Hi all!

I wonder how important it is to choose the right strings is case of feel, tone, playabillity etc. (I have only played one set of strings yet. Its the original-strings that came with the bass.)

cheers Ulf

I think it is very important, especially as bass strings cost so much in the UK.
Many times I have tried a different make to my usual, only to take them off again after the first gig.
It makes me a bit reluctant to try different makes.
I have settled on Elites professional nickel series for a few years now and am happy with them for both playability and sound. Saying that, I bought a new Fender recently and the factory strings are great, the first Fender strings I’ve liked.
I’m also sure there are plenty of other makes out there that I would like, but I am too worried about changing my sound for the worst to take the risk. I am going to try Bruce’s favourites soon though, D'Addario SlowWounds as he swears by them.

I use Ernie Ball strings, but if they are not available I will use another brand, as long as they are nickle or nickle-plated.

I try not to worry about it too much!

When I first started playing bass...I was told that the best improvement you can make to you bass....is also the cheapest.....the Strings. And that has proven to be right.
Every bass...AND player has it's own characteristics and should find a set of strings to bring out the best in both.
It is often trial and error, but well worth the effort.

Originally posted by frost13
When I first started playing bass...I was told that the best improvement you can make to you bass....is also the cheapest.....the Strings. And that has proven to be right.
Every bass...AND player has it's own characteristics and should find a set of strings to bring out the best in both.
It is often trial and error, but well worth the effort.

Absolutely, could not agree more, etc.:D Strings can really alter the sound of a bass and greatly affect the playability. This is, however, highly personal. The same strings that make your bass suck (to you) could make someone (who prefers those strings) else's heart soar. For the most part I don't think there's much actual "bad" gear out there, just bad fits.

[Edited by Brad Johnson on 09-08-2000 at 12:43 AM]

Brad's words of wisdom......

"I don't think there's much actual "bad" gear out there, just bad fits."

I think that sums it ALL up perfectly!

String choice is important to me. Lately, I have been using DR's (both Hi-Beams and Lo-Riders) on my Fenders. But when I put Hi-Beams (stainless) on my Sadowsky (used, but new to me!), the strings were way too bright. I put a set of cheaper GHS Boomers (nickel-plated) on it and they sound great. The more expensive bass sounds better with the cheaper strings...Go figure.

I consider string shopping and comparisons part of the fun. It's too bad it has to be so expensive for us bass guys!

yours,
Craig

Thanks, frost:D

...check's in the mail.

Finding the right strings for you...can make you think that you have a brand new bass. It makes ALL the difference!

I can't see how some people don't think of strings as the most vital choice. The right brand name can make you play better, but most important, i think the right gauge can make you play much better.

I look back at the years when i only used Dean Markleys and i say "what was i thinking??" :)

I couldn't agree more. A brand of string that sucks on one bass may soar on another. And there are variances even within the same manufacturer. I went through several brands before settling on DR Sunbeams, which fit my Carvin like a glove (and were recommended by another Carvin owner here). Just to be sure, I ordered a set of Lo-Riders a few weeks back, and gave them a shot (by the way, since I only change strings every 6-8 weeks, I go to the trouble of threading them through the body vice cutting them off. The old set then becomes my spare). The Sunbeams were back on within 48 hours, and the Lo-Riders are riding the pine. Even though the Sunbeams had been sitting on my bass for two months (although there was only a coupla weeks playing time on 'em), they sounded MUCH better. And now that after a year of experimenting, I've finally got the mix right, I can order in bulk and same myself some postage.:D

I agree the strings set the feel for the instrument and different strings work better on different basses.
:)
I do think the DR sunbeams work the best for me. I tried D'addario XLs and some Blue Steels and went right back to the DRs.
However on my P-bass I use D'addarrio Chromes and they fit the sound of that bass perfectly.

-KB

String types are often dictated by your style and type of music. It does make a lot of difference what you choose.

My personal favorite is flat wound Pyramid Golds but you will have to take out a bank loan to buy them, quality costs.

Smoke um if you got um!

Kilo Bravo,

I hadn't seen you on here lately (ya lurkin' b@st@rd!) so I didn't want to mention you by, uh, initials. You da man!

Sure I have my favorite brands, but I try not to get caught up in being stuck on one particuliar brand. My approach to strings, is with an open mind. I like to try out as many different brands as possible. Usually I can adapt to the feel of different strings, but I always prefer a certain sound from them.

I change my strings at least once a month. I do not buy name brand strings at all. Too expensive. I buy either Carvin strings (3 sets\$33), or Rogue strings ($6 a set). I do, however, make sure that they are nickel, and that they are the correct guages.

Woofy out!

Originally posted by Doug
Sure I have my favorite brands, but I try not to get caught up in being stuck on one particuliar brand. My approach to strings, is with an open mind. I like to try out as many different brands as possible. Usually I can adapt to the feel of different strings, but I always prefer a certain sound from them.

Unfortunately, experimenting with bass strings can EXPENSIVE!$!$ Nothing like putting a new brand on your bass and immediately realizing they suck on that bass.

:visionsoflittledollarsignswithwings:(

Depends on the gig and the amp as well as the bass. I have recently found that I can only get away with gigging with my 50 watt Ampeg if I have Thomastik Infeld jazz flats on the P bass. Roundwounds just disappear in the mix.

Just for the hell of it, here's the strings I have tried over the past couple of years and brief very subjective thoughts:

Slowound D'Addarios - nice and warm and growly but the sound is too shapeless with a low powered amp. Also the E string seems to die very quickly IMHO.

Darco - Ha ha ha!

DR Hi Beams - The best roundwounds for Fender basses I have ever played. Love 'em. Keep their tone for ages, and no need to dial out unwanted boom.

Bass Boomers - Good strings, but a bit too boomy for my needs.

LaBella black nylon tapewounds - Lovely sound. Great on my Rob Allen. A very lively sounding string, but doesn't quite have the power of th Thomastiks.

Dean Markley - Non descript.

Rotosound - great sound but bye bye frets. Seriously, the most abrasive string I have ever played.

Fender - next question please. I do not understand how a company can make such great basses and such lousy strings. Dreary sounding roundwounds. Try their flats for the ultimate in toneless thud. Like unsalted rice.

GHS pressure wounds. - Died in under a month.

D'Addario XL - seem to last longer than the Slowounds, but are very mediocre sounding I find. Interesting that a company who make, IMO, one of the best sets of phosphor bronze acoustic strings, and damn good electricx strings make such disappointing bass strings.

Thomastik infeld. - Superb, utterly unequalled strings. Great penetrative power...don't get lost in the mix. They rock. They are cool. They are killer. Downside? They take a couple of weeks to settle in, have a tension that feels weird initially and feel a bit sticky. No doubt rounds are easier to play. But TIs do last forever(easily go on for well over a year) and the sound is just incredible.

Andy

I always enjoy the "Darco" posts because it really exemplifies what I'm talking about. I've used them on my MIA Jazz Deluxe 5 and have gotten tons of compliments on my sound. They're Nickel, they have a reasonably smooth feel and on the Deluxes, shined when played live. I haven't recorded with them so far.

Let's see... even string-to-string response, low (at the time) price, the sound I wanted...lasted a long time...yep, they suck;)

I currently use Thomastik-Infeld PowerBass Nickel rounds on my passive Jazzes with excellent result. Ken Smith Burner Nickel rounds on the Zon fretless (I've been told this can't sound "warm" by people on the web...but they do;)); Martin Darco Nickel rounds on the L2000E and the Tobias 5, and Lakland Nickel rounds on the Lakland (excellent strings and inexpensive, too).

The strings I don't happen to care for are in fact the ones most people seem to prefer. I don't like SS or any version of flatwounds (brite flats, groundwound, pressure wound, hand tossed, etc.). I came to this conclusion from trying them myself, which really gets old. I'm glad I finally figured out what I like.

Yup, well I am clearly a sucker misled by the fact that Darco are cheap and have no depth or character to the tone. I was obviously trying the wrong type of Darco.

Cheap is cheap.

And I trust MY ears rather than the compliments others give me on the tone...

:)

andy

Originally posted by Andy Daventry
Yup, well I am clearly a sucker misled by the fact that Darco are cheap and have no depth or character to the tone. I was obviously trying the wrong type of Darco.

Cheap is cheap.

And I trust MY ears rather than the compliments others give me on the tone...

:)

andy

As usual, given the opportunity to take something more than one way, the negative connotation is chosen. Big surprise:D

Small words this time... I said the same strings that suck for some work for others.

I was not saying you were wrong or a sucker, Andy, just that personal tastes vary. Is that an offensive statement?

That is why I said I enjoy the Darco posts, there does not seem to be any middle ground...people love them or hate them.
It does not mean I know what I'm doing and you don't. It does not mean my opinion is any more valid than yours. It simply
means, in this case, you don't like them and I do... nothing more than that, yet they are the same strings:rolleyes:

This exemplifies (sorry) my point:D

BTW the compliments I mentioned were from other musicians and contractors and not just bassists (if addition to audience members/listeners). When some of these people are in a hiring position, their opinion "does" count. If "I" didn't like the sound to begin with it would be a moot point...I thought that was obvious. Sorry for the "confusion" ;)

To me they are really important, especially because I'm a college student with a limited budget. Right now I have some Fender Super Bass 7250s on my 5 string, and I really don't like them that much... they are really to twangy and almost make my bass sound like a guitar (which to some people might be a good thing).

These are handmade string made by a guy over here in England. They are very competitively priced, can be any guage I like and can be made up and shipped to me in a couple of days.

I like really heavy hybrid sets (140, 115, 85, 65, 45).

If anyone's interested, reply and I'll post a contact number for them.

Ok,

I'll bite... Strings ain't all that important! I would hate to be the kind of guy who would think his gig would be hampered by not having the most wonderful strings I ever played. I don't believe the pioneers of our field had half the fancy crap we 'need' today. Hmm shall I go shopping or practice?

There are so many varieties of really good strings available. Having just the right ones is a ridiculous proposition. Why worry, just do it. As long as they are fairly new, clean, and stay in tune, I'm in get happy mode.

I do have fretless though, so I try to stay away from round wound strings. This is more for the preservation of the instrument than anything else.

I do think it is important to be comfortable with your setup, but that’s more psychological that most of us will admit.

j

You're right about the pioneers. That was then. If you have no choices you can't make choices :D That's why we walked to school ...uphill...both ways, back then. Now we drive jet cars.

Given that, do you think the differences in strings is psychological or real? If indeed they are different, then they can make a difference.

I personally am not saying I can not play a bass with "X" strings on them but since I don't "have to", like the pioneers, I choose strings I like. Just as there are differences in strings there are differences in the way strings sound on different basses. That's not psychological either...or is it? ;)

As far as "wonderful" strings, something makes them wonderful, right? Would wonderful not be more desirable than dull, inconsistent, rough, etc.? Yet less than wonderful should make no difference? This isn't home carpentry, where the concern is the finished product, it's instantaneous response from a musical instrument.

[Edited by Brad Johnson on 09-12-2000 at 01:46 PM]

BJ,

What can I say? With strings I'm not all that picky.

I guess whatever suits you if fine for you. I just have a problem going between good and great. It seems to me that something good costs about half as much something great but still does the job. What's the deal there? Perhaps my eyes are better than my ears. I can see the difference in the cash register lights that go up better than subtle tone differences.

Folks have opinions about stuff that’s cool, but to actually do a scientific a/b of the string without being subjective is impossible. A player's fingers let them know what's being tested. And through that door the preconceptions will creep in.

I trying to say I just buy nice strings, and be happy. If they are more slinking, or stiffer, or are bassier have more high end I just play them anyway. Sometimes its fun to have a little different feel - that’s me anyway.

I'll admit the first time I tried Some RotoSounds it was a real eye opener. That was many years ago. Since then I have used a many sets of strings with differing qualities. Most will do for most of the stuff I do.

Perhaps if I could find a string that will get me the best mate or drive my car home for me after a gig, I will be impressed, but no luck so far. It would be nice if I could find some that let me get away with a fancy riff right in the middle of a critical verse being sung. Those would be Super Sneaky Strings I suppose. Let me know if you find any strings that will let me play with more subtly or at least help correct all clams that come out of my bass amp. :)

I was honestly trying to address the question posted by the thread. "How important is "the right string- choice" to YOU? " --NOT VERY

jc

I've heard Thomastiks do all of the above, RJC;)

I'll admit I'm spoiled. There is no reason for me to have less than optimal strings on my basses...I try new ones and they either work or they don't. If they don't they're off immediately.

I used to use stainless steel strings but got really tired of the stiff feel and the overly bright sound. Could I still gig with them?...sure, but that would require an unsolicited visit from the string fairy:D

Originally posted by Brad Johnson

I personally am not saying I can not play a bass with "X" strings on them but since I don't "have to", like the pioneers, I choose strings I like. Just as there are differences in strings there are differences in the way strings sound on different basses. That's not psychological either...or is it? ;)


I find the same thing - last year my bass stopped working and I borrowed 3 or 4 basses in a few days to play. Now I could still play them, but I didn't "like" the strings used. Now the people whose basses I borrowed, obviously liked their strings, but they didn't inspire me and weren't right for me. If I didn't know any better strings existed, I would just get on with it and use whatever I had. But knowing that there are strings which feel a lot better and inspire you to play better; then it becomes a priority to use these and not be thinking all the time "I would sound much better if I'd strung with D'Addarios"!

chances are you didn't like their basses as much, either? setup, strings, feel, just about everything comes down to personal preference.

"just about everything comes down to personal preference."

Ain't THAT the truth! :D