Thumpy roundwounds for a 5er?

[Drifta]

hey all; I'm a reggae bassist, and i've come to the conclusion that i really NEED a B string so for christmas i'm asking for a cheapie SX 5 stringer; anyways i know i'll need some new strings and i already have 3 4 stringers(2 jazz, 1 fretless P) with flats and i kind of like rounds too;

I play reggae and typically the thought around here is "p or j bass, no tone, or treble with flats" but thats not the truth, i want this to be my more "modern" setup; lots of reggae bassists play 5 or 6 stringers with rounds these days... any suggestions? I tried some DR's before, and they were nice once i broke them in, but someone once told me i'd probably like Nickle Rounds more.


thanks,
sam

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by Drifta

I tried some DR's before, and they were nice once i broke them in, but someone once told me i'd probably like Nickle Rounds more.


thanks,
sam

Which DR's did you try? Hi Beams? Those are stainless steel wrapped on a round core. If you liked the tension of those strings but want a warmer tone, try the nickel wrapped "Sun Beams" from DR. If you'd like a string with a little more tension, then try the DR Lo Riders in nickel.

[pbass2]

I highly recommend DR Nickel Lo Riders for what you're talking about. I play lots of dub and reggae styles too---half my basses have flats, the others have the DR's. They're very warm, and to me come outta the pack feeling sort of broken-in. Nice and stiff too (which I'm guessing you might like). I have them on my L2500, medium-high action, and I get a very very nice round thump (plus I hardly ever change 'em

[Drifta]

Originally Posted by pbass2

I highly recommend DR Nickel Lo Riders for what you're talking about. I play lots of dub and reggae styles too---half my basses have flats, the others have the DR's. They're very warm, and to me come outta the pack feeling sort of broken-in. Nice and stiff too (which I'm guessing you might like). I have them on my L2500, medium-high action, and I get a very very nice round thump (plus I hardly ever change 'em

i'll give those a try. to be honest, tension doesn't bother me.. I got Fender flats on one jazz,(high tension) and Ti jazz's on the other one, I think i tried either the sunbeams or fat beams? it was definately SS, had a bit too much zing but i really liked them broken in it just still had a bit too much zing and i only had one bass at the time.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by Drifta

I think i tried either the sunbeams or fat beams? it was definately SS, had a bit too much zing but i really liked them broken in it just still had a bit too much zing and i only had one bass at the time.

Fat Beams only come in stainless steel, and Sun Beams only come in nickel.

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by Drifta

i'll give those a try. to be honest, tension doesn't bother me.. I got Fender flats on one jazz,(high tension) and Ti jazz's on the other one, I think i tried either the sunbeams or fat beams? it was definately SS, had a bit too much zing but i really liked them broken in it just still had a bit too much zing and i only had one bass at the time.

Yeah, I hear ya--I tried the SS Lo Riders and it was waaaaayyy too much zing. The nickels are quite different---I'll wager you'd dig 'em!
I appreciate your comments about what reggae players are using these days. It really can be just about any bass. I too like to err on the old school side most of the time (in my case usually a P with old flats) but I've been digging the extra versatility I'm getting with my fiver w/rounds for these genres(especially hybrids of reggae, dancehall, hip hop, whatever--it's such a melting pot these days). And really digging having the B string, not just for the low notes, but for the round and wooly notes higher up the neck. Thumb/palm-mute thumping on a nice heavy B string higher up the neck is a wonderful thing . .

[Drifta]

Originally Posted by pbass2

Yeah, I hear ya--I tried the SS Lo Riders and it was waaaaayyy too much zing. The nickels are quite different---I'll wager you'd dig 'em!
I appreciate your comments about what reggae players are using these days. It really can be just about any bass. I too like to err on the old school side most of the time (in my case usually a P with old flats) but I've been digging the extra versatility I'm getting with my fiver w/rounds for these genres(especially hybrids of reggae, dancehall, hip hop, whatever--it's such a melting pot these days). And really digging having the B string, not just for the low notes, but for the round and wooly notes higher up the neck. Thumb/palm-mute thumping on a nice heavy B string higher up the neck is a wonderful thing . .

exactly! i started off learning classic reggae, ska etc etc before i knew what tone was, i had flatwounds and i just had no clue about anything, lately tone has started to matter -- even playing dub and classic roots i'm turning the treble up a tad and just altering my sound way differently than i used to, but also I play a lot of dancehall like you said its such a melting pot.

I goto many a reggae shows -- one of the best i went to recently was Julian marley, he played down in miami, went to see him they had two guys alternating on bass/rhythm guitar. Young kid looked like he was 18 years old was laying it down mostly when Julian was playing his fathers songs and roots songs on a original 70s Jazz bass through ampeg fridge -- then what appeared to be his father or something, older dude switched from rhythm to a 6 string round-wound equipped bass for the newer modern songs/dancehall style and whatnot


I'll take your word on the Lo-Riders. anyone else feel free to give me some other suggestions though

[P-BASSLOVER]

Originally Posted by pbass2

I highly recommend DR Nickel Lo Riders for what you're talking about. I play lots of dub and reggae styles too---half my basses have flats, the others have the DR's. They're very warm, and to me come outta the pack feeling sort of broken-in. Nice and stiff too (which I'm guessing you might like). I have them on my L2500, medium-high action, and I get a very very nice round thump (plus I hardly ever change 'em

+1
They are definitly stiff! They are stiffer than Ken Smith steels!

[fretlessguy]

GHS Compressed strings. You would have to order the B string seperately. The perfect compromise between the thump of a flat and the feel of a round.