What do you use?
my first vote is GHS boomers 45-105

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D

I use Warwick red label somethin somethin somethings....work nicely, if i do say so mahself...

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DISCLAIMER: Views shown by Biski2Dope in this post are entirely cynical and should not be taken as offense to anyone...and now that that's done, WANT SOME NUTS? Mooah...

GHS 45-105's on the fender jazz bass
ernie ball hybrid (45-105) yahmaha p bass.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FillyTheKid:
What do you use?
my first vote is GHS boomers 45-105

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thi is my strings hit parade:
1)DR Hi-Beam
2)DeanMarkley Sr2000
3)D'addario Prism
4)DeanMarkley Bluesteel
5)D'addario XL
I nave tried every brand pratically!
I have to say a thing:every one of the basses I own(and owned)makes the same kind of strings play different.
p.s
the worst strings that I ever played
D'addario Slowound:they are dead

I'm currently putting GHS Brite Flats on the Epiphone, and GHS Pressurewounds on the G&L. Both have really nice tone for each bass. I'm considering trying the D'Addario Chromes after what everyone here has said about them.

I've got D'Addario XL Half Rounds on the fretless and Dean Markley Blue Steels on the fretteds

If you're breaking your GHS strings, send them back to GHS. The core is warranteed, and they will replace, for free, any strings that don't pass the test.

I vote for the Pyramid flat wounds. I think they are 45 - 105 . The only problem is that they are VERY expensive.

I must say that over more than 20 years of playing bass and having tried hundreds of different sring sets, the best by a long way are D'Addario Slow Wounds. I have found some Rotosound sets that are good, but they don't last like the D'Addarios do - they keep their brightness for longer than any others I've tried although they are more expensive. I have also found that the Slowwounds are good for both Funk, Slap and Fingerstyle, whereas a lot of strings are only good for one thing.

I've always used Rotosounds as my first choice for bass strings although I've heard a lot of complaints lately about 'dead strings'. Has anyone had this problem. I read an interview with Billy Sheehan and he said he doesn't endorse them anymore because of exactly that. I also like the sound of the GHS Boomers a lot but I've had trouble with strings breaking (I wouldn't call myself a finesse player!). Has anyone experienced the same problem?

Rotosound RB40's you can pick em up for £10 a pack round here so they don't hurt your pocket to much either :- ).

Goofy

Pyramids for flats and Rotos for round wound.
I also like Daddario slow wounds.

Elixirs,I like em.Even though I'm about as old fashioned as they come,I like fenders and tube amps,I just dont like the way flats kill the overtones.When I first learned to play,flats were all you could get.Have used halfrounds for years,but the teflon actually feels faster so I may stick with them.

In 30 years of playing, I guess I've tried them all. A few weeks ago I tried the Fodero diamond series strings. Boy, did I get a surprise. What a good sound they have. If they keep up the quality, I will use them exclusively.

Slow wounds - I used them when they first came out. They were decent strings. The last sets I bought were dead as a hammer.

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Standard Rotosound Swing Bass. I haven't had a new set that was dead yet. They don't last that long - I try and squeeze three gigs out of each set but that's really pushing it. When new-they sound awesome.

I've been using GHS ContactCore Super Steel strings for about 5 years now on all my basses, fretted and fretless. Had one defective string, an E that the winding was loose around the core. Brought it back to the store that I bought the set from, and the GHS rep for the area happened to be in the store at the time, he gave me 2 sets free to make up for it. Otherwise, never had any trouble, and they last a good long time, even with heavy gigging (4 nites a week, 6 hrs a nite) they would last me 2-3 months and still be nice and bright.

Peace
Gard

So far my favorites are DR Sunbeams Med Lt (45-100). They hold their sound for a long time and you can't beat their great "feel".
They aren't ultra bright and twangy, but they aren't dull either (you can slap with them if you want...I don't slap much).

-KB

I have been using D'addarios for years now. I like them. They don't go dull all at once. They actually sound better after a couple of gigs, IMO. On my Precision, the more dull they get, the better they sound!
I also have tried DR highbeams, and was very impressed! They are not that common in my area, though. The only music store in my area the carries them are a bunch of....hmm. How can I say this nicely...I can't..A*s*oles!


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whaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh?
Chris

DR Lo-riders.

They bring me joy.

D'Addario XL's, DR High Beams' Dean Markley SR 2000's, and Blue steels. There is nothing better than a good set of Swing Bass 66 if you can find a good set.

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Carl

Thomastik-Infeld's are really great but they're very different. They tend to be much lighter tension and thinner, but they still have a big sound. After much much trial and error, I'm using them on all my basses--jazz flats on my pbass, jazz rounds on my five string, and acoustic's on my fretless. The're very exensive but they last a very long time. Really cool strings

Guage: 45-100

1)D'Addario Prisms
2)GHS Boomers
3)Rotosound Swingbass
I like em' bright!

I use Rotosounds for years and within the last year I have been using Boomers and have been satisfied.

Great thread BTW...I'm gonna try some of these other brands out.

Jim

I've beaten the living piss out of my light gauge boomers for 4 months without any breakage. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/smile.gif

Today I'll probably pick up a medium set (unless I see some really interesting looking set of strings..all I've seen at my local music store are boomers and some fender flatwounds) in order to get a bit fuller sound..to compliment the nice fat low end of my new Ampeg BA-115. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/smile.gif

I used Rotosound Swingbass for years but tried Elites Nickel 40-100's a couple of years ago and have used them ever since.
Had one dead E over about 10 sets which was replaced by post with no hassle.

For roundwounds I use Ernie Ball Super Slinky. Not the most expensive string, but they do have a "sound" that I seem to like.
For flatwounds I am currently using Thomastik-Infelds. I put them on one of my Jazz basses over a year ago and they still sound awesome! They're kind of pricey, but they will last you about 2 years. I've also tried the Rotosound flats and those are good too.

DeanMarkley Extra Slinky or Super Slinky

sorry this is more of a test but...
Sure Do like my Fender Flat Wounds so far..
Just bought some Tomastics getting ready
to String them up when i set up my new fender MIM jazz in a few.

Hi folks, new guy here. I'm looking for info on strings for FRETLESS bass. I just got a Wal 5 string fretless, and the previous owner had some very light strings on it. I think the low B is only a 110. In spite of the light guage, the tone and playability is surprisingly good.

I'd like to get a bit more tension, and wondering if anyone has comments on strings for fretless.

Another issue I'd like to address is the sound I get as I "fret" a note, while going from a note on an open string. Seems like I get a "slapping" noise, that may be entirely bad technique, but I'm hoping different strings may help. Comments and suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

I have been using Roto sound swing bass in a medium 45-105 for the past 5 years. I do go through 2 sets per month, but never have them brake.
However GHS boomers, peavey and fender strings brake on me every time I touch one.

2 down 55 air conditioning blows!

Carvin 45-105. Same gauge Boomers when the Carvins are late in arrivng. (Don't you just hate when that happens!)

I'm surprised no one else here uses Carvins. They're bright, long lasting and good for just about any application.

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Can You See The Real Me?

Carl Thompson rounds, Fender flats, Thomastik flats.

I really like Markley Blue Steels, but I have only tried about 1/3 of the strings out there. So, I've got a ways to go, and a lot of dough, before I can give you my top 5. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/smile.gif



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...Must...Make...Calluses...Harder!!!

Everyone is using the string that the maker {of the package they came in}, wants you to think you are using.......

D'Addario Prisms 45-100. I have a set of Elixirs on my fretless p-bass and have not been impressed. Granted, perhaps I'm using them in an application for which they were not designed, but they were free so what the hell. At this point, even though I don't slap a lot with my band, I prefer steel to nickel.

MTD's on the 6-string and GHS on the jazz. I LOVE new strings!

MTD's on the 6-string and GHS on the jazz. I LOVE new strings!

MTD's on the 6-string and GHS on the jazz. I LOVE new strings!

On the recommendations of people at this site and others, I put a set of DR Sunbeams 45-105 on my Washburn XB-900, and they feel/sound great. They're zingy without being too bright, and the tension across all four strings is remarkably even.

On the recommendations of people at this site and others, I put a set of DR Sunbeams 45-105 on my Washburn XB-900, and they feel/sound great. They're zingy without being too bright, and the tension across all four strings is remarkably even.

I'd have to agree that that the slow wounds are the best "All around" strings. Since I've bought an MTD I prefer the MTD strings. They're real snappy for slapping & popping, and after some wear in they're good for everything that I do. I havn't gotten around to putting on some slow wounds yet...

Cheers! Adam

I've been using Ken Smith Medium or Medium Light roundwounds for 5-6 years on my Ric 4003. Since May, I've been using them on my Ken Smith BSR4M.

Depends on the bass, and my mood.

On my MB2 fretless I use LaBella black nylon flats. That bass uses a piezo, though, not an electromagnetic pickup. I didn't like the LaBella's so much on my old Jazz bass.

On my P bass I either use Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats, which are the world's most exeptional bass string, or DR Hi-Beams, which are the sanest roundwounds for me.

Andy

I've been using Smith Rock Master's Heavy guage for years. I'm not to fond of nickel strings and these keep a nice meaty tone for a long time. I tried a set of D'Addario Prizms once and they lost it after about three practices.

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Chris Marye
Slewhounds

I used GHS Boomers for years but when I got an MIM Jazz it had Fender roundwounds. I liked the Fenders. I have them on my RB5. I recently got some Slowounds, though, so I'll be trying them out on the RB5 sometime in the future.

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Ciao
Mike

I agree with Chinguru; I had a similar experience with MTD strings.

I have used Ken Smith stainless steels, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, DRs, and GHS for years. When I bought my MTD 535, it came with MTD stainless steel 45-65-85-105-135. At first, I thought that they were OK (average), and I was looking forward to changing back to my usual brands. Then, after a few weeks I realized these MTD strings are great. They have a great sound and tone, the tension is just right, you get a punchy B with balls, and they last. I heard that they are made by GHS to Michael Tobias's specs.

GHS strings kick ass !!!! plain and simple.. you get your money's worth !

I use 5 String Fender Nickelplated Steel Roundwounds .4-.115

Ernie Ball Slinkys .45-.65-.80-.100

right now on my bass i have some ernie ball super slinkys 45-100. but i just bought a pack of GHS boomers just wanted something different. i havent been playing that long so i havent played many kinds of strings so i have long ways to go for commenting on strings.

heard that DR strings last a long time. is that true?

I finally put some D'Addario Chromes on the G&L (45-100). I am quite pleased so far. I never cared for the Half-Rounds before; they lacked presence. The Chromes are even, punchy, and very lively. It's too bad that GHS doesn't make the Brite Flats in .100 E gauge anymore; they may have lost a loyal customer after 20+ years.

I want to buy DR strings. i play slap. Are they best possible strings for slap does anyone know?
What is better Sunbams or Lo-riders?
I know that Sunbams are Nickel Plated Round Core and Lo-riders are Stainless Steel Hex Core strings. On DR page (http://www.drstrings.com/LoRider1.htm) they say that Lo-riders are for slap, pop and tapping. But many people here on Talkbass said that Sunbeams are the best, but what is better for slap steel or nickel?

Hey everyone, check out my comparitive review of about 5 strings under "Growly Nickels?" - I put some effort into it, but noticed not too many people checking it out.

anyways.

For me:

TI Superalloys
D'addario XL's