different strings for different basses

[HMZ]

I find I like daddario xl 165"s strings on my Fender mia jazz and Sadowsky
and SIT strings on my Musicman Sterling. My question is do you prefer different strings on different basses?

[lomo]

Definitely. Rounds are only for basses I slap. The rest get D'Addario Chromes.

[Risen Ashes]

Yes. I have been using DR Black Beauties on my Geddy Lee Jazz, I'm thinking of switching those to some LaBella Hard Rockin' Steels.

On My Ibanez SRX 700 I have been using Rotosound Nickel on Steel.

I'm going to try LaBella's on both basses and if I like the tone I get, I'll probably stick to one brand. But I agree that it's important to use certain strings to help bring "the life" out of a certain bass. In my case I think I'm finding "my tone and sound" and what I like which is humbuckers The Dimarzio model Js and the Musicman-style pickups on my Ibby. For this reason I'm trying to see if I can stick to one type of string for developing my sound.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by HMZ

My question is do you prefer different strings on different basses?

My answer is mostly, No - but there are exceptions.

6 of my 8 basses have flatwounds, and most of those are Labella Deep Talkin' Flats. If I had to live with one kind of string forever, Deep Talkin' Flats would it, and I wouldn't suffer.

On my fretless P/J special I wanted a different sound, so I installed Fender tapewounds:



On my Jazz, I left the factory roundwounds. They're 7 years old now and have tamed themselves down to where they're not so stinkin' bright. They provide a bit brighter option than the flats on my other basses, so I left them on. I won't replace them unless one breaks:



But if in doubt, I go for the Labellas.

[HELLonWheels187]

Bongo- SS low Riders
Fretless- Sunbeams
P Bass- Fat Beams

I'm searching for the string I like.

[r379]

My inclination is to use TI Superalloys but I'm trying DR Sunbeams on my newest Jazz. The Sunbeams aren't broken in yet so I'm not sure, but I'll likely go to TIs on the new bass too.

Nickel-wound D'addario XLs on the P bass at his time.

[pbass2]

I have different brands and types of strings (rounds, flats) on every bass I own(currently 8---not one sports the same strings). Different string age too is important to me. For example, one P keeps the ancient Labella flats on no matter what, while another has new Chromes. I keep a spare set of 8 year old well-worn flats as a spare just in case (though I've never broken one).
I also use various Rotos, DRs, etc. depending on the bass.
But if I HAD to pick only one string to use for everything, I suppose it would be Chromes, or Labella flats but I'd have to change 'em fairly often.

[DavePlaysBass]

Originally Posted by r379

My inclination is to use TI Superalloys but I'm trying DR Sunbeams on my newest Jazz. The Sunbeams aren't broken in yet so I'm not sure, but I'll likely go to TIs on the new bass too.

Nickel-wound D'addario XLs on the P bass at his time.

To my ears, the Sunbeams are sort of refined. Not in a dark way but just sort of get lost in a band setting way. The XLs have a distinct sound especially when new that is sort of in your face, with a nice bite. The Superalloys to my ears are more old school but with a hell of a low mid punch that can really propel a band. I dig them, but was a little concerned about the perceived lost of high end. But after a few gigs, I knew I had a good string for the Sadowsky. I think TI flats have something special going on and the same type of quality carries over to the Superalloy IMO. Its the rounder, stiffer variation on a great theme. YMMV.

As for the thread topic, I like different strings on different basses. TI flats on my 61 Fender J. Rounds on my Sadowsky RV5 with a recent change from HR Steels to Superalloys. I am looking for a good string on my Tribute G&L L2K (still looking). And will need to find something nice to for a 50s P that's on the way. I can't decide if I want steel, nickel, or flats on it.

DAve

[pbass2]

[quote=I am looking for a good string on my Tribute G&L L2K (still looking). DAve[/QUOTE]

On both a Trib and a US L2500 (both with maple boards), after trying everything from Chromes to Rotos to XLs, I landed on nickel Lo-Riders as a great match for that bass, FWIW . . .

[DavePlaysBass]

Originally Posted by pbass2

On both a Trib and a US L2500 (both with maple boards), after trying everything from Chromes to Rotos to XLs, I landed on nickel Lo-Riders as a great match for that bass, FWIW . . .

That makes sense. DA XLs and TI flats both worked great on my L-2500 (basswood with maple quilt / rosewood), but neither one did much for the ash / maple. Not thick enough.

Dave

[HMZ]

Originally Posted by HELLonWheels187

Bongo- SS low Riders
Fretless- Sunbeams
P Bass- Fat Beams

I'm searching for the string I like.

Have you tried SIT strings? You can find them on juststrings.com
I like the rock bright type in nickel 45-65-85-105

[stingray666]

Different strings sound different on different basses. - boy, did that make sense......- anyway, back in the 80's when I was touring full-time, I had a cadre of Rickenbackers, and no one string sounded the same on any of them. I have always maintained that Rick basses each have a 'personality', but one of them hated stainless steels, and wouldn't take anything but Boomers, one sounded dead with nickels, and loved Markley superbass, and of couse, the black '73- yeah, checkerboard/ toaster/ the really big pearl inlays/ Glenn Hughes looking- one refused all but Hard Rockin' Steels.

Point is, no one string is going to sound good on all basses. My measure of tone for a new member of the stingray666 team is to start out with good ol' D'Addario XL nickels. Those are pretty even across their frequency spectrum, and if the bass lack in lows, you can go to something with deeper lows- Pearse, LaBella. If you need more zing and less thump, Slinkys. A kick-yer-ass, ol' school rock tone, Boomers. If you need that sheen that only comes from stainless, I like to start with Fender stainless- really. They're cheap, sound like hyped-up nickels, and feel like DR's.

So what's everyone wearing right now? the '75 RI Jazz has Chromes- big old school vibe, and a surprising amount of top end- not Marcus, but more Anthony Jackson back when. The StingRay HH is wearing John Pearse 6000's, the Fender Cowpoke is still wearing the D'ad's- sounds good, so why not?- and the L2K is strung with Slinkys, although for classic rock gigs, it gets Boomers.

don't get caught in a rut by using the same strings out of habit. Listen to your bass and it will tell you what it wants.

Let your EARS be the judge.

[DavePlaysBass]

I have always thought DA XLs are a good starting point myself. And then go from there...

[Bobby King]

I definitely think that you need to experiment to find the best string for any particular bass. It can make a big difference in the sound and feel.

I use Sadowsky stainless steel on my Sadowsky 5-sring (maple board and JJ pickups)

D'Addario Chromes on my Fender Custom Shop Jazz 64 Reissue

Rotosound Swingbass 66 nickelwounds on my Tokai "Lawsuit" Hardpuncher P-bass. Sometimes I put on Labella or Sadowsky flats if I'm in a Motown mood.

[LifeIsBass]

On most of my basses I prefer DR Hi-Beams (Stainless).

For some reason I can't stand the sound of stainless strings on my Warwick Thumb. Too harsh and too much string noise. I prefer D'Addario nickels on that one. One of these days I'll try nickel LoRiders or Sunbeams.

[Mojo-Man]

Big yes.

My Percision gets TI Flats.
My Jazz, DR Sunbeams
My 5-string, Ken Smith Compressors.
My fretless, GHS Flats, or Compressors.

Nothing changes the sound of your bass, quicker than new strings.

[pbass2]

[QUOTERotosound Swingbass 66 nickelwounds on my Tokai "Lawsuit" Hardpuncher P-bass. Sometimes I put on Labella or Sadowsky flats if I'm in a Motown mood.[/quote]


I had a Hardpuncher--man, that was a good P-bass. Shoulda kept than one . . . . I have a few recordings where I used it and also a nice 80's Fender P and the Hardpuncher tracks kick more ass. had it strung with Roto Tapewounds and it sounded like Herbie Flowers in the 70's . . . .

[HELLonWheels187]

Originally Posted by HMZ

Have you tried SIT strings? You can find them on juststrings.com
I like the rock bright type in nickel 45-65-85-105

SIT? Is that short for something.

[Bobby King]

pbass2;4708646

I had a Hardpuncher--man, that was a good P-bass. Shoulda kept than one . . . . I have a few recordings where I used it and also a nice 80's Fender P and the Hardpuncher tracks kick more ass. had it strung with Roto Tapewounds and it sounded like Herbie Flowers in the 70's . . . .

I'll tell you, my Tokai Hardpuncher is the best P-Bass I've ever owned. People sometimes make fun of it's name "Hardpuncher" or doubt that a Japanese P-Bass Copy could be good, but it's a great bass! Mine is a sunburst - looks like a Jamerson '62. I've had a few other Tokais over the years and they've all been good, Ps and Js. Look for the 70's-80's "Lawsuit" models with the Fender shaped headsock. They're great bass bargains!

[Lorenzini]

Yeah, Sadowsky Nickels on my Lakland 55-02 for a tight B string, DR Hi Beams on my Fender J Deluxe for floppy J-bass-edness.