Best strings for recording (5 string SR)

MeestorEno · #1 06-14-2011, 02:31 PM

I am going into the studio soon and I want to get the best set of strings for recording. I have a 1990 musicman stingray 5. I love DR's but I am not sure how they will come across in the studio. We are going to mic my cab, which is a Bergantino NV 6X10 and Ampeg SVT-3, not sure what mic we are going to use. I was thinking either Macrus Miller 5 or Hi-Beam Medium with 120? I have recorded a number of times, but none this professional and never with a 5 string. Would the low frequencies come across better with 120 than 125 or 130? Thanks.

rockstarbassist · #2 06-14-2011, 02:38 PM

Why use anything different than what you're used to? Unless you want to sound different, which is only going to cause more headaches and adjustments on your bass and rig when you do press "record" b/c you won't be used to reaction your getting from the strings. There's no such thing as "bast strings evar" for recording.

MeestorEno · #3 06-14-2011, 02:40 PM

Well, I am wondering what gauge to go with for the B. I actually just got the bass and have not put a new set of stings on it. Is 130 the best to go with since it will be less "floppy" or should I go with 120/125?

rockstarbassist · #4 06-14-2011, 03:01 PM

There's way more that goes into it than gauges on whether or not it's "floppy" or not. With an EB/MM 5 you're gonna be solid no matter what. So again play what you're comfy with.
I tune down so I play with a .158 low B tuned to A and G, but in std. E I use a .135 low B. Also if it's new and hasn't been restrung, I definitely would have it set up and intonated (if you can't perform this yourself) before hitting the studio. All stringed instruments should so you're all properly setup.

capnsandwich · #5 06-14-2011, 03:09 PM

Just use what's on there. Any kind of nuances your strings will produce can be fixed in the mix down. Chances are your tone will be over compressed and so low in the mix that no nothing you do will make it sound better.

darkstorm · #6 06-14-2011, 09:07 PM

Use the same strings that you love for live play etc. No reason to think some other strings would sound better in the studio. Strings dont know if theyre being used on stage, in bedroom, or in studio. Lol.

MeestorEno · #7 06-19-2011, 03:30 AM

I put the stings I usually use on my old G&L (cuz like I said the SR5 is new) and I HATED IT. I put on DR Hi-Beams and it sounded like total crap. They were way to high and sharp. So now I am out $35, which is what I tried to avoid by posting this questions. IMO DR Hi-Beams and most stainless steel strings should not be used on a SR5. The bass is all ready pretty high with the maple neck and ash body. SO- I get to spend another $35 on DR Lo-Beam tomorrow. I want something that is going to give me the classic stingray tone. Steel strings would sound good on a P-Bass, but not on a 1990 SR5, at least not for what I want. Hopefully someone else will come across this thread and not make the same $35 mistake.

boriology101 · #8 06-19-2011, 03:52 AM

Classic stingray tone?
45w-65w-80w-100w-130w (Regular Slinky Bass #2836).

Btw, as the folks above mentioned, there's no right answer. every string is right for something when it comes to recording.

Jay2U · #9 06-19-2011, 05:22 AM

I'd never restring the instrument for this purpose. Just play your favorite strings, so you can completely concentrate on the playing. What I don't understand, is why you would want to mic your cab. There are so many ways to use the electrical signal. It also gives you the opportunity of exactly tuning the sound to your liking.

MeestorEno · #10 06-20-2011, 02:27 AM

My last post was a bit heated due to my disappointment of the Hi-Beams. I understand that a lot of people like Hi-Beams on stingrays, and my opinion is no more valid than anyone else.

My favorite set of stings was steel DR's. I just got this stingray last week and I needed to put new string on it since it had been sitting around for 20 years. But my regular set of DR's did not sound good at all (to me) on the stingray. I am going to put on Lo-Riders tomorrow and I will let yall know how that goes.

sandmann · #11 06-24-2011, 04:14 AM

i like ernie ball 045 - 100 (130) super slinkys best on my rays.

brand new strings can sound a litte bit too bright in the studio so keep the old ones just in case.

bassgod0dmw · #12 06-24-2011, 04:39 AM

Here's a stupid question. Have you done much EQing on the bass yet?

Stingray's in general are very bright sounding basses. If you're looking to tame that, I've found that flatwounds do a great job. Lo Riders are going to be pretty zingy sounding too. Nickel a little less than stainless...

BUT! I would not be making changes like this before going into the studio. It's just going to cause you problems. I would want to have all of these details ironed out long ago, so I know exactly what to expect. Especially if you have no idea what new strings are really going to sound like. You might love them, but you hate hate them...just like the last set of strings. I completely understand wanting to use a new bass in the studio, but do you have another that you are more comfortable with to use as well?

GBassNorth · #13 06-24-2011, 05:22 AM

I play an SR5 single buck through an Ampeg SVT-VR and Bergantino NV610 cabinet and the best string I've found for that mix is DR Black Beauties. They tame down the sizzle of the stingray pickups and quiet down some of the finger noise as well without resorting to the flatwound sound. There's a great thread running right now in the strings forum with lots of info on BlackBeauties. If you feel you need new strings, give em a try, I think you'll really love em.

dougjwray · #14 06-24-2011, 06:15 AM

Here's an album track that I played on a long time ago (14 years ago?!)... I used an early-'90s Stingray 5 with GHS Boomers (45-65-85-105-130), and went direct.

YouTube - ‪sloan wainwright-for my pride.wmv‬&rlm;

I would recommend using what you're comfortable and familiar with. It's hard to get a bad sound out of a Stingray, anywhere, any time, and your feel will be more important to focus on.
Use new strings, because the high frequencies can always be taken away when mixing, but it's good to have them there in the first place. Put them on the day before, so that they can stretch out, and stay in tune.
Good luck and enjoy.

dbhokie · #15 06-24-2011, 07:03 AM

I'm pretty sure the best string is Trilene 50 lb big game test.

LoveThatBass · #16 06-26-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBassNorth

the best string I've found for that mix is DR Black Beauties. They tame down the sizzle of the stingray pickups and quiet down some of the finger noise as well without resorting to the flatwound sound. There's a great thread running right now in the strings forum with lots of info on BlackBeauties. If you feel you need new strings, give em a try, I think you'll really love em.

Black Beauties are DR High Beams stainless with a thin coating which takes the edge off them. I like them on a P. Not familiar with the Stingray and what is best.

xUptheIronsx · #17 06-26-2011, 06:10 PM

pretty much every engineer I have worked with preferred strings that were broken in as opposed to brand new, but the make/gauge etc were irrelevant to them...

jallenbass · #18 08-26-2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougjwray

Here's an album track that I played on a long time ago (14 years ago?!)... I used an early-'90s Stingray 5 with GHS Boomers (45-65-85-105-130), and went direct.

YouTube - ‪sloan wainwright-for my pride.wmv‬&rlm;

I would recommend using what you're comfortable and familiar with. It's hard to get a bad sound out of a Stingray, anywhere, any time, and your feel will be more important to focus on.
Use new strings, because the high frequencies can always be taken away when mixing, but it's good to have them there in the first place. Put them on the day before, so that they can stretch out, and stay in tune.
Good luck and enjoy.

That sounds great.