Strings suggestion for my new 5 string P bass?

madbassplaya · #1 11-07-2011, 08:46 AM

That's right folks, I'm needing suggestions on some round wounds for my 5 string precision that I'm getting.

Here is my criteria:
1. Roundwound (no flats!) I know that flats and a P work well together but that's just not the tone that I am after.
2. Nickel (just not into stainless)
3. Hex Core string. I've been using DR Sunbeams and I LOVE the tone and feel but I'm wanting something a little stiffer.

Here's what I'm considering so far:

Dunlop Nickels

DR Nickel Low Riders

Sadowsky Nickels

SIT Nickels

I want something with a bright tone to it and I want them to be pretty long lasting. Would love your opinions on the strings suggested or ones that aren't as long as they are not flat wounds.

Thanks!

Jared Lash · #2 11-07-2011, 09:11 AM

I've tried all of those strings except the Sadowskys.

The Dunlops were a surprise. Nice and punchy with a tension I really liked.

The Lo Riders are my favorite rock strings when they get settled in. But I like them best on a jazz bass, as a P already has the lo mids that the Lo Riders tend to emphasize. A bit higher tension than the Dunlops.

The SITs I've only had once as they came shipped on my Stambaugh. They were just too bright for my tastes, but then I'm more of a vintage tone type guy.

I will say that if your new five string P is a 35" scale (and it is

) that you may want to give Sunbeams a shot and see if the bit of extra tension gives them the feel you want.

CapnSev · #3 11-07-2011, 09:15 AM

I liked the Fender 7150s the best out if any rounds I tried on my P5. They're not very bright though, so that may not work for you.

I like Elixirs best for a bright-ish, long-lasting nickel round.

madbassplaya · #4 11-07-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

I've tried all of those strings except the Sadowskys.

The Dunlops were a surprise. Nice and punchy with a tension I really liked.

The Lo Riders are my favorite rock strings when they get settled in. But I like them best on a jazz bass, as a P already has the lo mids that the Lo Riders tend to emphasize. A bit higher tension than the Dunlops.

The SITs I've only had once as they came shipped on my Stambaugh. They were just too bright for my tastes, but then I'm more of a vintage tone type guy.

I will say that if your new five string P is a 35" scale (and it is

) that you may want to give Sunbeams a shot and see if the bit of extra tension gives them the feel you want.

I'm leaning heavily towards the Dunlops right now. The Sunbeams have been great, but DR (as well as Sadowsky) are a bit more pricey.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I liked the Fender 7150s the best out if any rounds I tried on my P5. They're not very bright though, so that may not work for you.

I like Elixirs best for a bright-ish, long-lasting nickel round.

Not crazy about Fender strings although, I used to use the 8250s on my Jazz V.

I've thought about Elixirs but the coating is what stops me. I hate how it peels off.

stflbn · #5 11-07-2011, 03:27 PM

IMHO the Dunlops die off quickly. To quick for me at least. Their SS don't seem to die off as quick though...

The SIT's tend to have more of a Mid Presence to them.

madbassplaya · #6 11-07-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

IMHO the Dunlops die off quickly. To quick for me at least. Their SS don't seem to die off as quick though...

The SIT's tend to have more of a Mid Presence to them.

That's one reason I stopped using them. How much life were you getting out of them?

alec · #7 11-07-2011, 03:41 PM

At some point, give Circle K a shot.

alexofc69 · #8 11-07-2011, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

That's right folks, I'm needing suggestions on some round wounds for my 5 string precision that I'm getting.

Here is my criteria:
1. Roundwound (no flats!) I know that flats and a P work well together but that's just not the tone that I am after.
2. Nickel (just not into stainless)
3. Hex Core string. I've been using DR Sunbeams and I LOVE the tone and feel but I'm wanting something a little stiffer.

Here's what I'm considering so far:

Dunlop Nickels

DR Nickel Low Riders

Sadowsky Nickels

SIT Nickels

I want something with a bright tone to it and I want them to be pretty long lasting. Would love your opinions on the strings suggested or ones that aren't as long as they are not flat wounds.

Thanks!

I generally play DR lo-riders. I was using hi-beams, but the round core was too flexible. Need the hax to hold on to the windings. On my darth vadar Squire Deluxe Jazz V I was using DR black beauties. but, i really didnt like because they felt like plastic strings. Great because they gave you a flat wound tone without using flatwounds. But again Im not a fan of flats period. I play early reggae too and you would think i would want that. So, I discovered Aurora coated strings. Well, these are much better. they feel and sound like a round wound and you still get the nice zing. i just trim down the treble. Try a set! they las a looong time as they are coated. i am going on 1 year with this set and feel, sound and play lke new. Just clean them regularly and you are good!

madbassplaya · #9 11-12-2011, 06:48 PM

Still taking suggestions!

pickles · #10 11-12-2011, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

Still taking suggestions!

Pedulla nickel or sadowsky blue nickel. Or dr DDTs, which are stainless but sound really mellow and growly.

mmbongo · #11 11-12-2011, 08:53 PM

You know my suggestion per our conversation, so I'll put it out there for everybody else....

GHS Progressives. I have limited experience with them still, but so far I'm impressed. Okay, I only have a .135 B string so far, but I'm searching for the perfect string for my Brubaker and I'm looking for the right B string first...the rest will follow. The GHS feels slick like Circle K or Sunbeams, but just a hair stiffer than both of those, and a little brighter sounding.

Bass Strings Online sells the 5 string set for like $27. That's about half of Elixir and $10 less than Circle K.

Grateful · #12 11-12-2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alec

At some point, give Circle K a shot.

+1. After my first set (Balanced .136) I just stopped buying other roundwounds altogether.

madbassplaya · #13 11-12-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grateful

+1. After my first set (Balanced .136) I just stopped buying other roundwounds altogether.

I tried the .145? set and they weren't for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

You know my suggestion per our conversation, so I'll put it out there for everybody else....

GHS Progressives. I have limited experience with them still, but so far I'm impressed. Okay, I only have a .135 B string so far, but I'm searching for the perfect string for my Brubaker and I'm looking for the right B string first...the rest will follow. The GHS feels slick like Circle K or Sunbeams, but just a hair stiffer than both of those, and a little brighter sounding.

Bass Strings Online sells the 5 string set for like $27. That's about half of Elixir and $10 less than Circle K.

The Progressives are on my list.

Grateful · #14 11-12-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

I tried the .145? set and they weren't for me.

I went through the same thing with the .130's....

madbassplaya · #15 11-12-2011, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grateful

I went through the same thing with the .130's....

What is it that you dig about the .136's?

mmbongo · #16 11-12-2011, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

I tried the .145? set and they weren't for me.

Jeez, glad I'm not the only one. I was starting to wonder!

Seriously, to me Circle K's are darn fine strings. Nothing magical though. I think their appeal comes from folks who need stupidly large strings bigger than .135 where most companies stop.

madbassplaya · #17 11-12-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Jeez, glad I'm not the only one. I was starting to wonder!

Seriously, to me Circle K's are darn fine strings. Nothing magical though. I think their appeal comes from folks who need stupidly large strings bigger than .135 where most companies stop.

Same here. Most of the guys that have recommended them to me are playing .145 or larger. The .145 did not sound remotely similar to any of the other strings to me.

I'm not knocking them. A lot of people love them, they just didn't work for me. That's all.

I think we like similar strings.

Grateful · #18 11-12-2011, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

What is it that you dig about the .136's?

The tension vs. size is ideal, for me anyway. I like a little higher tension, and the .130 felt more like light gauge. I think the .142 would be too big. I tune BEADG, so nothing special.

Keeping on topic, some other strings I liked in the past were MTD Nickels and Fodera Diamond Nickels. They both and sounded great.

fretlessguy · #19 11-13-2011, 03:58 AM

SIT taperwound set in nickel. The bee's knees for me.

cnltb · #20 11-13-2011, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

That's right folks, I'm needing suggestions on some round wounds for my 5 string precision that I'm getting.

Here is my criteria:
1. Roundwound (no flats!) I know that flats and a P work well together but that's just not the tone that I am after.
2. Nickel (just not into stainless)
3. Hex Core string. I've been using DR Sunbeams and I LOVE the tone and feel but I'm wanting something a little stiffer.

Here's what I'm considering so far:

Dunlop Nickels

DR Nickel Low Riders

Sadowsky Nickels

SIT Nickels

I want something with a bright tone to it and I want them to be pretty long lasting. Would love your opinions on the strings suggested or ones that aren't as long as they are not flat wounds.

Thanks!

Newtone Strings: Bass Guitar Strings