Calvin's Weblog

I bought a new bass!

I've been researching awesome new bass guitars lately, and have been pretty disuaded by the price of quality... For anything decent, you're generally looking at $1500 to $2500. I had narrowed down my choices to 3, and then yesterday, on a whim, I just bought something totally different. Ignoring for a minute, the ESP and Warwick models I was interested in, there was this puppy: The Ibanez K5, Korn Kustom bass. It's shibby-sweet - and I could have had it ordered in for $1095 - not even a bad deal... but then as I tried to find out exactly what was so special about the K5, I realized the custom paduak and mahogany finish was just a $500 option of the Ibanez SR405 - and low and behold, Long and McQuade had a black 405 in stock for $650, so I snatched it up. Total impulse... I had gone in to buy piano strings to slap on my OTHER Ibanez bass, and saw the 405 sitting there, so I said "and I'll take that too... with a case."
So anyway, I gotta start learning how to play a 5 string now. It'll probably make it's stage debut on Friday the 5th when we play Pub 340. Now about those piano strings... I'll bet you're wondering "Who the hell winds piano strings on to their heavy metal bass guitar?" Well, at least that's what I said when the guy at the guitar shop told me that the only way I was going to get that chunky, throaty, growly sound I've been searching for, is if I use piano strings. I figured it would be worth a shot... I've tried everything from the $30 vacuum sealed alloy strings to the $65 precision flatwound softcore strings and hadn't ever found my perfect sound.
So he ordered me in a special set of Roto's - exposed core piano strings, with a funny little ball-and-wedge assembly unit so you can get 'em to stay on a bass guitar. My special order arrived yesterday, and that's why I was down at the shop when I picked up that new bass.
So anyway, you probably think I'm crazy being so excited about 4 new strings for my old bass, when I just bought a new bass, but DAMN! I had a rehearsal last night with the cover band, and I brought both bases. I used the old one most of the night because it now has the sweetst sound I've ever heard in my life - this is the sound that I've always wanted, and the way "I" think a bass guitar is supposed to sound. I seriously wanted to call that guitar guy up and thank him - those strings are the best buy I've ever made! One hitch... they're dicontinued... ahhhh!!!! Fortunately, there are still a lot of pianos in the world, so I don't think there will be a shortage of piano strings in general.

Well, there was more I wanted to talk about today, but I gotta getto work. Have a great 'rainy' day everybody.