Alternative to Kalium strings?

[beavis2306]

Good info here, guys. I put on a daddario .145 for my low Ab and it seems to be doing the job. I forgot to order a .160, I'll try that next. Sadly, still haven't heard from Kalium yet...

Dude! I'm in the same spot as you. Love kalium but got the right shits with his inablility to reply or fix the shipping glitch on his website. Also looking for an alternative for my 7 and 8 string guitars and a dingwall ng2 in drop Ab. Would definitely be keen to hear of your experiences on this front i was thinking of checking newtone

 

[beavis2306]

Newtone are great.
But indeed D'addario is covering up to 170 now.
Recently made the switch from Kalium/Newtone to Daddario due to tuning my bass up from E/F to G. Perfectly happy. My bass is 36" FYI - D'addario have one that reaches.
Buy the tapered versions (eg XLB160T instead of XLB160)

Where does the taper sit? Not on the fretboard? I've got to cater for 37inches

 

[Winspear]

I'll have to double check, might be quite tight though. I'm not sure I have a full inch clear behind my 36" nut and I do have a top loading bridge. Using the 170 super long tapered.

 

[Jeries]

I have to try a NYXL .080 because the .078 was “bouncy.” Not totally like loose and flubby, but just almost like what an E string usually feels like. I prefer it slightly taught, so the next up is the .080, which is probably a little TOO fat, but the difference between a $4 .079 and a $0.80 cent .080, for now, is an easy call. I hope there is another brand that comes out with a nice .079 for eight string guitar bridges and nut/tuners....

If anyone sees it, please link or just reply. Thank you!

 

[migstopheles]

Just been through this process with my NG3, decided to take a punt on a D'Addario XB160TSL for the B (tuned to G). It's very tight but I reckon it's OK - photos of the bridge and nut attached (note that only the B is the new D'Addario, the rest are still the 2 year old Newtones). The very last wind of the B before the taper is just resting on the nut. It sounds fine to my ears... but I'm neither a bass player nor a perfectionist I'd rather be able to use a well known site like strings direct - their support is absolutely awesome, and I know that I'm gonna get what I paid for nice and quick.

This is the custom set they put together for me btw https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/str...le-45-160-bass-guitar-custom-gauge-set-p15219

 

[Brutal08]

Anyone has something to say about newtone strings compared to DR high beams? Im using DR on my warwicks I use 125 and 130 on drop A, i know it can be loose but i like that earthquake feeling on open notes im using tons of distortion in my sound btw, i am receiving my ng3 soon and the fact that kalium string seems to take forever to be shipped kind of turned me off.. Im looking for newtones and i may be switching the warwicks to newtones too as i order on bulk once or twice a year

 

[migstopheles]

I've only tried Newtones and D'addarios on my NG3, but I wouldn't buy the Newtones again tbh.

 

[LordCashew]

Man I really hope Kalium gets back on track eventually. I sprang for a set of balanced tension strings from them last time I recorded and they were my favorite ever for feel and tone. The way life is going, I really don’t have the bandwidth to monitor anything else via email.

 

[Brutal08]

I've only tried Newtones and D'addarios on my NG3, but I wouldn't buy the Newtones again tbh.

I tried d'addario on my F 7-8 years ago for drop G tuning and wasnt impressed, i might give it a try again for the ng3. D'addario would maybe be available locally. Im loving in a remote location so mostly anything out of the ordinairy is custom order

 

[Obed1224]

You can try calling Kalium and ask about the order. He is known to be bad with emails and as inconvenient as it is, I got the ball rolling by just calling and inquiring. He sent the order out quickly after that.

 

[beavis2306]

You can try calling Kalium and ask about the order. He is known to be bad with emails and as inconvenient as it is, I got the ball rolling by just calling and inquiring. He sent the order out quickly after that.

Not for me. Pretty sure he just ignores international numbers. Got a few responses early and he said he'd try to rig up a payment method outside of his fucked up website. Now - answering machine every time

 

[Obed1224]

Not for me. Pretty sure he just ignores international numbers. Got a few responses early and he said he'd try to rig up a payment method outside of his fucked up website. Now - answering machine every time

Sorry to hear that man. I agree he should really improve his customer service.

 

[jc986]

I placed an order for strings back on November 6th and just got them yesterday, so about a month turnaround time.

I got tracking info on November 13th but nothing actually shipped until November 30th. I sent an email checking on the status on the 24th and never got a reply, but seeing that it shipped out almost immediately after the holiday I figure it prompted him to get my order out. Who knows.

 

[BlackFalcon17]

Dude! I'm in the same spot as you. Love kalium but got the right shits with his inablility to reply or fix the shipping glitch on his website. Also looking for an alternative for my 7 and 8 string guitars and a dingwall ng2 in drop Ab. Would definitely be keen to hear of your experiences on this front i was thinking of checking newtone

I've spent some time playing with the .145 on, and I'm happy with it. I would say the tension is a good medium that allows me to fret easily and hit hard without sounding flubby. We'll see how the .160 sounds when it comes time to swap out, but I'll probably stick with this.

 

[beavis2306]

Just put a set of tainless hex core newtone northlane strings on my dingwall NG2 in drop G# yesterday. Each string was down a touch in size from what i was running in Kalium and the tension is fine. The low string was .158 and is now .150 and feels fine. Sound seems a touch rolled off in the top end but a bit clearer too however i pretty much only use this for distorted stuff on my recordings so might be different if you're a real bassist. Kalium string were a couple of yrs old. Happy i changed over so far

 

[Necris]

Just to add to the thread:
I purchased some DR DDT55-5 strings (the .135 5 string set) recently for my 35" scale Modulus bass and upon trying them I can say they're definitely good for drop tuning. They're quite stiff compared to the same gauge of Kaliums and I see a lot of guys on talkbass mentioning using the .125 set for B or even A. I have a set of .142 Kaliums tuned up a half step to C on a 34" scale bass and even that feels noticably less stiff than the DR's do on the Modulus in B. With the .135 I was able to tune down to G without things getting too out of
control with regard to floppiness on my Modulus and the note produced seemed pretty well defined.
The tone of the strings is definitely distinct from the Kaliums, part of this is likely due to the stainless steel, i think they also spray something on the core before they're wrapped but I can't really quantify what difference that makes considering difference in core size could also affect the tone too. Overall, the Kaliums seem to have a lot more midrange to them whereas the DDTs have a lot more low end. It was weird to hear after using Kaliums for so long.

I did end up taking these strings off shortly after putting them on, primarily because I generally don't tune down and the increased stiffness of the strings was noticeable in B and began to feel like a bit much tuned up to C. The 125 set would probably have served my purposes better. If I write a song where I need a low A or something I'll probably put them back on for that track. In the meantime the Kaliums are back on and I'm going to try to put together a balanced set of the D'Addario Super Long Nickelwound or Stainless steel strings.

 

[beavis2306]

In the meantime the Kaliums are back on and I'm going to try to put together a balanced set of the D'Addario Super Long Nickelwound or Stainless steel strings.

Good intel. Let us know how the d'addarios go if you put them on

 

[DECEMBER]

Skip at Kalium is terrible. They just stole the tiny bit of spending money I would have had for the month:
I've been buying their strings consistently for about a year. Some of their odd-numbered gauges are the perfect tension for my needs and no one else has them. I ordered 2 sets of guitar strings for $26 (Priority Mail shipping) on 10/2. They gave me a tracking number on 10/4. On 10/10, tracking still said USPS hadn't received the package. Waiting to record, I had to buy strings from a store, but no one else has the odd-numbered gauges that Kalium has so I also had to setup/intonate my guitars for the gauges I was able to get in-store. I emailed saying I already had to buy strings somewhere else and asked them to cancel the order. I'm on SSDI disability so I can't afford to buy more than I need in a month. Again, on 10/12 I asked for a refund, tracking still showed not received by USPS. I said, if they show up, I promise I'll send them back. That night, USPS apparently found the package (or they hadn't actually shipped it until then). He said to write 'Return to Sender' on the package, so I did, dropped it back in the box as soon as I took it out. It's been 16 days now since I put it in the mailbox. 29 days since I ordered it. 21 days since I first requested a refund. It was 10 days after ordering before it was even shipped, 13 days when it finally arrived. I never opened it, I wrote 'RETURN TO SENDER' in black marker like he instructed, put it straight into the locked outgoing mailbox at my apartment complex.
I should have been refunded when it had been 10 days and still not yet shipped. He (Skip) keeps telling me "not until I get the strings you claim to have sent back", as if I'm some junkie trying to scam him out of $26. I'm permanently disabled, on Social Security. After I pay my rent and bills I'm lucky to have $50 left for the month to spend on myself.
Any other retailer would have issued the refund when it had been a week and still not in transit, and likely offered me something free or a discount to insure that they retain my patronage. I paid for Priority Mail, they're in the next state, so it should have been here in 2-3 days. 10 before it actually shipped, 13 when it got here, and I have to wait until you get it back to get my refund?!
Well, now it's been 16 days since I sent it back and the tracking still just says it was delivered here. I don't think they even track something that's been "Returned to Sender". But I put it in a locked outgoing mailbox that only the mailman has a key to, so it's obviously been lost by USPS (AGAIN!).
Skip is a rude, obnoxious, snotty, self-important waste of space! I would have bought strings from them for the rest of my life, but he lost that over $26. This is The Worst customer service experience I've ever had in my life (aside from a fiasco with a car shop keeping my van for 4 months to replace a transmission). And this isn't the first time they gave a tracking number but lagged on actually shipping it. I've been stuck here all month waiting on him to give back the measly little wad of spending money I would have had for the month.
I hope he's proud of himself for getting over on a cripple for $26.
I will NEVER buy anything from them ever again, no matter how much the .051 & .037 were perfect for my guitar. And I have no idea where I'm gonna get the next .148T for the low A on my 5 string bass, but I'll deal with what I can get. They will not see another penny from me.
And I hope this matters enough to you that you will boycott them. Bad businesses don't deserve to be in business.
If you don't provide what I paid for within the promised delivery time, you issue a refund. It's not my fault it was either lost by USPS for over a week, or you just didn't actually ship it until then and blamed it on USPS. And it's not my fault they lost it again on the way back! If you wanted return tracking you should have given me a return label, instead of telling me to write "Return to Sender" on it. You're the one who bought the postage, if they lost it, it's up to you to file a missing package search or a lost package insurance claim. You don't leave the customer waiting for an entire month+ without their money. He said, "well, it's not my fault, either"... waaah, it certainly is the responsibility of the business to reimburse the customer if the package is lost, THEN you pursue compensation from the delivery service. Unless you don't care to keep your customers.
What a joke!

 

[Winspear]

Skip at Kalium is terrible. They just stole the tiny bit of spending money I would have had for the month:
I've been buying their strings consistently for about a year. Some of their odd-numbered gauges are the perfect tension for my needs and no one else has them. I ordered 2 sets of guitar strings for $26 (Priority Mail shipping) on 10/2. They gave me a tracking number on 10/4. On 10/10, tracking still said USPS hadn't received the package. Waiting to record, I had to buy strings from a store, but no one else has the odd-numbered gauges that Kalium has so I also had to setup/intonate my guitars for the gauges I was able to get in-store. I emailed saying I already had to buy strings somewhere else and asked them to cancel the order. I'm on SSDI disability so I can't afford to buy more than I need in a month. Again, on 10/12 I asked for a refund, tracking still showed not received by USPS. I said, if they show up, I promise I'll send them back. That night, USPS apparently found the package (or they hadn't actually shipped it until then). He said to write 'Return to Sender' on the package, so I did, dropped it back in the box as soon as I took it out. It's been 16 days now since I put it in the mailbox. 29 days since I ordered it. 21 days since I first requested a refund. It was 10 days after ordering before it was even shipped, 13 days when it finally arrived. I never opened it, I wrote 'RETURN TO SENDER' in black marker like he instructed, put it straight into the locked outgoing mailbox at my apartment complex.
I should have been refunded when it had been 10 days and still not yet shipped. He (Skip) keeps telling me "not until I get the strings you claim to have sent back", as if I'm some junkie trying to scam him out of $26. I'm permanently disabled, on Social Security. After I pay my rent and bills I'm lucky to have $50 left for the month to spend on myself.
Any other retailer would have issued the refund when it had been a week and still not in transit, and likely offered me something free or a discount to insure that they retain my patronage. I paid for Priority Mail, they're in the next state, so it should have been here in 2-3 days. 10 before it actually shipped, 13 when it got here, and I have to wait until you get it back to get my refund?!
Well, now it's been 16 days since I sent it back and the tracking still just says it was delivered here. I don't think they even track something that's been "Returned to Sender". But I put it in a locked outgoing mailbox that only the mailman has a key to, so it's obviously been lost by USPS (AGAIN!).
Skip is a rude, obnoxious, snotty, self-important waste of space! I would have bought strings from them for the rest of my life, but he lost that over $26. This is The Worst customer service experience I've ever had in my life (aside from a fiasco with a car shop keeping my van for 4 months to replace a transmission). And this isn't the first time they gave a tracking number but lagged on actually shipping it. I've been stuck here all month waiting on him to give back the measly little wad of spending money I would have had for the month.
I hope he's proud of himself for getting over on a cripple for $26.
I will NEVER buy anything from them ever again, no matter how much the .051 & .037 were perfect for my guitar. And I have no idea where I'm gonna get the next .148T for the low A on my 5 string bass, but I'll deal with what I can get. They will not see another penny from me.
And I hope this matters enough to you that you will boycott them. Bad businesses don't deserve to be in business.
If you don't provide what I paid for within the promised delivery time, you issue a refund. It's not my fault it was either lost by USPS for over a week, or you just didn't actually ship it until then and blamed it on USPS. And it's not my fault they lost it again on the way back! If you wanted return tracking you should have given me a return label, instead of telling me to write "Return to Sender" on it. You're the one who bought the postage, if they lost it, it's up to you to file a missing package search or a lost package insurance claim. You don't leave the customer waiting for an entire month+ without their money. He said, "well, it's not my fault, either"... waaah, it certainly is the responsibility of the business to reimburse the customer if the package is lost, THEN you pursue compensation from the delivery service. Unless you don't care to keep your customers.
What a joke!

Yup that is shoddy... Just wanted to plug the D'addario XLB145T for you as it is very close to what you mentioned Thankfully have D'addario able to cover all my bass needs up to 170 these days. Also you should find D'addario 38 real similar to that 37, though not close for that 51 indeed.

 

[GunpointMetal]

Sucks to hear he's back on his bullshit. I avoided them for a couple of years due to lack of communication and taking way too long to ship, but LaBella stopped doing custom tapers so i gave Kalium a shot again last year and had two orders that shipped out within a couple of days, had my strings in a week. I ordered in bulk the second time so i'm good for awhile, but that sucks.