Most versatile strings?

Stupid Jerk · #1 02-09-2007, 05:12 AM

In terms of make, model, and gauge.

"Versatile" as in it'll cover as well as possible all or most or more than the following: funk/slap, speed metal, detuned chunka-chunka metal/hardcore stuff, coun'ry music, blues, classic rock, jazz fusion, and so on and so forth. And that'll do near as well on both fingerstyle and pickin'.

And that'll sound real good doing all that.

Or is that too much to ask?

saxnbass · #2 02-09-2007, 05:14 AM

I found DR Fatbeams to be versatile. D'Addario Half Wounds are good too (kind of flat mellow mixed with round brightness, but not truly one or the other). I've heard TI Round Jazz are versatile too, I haven't tried them yet, but want to.

ibz · #3 02-09-2007, 02:19 PM

Any good fairly bright SS round will do because it can cover the slap, metal picking, rock ect really well and you can change your playing/ instrument settings to tone down and smooth things out for blues, country ect..

Flats will only limit your for your more aggressive styles and slap.

Daniel Baskin · #4 02-11-2007, 11:53 PM

My vote goes to the standard D'Addario XL strings (nickel). I was initially turned off to the idea of getting these because I figured that they were mediocre strings on the premise that they are D'Addario's most popular bass string. I was wrong--they are most popular because they are versatile and just sound great. They are what every nickel bass string should be: crisp, growly, and deep.

E.Gonzalez · #5 02-13-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Baskin

My vote goes to the standard D'Addario XL strings (nickel). I was initially turned off to the idea of getting these because I figured that they were mediocre strings on the premise that they are D'Addario's most popular bass string. I was wrong--they are most popular because they are versatile and just sound great. They are what every nickel bass string should be: crisp, growly, and deep.

+1. I just bought these for my Pbass to replace the flatwounds and I am ultra please with it. Bright, punchy and help me realise the full potential of my pickup which is duncan SPB 1.

tplyons · #6 02-14-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Baskin

My vote goes to the standard D'Addario XL strings (nickel). I was initially turned off to the idea of getting these because I figured that they were mediocre strings on the premise that they are D'Addario's most popular bass string. I was wrong--they are most popular because they are versatile and just sound great. They are what every nickel bass string should be: crisp, growly, and deep.

+2. They last a while for me, they sound great, and they do everything I need them to. They do rock, blues, jazz, metal, etc. with the turn of a few knobs on my bass and a different right hand attack.

jamesblue · #7 02-14-2007, 06:09 AM

I think a bright flat like DA Chromes can work for all styles with slap being the weakest. So, how much do you slap, really think about it. Not how much to you pratice or want to slap, but in a band setting how often do you slap?
If you don't have a problem cutting through in your band right now, flats can be heard when slapped (Fleas done it on the new CD). If you're competing against alot of other insturments or a "mean" guitarist then it's difficult with any string to cut through the mix.

thumbin · #8 02-24-2007, 09:49 PM

+3 on D'addario nickels... I use them on my thumb and they sound awesome for whatever I'm playing

PilbaraBass · #9 02-24-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumbin

+3 on D'addario nickels... I use them on my thumb and they sound awesome for whatever I'm playing

+4...sound decent even when past they're "use by" date..

great sounding when new...

I play a variety of stuff and use the D'add XL's on two of my basses (one strung EADG, and one BEAD)...

I have two other basses with LaBella Nylon Tapes

...between these two strings, I can do just about anything...

JanusZarate · #10 02-24-2007, 10:10 PM

+5 for D'Addario nickelwounds... it's what I'm using now on my Schecter Stiletto Elite-4! They sound great for fingerstyle rock, pickstyle metal, and with a bit of onboard EQ/pickup tweaking, even warm mellow jazz!

D'Addario Chromes are decently versatile, too, because they're very bright for flatwounds. They can also be much more mellow than nickel roundwounds, and they handle much differently. A bit hard to describe, but let's just say that there's a character to flatwounds that no other string type can match, because of how they're wound. It's a nice alternative for a second or third bass that could use some new strings for those special situations.

m.oreilly · #11 02-24-2007, 10:12 PM

rotosounds: who could imagine any bass without them...

david fitch · #12 02-25-2007, 08:18 AM

+6 D'addario Nickel Rounds They are GREAT ! I love the Chromes also and keep two P-Basses strung with them for when I need that sound.

**TheEmptyCell** · #13 02-26-2007, 06:48 AM

I'd venture out and say any quality nickelwound would do nearly everything you want, however I've only really liked D'addario and Elixir nickels. Tried Ernie Ball (more like Err-what Bleh, when it came to tone), Hartke (really tinny sound, but they're fairing well on my fretless), and Fender (good while new, die too fast).

pbass2 · #14 03-01-2007, 09:20 AM

DR Nickel Lo Riders for me. On my Glaub and my Sadowsky. I can cover just about anything with either of those basses strung up with those--I love 'em!

Baryonyx · #15 03-01-2007, 09:38 AM

Rotosounds nickels. Very versatile strings, though I find versatility is more in the amp and bass when it comes to wound strings.

pbass2 · #16 03-01-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris2112

Rotosounds nickels. Very versatile strings, though I find versatility is more in the amp and bass when it comes to wound strings.

Ditto. And the hands. You can thumb-mute thump on nickel rounds with the treble rolled off and get in the same ballpark as flats, and alternatively crank the treble for some grinding pickstyle rock or slap. Flats have a little less range in that respect (though I do think everyone should have at least one bass with flats IMHO).

chunkstyle · #17 03-01-2007, 10:10 AM

d'addario xl. i hate them. but they are a very good all around string.

ghs boomers. i know some people hate them. they are also very versatile. i prefer these to d'addarios.

my personal tastes are pretty specific and i know exactly what i want out of my sound. but if i was living in New York doing jingles or something like that, i would probably have a week old set of either the xls or the boomers on my basses. most likely the boomers...

bskts247 · #18 04-10-2012, 04:27 PM

DR High Beams. I think that versatility in a string is really based on how you play them and the tone that you set on the amp. High Beams are Roundwound strings (and if you want versaltility dont go with flats).

Mike M. · #19 04-10-2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunkstyle

d'addario xl. i hate them. but they are a very good all around string.

ghs boomers. i know some people hate them. they are also very versatile. i prefer these to d'addarios.

my personal tastes are pretty specific and i know exactly what i want out of my sound. but if i was living in New York doing jingles or something like that, i would probably have a week old set of either the xls or the boomers on my basses. most likely the boomers...

Lately I've rediscovered GHS Boomers. Haven't used them in years and last week I thought I'd try some on my Jazz 5'er. Hmmm! Very full and clear without that "clank" like I'd get with other strings. I just put a set on my P bass last night and quite like them. I really like the tension too. Not a loose feel by any means on either bass, but not too tight either. Very reasonable price as well.

darkstorm · #20 04-10-2012, 06:42 PM

Sound versatility and diff voices is via the bass, how you blend the pups and adjust the preamp tone controls or passive tone. Strings can be picked for best sound best sound for the bass but not the versatility. The bass's controls do that.