Recommendations for a 7 String Bass?

[Meridian69]

So... I jumped off into the deep end this morning and pre-ordered an Ibanez BTB7. What are some good recommendations for strings for it? I have been using D'addario XLs on my Ibanez 506 for a while and like the sound. I had some GHS Boomers on my 4 string BTB and did not like them very much. I did recently switch over my 4 string to DR Black Beauties and I really like them a lot.

Does DR make the coated strings for a 7 string bass (either individually or in a set)? What are some other recommendations on strings for a 7 string bass?

Thanks in advance!

[songwriter21]

LaBella, Circle K, Conklin

[songwriter21]

By the way, no, at least to my knowledge, DR does not make 7-string bass sets at all. The only brands I know that venture out past 6-strings, as far as pre-packaged sets go, are the brands previously mentioned.

Oh, and juststrings.com has a CRAP-TON of single strings that you can make into a custom set, from all kinds of brands. Circle K strings are their own brand, whereas JustStrings has the most selection that I've ever seen anywhere online.

Hope this helps....

[Meridian69]

It helps a lot. Thank you for the suggestions.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Any company that makes a 6 string set and add a plain steel High-F...

[ixlramp]

Low F# or high F?
If high F you can use a guitar plain .018 with a detached bass ball end threaded onto it, i do this a lot with my BTB it's a bit fiddly getting it through the saddle but is cheap ... if you can find a string long enough, i have found Rotosound and D'Aquisto plains long enough.
If you want a wound high F Conklin Guitars sell individual .020s and .022s through their site.
Circle K Strings sell tension balanced sets if you want that, if you are going low F# i consider CKS the best sub-B strings available.

[PlatypusBassist]

I know that resound do a dropzone set which has a string designed for a low F, just incase you wanted a low F#

[PlatypusBassist]

*rotosound

[zcwilkes]

I prefer DR Lo-Riders so I just ordered a six - string set and ordered a couple of stainless steel high F strings from Conklin. I got a .20 wound and a .15 plain steel. I thought the wound sounded better but the tension felt better on the plain string.

[chucko58]

The challenge with 7-string is that high F. There are few sources of wound strings in the .022-025" range. Wound guitar string construction isn't strong enough for bass guitar tensions. Plain strings sound and feel radically different.

Of course you could always drop the whole instrument a fourth or fifth, and tune it to low F# or E.

[Flatwound]

I sold my 7's, but I really liked Dean Markley SR2000's. I also like them on basses with 4, 5, or 6 strings. They're not terribly expensive, either.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Originally Posted by chucko58

The challenge with 7-string is that high F. There are few sources of wound strings in the .022-025" range. Wound guitar string construction isn't strong enough for bass guitar tensions. Plain strings sound and feel radically different.

Of course you could always drop the whole instrument a fourth or fifth, and tune it to low F# or E.

.020W strings

Ken Smith Stainless Steel
Ken Smith Nickel Plated Steel
MTD Stainless Steel
MTD Nickel Plated Steel

.022W string

Dean Markley SR2000 Stainless Steel

.025W strings

Ken Smith Stainless Steel
Ken Smith Nickel Plated Steel
D'Addario XL Nickel Plated Steel
DR Sunbeam NPS
DR Hi-Beam SS
DR Lo-Rider SS
(They might have a NPS Lo-Rider as well)
Elrick Nickel Plated Steel
Elrick Stainless Steel
La Bella Nickel Plated Steel
La Bella Stainless Steel
DR Lo-Rider SS
Rotosound Stainless Steel

[Doodaddy]

I had Ken Smith Bass Burners on my Conklin when I had it. I would buy the 6 string pack and then a single; either F# or F.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Originally Posted by Doodaddy

I would buy the 6 string pack and then a single;

That is really what people need to do for 7 string sets... There aren't many "Pre-packaged" available...

However, buying a 4 string set and single B C & F strings opens up a world to much more variety... I usually point people in the direction of a 5 string set and single High-C... Even that creates a lot more options.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by songwriter21

Oh, and juststrings.com has a CRAP-TON of single strings that you can make into a custom set, from all kinds of brands.

Their selection of singles and custom sets pales in comparison to Bass Strings Online.
http://www.bassstringsonline.com/Bui...set_c_163.html

[songwriter21]

I'm new to Bassstringsonline, but the last two transactions have been fantastic. Their prices are better than JustStrings, and that's why I switched.

[Mr_Music90]

Pyramid