DMS-4 Bass, third build

[Dwubyd]

Hi All,

Ran into a couple of problems.

First, the strings are wearing grooves in the frets really fast! An ideas on how to remedy this?

Second, I did the fret job, then tung oiled the fret board. I did not do a good clean and the dust from the fret board got into the grain. It left the fret board a dirty grey. Frustrating. My own fault. Any thoughts on a remedy?





Body is not yet finished. I am going to try including an Arduino based tuner and paint it surf mist with matt clear.

[JimC]

Well, short of refretting... Flat wound and even more so tapewound strings will wear the frets a lot less, but you do have to like the resulting sound.

[Rabbit]

Well, short of refretting... Flat wound and even more so tapewound strings will wear the frets a lot less, but you do have to like the resulting sound.

And the price! Even with round wounds and 2 less strings than the guitar princesses we still get stung on string price. Both tape and flat wounds are even pricier than round wounds, but the sound is definitely a different experience.

[Dwubyd]

I noticed that bass strings are more expensive, but some people run the same bass strings for decades.

[fender3x]

I noticed that bass strings are more expensive, but some people run the same bass strings for decades.

Guilty as charged.

[McCreed]

I noticed that bass strings are more expensive, but some people run the same bass strings for decades.

What?... you're supposed to change them???????

Regards,
Not A. Bassplayer

(that owns one bass)

[Rabbit]

I noticed that bass strings are more expensive, but some people run the same bass strings for decades.

Aaaaand some people replace them after every gig ..........

[JimC]

I find roundwounds go off and lose their zing after a while, especially the bottom string, but tapewound don't have any brightness anyway. My first bass has tapewounds, and the current set have been on it since the late 70s or early 80s, but to be fair they've hardly been used for most of that time. I only bought my first ever set of flatwounds recently, so can't comment on those.

[McCreed]

...and the current set have been on it since the late 70s or early 80s...

Well that makes me feel a whole lot better!!!

The strings on my one (short scale) bass are about a year old. Probably had about 2 hours total playing time and it's mostly just the E & A strings

[Rabbit]

I find roundwounds go off and lose their zing after a while, especially the bottom string, but tapewound don't have any brightness anyway. My first bass has tapewounds, and the current set have been on it since the late 70s or early 80s, but to be fair they've hardly been used for most of that time. I only bought my first ever set of flatwounds recently, so can't comment on those.

Funny you should say that, in an interview Steve Harris replied to:

"You use flatwound strings, and yet you’re known for a bright, trebly sound. It’s a bit of a contradiction."

with:

" It is. The unfortunate part is that I have to change strings every gig. It’s because I sweat so much onstage that they just go dead. That might happen with roundwounds as well, but having said that, the flatwounds also stop all the screeching when you’re playing quieter, slower stuff."