How do I get my Roscoe to 'zing'? Suggest strings..

[improvpwnd]

I fall in love with my SKB 6 everyday even more. My 8 month old Roscoe has only seen the original D'Addario EXL and the TI Jazz Rounds I have installed on her. The TI's are great and fed my hunger for low tension strings and they rock in a band setting! But now I have a hunger for some 'zing' in my tone...

I think the bass itself is a very warm sounding bass, but I also think it is capable of total zingy zen...think Jeff Schmidt. I have hesitant to throw on some steel strings for my fret's sake, but if that's what it takes...

Bubinga on Ash
Nordstrands powered by an Audere
Purpleheart board

I would like to keep a low tension feel and avoid steel if possible... what would you choose?

[Diego]

Hi Jon,

I just recently went through the same with my SKB3006. The advantage to your favor is the hard bubinga top and ash back (mine has a spalted/flame maple top on Spanish cedar) coupled to the Nords and Audere (I have Bart/Bart on mine). For what is worth, I tried Black Beauties and liked them, but they are a bit middy and not too 'zingy' IMHO. Thus I switched to Ken Smith steel strings. I am really liking them on both my Roscoes (my Century Sig VI has Nord/Audere like yours and a walnut top over ash with the wenge wedge). I find that these strings really brought out the top end with a tamed zing on both instruments (it is much more apparent on the SKB than on the Century) which I am enjoying. However, my feeling is that these strings are slightly higher tension than the Daddarios. I don't know about how hard are they on the frets yet, but they are surprisingly smooth for SS strings. I believe Jerry (TBer VroomVroom) has used them as well with good results. May be worth checking with him or waiting for him to chime in. I hope this helps...good luck with your quest!

Diego

PS. Given KS reputation here on TB I was a bit hesitant to get those strings, but so far I'm happy I took the plunge... MTD nickels are next on my list.

[improvpwnd]

Originally Posted by Diego

I find that these strings really brought out the top end with a tamed zing on both instruments (it is much more apparent on the SKB than on the Century) which I am enjoying.

Thanks Diego, this is exactly what I am looking for. I want to take advantage of the wonderful highs I KNOW my bass has..

Originally Posted by Diego

However, my feeling is that these strings are slightly higher tension than the Daddarios.

...but, I dig a low tension feel.

I am not too worried about my frets at this point, so maybe some low tension steel strings?

[Diego]

You could try DR HiBeams (I understand these are essentially uncoated Black Beauties). The BBs have definitely more of a loose feeling, which I dig, but rather a little bit stiffer strings. Maybe is the coating that throws their growl into a more tame mid/high-mid spectrum. I have not tried the HBs myself, but would think they would have more zing less mid inch-by-inch when compared to the BBs. A third option would be Elixirs. My friend Tommy (also a TBer and the Roscoe dealer for South America) digs them, and they too give some 'zing' but is waaaay tame when com,pared to the SS strings. Plus I don't like how they feel (they feel 'slippery' under my fingers), but you may dig them.

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by Diego

I switched to Ken Smith steel strings.

Putting Ken Smith strings on a Roscoe voids the warranty!



Just kidding .........

For adding zing I'd recommend some DR Black Beauties. Plus they'd look real good on your bass!

[improvpwnd]

You know what guys? Maybe the TI's I have on right now just don't have enough bite... they are realllly warm, 'unnoisey' strings. I think I get more highs out of flats on my maple body/fingerboard 'Ray than with TI Jazz Rounds on my Roscoe... seriously. So, I take back my steels comment (though a set might be exactly what I'm looking for)...maybe the right nickel set, like BB's, would suffice.

But I am still really torn on tension. How about Sunbeams? I hear round-core is less stiff than hex-core... so equal gauges Sunbeams and BB's would provide a looser feel with Sunbeams, yeah?

[Diego]

IME round cores feel 'floppier' than hex cores. I understand that BBs are indeed SS and not nickel, just coated. This is why I suggested HiBeams. I have not tried SunBeams, but judging by the posts all over the web, the you can't go wrong with DR strings quality-wise...may just need to test the waters and find the right set for you.

Jome77...trust I thought twice before going with KS strings on a Roscoe, and even more so acknowledging it on TB...would the Roscoeheads find it in their hearts to forgive me ...anyway they are cool strings (at least for the time being)...

[VroomVroom]

I use the Smith as 'backups' whenever MTD (cough Markley cough) strings are unavailable. The Smiths are very smooth for SS, but certainly have that zing. I've heard really good things about MTD nickels, although I haven't tried them myself. The zingiest low-tension strings I've ever tried are Foderas. Honestly, they felt like rubber bands to me, so they came off quickly. Good luck - that's a really beautiful instrument you've got there.

[Halftooth]

The lowest tension, brightest strings that I've tried with success on a Roscoe have been the Zon Ultrasonics Light SS sets.

A close runner up is the DR, but if you're looking for the loosest tension and brightest string, I'd say the Zon was a notch above in that comparison.

[improvpwnd]

Originally Posted by Halftooth

The lowest tension, brightest strings that I've tried with success on a Roscoe have been the Zon Ultrasonics Light SS sets.

A close runner up is the DR, but if you're looking for the loosest tension and brightest string, I'd say the Zon was a notch above in that comparison.

Which DR specifically? This thread is being taking over by Nor-Cal/Bay Area inhabitants!

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by improvpwnd

Which DR specifically? This thread is being taking over by Nor-Cal/Bay Area inhabitants!

halftooth's probablly referring to the Hi-Beams .......

You guys do carry on some good discussion on the forum while us southern boys and girls are sleeping!

[Fishheadjoe]

I too, was looking for more zing recently and have been happy with the Hi-Beams I put on just over a month ago.
Nice sizzle and clear ring to them. String tension feels similar to me anyway to the stock strings the bass came with.
Only complaint I mighthave with the High Beams is that they don't seem to last as long as I'd like. They seem to be getting duller by the day.
Fishheadjoe

[Big Mother]

I would recommend checking out DR Sunbeams, low tension feel and pretty bright (IMO) for a nickel.
I liked them a lot, but they felt just a little too low tension for me.


BM

[Halftooth]

Originally Posted by improvpwnd

Which DR specifically? This thread is being taking over by Nor-Cal/Bay Area inhabitants!

DR Hi-Beams were initially the ones I was thinking of in the zing catagory.

Other DR's that I'm a fan of are the Fat Beams, Black Beauties, and the Sunbeams.

I go back and forth on whether I like the Fat Beams or the Hi Beams better, but they're both bright and have a nice low tension feel.

The Black Beauties have a nice low tension feel and a decent amount of zing considering they're a coated string. They also last for a really long time, and when I say a really long time, I mean it.

The Sunbeams, while a NP string, they are decently bright bright and have a nice tension feel.

I guess the best value out there would be the Black Beauties, and, as Joe mentioned, they do look very cool on the bass. They're also pretty good on the frets, so this might be a string to take a look at.

I also have a Bubinga/Ash bodied Roscoe...we NorCal people must think alike!

[lwrthnwhalepoop]

I use DR Sunbeams exclusively on my fretless SKB Spanish Cedar-bodied sixer with stock Roscoe Barts, and they give me a little bit more clarity. I don't think I'd call it "zing" but with the Spanish Cedar body it's as bright as it I could expect it to be and, lucky for me, just the right sound. I've got another Roscoe that's ash with a maple fretboard that's plenty bright and pingy if I need that sound.

I like nickel strings all around. I really wanted to like Black Beauties but they had a "sticky" feel I couldn't get past. Same with any steel string I've tried lately, which includes the DR Hi-Beams.

You know what they say - "Once you go nickel, your hands get fickle." Or at least mine have.

Originally Posted by improvpwnd

Thanks Diego, this is exactly what I am looking for. I want to take advantage of the wonderful highs I KNOW my bass has..



...but, I dig a low tension feel.

I am not too worried about my frets at this point, so maybe some low tension steel strings?

[lowfreqman]

I use Sunbeams too. While they are a little less bright than Hi-Beams, they are more comfortable on the hands and tend to retain their bright character much longer.

[coyoteboy]

Hey, I don't recall if we actually swapped SKB-6's at the GTG, but mine had (and still has) Sunbeams on it. Bright enough for me for sure, though admittedly, I believe i have one of the brighter Roscoes. I've wanted to try the BB's, but I'm wary of moving away from a string that works so well for me and lasts a long time.

I tell you what. If you buy the Sunbeams and don't like em, I'll buy em from you. How's that? I think I'm due a fresh set anyway.

NorCal Roscoe!

[improvpwnd]

Originally Posted by coyoteboy

Hey, I don't recall if we actually swapped SKB-6's at the GTG, but mine had (and still has) Sunbeams on it. Bright enough for me for sure, though admittedly, I believe i have one of the brighter Roscoes. I've wanted to try the BB's, but I'm wary of moving away from a string that works so well for me and lasts a long time.

I tell you what. If you buy the Sunbeams and don't like em, I'll buy em from you. How's that? I think I'm due a fresh set anyway.

NorCal Roscoe!

Hey man! Yeah, we did swap at the GTG... or at least I remember playing yours. I recall your tone having a nice top end bite that mine was lacking (even though my TI's were a day old then!) I actually put in an order for Sunbeams (w/ .125 B) last week. I hope I like them, but if I don't I will definitely let you know--do you use the .125 or .130 B set?

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by lowfreqman

I use Sunbeams too. While they are a little less bright than Hi-Beams, they are more comfortable on the hands and tend to retain their bright character much longer.

I like the feel, and tension of these string a lot.
They break in nice.

[coyoteboy]

been wanting to try the .130, but I've been using the standard .125.

I bet you'll like 'em.