I REALLY Need To Find Some NEW Strings... HELP!

[Dub56]

So I've come to the conclusion that I'm no longer really feeling DR Lo-Riders, and need some suggestions of new strings.

I think the DR's sound good and feel alright, but are a bit too rough and my fingers stick on them a bit too much. They are also too bright for me, so I want to move away from stainless steel strings.

I'm looking for a set of nickel rounds, or possibly flats. NO ERNIE BALL! I don't like them.

-Less bright tone than steel, nice and deep and warm but not boomy
-Balanced across the board and dynamic sounding
-Non-sticky feel
-Will go well with LOW action
-Relatively low tension (DO NOT WANT high tension flats)

Side note: what strings are very LOW TENSION? I'm curious, because I usually like the feel when my bass is tuned a bit flat before I tune it back up.

Here is my deal with flats, so please read before suggesting them:

I've tried Chromes and LaBella Deep Talkin' (medium guage), and didn't care much for either. I didn't like the sound of the Chromes, and didn't care for the feel of the LaBella's. They were a bit too high tension and too smooth feeling for me. The tone was also not what I was looking for.

I like the sound Ben Kenney gets on his Laklands with GHS flats, and I know he chooses them because they are relatively lower tension, so maybe I should try them, but I'm interested in other ideas.

I play a Lakland 44-60 Jazz and soon to be a Lakland 44-64 P-Bass.

ALSO: Would you recommend I go for Light or Medium guage strings?
Thanks!

[bikeplate]

HI

Check Sadowsky strings out. Their blue labels are low tension, warm, not too crazy on the high end. Price is right, too

www.sadowsky.com

Rob

[ajunea3]

TI Jazz flats?

[bass_lord_mutha]

You might check out D'Addario Half Rounds, and since you're looking for a lighter gauge, try the .40-.95 gauge set (ENR70). They have the feel of flat wounds but retain alot of the brightess and flexibility of roundwounds. You might also try GHS Brite Flats as well.

[Dub56]

Those Sadowskys look like a good bet.. and a good price!

And I've considered TI flats, they are just a lot of money.

I always end up liking the idea of flats more than I actually like them on my bass, but maybe there is a set out there that will change my mind.

I should also mention a downside to flats for me is that I slap some and hate the sound of flats slapped.. but I'd still like to find a set I'd like.

I had also considered Half Rounds, but I've heard some bad things..

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by Dub56

Those Sadowskys look like a good bet.. and a good price!

And I've considered TI flats, they are just a lot of money.

I always end up liking the idea of flats more than I actually like them on my bass, but maybe there is a set out there that will change my mind.

I should also mention a downside to flats for me is that I slap some and hate the sound of flats slapped.. but I'd still like to find a set I'd like.

I had also considered Half Rounds, but I've heard some bad things..

If you liked the tone of the steel Lo-Riders, they make nickel ones. Those might be worth trying. Or you could try the Sunbeams, also nickel but with round cores (easier to play, but may require slightly higher action than Lo-Riders)

[Bassman7PM]

I also moved away from both the Low Riders and Hi Beams in favor of S.I.T. Power Wound Nickels and couldn't be happier. Also, they cost half as much as the DR's.

[Ibanez Bassist]

I use D'Addario's seem to work well with what Im playing on..

[mmbongo]

DR Sunbeam
Dunlop Nickels

Both very smooth feeling, low tension nickels.

[CapnSev]

TI flats.

They are not quite slack-tuning loose (like you said you want), but they are pretty loose.

[mccartneyman]

I found the tension on Lakland JO flats a bit heavy, but that was on a 55-94 with the 35" scale. I've also tried Chromes and thought they were about the same tension as Laklands. I love TI flats but the price kills me -- never had a problem with tension. I've just installed Sadowsky flats on the 55-94 and they seem to be somewhere between the Lakland & TI flats tensionwise. Haven't had a chance to gig with them yet but they sound & feels good at home.

[IanAllison]

+1 for the Dunlop nickels. Awesome feeling and sounding strings - and easy on the $$$.

[Dub56]

I actually went out today and bought some DR sunbeams, medium light guage. Hopefully I like them!


BUT..

I'm still going to be on the search for some more good strings. I've got a new Lakland 44-64 coming in a couple weeks, and I'll be looking for the perfect set of strings for that one too.

I've decided I still want to buy a set of flats and TRY as hard as I can to like them. I'm going to either try GHS precision flats or TI jazz flats. I'd really like to try TI's, but man, $60 is pretty expensive. But then again they never really go bad..

My current plan is to try these Sunbeams, then before I get my new P-bass, order a set of flats (GHS or TI) and a set of GHS Pressurewounds. I will hopefully be able to find a set I really like for my Jazz, and a set I really like on my P.

Call me crazy, but I think I'll like the flats more on my Jazz than I will on my P, so I'll most likely keep a set of rounds or the pressurewounds on the P (if I like them, that is) and then maybe a set of flats on my Jazz.

[Need2KnowBasses]

I like Elixir's because they don't sound overly bright when new and the coating keeps them clean. Elixir's have a very smooth almost slick feel that I think might be just what you are looking for.

[okcrum]

You could try some of these. There's an indy video review of the nickels linked to the site so you can hear before/after for yourself.

Yes, I am an endorser.

[darkstorm]

DR sunbeams or Neons might be just the thing for you sound and all wise.