Advice for P BASS please!

[thehiros]

I need to re-string my P-bass, it's a Fender copy, it's got a very authentic growl to it.

Anyway, I'm looking for a nice, crisp funk-tone all around, especially around the mid/highs, but still be able to get through a solid low-end punch. I've been using elixers on for a while and after the initial twangy-ness was gone, I was left with a fat, heavy tone which I disliked after a while (it mighta been good for Metallica, but not for me)

I was looking at the Rotosound funkmasters, and I was looking at Geddy Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dptj4dMuS1w
I know that's J-bass, but yeh...
What I really want is a Stingray and rock on but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon

While I'd love to go out and buy a few packs to try, I'm on a reaaaal tight budget, so any hints are welcome

[RobEmpire]

Originally Posted by thehiros

I need to re-string my P-bass, it's a Fender copy, it's got a very authentic growl to it.

Anyway, I'm looking for a nice, crisp funk-tone all around, especially around the mid/highs, but still be able to get through a solid low-end punch. I've been using elixers on for a while and after the initial twangy-ness was gone, I was left with a fat, heavy tone which I disliked after a while (it mighta been good for Metallica, but not for me)

I was looking at the Rotosound funkmasters, and I was looking at Geddy Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dptj4dMuS1w
I know that's J-bass, but yeh...
What I really want is a Stingray and rock on but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon

While I'd love to go out and buy a few packs to try, I'm on a reaaaal tight budget, so any hints are welcome

Try Dr's they have a great feel, last awhile, and have a great overall sound....i beleive markus miller uses these along with tons of other artist. Ive tried the rotosounds before and dont like the feel of them at all. They sound good after a couple plays with them but never liked the feeling.

[thehiros]

Cool, I'm looking at the Hi-beams, do they last a while?

[RobEmpire]

yea they def do....im playing and touring constantly and out of all the strings ive tried in the past 8 years of playing ive been playing these for a good 3 years straight now and i dont have to change them often at all. they always keep their brightness.

[thehiros]

Thanks a lot rob, I'll try them out

[SC Bassboy]

D'addario Pro Steels. Best. string. ever. (IMHO) lol. Seriously, great strings that last a long time and can be cleaned over and over. I bring tha' funk with them all the time. You can too.

[thehiros]

Oh yeh, D'addarios, I've tried their nickel ones before. Kinda rusted up on me pretty quickly (my hands sweat like crazy) XD
But I can't quite remember the sound I got, that was back when I wasn't so good at hearing out the sound of my bass

[Boomin]

Any broken in nickels work well for me. First choice is stock fenders.

[aledeville]

My pbass is crying for DR LoRiders, but the d'Addario EXL are good too (cheeper).

[JulienJeff]

I use DR hi beams and as said above, they keep their brightness very long and have a good tone, from the lows to the highs

[Nedmundo]

I have the DR Fat Beams on my G&L SB-2, and they might be exactly what you want. They are bright, but pack some low end slam too.

[thehiros]

Yeh yeh, I the fat-beams seem to have what I want! I think I'm going for them

[BuffaloBass]

For a slightly different sound ( less low-mid/more high clarity/a bit warmer) you might try DR Sunbeams or nickle Lo-Riders. The Lo-Riders are hex core and have more tension to them, I dig 'em a ton for slap/harmonics and diggin' hard in heavy rock but be advised you may need to tighten the neck truss a bit.

DRs last 5-10x longer than d'Addarios so the 30% difference in price is well worth it imho.

[dave64o]

For a "nice, crisp funk-tone all around" it sounds like DR Lo Riders would work for you. Like it says on the package, "Lo Riders <3 to Funk"!

I had SS Lo Riders on my previous Stingray and now have nickels on my current one and I love how they sound and feel (not floppy at all, I like higher tension). I never tried the Lo Riders on my Precision, which has always had flats on it, but I bet it would be interesting to shake things up and do a swap and try flats on the SR and rounds on the P.

[T. Alan Smith]

The P bass and the Stingray are similar in how a pipe organ is like a piano.

In other words- worlds apart.
What's your primary tone goal? Personally, I like flats or grounds on my P. When I grab it, I want the THUMP. On my fretted Stingray, I like a roundwound as I need the rich harmonics.
A happy medium I've found, and use on my fretless Stingray, are GHS Pressurewounds. You can try Ken Smith Compressors as well. Whichever set you go with, just make SURE you get the setup completely optimized for your bass. It will make all the difference in the world.

[darkstorm]

The rotosounds or GHS would be good choice imo. Or for brighter treble Dean Markley blue steel.