Fender 5250XL and red fabric wrap

honeyiscool · #1 02-11-2011, 04:45 PM

I have a set of supposedly 5250XL strings on my Bronco Bass that came with the bass. I really like these strings and wanted a spare set, although I don't really plan on changing them, since I like the old string sound.

However, the set that's on my bass has red fabric wraps, and the new set does not. Does anyone know much about this and why this is?

Squier's website clearly says that they use 5250XL on this bass:

http://www.squierguitars.com/product...tno=0310902558

And all the promo pictures of the bass clearly have the red wrappings:

So what's the deal here? In any case, does the wrapping matter?

CapnSev · #2 02-11-2011, 04:58 PM

Fender has outsourced their strings to D'Addario recently. None of their strings have silks anymore.

honeyiscool · #3 02-11-2011, 05:06 PM

Has that changed the sound? I actually thought that D'Addario nickel roundwounds were terrible, which is why I'm trying the Fender instead.

CapnSev · #4 02-11-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeyiscool

Has that changed the sound? I actually thought that D'Addario nickel roundwounds were terrible, which is why I'm trying the Fender instead.

I think so myself. I'm not a D'Addario XL fan either. I think that they've done a good job retaining some of the Fender strings, but destroyed others.

jasper383 · #5 02-11-2011, 06:19 PM

The strings that come on a Squier or a Fender bass aren't always the strings that Fender says they are on their website.

The brand new, out of the box Squier Jaguar bass my Guitar Center has has strings with red silks, and they feel and sound a lot like Rotos. They are without question NOT the 7250 ML strings Fender says they are on the website.

My advice? Try a set of Rotosound short scale stainless steel strings.

honeyiscool · #6 02-11-2011, 07:20 PM

Well I have Rotosound Monel Short Scale strings, which I really like, on the Musicmaster but I don't want to put them on this bass because it's a duller sounding bass.

If I like the dead roundwound sound, what are my options for short scale? Would halfwounds get me close?

jasper383 · #7 02-11-2011, 08:06 PM

I meant put Rotosound rounds on the Bronco.

If you like the dead round sound, I think the halfwound idea is a good one. There are two kinds, ground wound and pressure wound. The grounds sound more like a flatwound string, and the pressure wounds sound a little brighter.

GHS makes short scale ground wounds (Brite Flats) and pressure wounds (Pressurewounds)

honeyiscool · #8 02-11-2011, 08:34 PM

From that description, pressurewounds definitely seem more appropriate. Thanks!

SurferJoe46 · #9 02-12-2011, 12:23 AM

Does anyone make oval-wounds any more?

jasper383 · #10 02-12-2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Does anyone make oval-wounds any more?

I think pressurewound strings are the same thing. The winding s are squashed into an oval shape, then wound around the core.

SurferJoe46 · #11 02-12-2011, 08:27 AM

That's interesting. Makes sense too.

Gotta look into that as I think that is the type of strings I had on a very old (either) St George or Rodeo bass in 1961.

As I remember them they were smooth and quiet.

jasper383 · #12 02-13-2011, 05:15 AM

Pressurewound review:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GcQJyHGbeY

SurferJoe46 · #13 02-13-2011, 10:15 AM

Marked and viewed - thanks a whole bunch!

honeyiscool · #14 02-14-2011, 09:45 AM

After all this, I think I might just string my bass with the spare RS77S set I have sitting around. I love those strings, I just wanted to keep this bass with rounds, but what the hell, no need to waste those strings just because I like the LaBellas more on the other bass, and it's clear that I like a deep sound.

Though before I open that pack of strings, one thing I never like about flats is the sound of the low E. It just doesn't seem very authoritative, especially in short scale. Are pressurewounds better at the E string?