Good Strings For Developing Calluses?

mrjim123 · #1 06-10-2011, 12:57 PM

I play finger style and I play flatwounds. Years ago I played roundwounds and always had nice calluses on my picking fingers. I like calluses for two reasons – (1) they result in a more percussive sound, and (2) I believe that with calluses my fingers would be less likely to stick to the strings.

I want to set up a practice bass with a set of rounds that will really chew my fingers up and give me a good set of calluses. I think stainless steel would be better than nickel plated. Can anyone recommend a good brand?

KingRazor · #2 06-10-2011, 01:00 PM

If I were you I'd just get strings that my fingers don't stick to. You can get a more percussive sound by altering your technique.

I use Circle K Strings and they're far from rough, but my fingers have never stuck to them, and I can still get some good callous development if I really dig in on them for extended periods.

John Wentzien · #3 06-10-2011, 01:03 PM

ROTOS!!!

pedroims · #4 06-10-2011, 01:05 PM

Rotosound

carlos840 · #5 06-10-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

ROTOS!!!

+1000

Rotos are the roughest i have played!

Swing 66 are the worst and the Nickel version is a bit smoother although still really rough compared to others! (and sounds better to IMO)

John Wentzien · #6 06-10-2011, 01:08 PM

I love them!

Hifiguy · #7 06-10-2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

ROTOS!!!

Absitively and posolutely. They are the roughest rounds out there, and the best sounding, IMO. But they are not at all long lived.

JohnMCA72 · #8 06-10-2011, 01:21 PM

Rotosound RS66LE is what I use & I've got pretty good calluses. They're the heavy gauge, which means more tension for a given pitch & may help callus building.

mrjim123 · #9 06-10-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

If I were you I'd just get strings that my fingers don't stick to. You can get a more percussive sound by altering your technique.

I use Circle K Strings and they're far from rough, but my fingers have never stuck to them, and I can still get some good callous development if I really dig in on them for extended periods.

My fingers stick to flats, never to rounds, but flats is what I play (TI Jazz, to be exact) and I'm not changing.

darkstorm · #10 06-10-2011, 10:57 PM

Nuther vote for rotosound swing 66. Little rougher then most strings and better sounding then most to.

**BullHorn** · #11 06-11-2011, 01:10 AM

DR SS Lo-Riders are also quite harsh however they might feel somewhat sticky (to me at least).

bass rocks · #12 06-11-2011, 01:28 AM

cheapest rounds you can find

Electricblue · #13 06-12-2011, 11:11 AM

Sandpaper your fingers. I actually did this at one point, feels real nice, and build up strong skin. Probably.

That, and mountain biking. Hard fingers ftw

MOTORHEADBANGER · #14 06-12-2011, 11:29 AM

Rotosound without a doubt. I love the roughness of them, especially playing a rock gig. I've used Roto's on my fretted bass for a while and my hands are definitely adjusted to them.

Catbuster · #15 06-12-2011, 02:13 PM

I use rotosound RS66LD Swingbass. They sound great, but wear your frets to death, and cause calluses.

slaphappychappy · #16 06-12-2011, 08:12 PM

Lol, when I started I went straight to 110s and it used to hurt like hell, so I used to put superglue on the tips of my fingers. Seemed like a good idea at the time. I got the idea from a dude who reckon Stevie ray Vaughn did that. Don't know if it helped at all, lol.

Slammin · #17 06-13-2011, 09:15 AM

My fingertips are like cowhide after 40+ years playing bass but I recently tried a set of Rotosound Swing 66 and they actually made my fingertips sore after awhile. The G actually sawed a groove in a couple of my fretting fingers.

woolfal · #18 06-13-2011, 09:50 AM

Warwick strings are pretty abrasive too.

jkkkjkhk · #19 06-13-2011, 05:01 PM

I've used SS rotos since I started on bass (few years off and on but solid the last year or so). I got them just because it was the biggest brand I had heard of for bass and some of my gods used them. I've been a guitarist for 10 years so bass strings was a whole different world. I got SS Lo Riders after reading thousands of roto vs DR threads when I got my spector, they sounded fine but the tension and the smoothness I hated. I switched back to rotos and I play like me again. The roughness I like, I feel I have more control. I can feel my fingers slide up the neck more, I can feel the strings when I play (I don't use a pick) more and I just love them. They also have a certain sound to them I like, it's not big and most likely no one else would hear it when I play but I like it. I can play for hours and not having any problem with the roughness. The Lo Riders actually did a ton more damage with my callouses than the rotos did when I first started. Also, I play very heavy. I know some people like Steve Harris gently brush the strings which makes them play faster and smoother. I play very aggressively, I really hook the strings with my fingers and still I have no problems with them. Also no problems with fret wear yet. My luthier said to not let fret wear determine which strings to get. A refet every 5-10 years (assuming it'd happen that fast) is worth more than playing with strings you don't like.

KingRazor · #20 06-13-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjim123

My fingers stick to flats, never to rounds, but flats is what I play (TI Jazz, to be exact) and I'm not changing.

Feel matters so much more than tone (to me) that I'd never settle for strings that my fingers stuck to. Unless it didn't bother me, I suppose.

Whatever suits your fancy though. If callouses help keep your fingers from sticking, go ahead and get some Rotos and dig in!

Me? I'll take my nice, smooth Circle Ks over any other rounds or any flats any day.

Also, to the guy above, from what I read on here, Steve Harris plays very heavy.