Which strings sound closest to the old Fender 7250s?

Fender32 · #1 09-06-2010, 06:59 AM

So, I've searched every thread that I could find about these strings and although everyone seems to agree that the new, silkless, coloured ball end strings sound different to the old black silk, brass ball end strings ... nobody seems to have yet suggested a good alternative

.

Is there one

? Does anyone know of a brand of nickel-plated, s/s strings which have the same warmth, strong output and bottom end presence that the old 7250s were so good at? They sounded so good on my P and Jazz Basses - I really miss them

.

Actually, I'm really annoyed that Fender just quietly changed everything apart from the model number, as I had no idea what (****

) I was buying when I mail ordered three sets of these a couple of months ago. I certainly won't be buying any more of them, but I have to find something to replace them with and every other brand that I'd tried before were just too 'thin' sounding, or in the case of the Fender 8250s, a little bit 'vague and muddy' for my tastes

. Full S/S strings are out of the question, too (personal preference).

Help

!???

TimB 619 · #2 09-06-2010, 07:50 AM

I switched from Fender 7250 to Ken Smith bass burners for nickel rounds. Never looked back.

DR Sunbeams are nice as well. Folks also really like Sadowsky nickels as well.

Fender32 · #3 09-06-2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimB 619

I switched from Fender 7250 to Ken Smith bass burners for nickel rounds. Never looked back.

DR Sunbeams are nice as well. Folks also really like Sadowsky nickels as well.

Thanks for the input, Tim

.

I've tried DR Sunbeams on my StingRays and really thought that they were a good match, but hadn't thought to put them on the Fenders (well, there was no need to when I could buy a set of 7250s for half the price

). Must give those another shot

.

The Sadowsky nickels felt a bit 'airy' to me - at least they did on the Sadoswky M5-24 and one passive FrankenJazz that I had. They're also too expensive over here for my taste (literally three times the price of the Fender nickels

).

Ken Smith strings I haven't seen over here - will go and investigate!

Interested to hear any other suggestion though ...

Surly · #4 09-06-2010, 08:44 AM

Since Fender changed their strings, I'm using D'addario Chromes.

Fender32 · #5 09-06-2010, 08:51 AM

Anyone tried these ... (Link ...) Kerly Kues

!?

The description sounds interesting ...

TimB 619 · #6 09-06-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fender32

Thanks for the input, Tim

.

I've tried DR Sunbeams on my StingRays and really thought that they were a good match, but hadn't thought to put them on the Fenders (well, there was no need to when I could buy a set of 7250s for half the price

). Must give those another shot

.

The Sadowsky nickels felt a bit 'airy' to me - at least they did on the Sadoswky M5-24 and one passive FrankenJazz that I had. They're also too expensive over here for my taste (literally three times the price of the Fender nickels

).

Ken Smith strings I haven't seen over here - will go and investigate!

Interested to hear any other suggestion though ...

Your best bet will probably be online for the Ken Smiths. Ken Smiths are made by GHS, so you could try a set of Boomers perhaps, I'm guessing they'd be somewhat similar. Don't know about availability in Germany though.

Dunlops are supposedly similar to DR's but a bit cheaper, so that could work for you too. Hope that helps.

steamthief · #7 09-06-2010, 11:16 AM

I found Sunbeams similar in tone, but definitely less tension. To me, nickel Lo-Riders are much closer in tone and feel, with slightly more high-end zing.

GM60466 · #8 09-06-2010, 11:47 AM

low riders

Fender32 · #9 09-06-2010, 03:25 PM

Sounds like the Ken Smith's and the Lo Riders could be the two to check out then

.

Thanks for your input guys, info like this is invaluable

.

T. Brookins · #10 10-21-2010, 03:59 PM

Ernie ball slinkies.

These are nickel plated steel.

Yes.

wake & Bass · #11 10-21-2010, 04:23 PM

Yeah, I just posted on another thread about this. I should have researched TB first about the new packaging. I am a diehard 7250 user (5 years) and these new ones are terrible!! I ordered from an online string dealer, noticed the packaging was different, but didn't think much about it.....until I got them. The first thing I thought, D'A's which I never liked. I put em on......not good.....like you others, what's something similar? I never was a fan of DR's, but might have to try the LoRiders. Gee, 6 sets.....$100 later......I may have to wait a while until I blow through the crap........

DavePlaysBass · #12 10-24-2010, 04:50 PM

Maybe the Sadowsky Blue Nickels.

SurferJoe46 · #13 10-24-2010, 11:08 PM

I absolutely and totally believe that the ROTOSOUND RS45s are as close as you can get to the GOOD Fender 7250 NPS strings of yesteryear.

The QC on ROTOS is quantum leaps ahead of anything Fender is doing to their strings.

I also found out that Martin had a contract to make strings for Fender too.

It seems Fender was squirming around with a few different string winders for a while, and who knows where their bean counters are sending the contracts now.

Marton · #14 10-24-2010, 11:24 PM

DR Sunbeams are awesome.

I never tried them, but I heard great reviews for the Dunlop Nickel too.