my Hi-Beams are 2.5 yrs old!

palm grease · #1 08-29-2008, 11:03 AM

They are greasy, thumpy, full of MY skin flakes....record oh so well, balanced, transparent...... perfect!

any love for dead strings?

Amitio · #2 08-29-2008, 11:06 AM

Yes! i love my dead strings, which are still the stock strings.

Ive thought about changing them, but i hate the new string sound.

Munjibunga · #3 08-29-2008, 11:24 AM

In a couple years they'll be just about right.

BassSurfer · #4 08-31-2008, 05:39 PM

this thread rules.. i constantly laugh when i see bassists go from string to string within weeks..or days..

Mastermold · #5 09-01-2008, 10:56 PM

I mostly use flats and have a lot of basses anyway so string changes don't happen more than every few months, if not years for some basses.

Thunderthumbs73 · #6 09-01-2008, 11:08 PM

A few of my basses have never had the strings changed. A few of my other basses have some strings which are boiled and cleaned before every gig for that nice spank/brilliant tone.

I like all kinds of good tones.

I like a Jamerson thump and I like a Mark King slap equally well. Each have their place.

skywalkerla5 · #7 09-01-2008, 11:11 PM

I just change strings whenever they break!

i play pretty hard so i prefer anything from one month to a year and a half, i don't like new strings with my style cause then i have to cut the treble on my bass.

Timbo · #8 09-01-2008, 11:54 PM

love dead strings. Zingyness just ain't my thang.

theory028 · #9 09-03-2008, 08:12 PM

I had some strings on my first bass (Ibanez GSR200) that I changed about a month ago. They were dead and changing them made all the difference. I didn't like the dead strings and a fresh set made the bass much more enjoyable to play. They were the set from my LTD B-4E (I believe they are GHS), so they weren't incredibly new sounding. That may have contributed to my satisfaction.

I'm still in that experimental state where I'm trying different brands (Elixir, Boomers, D'Addario, DR) to find what I like, so string changes are exciting.

Rebop · #10 09-03-2008, 08:20 PM

I have 10 year old boomers on my 67 EB-0.
I have 4 or 5 years old hi-beams on my Roscoe.
And finally, I use a 5 year old set of Thomastik Superflexibles or 10 year old D'Addario Helicore Hybrid Mediums (as backups or to just switch it up) for my double bass.

jasper383 · #11 09-03-2008, 08:42 PM

I had Fat Beams on a Yamaha 5 string for about 3 years. They still sounded great.

Fat/Hi Beams and Fender 7250 Nickels seem to last forever for me.

dave64o · #12 09-10-2008, 02:15 PM

I've always loved the sound of fretted basses with stainless steel roundwounds that have lost their "new string zing". The only reason I'd change them was either to put on a fresh set to sell the bass (sometimes) or when I first get a bass to put on a set that I like.

So far I've only used flats on my fretlesses. However, lately I've been thinking about giving flats a try on a fretted bass - my Stingray 5. If I did that, then unless I break one (which has never happened to me on a bass) then I think the strings on my basses would outlast me.

fretlessguy · #13 09-13-2008, 07:57 AM

As long as they sound good.......Keep them on!

chilliwilli · #14 09-13-2008, 08:19 PM

Can you post up some clips of your ancient beams?

palm grease · #15 09-15-2008, 08:19 AM

best i can offer is a myspaz link....

Pilgrim · #16 09-15-2008, 09:13 AM

Do I like dead strings.....let's see:

2007 Epiphone EB-0, has 1 year old original rounds
2007 turser JTB-401, has 1 year old Labella flats
2006 rogue VB-100, has 2 year old Labella flats
1970's Univox 3350-copy, has three year old Rotosound flats
P/J special, has four year old Fender tapewounds
2000 MIM Jazz, has 8 year old original rounds
1963 Precision, has 40+ year old flats

So yeah, I guess there are vague indications I like dead strings.

chilliwilli · #17 09-15-2008, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palm grease

best i can offer is a myspaz link....

thats ok as long as it has sound of your bass

Mastermold · #18 09-15-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

1963 Precision, has 40+ year old flats

I'm surprised they aren't rusty by now!

Pilgrim · #19 09-15-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastermold

I'm surprised they aren't rusty by now!

I have mainly lived in the West, in low-humidity environments. Perhaps that accounts for it.

Honk'n_down-low · #20 09-15-2008, 05:02 PM

My two older Jazz Basses have strings that are about 15 years old.

I don't remember what kind they are - guessing some type of Dean Markleys. I have a drawer with various sets that are easily that old. My friend used to change his strings a lot - before they were even dead - so I took a few sets and tossed them in a drawer - that was about 16 years ago or so. Maybe I should eBay them - old school tone for sale.