ID these no-silk roundwounds?

stflbn · #1 02-21-2010, 01:33 PM

I recently picked up a used 2000 SR5 and I'm trying to determine what strings may be on it. They sound fantastic and definitely doing what I like and I'd like to continue using them.

At first I assumed they were basic EBMM Slinkies, but then I noticed that the wide wrapping of the B-string wraps part way around the B-string tuner before it starts narrowing. I don't recall 5-string Slinkies doing this. Could be a longer set of some other brand on the bass?

- They have no silks on them.
- Gold Ball ends
- Definitely Nickle
- Medium Tension - after a 4-hour gig last night I feel it in my hands from the TI Flats and Sunbeams on my other basses, but they're not high tension either.

- Definitely not Sunbeams due to sound and tension.

My thoughts on what they could be:

DR LoRiders
Dunlop's
Some Other????

Edit: The following have been dismissed because of different features...
EBMM Slinkies (Stepped tuner windings different than photo)
SIT Nickle Wounds (Stepped tuner windings different than photo)
Sadowsky black or blues (B-strings on these have bridge Tapers)

Any thoughts greatly appreciated...

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Darkstrike · #2 02-21-2010, 01:39 PM

There's a small chance they could be Dunlops too...

stflbn · #3 02-21-2010, 01:46 PM

Dunlop added as possibility.

Personally I prefer the look of strings with no Silks, but I have to admit... it definitely makes it easier to ID them with silks.

Darkstrike · #4 02-21-2010, 01:53 PM

True, the non-silk look is just so clean, very nice, heh, they should colour the ball ends, kinda like D'Addario, but by brand rather than string...

stflbn · #5 02-22-2010, 12:49 PM

Following up:

They don't seem to be either Regular Slinkies or SIT Power Wounds.

A set of each arrived today and comparing B-strings to the photo's, the taper on each are different than the photo string. The hoto string seems to have a single taper from full string width to narrow covered by the outside windings. Both the Slinkies and the SIT Powerwounds have 2 defined layers of taper showing.

The chase continues....

So now I'm thinking they could be DR Lo-Riders, Sadowsky's, or Dunlop's. :: shrug ::

And FYI, I'm not being obsessive about it. There's multiple types of strings I can use and be happy. Just would be great to know what the heck is actually on the bass because they sound great on this particular bass... or could be that the bass itself just sounds fantastic. Not worth it to 'deaden up' a set of roundwounds though by swapping them off the bass until they're dead on their own.

stflbn · #6 02-22-2010, 01:24 PM

Also just realized...

Not sadowsky's because B-strings on both Black and Blue 5-string sets are tapered.

Craig_S · #7 02-22-2010, 02:16 PM

You're wrong. They're Slinky's. Yep yep yep. I have the same bass with the same strings.

stflbn · #8 02-22-2010, 02:28 PM

Slinkies is what I initially 'heard' when I played it. I've got a new set of Regular Slinkies here today and I'll compare the windings side by side tonight and see how they appear.

Once this set gets played out we'll try this new set of Slinkies and see if the tone stays the same.

Craig_S · #9 02-22-2010, 02:38 PM

Slinky's just sound 'right' on a Ray. Like 'em or don't, on other basses, they are the best string for that bass. I don't use Slinky's on anything but the Ray. I use Dunlop and D'Addario the most. Dunlop is slowly becoming the string of choice after using D'Addario for many years.

Meatrus · #10 02-22-2010, 03:32 PM

I may have missed the meaning of the wrap looking different, but if you are referring to the wrap looking different round the post (as in pic 1), that is just stretching, and not the string design. So could be any brand (if that is what you meant!)

stflbn · #11 02-22-2010, 03:35 PM

Nope. I'll take comparison photo's of the existing strings wrap vs a brand new slinkies wrap tonight. And the strings that came on the 2000 model bass are in no way old or used up. Very newish sounding.

donut · #12 02-22-2010, 03:39 PM

My Status Hotwires look like that but they're steel.

Rotosound Roto Nickels maybe? They definitely have no silk and I'm pretty sure they've got gold ball ends.

Meatrus · #13 02-22-2010, 04:54 PM

It looked to me like someone has put on strings which are a little too long, so have the fat bit (thats a technical term btw

) wrapped round the post. I have an acoustic bass here which looks the same (its 30", with 34" strings), possible? That way the taper at the top wouldnt have much to do with it.

stflbn · #14 02-22-2010, 06:00 PM

Ya, the B string that's on it is definitely longer than needed. I'm trying to use the taper as a tell-tale sign as to what possible string type it may be.

Will post compared photo's to a EB Regular Slinky taper here in a bit.

Craig_S · #15 02-22-2010, 07:18 PM

Want me to post a shot?

Here:

Pardon the dust...

Craig_S · #16 02-22-2010, 07:48 PM

I'm going to guess you got a set that was wound a bit longer, but the 'steps' in the windings on the strings look identical other than being a bit farther toward the end. The way the ball ends are wound is identical as well

stflbn · #17 02-22-2010, 08:23 PM

Compared the B-string on the bass to a brand new Regular Slinky B-string and other than the one currently on the bass being longer, the wrappings of the string it'self are identical... size, string color, etc.

So for now I'm moving ahead with the thinking that the bass has slinkies on it. Once these have died and I put the new set on I'll check on the thread and give a aye or nay on them actually being correct.

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