Can you reccomend a set of cheap strings? (<15)

[Infern0]

I just bought a set of Steve Harris signature strings. haven't got them yet. But, the way I see it, I cant afford to buy those on a regular basis. Can you recommend a good set for less than 15-20 bucks? An all around string would be nice, too. I am not much for slap and pop, but I would like to be able to showcase my ability if I need to.

[BadB]

Steve Harris strings are flats. Why would you ever need to change them?

[seansbrew]

Try Carvin strings, they are inexspensive and pretty decent.

[SuperSnake2012]

If you like rounds, you can get D'Addario XLs for $25 on MF. The pack comes with two sets of strings so one set of strings is $12.50. They are great sounding rounds IMO.

[JimmyM]

+1. That's what I use, too.

[PilbaraBass]

I use two types of strings...

1...D'Addario XL's...great strings at any price
2...LaBella Nylon Tapes (good price's available from Carvin.com) and you never have to change them

[SGT. Pepper]

Flats you could change once a year if you want, I know guys who leave them on until they break. If you want an inexpensive string then go with D'Addario XL Nickel rounds like the others said.

[Infern0]

D'Addario it is.I shouldnt have to change my rotosounds for a while, but when I want a good pair of rounds I will pick those up. I also saw Hartke or something like that. Any one have experience with those?

[Bass Below]

Carvin's Ebay store always has great deals. Here's a 3 pack for under $30 http://cgi.ebay.com/Carvin-4011-4-st...QQcmdZViewItem

[Jo6Pak]

When I was using rounds and needed cheap/decent strings, I always went for Darco (Martin) D9900L (40-95).

[WoodyG3]

I use Carvin strings and think quite highly of them. They are made by LaBella, and at $9.99 a pack, they are hard to beat. I also use D'addario XLs. They are a little "zingier" than the Carvins, and I get a little more finger noise. As others have said, they are a great deal when you buy the two-packs.

[PrecisionBass]

Why do you need cheap strings? You should be buying about a pack or two a year, unless you play four hour concerts every night.

D'Addario's nice, as are DRs. I used to use GHS but the sound faded too quickly for me.

[BassikLee]

Two sets a year????? Maybe if you use flats. I have just begun my life with flats on one of my basses. With rounds, if I am playing reguarly, I get about a week out of a set. I don't know if it is my body chemistry eating the strings, or the way I play, or what, but I can kill a set of strings quickly. That said, I was turned on to the Carvin strings a few years ago by a teacher in MD. I use them on most of my basses. They are a very good string, as said here before, made by La Bella. I do put DRs on one bass, but that has more to do with the 35" scale lenth/string through the body thing than any "sound" issues I have with the Carvin stuff.

HTH,

Lee

[pickles]

Fender nickels, Slinkys, and XLs are all very good and quite cheap.

[PrecisionBass]

Originally Posted by BassikLee

Two sets a year????? Maybe if you use flats. I have just begun my life with flats on one of my basses. With rounds, if I am playing reguarly, I get about a week out of a set. I don't know if it is my body chemistry eating the strings, or the way I play, or what, but I can kill a set of strings quickly. That said, I was turned on to the Carvin strings a few years ago by a teacher in MD. I use them on most of my basses. They are a very good string, as said here before, made by La Bella. I do put DRs on one bass, but that has more to do with the 35" scale lenth/string through the body thing than any "sound" issues I have with the Carvin stuff.

HTH,

Lee

Wow you do kill roundwounds quickly, I go throuh a set of roundwounds (maybe two if I can afford it) in a year.

[BassikLee]

Guilty as charged. When I was gigging three nights a week, I'd put on a new set Friday night. I'd have great strings Friday, good strings Saturday, and then by Thursday, nasty dead strings. That was with GHS Boomers, which were the best $/quality I could find at the time. Now, my cheap/decent stings are Carvins. I am not gigging as much as a player, so they do last longer. I will say DRs tend to last a little longer, but not much. Also, while my favortite "out of the package" strings are Smiths, I can kill a set of those in about an hour.....


Lee

[christle]

For cheap strings you can check out Fender, Ernie Ball and GHS. Another really good cheap set would be the Peavey Cirrus strings. They, IMO, compare favourably to DR strings. I also think you need to rethink your approach to pricing on strings. If you purchase a good set, instead of a cheap set, that last a good while they probably end up costing you less in the long run. The SH strings you purchased should last you a year or more unless you play a gig every single night of the week.

[Infern0]

Well, I just got my Steve Harris Flats... not too impressed. LOTS of fret buzz, seem very tight, and they don't have good sustain. I will keep with them for a few more weeks to see if they liven up, but not too happy so far...

[christle]

Originally Posted by Infern0

Well, I just got my Steve Harris Flats... not too impressed. LOTS of fret buzz, seem very tight, and they don't have good sustain. I will keep with them for a few more weeks to see if they liven up, but not too happy so far...

The fret buzz means you need to adjust the neck. They have a higher tension (also explains the tightness) than rounds so some adjustment is in order. As for the sustain...they are flats, which means the notes decay more quickly. They will never sustain the same as rounds.

[Gintaras]

my favorite best buys are the Sit's and the Dean Markeley Blue Steels