Opinion Wanted: "Warmest Strings"?

joeschitterefsk · #1 10-22-2010, 01:00 PM

Need an educated opinion from users: who's got the warmest sounding strings out there? I"m still looking for definition and proper tone, but I play with a pick and most of my stainless choices are too bright/clanky.

Gone down the nickel only road but haven't found something that I really love.

I've been unimpressed with DR coated, Exlixir nano/poly web coats and GHS/Slinkys aren't worth the packaging they come in IMHO.

Been moving back and forth with various D'addario sets: Chromes seem too dull/lack sustain, Regular XLs are just "ok" as are their coated ones. Half-rounds are decent but still lacking in the sustain dept to my ear.

Thoughts?

billgwx · #2 10-22-2010, 01:28 PM

I used to love that bright/clanky stainless steel sound until I started playing fretless...then all of a sudden it sounded harsh to me and have switched to nickel or nickel-plated stainless steel on both my fretted and fretless basses over the past year. For my 4-string Fender Jazz...have gone back and forth between GHS Boomers and D'Addario XL's and am happier with the latter. For my Brice HXB-405 fretless I just switched from stainless steel to Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (strung onto the bridge rather than through the body) and find the sound to be much warmer.

brendanbassist · #3 10-22-2010, 01:33 PM

DR Sunbeams would be worth a try.

P-oddz · #4 10-22-2010, 01:57 PM

+ 1 Sunbeams.

I use 'em on my '62 Jazz RI. Take just a little bit to wear in, but when they do they're awesome IMO. Not quite the zing of a regular round, and not the dull thump of a flat wound. Easy playability (great feel and response), punchy and warm. I play with a pick and fingerstyle.

Here's a link that ED Friedland did of a breakdown of various DR strings, complete with opinions, and audio reference. Just scroll down a bit.

http://www.bassemporium.com/newslett...ewsletter.html

Kwesi · #5 10-22-2010, 02:01 PM

Unimpressed with DR? Whoa, lol. Might I suggest Ken Smith Burners? I think the name is very appropriate! Very warm but with great clarity and definition. Good for pretty much anything.

HolmeBass · #6 10-22-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendanbassist

DR Sunbeams would be worth a try.

+1

Although you said you tried nickels, if you haven't tried these I would.

John Wentzien · #7 10-22-2010, 02:06 PM

Leave a set of Rotos on for a year or 2!

strappa · #8 10-22-2010, 02:06 PM

if you tried Sunbeams but didn't like 'em

try Thomastik Infeld SuperAlloy
very warm but not as bright as the Sunbeams

markanini · #9 10-22-2010, 03:44 PM

Some good suggestions in this thread but I'll add my 2c: Maxima are said to be very lively yet have a pleasant clank. They're quite expensive too. Sfarzo also seem like a very high quality string. Maybe a roundcore set would be worth seeking out, it's a rather subtle difference but might be just what you are looking for. Another thing worth checking out is pressurewounds, not as flat as halfrounds but not as bright as regular rounds.

lmfreeman9 · #10 10-22-2010, 04:22 PM

Duncan Nickels are warm with excellent low mids. i like the DR Sunbeams too.

Mojo-Man · #11 10-22-2010, 10:17 PM

DR Sunbeams.
Ken Smith Compressors.
GHS Pressurewounds.

CapnSev · #12 10-22-2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo-Man

Ken Smith Compressors.
GHS Pressurewounds.

These.

KYJazzy · #13 10-23-2010, 12:44 PM

All of the above mentioned nickels and hybrids are warm and awesome, without moving into flats territory. You may try out a bunch of rounds or grounds only to find out flats were what you wanted all along. If you play with a pick and are worried about retaining "proper definition and tone," there's nothing wrong with flats + pick + tone knob wide open. It is tone heaven (at least for me!)

edit: reading the post again and you saying chromes are dull, I would definitely check out sunbeams or compressors.

plangentmusic · #14 10-23-2010, 12:54 PM

Roll off some treble.

selowitch · #15 10-23-2010, 02:02 PM

What about Chromes would make one say they are dull? To me, they are the punchiest, gnarliest, growliest flats I've ever played. I really like them. You can even slap on them, although the tone that results isn't ideal.

darkstorm · #16 10-23-2010, 02:18 PM

Rotosound swing 66 and Dr neon. The latter are little bit brighter but retain the warmth etc of the former. Rotosounds are the least bright stainless rounds Ive tried yet very musicial and more pleasant sound overall then most to me. The DR neons may have a touch more low bass articulation to them. The little bit of extra treble at first is easilly taken care of by slightly rolling off treble control on your basses preamp.

Craig_S · #17 10-24-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmfreeman9

Duncan Nickels are warm with excellent low mids. i like the DR Sunbeams too.

I concur.

Phaidrus · #18 10-28-2010, 05:38 AM

To my knowledge, the Pyramid Gold flatwounds by far. I just bought a set in custom gauge 45-65-85-105 (instead of the normal 40-55-75-105 set) and the tone is as warm as it gets: thick, dark and creamy, yet with some articulation. They also have a not too high tension, which I like.

Compared to the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flatwounds, they are much warmer and much more old school sounding, also a bit stiffer/higher tension to play and generate considerably less fret noise, probably also due to their lower output.

mmbongo · #19 10-28-2010, 08:33 AM

You want to try PURE nickel roundwounds (not nickel plated like you've been trying). Something like DR Hellborgs or Fender 7150's.

srsteve · #20 10-30-2010, 02:02 PM

I have a used set of 45-100 Sunbeams gathering dust (not literally!) if you're interested.