also won't be original anymore. I'm on board with Bill Puig's assessment: It's doable, but not for everyone. Another thing to look at is headstock space. The headstock was enlarged when the new tuners came out. There could be a space issue with the tuning keys. -Brock --------------------------- A to the S to the H to the B - O - R - Y!

oscarecroe	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #28 on: April 14, 2009, 09:38:48 PM »
Newbie Posts: 4	Wiley, What size tie wrap are you using on G? I tried small one and it won't grab string- slips right off. When I look at your pictures of the bridge it doesn't appear to be a tie. Did you shrink wrap it? Redstriper, How did you get G knot to hold? Thanks, Otis « Last Edit: April 14, 2009, 09:46:49 PM by oscarecroe »

Wiley	Re: New LOW-TENSION Polyurethane Strings - Review and How-To « Reply #29 on: April 16, 2009, 12:36:58 AM »
Newbie Posts: 27 Livin' Large in Orygun, USA	Quote from: oscarecroe on April 14, 2009, 09:38:48 PM Wiley, What size tie wrap are you using on G? I tried small one and it won't grab string- slips right off. When I look at your pictures of the bridge it doesn't appear to be a tie. Did you shrink wrap it? oscarecroe, For the "G" string, I made the knot...then added the tie wrap. The knot is taking all of the tension, whereas the wrap is simply preventing the knot from slipping. The polyurethane is very slippery, as you've discovered. For the life of me, I was never able to get a "G" string knot to stay tied...until the tie wrap trick. No shrink wrap was used.

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