Circle K now Kalium Strings

[Robby the Robot]

Looks like Circle K not only decided to rebrand itself, but venture into other avenues. I'm for one a full supporter of Circle K/Kalium strings, so I can't wait to see what else they come out with.

https://www.facebook.com/kaliumstrings/posts/10201154552530818?stream_ref=1
KaliumStrings.Com

 

[MF_Kitten]

They already revealed that this would be happening earlier, but it is now a FACT!

 

[Poltergeist]

I'm glad it's Kalium strings now, it's something unique and better fitting for a guitar string business.... No more associating "polar pops" and cigarettes with my guitar strings anymore .

For those who are like wtf is he talking about? There are gas stations/convenience store locations named Circle K in the United States; one just a couple blocks down the road from where I live actually. lf I had to guess I'm sure this is one reason for the name change.

 

[SmackyChot]

Hmmm. Just ordered some strings from them and wondered why the packaging said Kalium Strings.

 

[drmosh]

all the best for them. Certainly a better brand name

 

[iron blast]

Now if they will make flatwound strings so i can get a 145 low b on my 6

 

[Winspear]

Really looking forward to the future of this company. I was happy to see that the rebrand announced the other products - given that Skip has been making the Knuckle basses for a long time but they never really seemed to have much coverage. Along with all the other low frequency goodness that I know he dabbles in, it's good to see these things are going to be brought to the forefront more!

 

[vansinn]

I totally agree. There is so much going into branding, and the right biz/product name has utmost importance for the success of a biz.

Kalium Strings sounds like a good brand name to me Keep going, Skib

 

[Sullen]

I just wish they would make flatwound/string-thru body for my 35" fretless bass so I can tune it properly to G# and have all my babies rocking Kalium!!!!

 

[marshallH]

I actually know the owner of circle k/Kalium strings. His name is skip and he wears a kilt almost everyday. His son goes to school with me. Great strings.

 

[Winspear]

I just wish they would make flatwound/string-thru body for my 35" fretless bass so I can tune it properly to G# and have all my babies rocking Kalium!!!!

Have you actually tried roundwounds to see if you like them? These were my thoughts looking into fretless until I actually realised most of my favourite fretless players are using rounds. They sound fantastic.

 

[InfinityCollision]

Even then, string-through could pose an issue.

 

[Winspear]

Yeah. As far as I know the instruction is more about the fact that the string will sit effectively un-tapered which isn't great but people do get by with untapered strings ok. The concern for me would be the huge angle bend of presumably a 150+ string, I've heard it could break. D'addarios untapered 145 trying to bend around a Fender Tele style bass bridge was nasty...

 

[ixlramp]

AFAIK their 2 highest priorities for new products are a choice of a longer tapered section and steel roundwounds, i also suspect the new store will have a choice of inverted-tension sets and hopefully 5ths sets too.

 

[TRENCHLORD]

1000x better name.
Circle-K is one of our local gas stations also.

 

[ixlramp]

Their portal page has been updated, but leads to the old store for now, there is an artist page with Nolly Kaliumstrings.com (foremerly CircleKStrings.com) Welcome you to our new portal!

 

[TRENCHLORD]

AFAIK their 2 highest priorities for new products are a choice of a longer tapered section and steel roundwounds, i also suspect the new store will have a choice of inverted-tension sets and hopefully 5ths sets too.

What is inverted tension sets? heavy bottom/light top?

 

[Winspear]

Aye. The opposite of traditional (which makes zero sense). I've been using balanced on bass and 'inverted tension' (I just call it progressive tension) on guitar but recently moving into ERBs where a plain top string can't get so tight I'm going for inverted and it's really nice.

 

[Jessy]

 

[Sullen]

Have you actually tried roundwounds to see if you like them? These were my thoughts looking into fretless until I actually realised most of my favourite fretless players are using rounds. They sound fantastic.

I'm concerned with the roundwounds damaging the fretboard with the grooves. I have a fretted BtB that is top loaded with a Balanced set (.166 .124 .094 .070 .053) and like I said I tune down to standard G#.

The fretless is actually a conversion and the bridge is the Hipshot individual saddles that can be top loaded or thru body, I prefer thru body personally. I haven't tried roundwounds on it yet, and haven't found a manufacturer that makes the gauge I'm using on the fretted bass neither so it's tuned in B but I really want to incorporate it into the music I'm making, have some crazy ideas in my head for the fretless...