Help me pick out new strings!

WMV2 · #1 07-19-2008, 08:33 PM

Okay, I mainly play a fender precision bass.

I play in a hard rock/metal band. I want a somewhat agressive tone for songs and I do fingerstyle about 85% of the time. We tune to D, so the gauge must be able to handle dropped tunings.

I have tried dean markley blue steel light gauge and d'addario chromes and I love the sound, but too much clank for my tastes.

What gauge/brand would you suggest?

Thanks in advance!

dt212 · #2 07-20-2008, 05:40 AM

i dont know much about stings but im guna try the billy sheehan rotosound sigs, he uses fingerstyle and i know he uses drop d alot (hipshot) im definetly guna give them a go, mebe you should try them aswell.

tom once dead · #3 07-20-2008, 05:44 AM

I use and love D'addario prosteels.

Ray C Parrish · #4 07-20-2008, 04:25 PM

After years of GHS Boomers I have a set of DR's on my Spector 5 String. I do love the feel of these. I have not check the specs. but it feels like the diameter of the wrap is thin making for a nice smooth feel. Almost like flat wounds.

JSK5String · #5 07-22-2008, 02:29 PM

Why don't you try Fender 8250's. They're typically less expensive than Roto's or DR's and they help give me a tone very similar to Eddie Jackson of Queensryche or Tom Petersson off of Trick's first album. I've been using them exclusively for about three years now and I love them. Ken Smith strings are also excellent, but more expensive than the Fenders. That said, before you take my advice, check out the equipment I use in my profile to see if I'm in line with what you're doing. Good luck...

Gubna · #6 07-22-2008, 02:47 PM

why don't you add a poll to the thread, then give us a few to choose from, and let what the poll results dictate what you buy.

or just stop messing around and get some Rotosounds.

Funkdrawer4 · #7 07-22-2008, 02:54 PM

DR High Beams are what I recomend.

whereeaglesdare · #8 07-22-2008, 05:06 PM

sounds like you need DR Lo-Riders. I use the .45-.105 stainless steel set, and I play in a progressive/thrash metal band. We play in D standard, so I can assure you they'll handle drop tuning. I'm a finger player, and they sound beautiful; exactly what I want my strings to sound like. The problem with Rotosound strings is from my experience (and from the experience of others that I've heard/read), they dont last long at all. In my experience, they last a few days at the most, and they eat your frets up. DR strings last a while and sound phenomenal, you really cant go wrong with them.

Beefbass · #9 07-22-2008, 06:33 PM

Ken Smith rockmasters. Street price is 22.00 a set, and they last a long time. If you order direct from Ken, and get two sets, I believe they cover the shipping.

Fenders are good too. I would recommend the 7350 stainless rounds in that brand. Nice feel, nice sound, and last a good long time too. I just had a set of mine start to die after a couple of months use, but they really got sweated into, and took a beating besides. A little string cleaner everytime I cleaned my bass helped too. Note I said started to die-they still sounded good and bright, but it's wicked humid here, and I have many more gigs coming. A better safe than sorry approach you might say

lmfreeman9 · #10 07-22-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whereeaglesdare

sounds like you need DR Lo-Riders. I use the .45-.105 stainless steel set, and I play in a progressive/thrash metal band. We play in D standard, so I can assure you they'll handle drop tuning. I'm a finger player, and they sound beautiful; exactly what I want my strings to sound like. The problem with Rotosound strings is from my experience (and from the experience of others that I've heard/read), they dont last long at all. In my experience, they last a few days at the most, and they eat your frets up. DR strings last a while and sound phenomenal, you really cant go wrong with them.

+1-Nickel Lo-Riders - Great lows and mids, no zing after the first week.

back as a wolf · #11 07-22-2008, 08:23 PM

I find Elixir Nanowebs to get the job done for me. Also they're not nearly as "clanky" as the Dean Markley's or the D'addario's, like you described. However they'll run you a pretty penny. Basically, they sound like a broken in (but not dead at all) set of roundwounds and stay that way for a long time. More bang for your buck in the long run, I think.