Which strings to try

mdsmith · #1 12-05-2008, 05:45 AM

Last Christmas I got a Fender 4 string Active Jazz bass. It is my first and only bass, and since I'm just learning, I don't know much about strings. I haven't changed them yet, and think it's about time. I have no idea what brand or gauge strings came on the guitar. I was hoping for some suggestions on what brand and gauges to try. I mainly play classic rock and reggae type stuff. I mess around a little with slapping, but not too much. Hopefully this will help you suggest something. Thank you

bassbully · #2 12-05-2008, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdsmith

Last Christmas I got a Fender 4 string Active Jazz bass. It is my first and only bass, and since I'm just learning, I don't know much about strings. I haven't changed them yet, and think it's about time. I have no idea what brand or gauge strings came on the guitar. I was hoping for some suggestions on what brand and gauges to try. I mainly play classic rock and reggae type stuff. I mess around a little with slapping, but not too much. Hopefully this will help you suggest something. Thank you

7250's by fender are a great start. Nickel wrap over steel core.They are Bright, last long and cost is cheap.They have the black silk ends. 7150's are the pure nickel labeled original's. They are softer warmer and sound great as they age. They are also cheap,last and have a pale yellow silk. I prefer mediums in any string i buy ...I think 105 to 45? I dont look i just get mediums.

SIT's rock brights and power nickels are great for rock etc. No silk but good long lasting bright strings that wont break the bank. Start with cheaper strings (cost) to see if you like them insted of dropping $45-60 on a set just to take them off in a month cuz you dont.

mdsmith · #3 12-05-2008, 10:05 AM

Thanks for the advice. How about flat wound vs. round wound. What is the tonal difference between the two. I'm really looking for that fat warm mellow bass tone you hear in alot of reggae

jamesblue · #4 12-05-2008, 10:59 AM

I really like S.I.T silencers, the medium 40-100 set is very good. Does all styles of music, you can slap them, use a pick and great for finger style. They sound like old broken in steels or rounds without a lot of buzz. I can only find them at " juststrings.com" for about $18 per set, they last a long time too.
But when you're just starting out you want to use a light or medium gague string (95s or 100 on the low E and 40s on the G string).

lijazz · #5 12-05-2008, 11:09 AM

I just put a set of DR High beams on my new passive jazz bass and love them...they are nicely bright. Given you have an active bass, you should be able to get a wide range of sound with these strings. Try them out, see how you like them.

bassman1987 · #6 12-05-2008, 11:15 AM

Flatwounds would be good if you want to get that fat, deep reggae tone. I have flats on my Warwick Corvette Standard (it's a Jazz-style bass, same pickup configuration) and love them, they're also really nice because you don't get as much fret noise as you do with roundwounds. Fender makes a good light-gauge flatwound set (.100-.40 I think) for pretty cheap, 15 bucks or so.

mdsmith · #7 12-05-2008, 11:53 AM

Thanks guys. I've been reading some threads and the FAQ sticky. I think I'm going to give the flats a try. The ones I've heard about on the forum that they carry at my local G.C. are the Rotosound RS77 EL, D'addario chrome, GHS precision, and the Fenders. Any preferences there? As far as I can tell the Rotosounds are the only ones that are nickle, which from what I've read will give me a warmer tone.

LaughingGroove · #8 12-05-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lijazz

I just put a set of DR High beams on my new passive jazz bass and love them...they are nicely bright. Given you have an active bass, you should be able to get a wide range of sound with these strings. Try them out, see how you like them.

+1 Try DR High Beams. You might like them too. A little too bright right off the bat, but once you use them a bit they are prefect.

PoundinThunder · #9 12-05-2008, 12:20 PM

i like Fat beams. i like the bigger gauge strings tho. i havent tried out that many kinds of strings. i can not stand flats however. i wouldnt recommend them to you if u like slapping but they do get a nice fatish sound i guess. i would say just try cheaper (cost wise) strings that very in gauge, material, and stuff like that and whatever you feel like you like more, buy a more expensive set that is similar to what u liked in the cheaper strings

bassbully · #10 12-05-2008, 09:32 PM

For flats go chromes i love them! They have decent tension and good mids and thump..super slick too. I tried both SIT flats and Fender flats and although they sounded good they will break your fingers since the tension feels like playing steel rods

The SIT silencers as a TBer spoke of are awsome a diffrent string. They are a compression roundwound which feels flat but plays somewhere between a flat and a round...great strings.