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01-04-2007, 10:19 AM
| | Registered User
Hi-fi into an old tube amp | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM | | | Steel Strings That Won't Eat Frets
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Anyone know what steel strings are gentle on the frets?
I was cleaning my bass the other day and noticed some wear on the B/E area (where I play and slap the most, pretty aggressively) on frets 1-5 in particular.
I've been using this bass for less than a year. I play for at least an hour every day. This wear bugs me though. Maybe Cirrus basses dont use the sickest metal for the frets. I never had this problem on my other basses.
The strings that I use are Blue Steal Med Lights (70% of the time) and DR High Beams (30%).
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Cirrus 5 / Mesa Bass 400 KT-88 / BDDI / Megoliath
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01-04-2007, 10:26 AM
| | | | I think everything eventually eats frets. In the 80s I used to use copper coated strings from D'Addario (XL-REDS). They were so gentle to the frets...sorry to see them go.
I am using a set on my P-bass now that has a SS core and nickel wrap. Seems to be a nice compromise. They are called Slappers or something. Forget who makes them, but if I find the package, I'll post again... |
01-04-2007, 10:47 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Nashville, TN | | | slappers are made by Labella and are a great strings. Very bright for nickel. All nickel strings are going to be nicer on the frets than steels, but the sound will never be as bright or punchy as steels. I am surprised DR High Beams are causing you problems, as I have not had problems with them on my Lakland. You might want to try coated strings by DR. Can't say much for the sound as I have never tried them... |
01-04-2007, 01:37 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: CO | | | Basses wear out. Frets need leveling from time to time and at some point replacing. Play it the way it sounds good. And every now and then you have to do maitenance just like everything else.
Or you could just hang it on the wall and admire it ;-).
Dave |
01-04-2007, 01:46 PM
| | | | I switched from Rotosounds to Pedulla strings a while back and have noticed a significant decrease in fretwear (as well as much better tone). Don't know if they're any different than other high quality steel strings, but I love them. |
01-04-2007, 01:58 PM
|  | Hip No Ties | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York, NY | | Actually, DRs are reputed to be quite easy on the frets - due mostly to the "compression-wound" manufacturing process, in which the outer layer is flattened down slightly in order to make the string smoother and less abrasive.
From what I've heard, Blue Steels tend to be quite abrasive though. Maybe that's your culprit? 
MM
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"If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is: infinite."
- William Blake
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01-04-2007, 03:27 PM
| | Pat's the best! | | Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Northern Virginia, USA | |  Rotosounds! |
01-04-2007, 11:54 PM
| | Son, I am disappoint. | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Gig Harbor, Washington | | | id say DR's, Rotosounds gave me pretty bad blisters once...
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Fender - Mesa - Peavey - Tech 21
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01-05-2007, 09:02 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Ventura, CA | | | Play the strings that sound good to you. A fret level, crown, and polish will be needed eventually no matter what string you use, and is not an expensive repair. Even flats can mash frets a bit. |
01-05-2007, 09:19 AM
| | Registered User
Hi-fi into an old tube amp | | Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM | | | Thanks for the advice everyone.
Blue Steels do have a bit more "texture" to them so that could be it.
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Cirrus 5 / Mesa Bass 400 KT-88 / BDDI / Megoliath
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01-05-2007, 09:39 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Denton, TX | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Philbiker  Rotosounds! | rofl...
the steel wool of bass strings |
01-05-2007, 10:36 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: LOS ANGELES, CA | | Status Graphite makes some great strings called "Hot Wires". They are the brightest and "softest" strings I have ever felt underneath my fingertips AND they have done no damage to my fretless fingerboard: http://www.status-graphite.com/statu...s/strings4.htm |
01-05-2007, 01:23 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: CO | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Terrien | Are they the round core or hex core?
Dave |
01-05-2007, 01:37 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Surrey, United Kingdom | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass Are they the round core or hex core?
Dave | They do both round core and hex core 
As Jay said they are great strings. |
01-08-2007, 03:27 AM
|  | GOLD Supporting Member | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sheboygan, WI | | | +1 on the DR's... especially the Hi Beams. I'm not sure about 'fret eating'.... I would think any string that is made of harder metal than the fret would eventually wear the fret down, but that takes many years. However, the DR Hi Beams are the smoothest on the fingers of any roundwound I've ever played (kind of the 'anti-roto sound) regarding feel. They have a much more 'Marcus Miller funk' sort of treble response versus the very 'rock grindy' high end of the Rotosounds to my ear.
Nice strings... relatively loose tension versus some others, but long lasting and smooth... they sound like SS and feel like Nickels to me. |
01-08-2007, 10:29 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: LOS ANGELES, CA | | I play the hexcore strings. Quote:
Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass Are they the round core or hex core?
Dave | | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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