Bright strings that don't eat frets?

[pin_head_47]

I've spent the last two years or so playing with some stainless strings, including DR lo-riders and currently D'addario Prosteels. I really dig the tone from either of these, but I've run into a problem; the frets on my Ibanez are getting murdered by these things. I've had this bass for almost seven years now, and there was a bit of wear on it when I got it, but the fret wear in the past couple of years has been significantly more so then at any point since I bought it.

This is the only bass I currently play regularly, and hopefully it will be going in for a fret job soon. I like a string with that bright, deep-like-a-piano tone, but I don't want to kill my frets so quickly. Am I going to have to go nickel or is there another option? I like the feel of nickel more, but I don't know if it'll do the job.

[CElton]

I would say Elixirs if you want SS. The brightest nickels I have tried have been Sadowsky and SIT Rock Brights.

[Phalex]

Alloy 52 is fairly bright. Somewhere between SS and NI. Everly Strings makes B-52's and GHS Progressives are made form Alloy 52 as well.

You might see how those grab you.

[Greg O]

fedora makes a super bright string

[KJung]

You probably just need a simple fret dress (polishing and leveling). It takes a LONG time for stainless steel strings to dig into frets to the point where you need a fret relplacement.

That being said, DR Hi Beams seem quite a bit smoother, and the round core design is marketed as being 'easier on frets'. Who knows if that's true or not. They are my favorite string though, and they do feel smoother, more like nickel strings than typical stainless steel.

[Thangfish]

If, in fact, you DO end up replacing the frets, maybe you should consider SS frets.

[DavePlaysBass]

Sadowsky Blue Label Nickels are a bright option with a nice fat tone.

[BELLATOR]

DR HI-beams.

[pin_head_47]

Originally Posted by KJung

You probably just need a simple fret dress (polishing and leveling). It takes a LONG time for stainless steel strings to dig into frets to the point where you need a fret relplacement.

That being said, DR Hi Beams seem quite a bit smoother, and the round core design is marketed as being 'easier on frets'. Who knows if that's true or not. They are my favorite string though, and they do feel smoother, more like nickel strings than typical stainless steel.

I don't think they'll need a replacement; what I meant by a "fret job" was just a simple leveling like you suggested. Sorry if I wasn't very clear there.

I loved the lo-riders I was using for awhile but I went to the Prosteels because they were considerably cheaper. Anybody use the nickel lo-riders, and how do those compare?

[LDonnie]

DR Fat Beams, Marcus Miler litteraly claims they don't eat your frets and they sound very bright to me.

[iamthebassplayr]

Originally Posted by Thangfish

maybe you should consider SS frets.

Very few luthiers are willing to work with SS frets. They are a pain to work with. Many even very well respected and renowned bass makers won't touch them. But I'd be interested in them for sure both for fret wear reasons and some clank.

[NWB]

Originally Posted by LDonnie

DR Fat Beams, Marcus Miler litteraly claims they don't eat your frets and they sound very bright to me.

I totally concur with this.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by Phalex

Alloy 52 is fairly bright. Somewhere between SS and NI. Everly Strings makes B-52's and GHS Progressives are made form Alloy 52 as well.

So are GHS Boomer B-52's - which I've used and like.

Originally Posted by pin_head_47

I loved the lo-riders I was using for awhile but I went to the Prosteels because they were considerably cheaper. Anybody use the nickel lo-riders, and how do those compare?

I tried one set of the nickel Lo-Riders a few years ago. They were OK, but were a little too subdued for my taste - though lots of cats swear by them. I've since installed a set of Lo-Riders stainless steel, which I prefer for their superior definition and "zing" - although they're still not as clanky and metallic-sounding as ordinary SS strings - which is a good thing in my book. I'm surprised that any DR strings would be eating your frets, as even the SS models are considerably smoother in texture than conventional steels (i.e. Blue Steels, Rotosounds, etc.)

MM

[pin_head_47]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I'm surprised that any DR strings would be eating your frets, as even the SS models are considerably smoother in texture than conventional steels (i.e. Blue Steels, Rotosounds, etc.)

MM

Well, I've had the Prosteels on for awhile, so that could be where most of it came from. I just switched to them since I was a bit broke at the time and wanted to try something new. They seemed pretty good by comparison, but maybe I'll go back and try some Fat Beams instead. Does anybody know why these supposedly don't chew up your frets as much? I've seen Marcus' ads where he says this.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by pin_head_47

Does anybody know why these supposedly don't chew up your frets as much? I've seen Marcus' ads where he says this.

Yeah. It's because DRs are compression-wound - not roundwound in the conventional sense. Something they do in the process seems to slightly flatten and smooth out the surface of the outer wrap, so it's not as abrasive as it would be otherwise.

MM

[pin_head_47]

Hmmm... that's interesting. Is this anything like the "slow-wound" process that D'addario supposedly uses on everything now?