Louis Johnson's strings

[Apothem]

Anybody knows what strings (make and gauge) Louis Johnson uses? The sound out of its 'Ray in his instructional DVD is just terrific, "metallic" without being harsch...
Thanx

 

[Golem]

Anybody knows what strings (make and gauge) Louis Johnson uses? The sound out of its 'Ray in his instructional DVD is just terrific, "metallic" without being harsch... Thanx

Not knowing the brand and style, I can say that the description you give ,"metallic without being harsh", from my sampling of strings would tell me to go for solid nickel alloy windings, as opposed to solid stainless or nickel plated stainless. Obviously there's LJ's touch, and other gear issues bearing on his sound as well, but if you can't get the exact info you seek, try the nickel and hear for yourself.

 

[Apothem]

It is obviously difficult to explain, but as soon as I heard them I though of "zinging", of little springs uncoiling and unbundling...

 

[Bera]

What kind of strigs (brand, tension, gauge, etc...) do you use to play that funky slap style?

 

[MrShakespeare]

Louis Johnson's Strings

Hi,

If you listen carefully, he mentions in passing that he used Rotosound. He says it while explaining "lick number 6" about 19 minutes into the video; the lick where he slides from the nut with his thumb, using it to hold the "key note" in order to slap in a different key.

Also, in the second Star Licks video, one can see he used an SWR Redhead, and in a recent DVD release of a live performance with Brothers Johnson, one can see the SWR rig behind him. That might also be a factor in his sound.

Hope this helps,

Mr Shakespeare
Louis Johnson Freak

 

[Apothem]

Thanks MrShakespeare

I had missed that bit. Now I have noticed he even says "it is nickel/silver".


x Bera

Roundwound, light or extra light gauges (35-95 or 30-90), either stainless steel (very bright, sometimes too much) or nickel plated or nickel alloy (nickel is slightly warmer and gentler on the frets)

Cheers

 

[Golem]

........
I had missed that bit. Now I have noticed he even says "it is nickel/silver". x Bera........

Isn't "nickel/silver" the same alloy that frets are usually made from? I doubt that there's much, if any, actual silver in there, more of a jargon term, but it does sound familiar in connection with fret wire.

 

[Apothem]

Isn't "nickel/silver" the same alloy that frets are usually made from? I doubt that there's much, if any, actual silver in there, more of a jargon term, but it does sound familiar in connection with fret wire.

Golem

You may be right, maybe he's talking about frets here, although a few seconds before he was mentioning Rotosound.

Thankx

 

[MrShakespeare]

Nickel vs. Steel strings

...This is my personal opinion, but I think if he used anything with nickel in them (given the way he plays), they would have lost their life about ten minutes into the video; assuming the tape was unedited.

 

[hands 5]

I've only known for Louis to use RotoSound strings,and even now he still does

 

[Apothem]

Thanks everybody. Unfortunately I am off Roto after a few negative experiences like poor life, a dull string in a set or even - listen to this - a self-resonating E generating a funny vibration in the string itself... I had checked absolutely everything in the bass and nothing was loose... G ok, D ok, A ok, E generating a vibrating noise and |I could not tell which part of the instrument it came from....

Needless to say that the problem disappeared as soon as I switched to another brand. Now I am trying Hot Wire Round Core and they feel and sound good for my taste

Cheers

 

[strummer]

listen to this - a self-resonating E generating a funny vibration in the string itself...

happened to me two days ago, and boy was it annoying!

 

[Mr Light]

Louis's Strings

Thanks everybody. Unfortunately I am off Roto after a few negative experiences like poor life, a dull string in a set or even - listen to this - a self-resonating E generating a funny vibration in the string itself... I had checked absolutely everything in the bass and nothing was loose... G ok, D ok, A ok, E generating a vibrating noise and |I could not tell which part of the instrument it came from....

Needless to say that the problem disappeared as soon as I switched to another brand. Now I am trying Hot Wire Round Core and they feel and sound good for my taste

Cheers

...May I also suggest D'Addario Super Bright Roundwounds? I am very impressed with them after years of playing Rotosound, DR, trying out Blue steels and GHS, not to mention Slinkys. They have really brought out the tone in my MusicMan (not that it didn't have tone anyway). The change was good. Sometimes change is good.

 

[Apothem]

...May I also suggest D'Addario Super Bright Roundwounds? I am very impressed with them after years of playing Rotosound, DR, trying out Blue steels and GHS, not to mention Slinkys. They have really brought out the tone in my MusicMan (not that it didn't have tone anyway). The change was good. Sometimes change is good.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I am limited by availability (the websites I normally use do not stock them here in the UK) and gauges (using 35-95 max). I have tried D'Addario ProSteels (a misnomer as they are nickel alloy plated), obviously warmer than steel although not bad, but stiffer than current Hot Wires Round Core.

Thanx

 

[Mr Light]

Nickel and Steel

Thanks for the suggestion, but I am limited by availability (the websites I normally use do not stock them here in the UK) and gauges (using 35-95 max). I have tried D'Addario ProSteels (a misnomer as they are nickel alloy plated), obviously warmer than steel although not bad, but stiffer than current Hot Wires Round Core.

Thanx

...I'm speaking specifically of their roundwound steels, not their nickel wounds. I've only used nickel once. I prefer the brightness and life of steel more. So, I know what you mean by the warmth, unless their steel strings aren't steel---then we would have a problem.