Best string for rock player who likes to dig in

basschrs · #1 08-21-2010, 07:40 AM

I play mostly modern alt rock fingerstyle with my Musicman 5 string 'Ray, and I am using the stock Ernie Ball strings that came with it. However, lately I have been noticing that I tend to really dig in on many of my bands songs live to get a more aggressive tone that I like, which creates a "popping" noise on open strings (mostly the B, E and A string) or a "pop-rattle" on some fretted notes, which is a sound I don't like.

Now, I suppose I could play with a lighter touch, but I do enjoy the sound of digging in. Is there any string that would give me a growly punchy tone out of the box, but be more friendly to my playing style? Also, I run the stock gauges 45 - 130 slinkies that came with the bass, would the lighter 40 - 125 gauge slinkies help with this problem?

Thanks in advance

funkybassinator · #2 08-21-2010, 07:46 AM

no, lighter gauges would make the problem worse. Try steel DR lo-riders. they're stiffer, bright, and very good sounding. if that doesn't resolve the problem, you might want to set it up with some higher action, just to alleviate the fret buzz.

**Lazarus.Bird** · #3 08-21-2010, 07:48 AM

I play very similar when I do both metal for an aggressive tone and stoner blues for a percussive sound to establish more presence.

I've been using D'Addario XL Nickel Wounds. Love the sound. Highly recommend giving them a try.

Oh and I use medium lights, even when downtuned to C. Surprisingly works very well.

WhiteKnuckles · #4 08-21-2010, 08:20 AM

You wouldn't happen to be smacking those open poles on the pickups would you? I know I will if I dig in too hard.

I just lowered my pups a bit and it goes away, and actually sounds better.

Edit: As far as strings go...try a set of DR HiBeams sometime. They are chock full of sizzle.

livinglow · #5 08-21-2010, 08:21 AM

Matched tension strings might help as well as lowering the pup about an 1/8"

Disco Batman · #6 08-21-2010, 08:26 AM

I'm gonna say DR Lo-Riders as well if you really like to dig in.

**lowendfriend** · #7 08-21-2010, 09:25 AM

For flats, try Daddario Chromes....pretty "dig-in-able" strings.

knuckle_head · #8 08-21-2010, 11:17 AM

Balanced tension sets and a heavier B string - consider a .136 or .142 on bottom;

.142 .106 .080 .058 .043

.136 .100 .076 .055 .040

jasper383 · #9 08-21-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

Balanced tension sets and a heavier B string - consider a .136 or .142 on bottom;

.142 .106 .080 .058 .043

.136 .100 .076 .055 .040

+1

Heavier gauges in the lower strings will help.

Raise the action a bit, loosen the truss rod (very easy to experiment with the truss rod on Stingrays) a bit, as well.

4001 · #10 08-21-2010, 11:21 AM

ROTOSOUND Swing Bass RS 66LD

If you want that Jazz Bass to 'growl' you need these and you need to hit em' hard.
It's that simple, really.

joplin · #11 08-21-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybassinator

no, lighter gauges would make the problem worse. Try steel DR lo-riders. they're stiffer, bright, and very good sounding. if that doesn't resolve the problem, you might want to set it up with some higher action, just to alleviate the fret buzz.

+1 on all of this.

only thing I might add is I had a similar situation with digging in too deep - the steel lo-riders have more tension, less flop which reduced unintentional clank, especially on the B string.

45-125 or 45-130 would be my recommendation.

I went so far as to buy the individual 120, 125 and 130 strings from juststrings to compare what worked best for B. 120 was too light and lacked the low end I wanted. 125 is right on for finger style, 130 real nice for picking. I didn't get to use the 120 too much as it broke at the winder when putting it on the 2nd time. compensating for the 120's thinner low end muddied up the E and A strings too much.

.130 was darker than 125 (less highs) but the growl was still there. the upper mids are a little bigger with the 125. the 130 has fatter lows. Both sound great, just in different ways.

I use these strings on a ESP Surveyor 5 and ESP B405SM. These strings are also a decent substitute for Rotosound RS665 on a Thunderbird, but not as "piano" like. Way smoother than Rotos.

again, these were the DR Lo-Riders steel, ordered from juststrings.com.

Surly · #12 08-21-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

For flats, try Daddario Chromes....pretty "dig-in-able" strings.

I dig into my Chromes like I'm digging for fossils.

MysticMichael · #13 08-21-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybassinator

Try steel DR lo-riders. they're stiffer, bright, and very good sounding.

My thoughts exactly...

MM

JimmyM · #14 08-21-2010, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4001

ROTOSOUND Swing Bass RS 66LD

If you want that Jazz Bass to 'growl' you need these and you need to hit em' hard.
It's that simple, really.

what jazz bass? the op has a musicman.

basschrs · #15 08-21-2010, 09:41 PM

OP here, thanks for all the good info guys! I'm goona head over and try out the lo riders later this week, as this afternoon I tried everything, raising the action, loosening the neck tension, and lowering the pickups, nothing really worked. Finally I turned my bass up and the treble way down and got rid of most of it, so I'm thinking it might be just the nature of the strings responding to my digging in.

JimmyM · #16 08-21-2010, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basschrs

OP here, thanks for all the good info guys! I'm goona head over and try out the lo riders later this week, as this afternoon I tried everything, raising the action, loosening the neck tension, and lowering the pickups, nothing really worked. Finally I turned my bass up and the treble way down and got rid of most of it, so I'm thinking it might be just the nature of the strings responding to my digging in.

of course it is. all strings will rattle if played hard enough. very wise. even wiser would be saving your money and sticking to whatever you use. unless of course you want to experiment around, but i think you'll find the same results no matter what you use.

faulknersj · #17 08-21-2010, 09:57 PM

New ones. Period.

JimmyM · #18 08-21-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faulknersj

New ones. Period.

'splain, please. if he's digging in and trying to get rid of rattle from digging in, i don't see how new strings will help. if anything, they'll be brighter and rattle more.

faulknersj · #19 08-21-2010, 11:07 PM

Agreed Jimbo...sounds like a nut or tension problem. But in regards to strings...new ones...doesn't much matter beyond flats or rounds imo.

joplin · #20 08-22-2010, 12:30 AM

I re-read your first post... you'll get a pronounced sort of fret buzz if you angle the pick in a way that it pulls the string out (away) from the bass. Sorta like popping the string, but with a pick.

It was more noticeable as I got higher up toward the 12th fret.

I had to adjust my picking technique to reduce/eliminate it. I had to force myself to not move the pick with my thumb/fingers and use only my arm and wrist, and rotate my wrist a little so that the pick never pulled the string out, or pushed it in toward the bass.