Please list your favorite roundwound 5 string sets with black silks or no silk

[smperry]

I'm considering changing up strings on some of my basses and seek out your wisdom. Because they are very different sounding basses, I'm casting a wide net: nickel or steel, any gauge...as long as they are roundwounds and have black silks or (better yet) none. All of my basses are 34.5" scale top loading, so anything for a 34" or 35" scale should work.

There's a thread from 2008 here: strings that don't have silk @ the end But I'm hoping for a more complete & updated list.

If you could briefly explain why you like a given set on whatever bass you're using, all the better. Thanks in advance!

[chadhargis]

They don't have black silks (that I can recall), but I like D'Addario Nickel XL's. Circle K's were good too if you like a tapered string and I can't remember, but they may not have silk on them.

[smperry]

Thanks. No silk is great actually. D'Addario Nickel XL's are my current go-to strings. I've been thinking about Circle K's for a while...I should just try a set.

[scotts42]

I have been stuck on R.Cocco nickels. They are a little hard to find in stock sometimes, but I have decided it's worth the searching.

[Chris Sheaffer]

No silk: D'Addario Pro Steels

[FunkMetalBass]

Circle K Balanced 150s.

Best strings for all fourths tunings with a low B.

[JoeVictim]

Originally Posted by chadhargis

They don't have black silks (that I can recall), but I like D'Addario Nickel XL's. Circle K's were good too if you like a tapered string and I can't remember, but they may not have silk on them.

+1 on Circle K. best feeling strings I have ever played. Product is A+
service however, is C+

pm me if you need more details.

[onosson]

I'm curious: why black silk or no silk? Not being argumentative, just genuinely curious as to the reason why.

[smperry]

Originally Posted by onosson

I'm curious: why black silk or no silk? Not being argumentative, just genuinely curious as to the reason why.

Purely for looks. I have four basses, all with matching headstocks: figured myrtle, figured koa, Dakota Red, and British Racing Green. Last night I wanted to try a different string on my green bass...but the only strings I have are Infelds with red silks. It may sound great, but it'd look terrible IMO! I just prefer a cleaner look.

[onosson]

Makes sense. Looks do matter for some things!

[CElton]

DA XL's are my nickel string of choice and DR Fat Beams are my Stainless String. The Fat Beams sound great on anything I've strung them up on, and they feel great and last a long time.

And, I can walk into about any music store in the country and get either of them off the shelf.

[mmbongo]

Curt Mangan strings are my favorites on my G&L. On that bass, they are perfection. You'll never touch another D'Addario string after playing Mangans.

Dunlops are also great and are priced right. I didn't like them on the G&L as well as the Mangans, but on every other bass they are pretty darn close to the Mangans.

I'm talking nickel rounds, btw. Neither have silks.

[smperry]

Thanks for the suggestions...I haven't tried some of these so I'm going to look them up!

[CapnSev]

My personal favorite rounds are the Fender 7150s. They just sound perfect to me when broken in. The newer ones don't have silks, the older ones have a gold-ish silk that is not very noticeable.

[smperry]

Originally Posted by CapnSev

My personal favorite rounds are the Fender 7150s. They just sound perfect to me when broken in. The newer ones don't have silks, the older ones have a gold-ish silk that is not very noticeable.

That's a four string set, right?

[Fuzzbass]

Black silk: LaBella Hard Rockin' Steels. Great tone: aggressive but not too bright. Great feel: neither too stiff nor too flimsy.

No silk: Elixir Nanowebs. Of all the coated strings I've tried, these sound the most natural. I use them often: they sound great and last a loooooooong time. Feel is on the stiff side, but that's fine with me.

How about a neutral gray/silver silk? If that's acceptable, I recommend Sadowsky Black Label strings... it's hard to tell they have silk at all. Also, you have your choice of steel or nickel. The steels are slightly stiffer than average. Best photo I have is when I was comparing black labels (gray silk) to blue labels (blue silk):

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by smperry

That's a four string set, right?

They come in a 4 string set, but the low B gauges (or high C gauges) are sold as singles.

[EASonBass]

DR Hi-Beams - sound great, last and last, no silk and get your collars whiter and brighter too.

[CElton]

+1 to the Sadowsky Black Labels. Great strings. The Nickels are very bright.

[smperry]

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

Black silk: LaBella Hard Rockin' Steels. Great tone: aggressive but not too bright. Great feel: neither too stiff nor too flimsy.

No silk: Elixir Nanowebs. Of all the coated strings I've tried, these sound the most natural. I use them often: they sound great and last a loooooooong time. Feel is on the stiff side, but that's fine with me.

How about a neutral gray/silver silk? If that's acceptable, I recommend Sadowsky Black Label strings... it's hard to tell they have silk at all. Also, you have your choice of steel or nickel. The steels are slightly stiffer than average. Best photo I have is when I was comparing black labels (gray silk) to blue labels (blue silk):

Gray/silver is totally fine. Thanks for the suggestions. I might try the Sadowsky set. The LaBella HRS are good strings...they were too much on one of my basses, but might work for one of my new ones. Thanks!

Originally Posted by CapnSev

They come in a 4 string set, but the low B gauges (or high C gauges) are sold as singles.

Thanks.