Good coated string, with top end.

fetfet · #1 11-11-2008, 06:08 PM

Looking for a well rounded set of coated strings with a bright sound, or at least not dead. Would be putting them on a P-bass and a Thunderbird.

Suggestions?

On an off note, does anyone have a copy of the string review article from Bass Player? If so, please direct me to it.

mrkreuzschlitz · #2 11-11-2008, 07:59 PM

The Elixirs that I have on my bass are pretty bright and going on three months. The amp loves them, I can dial in a really punchy sound to a really bassy growl with just a change of a few knobs, not forgetting the tone knob on my bass.

Can't go wrong with the Elixirs IMHO.

fetfet · #3 11-11-2008, 08:13 PM

Cool, thanks.

On another off note, has anyone tried the DR Long Necks? They look good, and i haveit on good authority that they last long.

Ampeg SVT · #4 11-11-2008, 08:18 PM

People rag on the Long Necks because they are tapered. Most of the time they dont know how to set them up for Tapers. I have also heard that the life is not the same as their Hi-Beams.

fetfet · #5 11-11-2008, 08:30 PM

I've used tapered strings before.

sonic assassin · #6 11-11-2008, 11:58 PM

i will only use NON-elixir strings if im REALLY in a pinch. when it came to my 6 string and i didnt have a lot of money, DR hi beams worked fairly well. they are my second choice. right now, my local tech has it strung up with d'addarios and im not in love with them. but elixir on a 6 string, thats 60 bucks.

after putting EB's on my 5 string, and hating them in less than a week, i decided never to stray from elixir. had a set for at LEAST a year before i started noticing the B was going out, which is normally a tell-tale sign that you need strings.

im a cheap-ass, so i made them last that long. i always hear people complain about the price, but so long as you arent breaking them, the life of the string makes the cost even. you may go through 3 sets of EB's in the life of ONE set of elixirs.

as far as bright, look no further. i use elixir exclusively on ALL my guitars, acoustics and basses, BECAUSE they are the brightest strings i can find.

jsingles · #7 11-12-2008, 12:06 AM

i also use elixir, they are really awesome.

NOT as bright as "brand new" non coated strings, BUT, they sound MUCH better than most warn in uncoated strings, and they stay that way for MONTHS... and retain their brightness.

also, stay clear of cleartone coated strings, I have heard nothing but terrible stories of inferiority with those.

BullHorn · #8 11-12-2008, 12:24 AM

Elixirs are your only choice. Other coated strings are halfarsed.

sonic assassin · #9 11-12-2008, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BullHorn

Elixirs are your only choice. Other coated strings are halfarsed.

word.

mrkreuzschlitz · #10 11-13-2008, 10:34 AM

Honestly, Elixirs are in my opinion the best deal for the money. I've had my set for 4 months. I put on some Ernie Balls last week, and after band practice this past Saturday they were completely dead, no joke. I put the Elixirs back on and they still sound great. They're loosing their tone, but for picking them for 4 months, 10 bucks a month isn't a bad deal at all.

BarkerBass · #11 11-13-2008, 10:41 AM

I've had a set of elixirs on the ibanez 6 string and they sounded fine for over a year, I replaced them because the coating was beginning to fray, I actually put that set onto my 5 string and they sound great still just don't look clean anymore. I also have them on a 4 string of mine, these strings sound nice and bright for at least a year before showing signs of deadening and i use them every week if not twice or 3 times. they are nice sounding strings with plenty of warmth and brightness at the same time, with a good eq or amp the can do crunchy growly mids through to subzero depth and boom, they cope great with my low B's too. granted they are very costly in comparison to other brands but they last a full year! that;s value for money in my books!

Zooberwerx · #12 11-13-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fetfet

Cool, thanks.

On another off note, has anyone tried the DR Long Necks? They look good, and i haveit on good authority that they last long.

I have an old set on my Genesis 5. The taper almost extends to the bridge pickup...not good.

Has anyone had problems with the coating fraying on the Elixirs? I installed a set years ago and ran into that problem. The people at Gore were kind enough to send me a new set and I returned the old for QC assessment. In addition to strings, Gore also manufactures Goretex (insulated outerwear) and Glide dental floss. They must have a huge vat of the stuff for dunking.

Riis

::Saint:: · #13 11-13-2008, 12:27 PM

When I bought my ATK305 it came with Elixirs but I have noticed for some time now that the coating is fraying -- I thought it was the normal life of the string, but is this A) Not normal or B) time to replace my strings?

freebooter · #14 11-13-2008, 02:14 PM

I've had my ATK 305 for near on 8 months now and I still haven't seen the need to replace the strings. Although to be fair I have been alternating between 3 different basses in that time depending on the gig. They still sound better than any other strings I've ever used and even though they are looking pretty frayed it hasn't seemed to diminish the sound too much. And when I do think their glory days are done I've got another set waiting in my case

Elixirs are the only string for me.

matt_m · #15 11-13-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fetfet

Cool, thanks.

On another off note, has anyone tried the DR Long Necks? They look good, and i haveit on good authority that they last long.

I have used long necks as well as other tapered strings (pedulla and fender). My only complaint with the long necks is that no matter what i tried or how i set up my basses that i put them on, there was always a funny "out of phase" sound when i played the A and D strings above the 12th fret. It was really weird. The Pedulla and Fender strings did not do this. So if you're not gonna be doing a bunch of soloing, then i would say that they are great, otherwise, i might check some of the other ones out. Other than that, I love DR strings.