Strings for that "piano tone" ?

[paisteman]

Ive used the Dean Markley Blue Steel before. I liked them. Ive put on some Fenders and the sound for the first week or so is great but they became pretty dead after that. They did sound great for those first weeks though. I have only tried those two sets so.......

What should I try next? I'm a relative newbie as far as bass goes (I'm a drummer).

I don't think I want flats, as I like an open sound. Maybe I'm wrong though. Thanks for the help

[Demon_Hunter]

Rotosounds

[megadan]

Originally Posted by Demon_Hunter

Rotosounds

+1

[John Wentzien]

Rotos

[trunkshope6]

rotos or eb's

[fretlessguy]

D'Addario Pro Steels. Or Rotos.

[Jazz Ad]

Steels obviously, Rotos are good for this but the bass is important too.
Fenders aren't the best instruments to get it.

[One Bad Monkey]

Circle K Strings are the only ones I've found that have the clarity and definition that would easily be defined as "piano tone." Rotos are nice, but they're going to be somewhat close to the Blue Steels in terms of tone.

[j.kernodle]

DR hibeams get that tone and last a long time. great strings. i like the d'addario prosteels too, but they're a little rougher feeling.

[Solarmist]

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

DR hibeams get that tone and last a long time. great strings. i like the d'addario prosteels too, but they're a little rougher feeling.

Hmmm - I thought the DR HB felt rougher than the ProSteels.

[KrisH]

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

DR hibeams get that tone and last a long time. great strings.

+1. Not on my fenders, though -- but on my handmade bass with Dimarzios, walnut/poplar body and a Schaller roller bridge, they ring!

[Gearhead43]

Piano strings.

[Jim Nazium]

In addition to those already mentioned, LaBella Super Steps are worth checking out. They're stainless rounds with a tapered core just like - you guessed it - piano strings.

[Lurker79]

I think you'd be surprised with dm alchemy strings. Very piano like. Purple wrap too...

[eyecandy]

good stainless strings hmm.. DR Hi Beam, Rotosound, GHS and D'Addario... i'm not sure how well they last, i use flats nowadays

[bassplace]

Roto RS99's - Piano String 99

[pacojas]

"roto's" on a great bass!!! (something with hot pups)

[devnulljp]

You used to be able to get strings that were roundwounds but with an exposed piano wire end at the bridge -- they were great. Bonus was they got out of the way if you snapped one. Bigger bonus if they whipped up and clipped the singer in the ear
They were called Superwound, made by...?? I Rotosound maybe? Don't think they make them any more though.

EDIT: Found a set on ebay would you believe?
Pic

[thirtypoint87]

+1 on a taper wound string. I've had good luck with the Dean Markley SR2000 series. I like how a Bb (for example) on the E string sounds a lot more like the Bb played on the A string than on a standard string.

good luck!

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by devnulljp

You used to be able to get strings that were roundwounds but with an exposed piano wire end at the bridge -- They were called Superwound

Hey, I used to use those on my Steinberger, until I discovered Ken Smith made double-ballend strings. Yeah, those Superwounds were pretty "twangy".