MM SR5 owners, recommend me a string

[mozarwasagenius]

I am expecting a MM SR5 soon (used) and expect to need a string change. From what I've read DR LoRiders (nickel??) and D'Addario XLs seem to be highly regarded.

Currently I like D'Addario XL165s on my 4string Pbass so I'm leaning towards that. BUT a MM SR is a different beast tonally.


I appreciate your input.

[mulambo]

im using DR Hi Beams 045/130. It awesome on the MM5. Cuts like a knife trough any mix.

[dave64o]

I had SS Lo Riders on my old SR5 and loved them. My current SR5 still has the original Slinkys on them but they seem too floppy to me. I'll probably replace them pretty soon with another set of Lo Riders. I may do SS's again but I was also thinking I might give the nickels a try this time.

[sethlow3]

Ernie Ball.
No joke. Especially for the price. I change mine once a month bc I gig and practice so much and like them some what new. Plus they are easy to find anywhere.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I have Dean Markley SR2000s on mine. They sound good. I was considering trying a set of Ernie Balls just for a change since I've been using the SR2000s for many years.

[JonathanD]

EB slinkies. The only bass they are good on is an SR.
Jonathan

[mozarwasagenius]

Interesting. Multiple votes for Slinkies and DR LoRider/HiBeams. I'm surprised D'Addario XL didn't come up.

I shoulda said I'm a fingerstyle player who rarely if ever slaps.


Thanks

[Crabby]

I tried Blue Steels on my SR5 and they were disappointing as the low B was really dead sounding and they were very tight feeling (tension too high). They did growl nicely on this bass but I went back to the standard Slinky set and was much happier. The playability was much improved and the low B string was absolutely killer!

Slinkys are the only strings I use on my SR5 and SR4 now.

[cybersnyder]

Slinkys!

[soniq]

EB flats .

[JonathanD]

When I got my SR5 used I played it and LOVED the tone and feel. I tried my normal DR strings, then D'addario finally I PMed him and asked what string he used...he said slinkies. There it was again, the tone I like about the SR5. I slap maybe .05% of the time and pop even less often.

[ritterbass]

I'd have to go with slinkys as well...My white SR 5 that arrived in july still sounds "fairly new enough" with it's stock EB strings...Now yeah i don't play with it every day nor have i since getting it but the "newness" I find lasts longer with the EB strings versus Dean Markley and DR which is what I used to use all the time...They sounded amazing when i first put them on true but give a week and that newness was gone or greatly reduced and for the price, for 5er sets here your looking at pretty well 45-$55/set so I want something that the newness will last longer. I'm finding on some of my other basses Rotosound isnt too bad either.

[mozarwasagenius]

good point on contacting the seller of my used bass. will do.

I'm leaning toward Slinkys regular

I usually lean toward medium or medium light guages, so I think this should work well tension and feel wise.

As always, lemme know what you think

(I love this forum!)

[lfh]

I highly recommend Rotosound SwingBass 66 (specifically the SM 665 set; 40/60/80/100/125 in stainless steel). Over the years I've tried lots of strings (d'Addario, DR, EBS, GHS, ...), but those are my favorites by far, both with respect to tone and playability.

Rotos are excellent for fingerstyle as well as slapping, and FWIW SR and Rotos is a classic combo: Check out some early Brothers Johnson albums the hear them in action. (At least Louis Johnson states that he uses Rotos on the mid 80:s instruction video.)

[mozarwasagenius]

Originally Posted by lfh

I highly recommend Rotosound SwingBass 66 (specifically the SM 665 set; 40/60/80/100/125 in stainless steel). Over the years I've tried lots of strings (d'Addario, DR, EBS, GHS, ...), but those are my favorites by far, both with respect to tone and playability.

Rotos are excellent for fingerstyle as well as slapping, and FWIW SR and Rotos is a classic combo: Check out some early Brothers Johnson albums the hear them in action. (At least Louis Johnson states that he uses Rotos on the mid 80:s instruction video.)

Not sure how much this matters, but mine will have a rosewood not a maple board. I know each instrument is a bit different, but doesn't the maple get more harmonics than the rosewood?

[lfh]

Originally Posted by mozarwasagenius

Not sure how much this matters, but mine will have a rosewood not a maple board. I know each instrument is a bit different, but doesn't the maple get more harmonics than the rosewood?

I think there's consensus that maple yields a slightly brighter tone ("harder", more "edge", ...) than rosewood. Rosewood is typically perceived as a tad warmer (more "fat", ...).

Look for the recent blind test thread with audio clips from one bass subsequently fitted with maple and rosewood fretboards.

I have two MM SR5:s, one with maple and one with rosewood, and I'm pleased with the Rotos in both cases.

[sethlow3]

Just as a reference, I don't slap either, and use slinkys on my SR5

[resol]

regular slinkies here as well
tried Daddarios, TI Flats, TI Jazz Rounds, DR Fatbeams, came back to Slinkies
you cannot beat the perfect feel of the low B of the Slinkies IMO