I am LOVIN' Fender Super Bass 7250's

tonebrulee · #1 06-14-2009, 12:32 PM

Specs for P-Bass's on the Fender and Squier websites show most strung with 7250ML's, which are Fender's "Super Bass" nickel plated steel roundwound's.

I have been playing a Squier VM P-bass for a while. I like the stock strings so I picked up a pack of 7250ML's to replace them. The 7250's I bought are FANTASTIC, and definitely are not the same strings the bass came with.

The new strings have black silk, with the ends lining up nicely an inch above the nut. They also have large brass colored ball ends. The stock string have red silk, the silks do not line up at the head stock, and they have small, chromed ball ends.

The new strings have a super nice, smooth feel to them with a nickel color and close, tightly aligned windings. The original strings look like chromes, have a much rougher feel with more open-looking windings.

To my ears, the new strings have a great balance between warmth and bite - you can thump 'em and you can twang 'em and they sound fantastic either way. And, again, they are a complete joy under your fingers.

The old strings have a nice tone too, but are definitely on the bright side with much less depth overall. And they don't feel particularly good under the fingers - not bad, just not inviting like the new strings.

If you've got a recent Fender or Squier P spec'd with the 7250's and you like them like I did, do youself a favor and try a pack of the real-deal 7250's - you won't be disappointed. And if you are - at less then $20 a set you can't go too far wrong.

DavePlaysBass · #2 06-14-2009, 02:18 PM

Love 7250MLs on my MIM 50's P. They came stock and I am on my second set. They also were on a Road Worn P I played the other day. It was a great feeling and sounding bass.

I am thinking about trying them on my Sadowsky 5 string. But I would have to jump up to 45-105. And I am real picky on Bs. Not sure if I should go with the 5 string set with a 125 B ofr a 6 string set with a 130 B.

Surly · #3 06-14-2009, 05:21 PM

I also have a Squier CV 60's P. I put on the 8250's and it made a huge difference. I don't know what the stock strings were, but they were terrible. The 7250's are hexcore like Lo-riders, which makes for a nice string. I have been wanting to try the 7250's, but soon it will have 7150's.

southernrocker · #4 06-14-2009, 05:24 PM

Me too!

tonebrulee · #5 06-14-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surly

I also have a Squier CV 60's P. I put on the 8250's and it made a huge difference. I don't know what the stock strings were, but they were terrible. The 7250's are hexcore like Lo-riders, which makes for a nice string. I have been wanting to try the 7250's, but soon it will have 7150's.

Cool - didn't realize the 7250's were hexcore. I've tried the 7150M's (.045-.105) but they were a little too mellow sounding for me. I like how the 7250's split the difference between bright chrome and the mellowness of pure nickel like the 7150's.

Surly · #6 06-14-2009, 05:47 PM

Yeah I was told on here that they are hexcore, that's the real difference between them and the 8250.

tonebrulee · #7 06-14-2009, 05:48 PM

BTW - I took a closer look at the hi-res pics on the Squier and Fender sites and the Fenders spec'd with 7250's do appear to have them in the pictures while all the Squiers show the same red silk w/uneven ends at the headstock.

Hey Squier - what's up with that!?

Personally, I think Fender is really shooting themselves in the foot here. The Squiers must outsell the Fenders by a huge margin and they are giving all those new owners the impression that 7250's aren't the great strings that they are. Dumb.

tonebrulee · #8 06-14-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surly

Yeah I was told on here that they are hexcore, that's the real difference between them and the 8250.

I know the 8250's have a taper-wound low E. Also, the 7250's are for thru-bridge mount and the 8250's are for thru-body.

fretlessguy · #9 06-14-2009, 06:04 PM

They are the only rounds I use now. I do have one short scale with a set of SIT rounds, but the bass will be converted to flats before long.

bassfrenzie · #10 06-14-2009, 06:10 PM

Rotosound Jazz Bass 77's heavy gauge flats on my H1J = Thump City.

beyondat · #11 06-14-2009, 06:25 PM

I luv 7250's! I played them on a roadworn J bass and they sounded great so I bought a set to replace the sunbeams on my J. Sunbeams are cool but I think the 7250's gives me a lot more mids.

Philbiker · #12 06-15-2009, 10:51 AM

My all time favorite strings. The best news of all - they last forever. Incredibly long life and very short "break-in" period. They settle down fast and stay sweet for a long, long long time. LOVE them.

CPplaysBASS · #13 06-15-2009, 11:02 AM

More kudos here .... I'm typically a flats player, but recently bounced between the 7250's and the 7150's (pure nickel).

My expectation was that the 7150's would be warmer, and be closer to the flats tone I'm used too. The 7250's, however, warmed up super fast (after 5 hours total playing approx) and I definitely prefer them over the 7150's. With the treble rolled off on either my Fender Jazz or P-Bass, I get a tone that is right in the ball park with Rotosound Jazz77 flats.

Surly · #14 06-15-2009, 11:09 AM

That's interesting, I find that Fender strings don't last very long, especially the 8250's.

Ryan Mohr · #15 06-15-2009, 03:00 PM

I'm really interested in these strings. BassPlayer said "mellow top, deep bottom, strong mids, and a vintage vibe." That sounds pretty darn good to me.

Mad Tango · #16 06-15-2009, 09:09 PM

They are very musical strings w/a big bottom to boot. Also, they make my basses have more resonance and yes, a vintage vibe.

tonebrulee · #17 06-15-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

I'm really interested in these strings. BassPlayer said "mellow top, deep bottom, strong mids, and a vintage vibe." That sounds pretty darn good to me.

I think that's a good general description of them. If you like that description, you should definitely check 'em out. Seriously, they are really fine. Plus, they're very reasonably priced - e.g. $18 online, $25 at your local shop.

Ryan Mohr · #18 06-16-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Tango

They are very musical strings w/a big bottom to boot. Also, they make my basses have more resonance and yes, a vintage vibe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonebrulee

I think that's a good general description of them. If you like that description, you should definitely check 'em out. Seriously, they are really fine. Plus, they're very reasonably priced - e.g. $18 online, $25 at your local shop.

You guys make a strong case. I have tried the 7150s before, I dug the vintage tone but the output was too low for my passive J. Any comparisons between the two?

barroso · #19 06-17-2009, 05:35 AM

I like them too, even if I still prefer the Fender pure nickel strings.

tonebrulee · #20 06-17-2009, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Mohr

You guys make a strong case. I have tried the 7150s before, I dug the vintage tone but the output was too low for my passive J. Any comparisons between the two?

I don't recall if the output was lower with the 7150s, but the tone is significantly mellower than the 7250s. The 7150s are supposed to be the original vintage string (i.e. 50's sound), so if that's what you're after, those might be better. The 7250's definitely have more mid-level punch, splitting the difference between 7150s and chromes. Splitting hairs, I'd they are probably a little closer to a 7150 vintage sound then chrome. Give 'em a shot - can't go wrong for $20.