Strings for my Sadowsky 5

Sean Baumann · #1 06-18-2007, 12:59 PM

Ok, so the strings on my bass are going dead. I have a maple/ash NYC 5, that still has the Sadowsky strings on it. I love the feel, they are slightly stiff. The sound was great out of the box. I thought they died a bit too fast though. My chemistry seems to be very hard on strings, and they loose their brightness quickly. Typically, the longest lasting string I have tries so far are DRs (hibeams). The Sadowsky strings last about as long as D'Addario XLs for me, which isn't bad, but for $30 a set, can be painful to the wallet. Again, I am not dissing any strings, I am a rare case.

So what strings would you recommend I try on my sadowsky? They have to have good life and be bright enough for the occasional slap lick.

Do I have to use a tapper B to fit the bridge?

Tony G · #2 06-18-2007, 01:02 PM

Have you tried DR Hi-Beams or Fat beams on your Sadowsky? Those are two of my favorite strings. Another string that I really used to like that is a bit underrated here is the Dean Markley Blue Steels.

Sean Baumann · #3 06-18-2007, 01:03 PM

I am sort of worried that I will lose the tight feel of the Sadowsky strings with the round core Hibeams, since it is 34" scale. Guess I won't know until I try.

Also, will the nontapper B fit the bridge? I think the DR sets are all nontapper except the long necks.

Tony G · #4 06-18-2007, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Baumann

I am sort of worried that I will lose the tight feel of the Sadowsky strings with the round core Hibeams, since it is 34" scale. Guess I won't know until I try.

Also, will the nontapper B fit the bridge? I think the DR sets are all nontapper except the long necks.

I honestly can't remember about the bridge, but I'm sure somebody will chime in about that. You can order a hybrid set from your DR dealer with a Long Neck low b. If you like a higher tension string, check into Lo-Riders, though I'm sure you know all this already.

The Blue Steels I recommended are definitely a higher tension than hi-beams, and they last longer than any string I've ever played. If the nontapered low b works for your bridge, I recommend checking them out if you want a nice bright stainless roundwound tone that lasts a long time.

CElton · #5 06-19-2007, 10:59 AM

Not sure they are what you're looking for, but I just put a set of D'Addario ProSteels on. I like the tone, but they actually have way more tension than I like. And, IIRC, they do not have a taper B.

Nino Valenti · #6 06-19-2007, 11:01 AM

Non taper B strings will work fine as on any other bass.

alexofc69 · #7 06-19-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Baumann

Ok, so the strings on my bass are going dead. I have a maple/ash NYC 5, that still has the Sadowsky strings on it. I love the feel, they are slightly stiff. The sound was great out of the box. I thought they died a bit too fast though. My chemistry seems to be very hard on strings, and they loose their brightness quickly. Typically, the longest lasting string I have tries so far are DRs (hibeams). The Sadowsky strings last about as long as D'Addario XLs for me, which isn't bad, but for $30 a set, can be painful to the wallet. Again, I am not dissing any strings, I am a rare case.

So what strings would you recommend I try on my sadowsky? They have to have good life and be bright enough for the occasional slap lick.

Do I have to use a tapper B to fit the bridge?

Keep using DR Hibeams! Thats all I use, except on my Schecter. That has Elixrs that came on it and I have used it for every practice and gig since november and thay are still good!! I just clean them. Not my favorite strings, too stiff, but man they last.
With DR HiBeams use their StringLife liquid Polymer. It seems to make them last and brighten them up when getting dull.
http://store.drstringsgear.com/stringlife.html

pickles · #8 06-19-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Baumann

I am sort of worried that I will lose the tight feel of the Sadowsky strings with the round core Hibeams, since it is 34" scale. Guess I won't know until I try.

Also, will the nontapper B fit the bridge? I think the DR sets are all nontapper except the long necks.

Search for a thread we had a while back on this exact topic, there is TONS of info in there.

Overall, you'll never find another B that is as good as the sadowsky stainless other than the LaBella hard rockin steel 128.

But if you like hi-beams, try them. They worked on one of my metros and not on the other. You'll need to lower the B string saddle since the string is not tapered, and you'll also need to add a little relief since they are a lot more flexible. The string end will fit in the bridge, but it is a tight squeeze and its pretty easy to ding the finish behind the bridge when loading a nontapered string.

If you don't want to touch the setup, order a 5 pack of sadowskys and forget about it. I think they are 30% off right now.

Sean Baumann · #9 06-19-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nino Valenti

Non taper B strings will work fine as on any other bass.

Oh cool. I thought that the B string saddle intonation screw would be in the way of the string. I think I read that somewhere. No worries though, I bought a set of Sadowsky Nickles to try first.

Sean Baumann · #10 06-21-2007, 06:33 PM

Got my nickle set today. They sound great out of the box. Wow, didn't realize the sadowsky bridge is quick release....very cool!

Comparing the strings, my SS sadowsky strings were VERY dirty... only had about 4 gigs on them (but several weeks of rehearsal and practice too)

Sean Baumann · #11 07-09-2007, 09:22 AM

I tried to put a set of DR Fatbeams on my Sadowsky, but the B string doesn't look like it will fit. The outer wrap will start winding around the tuning peg. Won't that make it difficult to tune properly?

KJung · #12 07-09-2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Baumann

I am sort of worried that I will lose the tight feel of the Sadowsky strings with the round core Hibeams, since it is 34" scale. Guess I won't know until I try.

Also, will the nontapper B fit the bridge? I think the DR sets are all nontapper except the long necks.

The Hi Beams will be looser feeling, but IMO they still feel great, last a long time, and are a particularly good match for the Sadowsky. The non-tapered B string is a little bit of work to get into the Sadowsky bridge, but not really a problem.

If you want slightly tighter tension, try the Lo Riders.... a little more 'traditional' sounding, but also very good.

KJung · #13 07-09-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Baumann

I tried to put a set of DR Fatbeams on my Sadowsky, but the B string doesn't look like it will fit. The outer wrap will start winding around the tuning peg. Won't that make it difficult to tune properly?

Also not a problem.

K

Sean Baumann · #14 07-09-2007, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

The Hi Beams will be looser feeling, but IMO they still feel great, last a long time, and are a particularly good match for the Sadowsky. The non-tapered B string is a little bit of work to get into the Sadowsky bridge, but not really a problem.

If you want slightly tighter tension, try the Lo Riders.... a little more 'traditional' sounding, but also very good.

Yeah, I scratched up my black bride a little trying to get that B in there...only to find out that it will wind over the tuning peg with the outer wrap. Is that bad??

Sean Baumann · #15 07-09-2007, 09:32 AM

oh ok, I'll try again then. I thought that was a bad thing (tm).

KJung · #16 07-09-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Baumann

Yeah, I scratched up my black bride a little trying to get that B in there...only to find out that it will wind over the tuning peg with the outer wrap. Is that bad??

I've never had a problem with it. It is a little bit of a hassle getting the B into the bridge, but once you've done it a few times, it's really no big deal... you just hold the end of the string up a bit so that it doesn't scratch the finish below the bridge and then pull it in.

There is only a very small amount of the full, non tapered winding that winds around the tuning peg... no issue... stays in tune, does not break, sounds good!!!!

K

Sean Baumann · #17 07-09-2007, 09:38 AM

sweet. I really do like the Sadowsky strings, but I kill them way too fast. An hour or two of playing and the strings are already changing to a dull color. I can get the DRs about 25% cheaper local.

WJGreer · #18 07-09-2007, 09:42 AM

Sean,

I went on a string binge last year, and tried a bunch of stuff I had read about here along with a few things I had run across myself.

In the end, I settled on the Carvin 5011 nickel set, which is made by LaBella. They are slightly light (.40 G), have low-ish tension, and are quite bright for nickel strings. Also, and of note here, I find that they stay bright as long as any string I tried, and when they finally do die, they respond very well to a soak in denatured alcohol. They come out of it sounding exactly - and I mean exactly - as new. I can have two sets in a rotation on a bass and be set for about a year.

The best part is that they cost 12.99 a set direct from Carvin. The equivalent six string set (6011) costs 15.99. IN my view, this is an amazing string value, and I highly recommend trying them out.

PS - I just received a new bass from Nino that he strung with Sadowsky nickels. The bass is awesome, but I do not like the strings very much. I agree with your observations that they are a little stiff and a little dark. Perhaps they would be perfect for someone playing a more heavy-handed style than I, but I am excited to get a set of Carvin nickels on there - in fact, they just arrived on Saturday so I will probably do it tonight.

Tony G · #19 07-09-2007, 09:47 AM

Interesting thoughts Will. I've used Carvin strings in the past, but probably not in the past couple of years. I have considered getting them again, but I am usually a fan of stainless steel. Any thoughts on those from Carvin?

WJGreer · #20 07-09-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xgabriele

Interesting thoughts Will. I've used Carvin strings in the past, but probably not in the past couple of years. I have considered getting them again, but I am usually a fan of stainless steel. Any thoughts on those from Carvin?

Tony - That would be the 50STS model. Same gauge, same price as the nickels. I've used them, but not for a few years and only on the Carvin fretless I used to have. So I can't opine, but I think they might be worth a try too.