What's your favorite strings on your SB2?

[Youngspanion]

I'm thinking of getting a set of TI jazz flats for my SB2. I like my stock strings that came with the bass but of course like a good little bassist, I am always thinking of evolving my tone and the playability of the instrument.

[roger winkler]

It depends on what kind of sound your looking for. I just put a set of the TI jazz flats on my SB-2 and I just love them. The more broken in they get the better sounding they get. They are pricey, but in the long run you won't be replacing strings for years to come. They are definately worth trying....IMHO.

[68Goldfish]

I like Rotosound swing66's. They are the ultimate in high end sizzle and grind, a perfect combination for the super aggresivness of the sb-2 IMHO. But, unlike the flats they don't get better with age. I like to have a new set once a month anyways.

[carlos840]

All my basses get the same ones, Rotosound Swing bass Nickel.
Really like their sound and texture and they last for ages...
Never tried any other brand of nickel strings and dont feel the need to.

[craigb]

I'm currently using 3 types of strings on my SB-2s:

TIJFs - on my fretless. I love the tone but want more tension on a fretted bass.

SIT Power Flats - groundwounds that are my answer to approaching the TIJF grunty tone on a fretted SB-2 with more tension. I'm even using the heavier set tuned BEAD on my Trib SB-2.

SIT Silencers - compression wound that give me more of the roundwound tone but with less finger noise. These are the ones in the most precarious position - I may try some other rounds or compression wounds in their place in the future (maybe some TI Power Bass if I'm feeling rich).

[TDR1138]

+1 on Roto Swing 66s...

[quickervicar]

DR Lo-Rider Nickels - warm grunt with a nicely articulate top-end. Top end stays crisp longer than others I've tried.

TIJF - great thump, a bit too old school for me. They stay on my fretless

Dean Markley Blue Steels - hollow, grinding snarl. I love them for certain applications

[TDR1138]

I actually tried the DR Lo-Riders on my SB-2 (love 'em on my Jazz and Ibby), but they just didn't growl enough for me on the SB-2. Or my L2k. I just keep coming back to Rotos on the G&Ls...

[Nedmundo]

I've been happy with GHS Boomers due to their slightly mellow high end, and relatively high tension that facilitates low action. They provide solid, basic tone that works on the SB-2.

But I'm looking forward to trying others. I love Dean Markley Blue Steels on my Fender Precision, and would like to try them on the SB-2. The low tension allows serious P-bass thump, but the inherent brightness prevents unmanageable boom, and they growl and ring like crazy.

[zuma]

I was about to give you a strong recommendation for a GHS set but in looking at their website I have realized that it's been a while and I forgot the name of the set (or the artwork on the package has changed considerably).

I THINK I really love the GHS Contact Core Super Steels. IF this is the right set it had a piano wire type contact at the bridge for only the E string. It made for a really loud and firm E string.

Someone out there help me out if this sounds right as I will be borrowing this SB-2 from my buddy over Christmas and I want to freshen it up for him with this set.

Good luck on your set. You probably can't go wrong with DR Sunbeams either!

[ljazz]

TI JF's sound great on my SB1 and SB2. I've also used DA Chromes, and those sound really good, especially if you tune down a half step. The tension becomes TI like then.

I'm not a great big fan of rounds with a split pup...... probably a bad memory thing... as it reminds me of the days when I couldn't afford a new set of rounds when needed, LOL.

Color me stupid, but after the several page thread on turning down the vol on the JB2's, I did some experimenting with my SB2. First, I've always backed down the vol to about 60-80% on the splitter (on the SB1 as well). But I was a/b' ing with my SB1, and it is just amazing how hot the split pup is on the newer SB2's (I think they mellow with age). I took and backed down the split pup to about 30/40%. At that point, both the SB1 and 2 tone and output started to match. The output is still a bit more than my jazz with both pups cranked. From that point, bumping around the single coil, you start to notice it's kinda like a "mid-shift". Very cool.... and with the splitter down that low, it really starts to sound vintage P.

Give it a try!

Ljazz

[saxofunk]

Mine came to me used with a set of Fender 7150s on it. I left that set on for a year and had no complaints, they aged quite well, so I replaced them with the same thing. There was a break-in period before they mellowed to the tone they will keep for months, maybe years. IMO these are perfect strings, I also fitted them on my other bass.

[pauldebass]

I've got 4 G&Ls and what works on one doesn't on the other and overtime I've figured what I use different basses for. once in a while i'll experiment. right now I'm trying a pair of steel Jim Dunlop strings on my L2000 that I normally use Billy Sheehan's sig Rotosounds. I did three tours opening for Billy (well actually Steve Vai) and he gave me some of his sets, they were much brighter then the Blue Steels I was using and opened up the bass more. I'm liking the Dunlops so far, not as gritty as the rotosounds and a little looser. Billy liked the stickiness of the rotosounds cuz it helped his finger tapping something I'm never asked to do...
for flats I like La Bella. I lot of folks don't cuz they're stiff compared to the D'Addarios or TIs.. but that works for me and what I use that bass (another L200) for which is old school country or swing blues.
that's just those two basses. I've been fortunate to try many strings and i settle on a couple that work for me. Bass Player used to do a comparison every year look up those articles

[saxofunk]

Originally Posted by pauldebass

Bass Player used to do a comparison every year look up those articles

There was an article in '04 called Wind Tasting that can be searched on Google, the bassplayer.com version no longer carries the comparison tables that were the core of the article. It looks like a couple private users had the foresight to archive it, though. FWIW I posted a thread on their editors' forum asking them to fix the online article and/or revisit the article with an update.

[zuma]

In a follow up to my previous post...IF you want an aggressive sound try GHS Progressives. They have a "contact core" E so you'll need to lower that saddle. I really dig them and you can find them for $20 easy. They last quite a while too.

[Spiritfield]

I've liked TI jazz flats w/ MFD's for a long time.. Had a burst SB-2 once upon a time that sounded great w/ them. My L2K is currently wearling Sadowsky flats, and I like 'em A LOT. More tension than the TI's ('course that's not difficult ), really strong fundamental, a little less "mellow" to my ear, but still enough thump when you want it. I've not used them on a split coil or single coil MFD, but they sound really good w/ the big 'bucker MFD's..

[ljazz]

I haven't tried the TI JF's on my L2K, but the SA's sound incredible on it. In fact, I was about 2 seconds from selling it until I put them on. Prior to that, it was wearing SS Loriders, which really made it too boomy on the bottom, and kinda compressed sounding on the top...... I tried everything to rectify it... knob /switch combos, pup/ pole height... but none of fixed the problems. The SA's took care of it, and now I'm playing the L2K more and more. It's a great match up!

Maybe I'll try a set of SA's on my SB2 next.

Ljazz

[lmfreeman9]

L-2000 TI-JF
L-1000 TI-JF
SB-1 TI-JF
1983 SB-2 different pup config-DR Flats

The TI's tame the grind of the MFD's.

On the old school SB-2, I'm trying to add a little with the DR's which are stainless and brighter than the TI's

I also have a Fender P with an MFD split coil and LaBella FS produce great thump with less brightness

[Chef]

rounds:
DA XL 170, or SIT Powerwound nickel-both of which were stock offerings at various points.

flats:
labella 760FL

personally, I never liked flats with the G&L MFD P pickup: it tames it too much.

let that beast rip!