Is anyone able to explain the differences? (Maybe Maxiflex = round core instead of hex?) From what I can tell, the Optima website can’t be bothered to offer any distinctions.
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Optima: Gold vs. Unique vs. Maxiflex?
- Thread starter Rocket Queen
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- optima
Paging @g-dude, who has experience with the Unique Studio Bass Gold
Talk to me about Optima 24k gold strings
but may remember the advice received by Optima before purchase regarding the other two gold lines.
Talk to me about Optima 24k gold strings
but may remember the advice received by Optima before purchase regarding the other two gold lines.
Hmm, crickets…OK…So I guess, as an absolute last resort, I’ll just have to break down and contact Optima customer service and see what I can pull out of them, and I’ll report back here on my findings, if any.
Mail call!
I decided to start my inquiry by contacting the US representative for Optima, located in Malibu, CA. I received a very quick reply from a gentleman who is himself a bass player. I don’t think I’m breaching any confidentiality by posting his response as follows:
—————
“From the 3 available types, the Unique 24K strings offer the best approach to modern sounding strings, somehow related to the Marcus Miller sound on Fender type electric basses. These strings [have] a very wide dynamic range with vast warm and clear overtones and very round and punchy sound.
“The Optima 24K line of strings are my favorite so far since they perform very well on fretless and fretted basses with a bit darker tone than the Unique 24K but very responsive to all sorts of dynamic approach.
“The MaxiFlex are different in the sense that they have a thinner core (hex-core) than the other two types of 24K strings whilst still keeping the same gauges. This quality makes them darker sounding but very flexible to perform with.”
—————
I was told that my questions would be forwarded on to the head office in Germany, so I will report again if and when I hear from the mothership.
I decided to start my inquiry by contacting the US representative for Optima, located in Malibu, CA. I received a very quick reply from a gentleman who is himself a bass player. I don’t think I’m breaching any confidentiality by posting his response as follows:
—————
“From the 3 available types, the Unique 24K strings offer the best approach to modern sounding strings, somehow related to the Marcus Miller sound on Fender type electric basses. These strings [have] a very wide dynamic range with vast warm and clear overtones and very round and punchy sound.
“The Optima 24K line of strings are my favorite so far since they perform very well on fretless and fretted basses with a bit darker tone than the Unique 24K but very responsive to all sorts of dynamic approach.
“The MaxiFlex are different in the sense that they have a thinner core (hex-core) than the other two types of 24K strings whilst still keeping the same gauges. This quality makes them darker sounding but very flexible to perform with.”
—————
I was told that my questions would be forwarded on to the head office in Germany, so I will report again if and when I hear from the mothership.
Unfortunately I cannot comment in the Uniques or Maxiflex strings as I have not played them before, but, I started using the standard Optima 24k Gold strings last November when I got my Status B-2 and they are by far the best strings I've ever used. To my ears they have a very "full", even, balanced tone, tending toward warm with a great lower-mid presence (I'm not sure I'd necessarily call it a "dark" tone but certainly not overly bright); they are higher tension/stiffer strings if that's your thing and they do last a good long while, that fresh round wound top-end "zing" does go away after some playing but the rich harmonic content of the strings sticks around for many hours of playtime before the tone starts to deteriorate. They look amazing also 
Strongly recommend buying a set and giving them a test drive.
The best price I've found for them is here: Optima Bass Gold, .045 - .105, BG2319
Strongly recommend buying a set and giving them a test drive.The best price I've found for them is here: Optima Bass Gold, .045 - .105, BG2319
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