I loaned a friend my 5 string and when he gave it back he put a new set of strings on it, but doesn't remember what they are. They are stainless steel round wounds with alternating black and light blue string ends on the bridge. I'm thinking maybe d'Adarrio. Anyone have an idea what they are?
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What are these?
- Thread starter play4zero
- Start date
Alternating black and blue ball ends = Dean Markley Blue Steels (an older version).
Since strings are one of the MOST important contributors to the sound of the instrument, I think it was very damn presumptuous of him and incredibly rude to change them!
If it were mine, I'd pull the rounds off immediately, install my favorite Labella 760FL flats and send him the bill.
If it were mine, I'd pull the rounds off immediately, install my favorite Labella 760FL flats and send him the bill.
If they were D'Addario, the ball end colors would be gold-red-black-green (E-G).
Right, but they're the only ones I know that have any mixed colors, but then again, I've been pretty parochial when it comes to my choices of strings.
FYI...
The Blue Steels with black and blue alternating ball ends are from the time when Dean Markley had their own factory, which was shut down a while ago. The current lineup of Dean Markley strings, made by a third-party company, are not the same as the old ones.
I would say that anyone that you loan your instrument to who decides to change anything on it, even a pickard screw is really not a true friend. A true friend will never mess with your stuff without asking first. At the minimum I would make a friend replace the strings with a new set of my choosing.
What strings were on that bass before you loaned it to your friend? Are you actually liking the new ones your friend put on it?
Spot on. That is still the current version. Enclosed is a picture they sent me of the ball ends of their various strings.
Interesting... I didn't know they kept the ball end colors. Thanks for the info.
Everyone’s different I suppose. If I loaned one of my basses to my 2 close bass buddies I’d have no issue with them replacing the strings because more than likely, they killed ‘em. We’ve swapped basses before over the years from time to time and I’ve changed the strings a couple times and they were appreciative.
Once I lent one of my basses to a cousin of mine who wanted to try it. During a drunken evening he spray-painted it without removing anything. It was a bass that I didn't care for at all and that wasn't worth anything anyway. Fortunately, because you don't get rid of your cousin so easily (legally, I mean)
I would have preferred if he changed the strings for free
Bass strings aren't cheap. I think he meant to do something nice but inadvertently stepped over the line. Giving a guitar player new strings was pretty common in the day but I never messed with a bass players strings.
Yeah, I’m not sure I would bill a “friend” for bass strings. Might be a tad reactive for the situation.
I would have at least asked what brand and string gauge was being used before I changed strings on someone else's Bass.
I wouldn't loan anyone a bass. Too many friendships lost doing stuff like this. Just not worth it! When you don't get something back and have to run it down to get it back, or its damaged, see how your friendship feels then. To each their own!
If I borrow a bass, I usually make an offer to swap strings or adjust the set up to at least inside the playable range if terrible or never done. If both are declined (the work and strings offered at no cost) and the bass is usable to me, I will offer a cleaning at no charge. I do my best to return it in better shape than I got it, even if that is just a wipedown.
For bass guitar it is really a nice gesture if the strings come back with new strings. I would warn them if it was Accordion Accessory JF344 , Dogals or flats, it better be the same strings.
I do loan basses
I do loan basses
I strongly disagree. I'm a flats player, and I like OLD flats. My newest ones are years old, and the oldest are more than 50 years old. They are not replaceable! If someone replaced a set of 10-year-old flats on one of my basses I would be very upset.
I would loan a bass to a very good friend, but making ANY changes to an instrument that's loaned to you without specifically asking about the changes first and getting clear permission to make the change is extremely rude.