Good Strings for Funk

stewart8980 · #1 10-20-2008, 04:32 PM

Any suggestions?

RCCollins · #2 10-20-2008, 04:41 PM

What exactly do you mean by funk? Fingerstyle or slap? Verdine White, Larry Graham, Bootsy? Flea? Or do you really mean "disco" when you say funk, like too many folks.

It's really about taking strings you like and gettin' funky with 'em.

I play both fingerstyle and slap when I'm funkin', and I like low tension, nickel-plated strings. Others prefer high tension and stainless steel, and some like flatwounds.

So we really need to get a clearer picture from you...

Gubna · #3 10-20-2008, 04:43 PM

Get yourself some DR Marcus Miller Fatbeams.

RCCollins · #4 10-20-2008, 04:48 PM

Those are cool strings but don't you think he should clarify so we can make an informed recommendation?

RCCollins · #5 10-20-2008, 07:06 PM

Well I checked your profile out of curiosity. I see you're into Flea, Jaco and WOoten. Well Flea comes out of Funk, I know he used to endorse GHS bass boomers, which are nickel roundwounds.

Victor Wooten uses nickel roundwounds too, his signature line is made by Fodera, like his Yin/Yang bass.

Only a small minority of slap players use flatwounds.

Both Larry Graham and Bootsy have historically used Rotosound steel roundwounds. There were fewer choices for bass strings when they started out, but rotos are both high tension and very bright, something a lot of slap players like.

I myself use DR Sunbeams for both fingerstyle and slap funk. Most folks would probably say these are too low tesnio for slap but with low action, I find they work just dandy, and for fingerstyle they are VERY articulate.

Hope that helps. I wasn't trying to be nasty or anything

tapp01 · #6 10-20-2008, 07:10 PM

Vic also uses D'addario XL's from what i've heard.

Kwesi · #7 10-20-2008, 07:24 PM

DR Strings
Ken Smiths

/Thread

...seriously

YCBass · #8 10-20-2008, 07:26 PM

DR

Lo-Riders love to funk

It really says that on the package... Seriously, I swear by Lo-Rider Nickels.

Gintaras · #9 10-20-2008, 07:26 PM

My favorite is DR LoRiders Stainless. Second choice are Fatbeams. I can get a great slap tone but also get a great midrange growl from both strings.

**Thor** · #10 10-20-2008, 07:34 PM

I vote the GHS Boomers. Nickel plated sweetness.

Oric · #11 10-20-2008, 07:34 PM

if you got the funk the strings will follow

bootsy could be funky on a USB cable strung to a turkey

RCCollins · #12 10-20-2008, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oric

if you got the funk the strings will follow

bootsy could be funky on a USB cable strung to a turkey

This is seriously the best advice so far- I tried to ay the same thing and it took 3 posts and like 10 times as many letters...

Oric · #13 10-20-2008, 08:11 PM

^^^
thank you sir. I still have not achieved the level of stank that Mr. William Collins has attained, but his teachings are many and wise

BigOldHarry · #14 10-20-2008, 08:15 PM

I use DR low-ride stainless... but the *funk* ain't in the strangs. It's all up in your fingers. I suggest you try several brands and find what works for you that you can afford. DRs are kinda spendy - I'd try GHS boomers and Rotosounds first.

Oric · #15 10-20-2008, 08:19 PM

"the *funk* ain't in the strangs". Wise words. In funk, it is not what you have, but what you do with it.

stewart8980 · #16 10-20-2008, 09:09 PM

Sorry not for clarifying- I'm more of a Funky/Motown guy. I mean to say I want a warmer sound. I've heard both positive and negative reviews about DR Hi-Beams. I'm still looking thru this thread but I just saw that I wasn't clear enough. I've been using just regular old EB Regular Slinkies (and I hate tyhem cause the gauge gives me mad nut rattling, but i fixed that so its not important), and I want to move towards a more specialized string. Ive even thought about buying the strings that came factory installed on my bass (whatever comes standard on an MIM Fender Jazz)

Also, I want it to be warm, but I don't want to go as far as putting flatwounds on my bass, so that way I can still get a wide variety of tones out of them. I'm also more of a medium/high tension guy.

And I agree completely with the funk coming from your fingers. I think I got it coming out, but now I want to find the strings that'll let it shine

Mr_Sore_Fingerz · #17 10-20-2008, 09:19 PM

DR's...lo-riders, hi-beams, fat beams....just pick one =)

RCCollins · #18 10-21-2008, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewart8980

Sorry not for clarifying- I'm more of a Funky/Motown guy. I mean to say I want a warmer sound. I've heard both positive and negative reviews about DR Hi-Beams. I'm still looking thru this thread but I just saw that I wasn't clear enough. I've been using just regular old EB Regular Slinkies (and I hate tyhem cause the gauge gives me mad nut rattling, but i fixed that so its not important), and I want to move towards a more specialized string. Ive even thought about buying the strings that came factory installed on my bass (whatever comes standard on an MIM Fender Jazz)

Also, I want it to be warm, but I don't want to go as far as putting flatwounds on my bass, so that way I can still get a wide variety of tones out of them. I'm also more of a medium/high tension guy.

And I agree completely with the funk coming from your fingers. I think I got it coming out, but now I want to find the strings that'll let it shine

OK now I get you. For a warm sound with high tension, I'd try DR nickel-plated lo-riders.

stewart8980 · #19 10-21-2008, 11:41 AM

well i couldnt get the Lo-riders, cause the store in my town doesnt carry them, but they did have Rotosound Swingbass 66s and I just said, of what the heck. and they sound great! What kind of music are these usually used with?

Old Cane · #20 10-22-2008, 10:42 AM

It would be easier to answer what they "aren't" used in. When i started playing they were I guess state of the art? You seemed to either get flatwounds or Rotosounds. Notice I said "you" get flatwounds. I never did. I like to think of the bass guitar as a "bass guitar" not a "bass bass." I know lots of guys love flats. I'm just not one of them. I try to manage the brightness and attack with my fingers. i know I'm not alone.