Switching to Ernie Ball possibly, need help and suggestions!!

Leftybass12 · #1 11-26-2009, 01:03 PM

I have all my basses strung with D' Addario nickel round wound strings. I like the tone I get from them, but I am wanting to experiment and change companies. I am wanting to switch to Ernie Ball, I am definitely going to string one of my basses with the coated regular slinky 5 string bass strings, but this is where I get lost and need your help. Ernie Ball has various bass strings sets....so many that I do not know what to choose. Other than the coated strings, what Ernie Ball string sets are really good to start out on?

The genres I play is mainly blues, progressive rock/metal, and classic rock.
The basses I use are
Ibanez GSR200FM
Ibanez SR506L
Carvin B-5 lined fretless (it's my custom bass, with an alder body, maple neck, and ebony fingerboard)

HosMan · #2 12-03-2009, 12:57 PM

No expert here but:I got my first pair of EB Slinkys (med.) a month or so ago.This was based on lots of great revies by fellow TBers and my local music store guitar guy`s advice.

First off they were too bright and kind of twangy and everyone says they need a few weeks to break in and settle down. The EB Slinky meds are GREAT! I love how they sound(even on a squier through a practice amp) and how they feel.These strings alone turned my budget bass into budget bass that sounds pretty nice! Earnie Ball Slinky med. are now "my" strings.

http://ernieball.com/products/catego...-Nickel-Wound#

Reg. Slinkys,nicklewound,yellow package and they were under $25.00 w/tax!!

XtheDeadPawn · #3 12-04-2009, 06:17 PM

I have them on my bass right now it really isn't very musical to me. It sounds very treble sounding and my bass amp has the treble barely boosted. I'm also using a passive RBX170 Yamaha so that should tell you something (I'm a cheap Bastard).

Anywyas IMO if you want a good medium set go with Dean Markley's maybe try some Solid Bass mediums (around $17 online if you look hard) or try Dean Markley's SkullBusters Jerry Only's signature strings they sound very crisp and very bassy I'd get those personally because let's face it The Misfits are bad ass and so are their strings.

I've learned my lesson the EB's are great and all but, their not my cup of tea maybe for other people but, not me but, you know do whatever you want. Afterall every finger plays a different sound or in my case pick.

mmbongo · #4 12-04-2009, 06:41 PM

Give Dunlops a try.

I'm not a big Ernie Ball fan either. Way too stiff for me and just don't have that punch that I like. What don't you like about D'Addario? Just curious. I've read that some EB strings are simply repackaged D'Addarios....I can't verify but I've seen it discussed a number of times.

**jmattbassplaya** · #5 12-05-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Give Dunlops a try.

I'm not a big Ernie Ball fan either. Way too stiff for me and just don't have that punch that I like. What don't you like about D'Addario? Just curious. I've read that some EB strings are simply repackaged D'Addarios....I can't verify but I've seen it discussed a number of times.

Yeah... that`s not true. I played EB`s exclusively for about 3 years before I made the switch to D`Addario. EB strings are a bit smoother(physically), more aggressive in sound, and tend to be brighter straight out of the box, but they also tend to mellow down a bit more than D`Addario`s in the long run. I find EB`s aren`t as stiff as D`Addario`s too. D`Addario`s also sound a bit more natural and 'earthy'.

If they are the same then my mind will be totally blown because in my experiences they feel and sound quite a bit different.

mmbongo · #6 12-05-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

If they are the same then my mind will be totally blown because in my experiences they feel and sound quite a bit different.

I think it was actually that EB flats were made by D'Addario, not the rounds. They could also be a differently spec'd strings they make for EB...if they make strings for EB at all. I really don't know. But if it's true, the point was that the OP for whatever reason does not want anything D'Addario and by going to EB he could still be getting D'Addario made strings. Again, I don't know for sure.

**jmattbassplaya** · #7 12-05-2009, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I think it was actually that EB flats were made by D'Addario, not the rounds. They could also be a differently spec'd strings they make for EB...if they make strings for EB at all. I really don't know. But if it's true, the point was that the OP for whatever reason does not want anything D'Addario and by going to EB he could still be getting D'Addario made strings. Again, I don't know for sure.

Meh, in my honest opinion they sound quite a bit different and at their price you really aren`t taking that big of a financial risk by giving the a try. I say go for it.