Lakland 55-02/55-94 owners! String choices?

[ElBajista]

All of you guys with Lakland 55-02 or 55-94 basses with Bartolini electronics:

What strings have you used, and which do you like on this particular model, and what are your thoughts?

What music do you play?

What kind of tone do you utilize the most?

Do you string through body, or through bridge?

I'm looking forward to your replies. Thanks in advance!

[ElBajista]

My two-cent response to my own thread:


What strings have you used, and which do you like on this particular model, and what are your thoughts?:

I've used TI flats, DR Hi-beams, Ernie Ball Super Slinkies, Dr Black Beauties on my 55-02.

TI Flats: My absolute favorite on this bass. Not that great for slapping, but then again, I'm not great at slapping. I love the warm and articulate midrange, and the scope of low-frequencies available with these strings. The clear, warm, not at all clanky high end is just too sweet.

DR Hi-Beams: I liked the Hi-beams, although I wasn't impressed with the low B, seemed a bit flabby and unarticulate in regards to tone, not feel (the 35" scale works wonders! ). Deep down, I'm a flats player, but these sounded exactly like rounds should, IMO. If I needed a more aggressive sound, These would most likely be first on the list. Pretty nice lows, punchy mids (with some help from the EQ), and clear, bright highs. GREAT for slapping and aggressive fingerstyle.

Ernie Ball Super Slinkies: Too bright 'n clanky for my tastes on this bass, I wasn't impressed.

DR Black Beauties: These are some versatile strings! Playing fingerstyle with some help from the EQ, I could get a lovely warm, deep, punchy tone. Fiddling with the EQ and pickup selection a little more, and I could get a fantastic picking tone. The slap tone was also extremely good with these strings, albeit not as bright as the hi-beams, still bright enough for the "typical" slap tone. I noticed I didn't need as much bass and mid boost with these strings as I needed with the Hi-beams.


What music do you play?

I play all sorts of music at home, and my only "gig" is at my Church accompanying a grand piano, acoustic guitar, and a choir, playing traditional Catholic hymns. (Love that Bach! )


What kind of tone do you utilize the most?

At my Church gig, I strive for a clear-yet-bassy, cutting-yet-smooth, ultimately warm-n-juicy tone. You'd be surprised how difficult it can be to be heard in the mix with a piano, guitar, and 900-person congregation without being overbearing or being drowned out. I find that TI flats give me a nice and warmly audible "round" tone, and also minimize fingernoise and clanky treble. I can play the transcribed Cello parts high up on the fretboard with ease, and without sounding like a wimpy guitar.

Do you string through body, or through bridge?


I haven't found much of a difference between the two options, so I mostly string through the bridge just for the convenience. Getting bent wire through those little holes is very aggravating.

[el_Kabong]

I've mainly been using the lakland stainless steel strings or various DRs but by far my favourite is now the dean markley sr2000 medium lights. You have to string them though the bridge as the tapered part of the string won't sit right if you go through the body. I tend to favour the bridge pickup a lot and play funk/soul/acid jazz.

[Aarix]

I've only tried the Lakland SS and Nickel on my 55-02, and I like the nickel ok, but I prefer the SS.

Honestly with SS strings on the bass it sounds so good I'm not sure that I am not sure I really want to bother to even try other strings...

[jmain]

DR Nickel Lo-Riders (125 B) strung through the body to play everything from rock to funk to gospel.

[dsanders]

I use DR High Beams and Fat Beams. I have a bright tone with alot of smooth low mids. I string through the body. My B string sounds great with the DR's.

[murphy]

I use mostly 4 string set of Hi Beams and low B Longneck single DR.
Also like Lakland strings...usually nickle, but find they don't last as long as DR.
These are the only string combinations that I can get a good slap sound on the Bstring up and down the neck...must be taperwound and must go through the body

[Supertanker]

D'addario EXL 165 with a 130 b string.

[kalle74]

DR Long Necks through body. I like a "piano-stringish" sound, and suits the kind of music I play.

[pickles]

Hi beams or fat beams through the bridge. I play rock and funk and like a defined, growly tone that is supportive when I use a light touch, and crisp/assertive/funky when I dig in. The B string sounds a little weird on its own but great in a mix, and does require some right hand finesse for best tone. Other sets like the lakland steels or SR2000s don't require as much finesse, but I also don't like the tone of the E-G (where 95%+ of playing occurs) quite as much.

Actually the SR2000s are very nice too, ultra focussed, a little less growly but more impact.

If you feel you must string through the body, make sure to press down on the string at the saddle to get it to lay flat at the wintness point. The biggest effect of stringing through body is that the string arcs past the saddle due to its stiffness, which just raises the action slightly. I'm not a big fan.

[KJung]

Totally loved the DR Hi Beams on the stock bart equiped 55-94. The Lakland SS were a little too honky sounding in the upper mids on that bass for my ear, and the tension was very tight. The DR's let those very mid present Barts breath a little bit more.... flattens out the response a little to my ear, and allows a little more airy treble response. The looser string tension feels pretty nice, and the design of the string allows for through the body stringing if you so choose (never could hear a difference one way or the other on that).