L2500 - which strings best?

[thegreenman555]

Hi Folks, I'm a UK-based aspiring L2500 owner & I've read that its hard to find strings long enough to string thro the body across all strings.

U guys got any suggestions?

Cheers,

Marc

[lovenotfear]

Originally Posted by thegreenman555

Hi Folks, I'm a UK-based aspiring L2500 owner & I've read that its hard to find strings long enough to string thro the body across all strings.

U guys got any suggestions?

Cheers,

Marc

dr high beams, d addario xl nickles that come on the bass, i would recommend a .125 b or less i have noticed on dr strings the .130 b is a little thuddy on the G&L L2500, or Ti strings, allot of people around here like those.

[scubaduba]

I don't want to hijack this thread but what about strings for a fretless l2500? My L2500 fretless should be here any day now.

Let's hear recommendations for both.

[thegreenman555]

those TI's look good to me for both - quality product produced with a similar ethos to G&L themselves. & with the right length for the StB.

[sunbeast]

All DR strings come long enough to string through the body, with D'addarios you have to buy a special extra-long scale set. Not sure about the TIs, but I'd find out for sure before buying as they cost alot of money! The TI Superalloys on my L2000 have about 1 1/2" extra length between the nut and the fabric- not sure if thats adequate extra length or not (the L2000 is obviously NOT strung through the body!). I really like the Superalloys for more of a warm, old-school kinda thump with a little more definition than flatwounds (and still fairly articulate after a couple months), but I'm considering going back to some more aggressive steel-wound strings again. The TIs have a really nice tension though (I should add that I tune my basses down a half step).
My favorites for my old L2500 were DR Black Beauties or DR Hi-Beams (Black Beauties are essentially just coated Hi-Beams, so they have less bite to them when new, but hold their sound for longer- and they look really cool!). I was using the heavy gauge set of both, and did not find the B string to be "thuddy"- you just need to make sure you get a decent bend in all the strings over the bridge (obviously more of a problem with the B and E strings). They can also be ordered in a tapered set specifically for string-through-body basses which helps with the B string issue (definitely reccomended if you go for the heavier gauge set), as the taper means that the part of the string that sits over the bridge is a smaller gauge than the rest of the string- which also helps get more accurate intonation on the heavier strings.

Karl

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by scubaduba

I don't want to hijack this thread but what about strings for a fretless l2500? My L2500 fretless should be here any day now.

Let's hear recommendations for both.

My L2500 is a fretless model. After going round and round, including a set of flatwounds, I've gone back to the D'addario EXL 170's on mine. The strings that came on it are 105's and they're just too frickin heavy. the 170's are 100's which are pretty much the right gauge.

The rounds will groove the fingerboard, but there's no other way, in my opinion. to get a good clean sound.

you have to get the "super long scale" sets if you want to be able to string them all through the body. The regular long scales are too short for the B and E to go through the boday and you have to top load those.

LS

[driftersinc]

I have DR Hi Beam on my L2500. I sent my bass for set up but was told that the strings are not long enough to be strung through the body!
I did research online before decided on Hi Beam to make sure it can be strung through the body, so perhaps it's the technician's fault?? I don't know...

[Timmay on bass]

Originally Posted by scubaduba

I don't want to hijack this thread but what about strings for a fretless l2500? My L2500 fretless should be here any day now.

Let's hear recommendations for both.

I haven't tried flats on my L2500 yet, but D'addario Super Long Half Rounds work great. I use 45-100 guage with the 130B string.

[tornadobass]

Ernie Ball regular slinky set in 5 string fits just fine...they sound good on that bass and play easily, too.

[francisl2500]

+ 1 for regular slinky with med guage and all through body, that makes a goog job at low cost.
Francis

[eastcoasteddie]

I pretty much stay with Regular Slinky's, I love 'em

[Randy S]

Nothing but DR for years.

[tehuti]

Originally Posted by Randy S

Nothing but DR for years.

Does anyone here use those DR coated color strings?

[Mistahbenn]

My tech is putting Rotos on at my setup, they are long enough to string thru, and only cost £10! Ill see how they play/sound/feel.