Looking for strong sounding, high-tension, and SUSTAINING

[IconBasser]

I've been trying various strings lately, and the last two have been D'Addarios and Dean Markley's. I absolutely hate them. They seem to be nothing but a sparkly high end, they're as floppy as they come, you have to hit the string bloody hard to make any sound come out of em at all, and they have no sustain whatsoever.

please recommend for me strings that possess the opposite qualities of these ones: I like a fairly high tension, I want something that sounds darker, and I want sustain up the wazzoo. In general, I prefer nickel wound roundwounds. I've tried flats, and while I do like them, they just aren't quite pingy enough for much chord work, which I tend to do alot of.

any comments are welcome, thanks for your time.

[bassophil]

Stainless steel roundwounds. If too much high end use your EQ but they will give you a strong sound and high tension for sure.

R.Cocco's are awesome!

[RickenBoogie]

Yeah, Roto 66 Swing Bass.

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Yeah, Roto 66 Swing Bass.

Yup, or DR Lo-Riders, IMO.

[calebbarton]

Originally Posted by One Drop

Yup, or DR Lo-Riders, IMO.

i love me some DR's

[Marley's Ghost]

Originally Posted by calebbarton

i love me some DR's

Another vote for DR. Lo riders or Marcus Millers.

[IconBasser]

thanks for the suggestions!

[strappa]

i love the DRs
have not tried the low riders but like the sunbeams

try Thomastik Infeld Super Allows
IMO they are higher tension than the DRs
and are not as bright
they have a nice well balanced tone and sustain

[IconBasser]

Originally Posted by strappa

i love the DRs
have not tried the low riders but like the sunbeams

try Thomastik Infeld Super Allows
IMO they are higher tension than the DRs
and are not as bright
they have a nice well balanced tone and sustain

didn't know Thomastik made bass guitar strings in addition to upright bass strings. Thanks for the heads up!

[waynobass]

If you want to stick with nickel, GHS Boomers are fairly high tension, and have good sustain IMO.

Also I've heard Sadowsky Black Label strings are quite high tension.

[DavePlaysBass]

String gauge will obviously make a difference. What gauge have your used that you were not happy with. Sounds to me like you may want a 50-105 set or a 50-110 set.

[Jade Stolar]

Try the nickel round wounds from SIT Strings. They seem to have high tension and lots of sustain. They're a bit clanky when you first put them on but once they have been broken in they really sound good and they last a long time.

[MIJ-VI]

Mmm... Heavy gauge Rotosound RS77 flats + a high mass bridge should = meat, twang, and sustain.

http://www.rotosound.com/jazz77.html

[Bassman316]

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

Mmm... Heavy gauge Rotosound RS77 flats + a high mass bridge should = meat, twang, and sustain.

http://www.rotosound.com/jazz77.html

I've been curious about the Roto flats. I want to know, though- what does Monel mean? I don't see this term in reference to any other brand of flats.

[geddeeee]

Gotta be Rotosound Swing Bass standard gauge 105-45. If you like nickels, then Swing Bass Nickels (same as the SS Rotos, just wrapped in nickel)

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by Jade Stolar

Try the nickel round wounds from SIT Strings. They seem to have high tension and lots of sustain. They're a bit clanky when you first put them on but once they have been broken in they really sound good and they last a long time.

+1 on SIT's. Can't beat them!

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by Bassman316

I've been curious about the Roto flats. I want to know, though- what does Monel mean? I don't see this term in reference to any other brand of flats.

Monel:



"...Monel is used as the material for valve pistons in some higher quality musical instruments such as trumpets, tubas and french horn rotors. RotoSound introduced the use of Monel for electric bass strings in 1962, and these strings have been used by numerous artists, including Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, The Who, Sting, John Deacon, and John Paul Jones. Monel was in use in the early 1930s by other musical string manufacturers, such as Gibson Guitar Corporation, who continue to offer them for mandolin as the Sam Bush signature set..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monel

[Holy War]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Yeah, Roto 66 Swing Bass.

what I came in here to say. About to put a pair on my Ric in the next couple weeks

[Bassman316]

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

Monel:



"...Monel is used as the material for valve pistons in some higher quality musical instruments such as trumpets, tubas and french horn rotors. RotoSound introduced the use of Monel for electric bass strings in 1962, and these strings have been used by numerous artists, including Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, The Who, Sting, John Deacon, and John Paul Jones. Monel was in use in the early 1930s by other musical string manufacturers, such as Gibson Guitar Corporation, who continue to offer them for mandolin as the Sam Bush signature set..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monel

Interesting. Thanks for posting that!

[GeneralElectric]

I use flats for chording work all the time. Never once had a problem. Whats your set up and EQ like?

D'Addarrio Nickel Rounds are one of the few brands of rounds that I like. I'm also a big fan of the Roto Swingbass sets. I usually use the 50-110s.