Tight tensioned 045-105 "smooth" strings for 35" bass ?

[Hobby]

I got a 35" bass with slight "backbow" neck when the trussrod is fully loosen, so I need a set of tight tensioned 045-105 "smooth" strings suitable for 35" bass (at least 37" I think?).

I'll play mostly blues,folk,country rock so I would prefer Nickel.

Any suggestions about suitable brands/sets?

[Hobby]

So...

I've searched the web and found some brands/sets that I think will fit :

Alembic CX-3 /45L 045-105 CWD.NPS

D'Angelico Smoothround BassHits 045-103 GWD.NPI

Dean Markley RoundWound 050-100 RWD.NPS

Dean Markley GroundRoundWound 049-098 GWD.NPS

Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky 045-105 RWD.NPS

GHS Boomers 045-105 RWD.NPS

GHS Brite Flats 049-108

SIT Power Wound 045-105 RWD.NPS


So what do YOU think ? Pros. and Cons ? Better or Worse?

[1kinal]

Originally Posted by Hobby

So...

I've searched the web and found some brands/sets that I think will fit :

Alembic CX-3 /45L 045-105 CWD.NPS

D'Angelico Smoothround BassHits 045-103 GWD.NPI

Dean Markley RoundWound 050-100 RWD.NPS

Dean Markley GroundRoundWound 049-098 GWD.NPS

Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky 045-105 RWD.NPS

GHS Boomers 045-105 RWD.NPS

GHS Brite Flats 049-108

SIT Power Wound 045-105 RWD.NPS


So what do YOU think ? Pros. and Cons ? Better or Worse?

The ernie ball are low tension. Not what you want. I don't have experience with the other sets you mentionned except the SIT.

I'd say the SIT power wound are medium/high tension, good choice for you. I'm not sure if they fit 35" though (do you string thru the body or thru the bridge?). I have the SIT power wound x-long scale on my stingray classic (34" but thru-body stringing) and they just fit.

Before taking a guess, I'd recommend to try DR Lo-rider nickel. They will fit 35'" and are high tension.

[Double Agent]

DR nickel Lo-Riders. They will be bright at first, but they soon mellow very nicely. My last set was on my bass for 8 months and still sounding sweet.

[cassius987]

If you want "smooth" strings that are high tension at those gauges try D'Addario Chromes. They work fine in the genres you listed.

[Darth Tater]

Chromes are the highest tension strings I've ever used. I couldn't get them off my bass fast enough

[cassius987]

I love 'em.

[Hobby]

THANKS !!

I've heard that Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky Nickel should be tight tension, nut thats maybe wrong?

I've also heard that the only DR strings with tight tension is Lo-Rider SS and I think they are to "trebly" for my taste. I would prefer Nickel but I thought they where medium tension.

And I think Daddario Cromes are to short for 35" bass.

My bass i "top load" at bridge (no through body) and the distance are 93.5 cm (about just less than 37") from stringancor to nut.


Anyone who knows if Elixir has tight tension ?

[Double Agent]

Tension between the nickel and SS Lo-Riders is pretty much the same IMO. I've used both extensively and never noticed a difference between them as far as tension. As far as tone, the nickels are MUCH warmer, especially after they break in.

As far as D'addario Chromes, all you would have to do is get the Super-Long set (http://store.daddario.com/category/1...-String_45-132) and you would be fine. People have used those particular Chromes on a Dingwall, which has a 37" scale low-B string. They would definitely fit your 35" scale bass. They are pretty bright for flats, but overall they are very balanced and warm-sounding without being muddy. I like them a lot.

[pocketgroove]

Try these maybe...?
http://www.rotosound.com/swing66.html

You can get them in nickel and Long Scale (37") or Extra Long Scale (39.25"). Plus, they're awesome strings.

[marc40a]

For that gauge and scale I'd recommend Sadowsly Black Label Nickel XL for 35"

The price is reasonable when you buy them in bulk.

If you're buying one set for an audition, I'd recommend Ebay so you don't get crushed on shipping charges.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SADOWSKY-SBN45BX...item1c04cb2c8a


I'm a "tension guy" as well. It's all about tension for me. I have gone through a ton of string on a ton of basses over the years.

That said... my choice for stainless in that gauge is DR Lo Riders for 4 string, and Sadowsky Blacks for 5 string.

Nickel: Sadowsky Black Nickel for 5 string and GHS Boomers for 4. The Nickel Lo-Rider suggestion sounds good but I haven't tried that particular string, gauge, length. I'd have a hard time being convinced that the B string of the Nickel Lo riders is even close to being comparable to the Sadowsky B string.

If you need more tension than those brands, I'd recommend going up another gauge size .

[Double Agent]

Originally Posted by marc40a

Nickel: Sadowsky Black Nickel for 5 string and GHS Boomers for 4. The Nickel Lo-Rider suggestion sounds good but I haven't tried that particular string, gauge, length. I'd have a hard time being convinced that the B string of the Nickel Lo riders is even close to being comparable to the Sadowsky B string.

While you may be right about this, at 35" scale with a high tension string, I doubt he will have problems with the low B no matter which brand he chooses. I found the difference in tension on the low B matters more on a 34" scale bass. In fact, on my Cirrus, I was debating going to a round core string like Hi Beams because I felt like there was too much tension on the D & G strings, causing them to sound a little thin. But, I sold the bass before I could do this. The B string on the Cirrus was good enough to where a little loss in tension would have mattered very little.

That said, I would like to hear more about the Sadowsky Black nickels. I am moving back to a 34" scale 5er and was thinking about putting the nickel Lo-Riders on it. But, I am open to other options as well. To me, the nickel Lo-Riders, once broken in, are really fat and full in the lows, almost like a flatwound string, but with more clarity and definition for fingerstyle and a crisp, but not overly zingy, high end when slapped. I would say they are not quite as bright as D'addario XLs, but close (also a hex-core nickel-wrapped roundwound). However, they last, and stay crisp sounding, for a really long time, much longer than D'addario XLs. Would you say the Sadowsky Nickel Blacks are similar to this? I might give them a shot, just to try something different.

[Lorenzini]

Originally Posted by Hobby

I got a 35" bass with slight "backbow" neck when the trussrod is fully loosen, so I need a set of tight tensioned 045-105 "smooth" strings suitable for 35" bass (at least 37" I think?).

I'll play mostly blues,folk,country rock so I would prefer Nickel.

Any suggestions about suitable brands/sets?

You would do well with Dean Markley Blue Steel NPS, Nickel Plated Steel. The Blue Steels are really rough, but nickel is always smooth.

And Blue Steels are some of the tightest strings I've ever used.

Elixers have tight tension.
Ernie Ball Slinky nickels do too, but I personally hate them.

[marc40a]

Originally Posted by Double Agent

While you may be right about this, at 35" scale with a high tension string, I doubt he will have problems with the low B no matter which brand he chooses. I found the difference in tension on the low B matters more on a 34" scale bass. In fact, on my Cirrus, I was debating going to a round core string like Hi Beams because I felt like there was too much tension on the D & G strings, causing them to sound a little thin. But, I sold the bass before I could do this. The B string on the Cirrus was good enough to where a little loss in tension would have mattered very little.

Good point.

Once I got into the "my choice..." section of the post. I was literally citing my choices... on my basses... all 34" scale, now. I should have probably made that clearer.

Basically, I answered his question w/ my top recommendation for him and then proceeded to talk about my favorite subject, "me."

[marc40a]

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

And Blue Steels are some of the tightest strings I've ever used.

Agreed. I've found them to be a a suitable replacement for Lo-Riders (in the stainless flavor.) I stress "replacement" - Lo Riders still being first choice for me.

[marc40a]

Originally Posted by Double Agent

That said, I would like to hear more about the Sadowsky Black nickels. I am moving back to a 34" scale 5er and was thinking about putting the nickel Lo-Riders on it. But, I am open to other options as well. To me, the nickel Lo-Riders, once broken in, are really fat and full in the lows, almost like a flatwound string, but with more clarity and definition for fingerstyle and a crisp, but not overly zingy, high end when slapped. I would say they are not quite as bright as D'addario XLs, but close (also a hex-core nickel-wrapped roundwound). However, they last, and stay crisp sounding, for a really long time, much longer than D'addario XLs. Would you say the Sadowsky Nickel Blacks are similar to this? I might give them a shot, just to try something different.

I think you'd be happy with them... they are as you describe... though I don't know if I'd use the word "fat"...that implies boomy or tonally unbalanced to me

I'd add that they're hot and tight (tension-wise...remember, I am a 'tension guy') with even response from string to string.

They are head and shoulders above the D'Addario's XL nickels, in my experience. My experience with the DAs was very similiar to yours.

[Hobby]

Originally Posted by Double Agent

As far as D'addario Chromes, all you would have to do is get the Super-Long set (http://store.daddario.com/category/1...-String_45-132) and you would be fine. People have used those particular Chromes on a Dingwall, which has a 37" scale low-B string. They would definitely fit your 35" scale bass. They are pretty bright for flats, but overall they are very balanced and warm-sounding without being muddy. I like them a lot.

I found tree sets of Flats in my "old strings bag" and all those sets seem to fit my 35" 4 string bass (I used them on a Warwick Frotress with string ancor distanced from the bridge, some ten yeras ago) but no set was in their package so..

I'm pretty sure one set is Daddario Cromes and another is LaBella (but I.m not sure about that) but I havent a clue about the third set

Can you help me to identify the sets, please?


-One set has green silk at the endball side and no silk at all at the tuner side.
(this is the stiffest/less flexible set)

-One set has no silk at the endball side and black silk at the tuner side

-One set has darkblue silk in both endball and tuner sides.

[Double Agent]

Chromes only come with blue silk on both ends, so that is one set ID'ed. I would guess that the tightest feeling set with the green silks on the bridge side were Labellas, but that's just a guess. I've heard of them coming with many different color silks, so who knows?

[1kinal]

Originally Posted by marc40a

For that gauge and scale I'd recommend Sadowsly Black Label Nickel XL for 35"

The price is reasonable when you buy them in bulk.

If you're buying one set for an audition, I'd recommend Ebay so you don't get crushed on shipping charges.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SADOWSKY-SBN45BX...item1c04cb2c8a


I'm a "tension guy" as well. It's all about tension for me. I have gone through a ton of string on a ton of basses over the years.

That said... my choice for stainless in that gauge is DR Lo Riders for 4 string, and Sadowsky Blacks for 5 string.

Nickel: Sadowsky Black Nickel for 5 string and GHS Boomers for 4. The Nickel Lo-Rider suggestion sounds good but I haven't tried that particular string, gauge, length. I'd have a hard time being convinced that the B string of the Nickel Lo riders is even close to being comparable to the Sadowsky B string.

If you need more tension than those brands, I'd recommend going up another gauge size .

I totally agree with that.

4 string SS: DR Lo-Rider
5 string SS: Sadowsky black label

4 string nickel: DR Lo-Rider
5 string nickel: MTD nickel (though they are a bit hard to find)

I'd not recommend the Lo-Rider's for a 5-string set because their low-B is nowhere near as good as the Sadowsky or MTD. If fact, I've never been impressed by the DR B-strings in general, no matter the set (hi-beam, sunbeam, lo-rider).

[Hobby]

THANKS!

Think I'm gonna test the Cromes first