nick

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1334221573' post='1612612'] ^^ Aren't Sadowsky strings re-badged GHS? [/quote] No, they're actually made by Labella (which I also like) to Sadowsky's specification, & quite different to the Deep Talkin' flats.

Think I'll always prefer flats myself, but I do keep one bass strung with roundwounds - DR Nickel Lo-Riders, which I find in tone & tension to be a good halfway house. Going from a flats perspective, for a more contemporary tone, I like Sadowsky black label flats. Great feel, lot of presence & mids... I've had a set on my Shergold for over a month now, they've just settled in - not thumpy oldschool, more in the vein of TI's but with sensible tension - georgeous strings.

[quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1333960329' post='1608639'] Looks like baby jesus? What`s the difference between the La Bella FS and FM strings then? I`m tottering on the brink of flats for the first time in my life also. So many strings,so little time. [/quote] 760FS = .45-105 , 'standard' gauge, black silks 760FM = 49-109 , medium' gauge , light blue silks

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYKdayl7BHM[/media] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVHIaMLVbas"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVHIaMLVbas[/url]

[quote name='FlatEric' timestamp='1333610534' post='1604069'] If you are going to direct wire and there is no issue with either pick-up, I think you will be surprised at how powerful it is, if mine is anything to go by. Good luck. Cheers. [/quote] +1 . I've got a RB920 too.... In humbucking mode the pickup is quite beefy, but even in single coil & parallel modes it's still punchy.

Johnny Marr - The Smiths

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1332496849' post='1589033'] I just bought some Status hotwire 'ground wounds' and the packaging said 'Designed by status and made in the UK' - or something similar (packets at home - I'm at work), which suggests that do not actually make them themselves. [/quote] There aren't that many string makers in UK.... Got half-wounds on my fretless & a set of their flats on my precision - great strings IMHO.

IMHO, get a decent pickup, something vintage sounding like Wizard Trad or Seymour Duncan SPB-1 on the Ryder & get it set-up. Never used Fender flats myself, but they're not known for being inferior strings - might sound alright after sorting out the bass.

Kenny bought a Bill Lawrence pickup off me. Quick payment, good comes - nice, easy straightforward deal. Recommended. Cheers Nick

I'd personally recommend going for a CIJ/MIJ P-Bass, or if you come across one, an old (MIJ) Tokai Hardpuncher.

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1332502930' post='1589172'] Nick, Do you realise you've turned into Mr Sensible Rig? Functional, reliable, economical. Sometimes, you must need that little something extra..bright box...paradiddle IQ....envelope licker.....something with lights, that flash....... [/quote] No bells & whistles for me I'm afraid Duncan....had enough of all that. Less to go wrong, is fine with me!

Here's my rig... [b]Trace Elliot V-Type 300H[/b]. Nice & simple, basic three way preamp with a couple of Harma (cryo) Telefunken ECC803S clones, which give it a nice warmth & clarity. The amp's loud & clean, but not in 'hi-fi' way. A [b]'Loud' cab[/b] - infamous brand which some folk from BassWorld days may recall. The driver's been replaced with a Kappalite 3015, internal damping also added & the port retuned somewhat via some WinISD assistance from Mr. Foxen. The cab is quite transparent sounding to my ears, punchy sounding, articulates notes well. At less than 15kg, it's pretty light too - can lift it with one arm! It will have to do for me, until I can afford a BF Compact

[size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Could be imagining it, but do recall seeing a bass identical to this back in the day on some music shop wall. Is it a thru-neck?[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Does look quite similar to a Vantage and even Washburn 'Scavenger', either way I'd guess it was related, in being Matsumoku origin.[/font][/size]

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1332150022' post='1583807'] I'm pretty certain Sadowsky have all their strings made elsewhere - Roger is pretty open about his suppliers. Some would argue their basses are also "made" elsewhere! And before anyone gets too upset I love Sadowsky stuff... [/quote] From the man himself: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/will-flats-work-new-precision-v-445678/#post5900640"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/will-flats-work-new-precision-v-445678/#post5900640[/url] [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/sadowsky-strings-good-bad-351449/#post4479037"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/sadowsky-strings-good-bad-351449/#post4479037[/url]

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1332149066' post='1583794'] Sadowsky makes his own. [/quote] They are made by Labella to Sadowsky's specifications.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1332107686' post='1583485'] I'd like conformation of this as afaik Hotwires are made in-house. [/quote] Wasn't aware that Status actually had a manufacturing facility with regard to production of their flatwound strings, but if that is the case I stand corrected. One of my P-Basses is strung with them & I find them remakably similar to the Picatos I've used previously.

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' timestamp='1332064700' post='1582606'] I don't know who makes what, but I do remember reading somewhere that one company does make the majority of strings out there, just like Cort makes a lot of instruments sold under different brand names. The jist seems to be that one company will have a different recipe/tone goal from another company and that's the difference in string. Being made in the same factory doesn't make them the same product. [/quote] So true... I'm currently trying out some Sadowsky flats. They are made by Labella, but are quite different in tone, & also feel to a certain extent. They're very nice [quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1332101420' post='1583357'] Ahh this is interesting, i've tried the picato flatwounds and was mighty impressed, are the Overwater flatwounds very similar? i need a 5 string flatwound set and the picato's aren't very available online, and the Overwater ones are more than a fiver cheaper. if someone can give me an answer i'll pull the trigger on the Overwater ones straight away. Matt [/quote] I believe Status flats are also made by Picato. I like them too.

Fair play, he's transparent on what he's offering & what the buyer is paying for. IMHO, Good luck to him.

[quote name='Leon Transaxle' timestamp='1331559471' post='1574731'] [indent=1]I just want it. Shame it closes when I'm out of the country.[/indent] [/quote] Why don't you just Lotsnipe it?

Been using them myself for as long as I can remember. I do love the look of them, but I also like the fact they're tidier & not a tangled mess. I've never noticed a difference in tone TBH, though they may cut some of the top-end(?) Bullet coiled cables are probably the best, but the Vox ones at half the price are also pretty good IMHO.

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1331582332' post='1575373'] [size=5][sup]Yes Marathon basses are nice and light, I've owned quite a few the only problem is the stereo circuitry means the pickups have a bit of a weak sound when played with a splitter to get a mono signal - unless the bass has been modded. Its not a Mark1 version as this had a small oblongish separate scratchplate around the pickup and the bodies were heavier (ex Hayman stock). I'd bid if it weren't the dreaded 'pickup only' as its miles from me! Lovely example. It looks just like one I bought last year....but it isn't as that had typical Shergold finish checking.[/sup][/size] [/quote] Yeah, find my recently acquired Marathon to be a nice weight, with one of the nicest necks I ever played. Regarding the parallel wired pickup with stereo circuitry - I just rewired mine in series with mono ouput. Replaced the 100k pots & two plastic jack sockets for decent 250k CTS pots & a switchcraft socket. Was an easy, reversible mod - worth doing to these. This one hasn't the usual lacquer cracking, wonder if it's a refinish? Still a lovely looking example, wouldn't mind another one

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1331381606' post='1572101'] ....Just goes to show, the first time you leave something in a car could be the first time some scroat is out on the rob..... [/quote] These are [i]very[/i] wise words. Hope you're mate gets his gear back.