Growly strings

[MAJORdorMo]

Ok, I have a Schecter Stilleto Studio 4 string. It has EMG-HZ pickups, mahogany body, and a bubingus top. It came with some worn to hell strings, so I put a new set of Elixers on it. I've worn them in, and they seem a bit too trebly for me. I need some strings with a growl to them.

Here are the strings I'm considering:
DR Loriders
GHS Bass Boomers
any other suggestions?

I also want to know the best gauge for growl and whether I should get nickel or stainless steal.

I play fingerstyle if that matters.

[GreyBeard]

Rotosound Swingbass

[Connor]

just so you know, schecter basses are hella trebly no matter what strings you put on them. you could minimize it with the right hardware though.

[MAJORdorMo]

Thanks for the suggestion Grey beard. I forgot to put the Rotosounds on my list (I knew I was forgetting one).

Originally Posted by Connor

just so you know, schecter basses are hella trebly no matter what strings you put on them. you could minimize it with the right hardware though.

I know, and I don't mind the trebly tone too much at all. I mean, at first I disliked it, but Ive grown to like it.
What do you mean right hardware? Different pickups and strings?

[StealingYerMail]

DORMO! What's up. It's SYM from ASC.

I bought a Warwick Corvette recently (I will put pics on ASC tomorrow, haha). I just switched off the strings for some DR Lo-Riders. They've been on for about 10 minutes, so they still have that really new sound. But underneath it, I can hear an insane growl. That said, I can't be sure if that's the distinct Warwick growl or a combination of the strings and the bass. I'll let you know after I put some play time into them.

As of right now, I have mixed feelings on them. But they're still new, so I can't make any credible judgment yet. I will say that DR Hi-Beams never disappointed me though.

[MAJORdorMo]

Hey StealingYourMail. I never thought I'd see you outside of ASC lol.
<3

Are your strings nickel or stainless steel?

[Shoewreck]

Lower gauge (and thus tension) strings tend to growl better.

[BuffaloBass]

Nickle seems less bright than SS in rounds. I like nickle lo riders, but they have some tension to them ( usually requries a truss rod tweak), while Sunbeams are "looser".

[StealingYerMail]

Originally Posted by MAJORdorMo

Hey StealingYourMail. I never thought I'd see you outside of ASC lol.
<3

Are your strings nickel or stainless steel?

Both the Hi-Beams and Lo-Riders I have/used are stainless steel. They're sort of low tension, which I've grown to like. It might be weird getting used to though.

Also, on stainless steel strings, I've done some crazy slides and actually hurt my fingers. I'm not sure if my callouses were just wearing down or what, but I remember doing some insane slide with my index finger on my E string when I had Hi-Beams on, and it felt like the string actually "burned" my finger. Hard to explain... and it was really weird.

[Connor]

Originally Posted by MAJORdorMo

Thanks for the suggestion Grey beard. I forgot to put the Rotosounds on my list (I knew I was forgetting one).



I know, and I don't mind the trebly tone too much at all. I mean, at first I disliked it, but Ive grown to like it.
What do you mean right hardware? Different pickups and strings?

sorry, i'm kinda late on this...

hardware= bridge, pickups, strings, whatever else you can find staples or strapped onto the wood pretty much

[rickfan63]

I would go with the Lo-Riders. RS66 strings are nice sounding, but are somewhat rough feeling strings that can eat frets. Lo-Riders sound excellent and will be smoother and easier on the frets, I prefer the nickels.

[edbass]

Originally Posted by rickfan63

I would go with the Lo-Riders. RS66 strings are nice sounding, but are somewhat rough feeling strings that can eat frets. Lo-Riders sound excellent and will be smoother and easier on the frets, I prefer the nickels.

I use RS66 Stainless on all of my fretted basses. I’ve tried most of the popular round wounds, some stay “new” longer; but a fresh set of 66’s is hard to beat for bright growly tone. I've read posts questioning Rotosounds consistency, but in three decades and hundreds of sets I've never been disappointed.
Also, I've never noticed excessive fret wear, but I'm of the belief that fret dressing/replacement is part of regular maintenance.

Of course "tone" is in the ear of the beholder, but there’s a reason so many pros use them exclusively.
And it isn’t because they get them free.

[ducatiman]

Originally Posted by MAJORdorMo

Ok, I have a Schecter Stilleto Studio 4 string. It has EMG-HZ pickups, mahogany body, and a bubingus top. It came with some worn to hell strings, so I put a new set of Elixers on it. I've worn them in, and they seem a bit too trebly for me. I need some strings with a growl to them.

Here are the strings I'm considering:
DR Loriders
GHS Bass Boomers
any other suggestions?

I also want to know the best gauge for growl and whether I should get nickel or stainless steal.

I play fingerstyle if that matters.

i've got the 5 string studio version of your bass and can highly recommend DR lo-riders stainless. growl-yup.

[Basshappi]

I put a set of DR Black Beauties on my Warmoth PJ and they definitely have more growl than the Lo-riders.

Roto RS66, classic growl.

As a general rule of thumb, stainless steel is usually more aggressive sounding than nickel.

[Bassist4Life]

There have been a number of threads concerning "growl". It's hard to define growl.

What sort of sound are you looking for? Can you give us an example? Is there are recording that you can think of? Which bassist has the most growl in your opinion?

Joe

[mrokern]

I've got a Studio 5. First thing I did was restring with Roto Swing Bass 66 strings (as I do on my Jazz).

It is now a serious growling beast. With a little EQ, it's a downright snarl.

-Mark

[santucci218]

yeah, i would say growl is more of a eqing thing more than a string thing. im sure you could get it with any kind of nickel or steel strings.

[DavePlaysBass]

TI Superalloys will give you low mids with a slight roll off of the highes. They have an old school punch down low with a mordern / round wound definition up top.

[dragoon419]

I'd say go for the Lo Riders. They have a lot of growl and brightness. Though I am considering trying Richard Cocco's. I hear they're smooth like nickels and as bright as Lo Riders.

[lokolp]

rotosounds are definantly the growliest, but I recommend Lo Riders as they are still pretty growly but feel alot better than rotosounds.