Trying Something new

[Hobobob74]

Help me pick strings for a Epi T bird. Use to Rotos, but broke one and have wanted to try other strings. I will be playing mostly classic rock/blues with it.

[JoshD]

I chose rounds(DR Hi-Beams), but if you're into the "doublebass sound" in a bass guitar I'd use flats.

[Dave R]

Many of the classic rock tunes were recorded on flats. That's the classic sound. Osborne used flats. Jamerson used flats I switched from rounds to flats a year or so ago, have have been very pleased with the sound. I got Fender flats by default, but found that both Osborn and Jamerson used LaBellas, so I'll try those next.

[BellBottomBlues]

Well, what kind of music do you play?

[Hobobob74]

Originally Posted by BellBottomBlues

Well, what kind of music do you play?

Cream, Albert King, Allman Brothers, Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Gov't Mule, Zeppelin, Bad Co.

A pretty wide variety. I have thought about some Ernie Ball Hybrid or some Dunlop Nickles, there new, but there worth a shot.

[r379]

I've tried several brands/types of strings and I keep coming back to TI Superalloys nickel rounds. I play mostly blues and they work for me. They're not cheap but they seem to last a long time. If you try them keep in mind that they take longer to break in than most other strings. IMO, YMMV and all that stuff.

[Mojo-Man]

For your tone needs.
Flats, TI-flats, or Labella flats.
Played with a pick.

[BellBottomBlues]

In that case I'd say get the Rotosound Jazz Flats. They're very bright at first but then after 2 weeks become very mellow and sound excellent.

In the case of the above poster, I personally think that flats sound like crap when used with a pick.

[One Drop]

I think Roto rounds and mahogany Thunderbirds are one of the all time great combinations, but unfortunately I don't know how they sound with the Epis.

I'm thinking a set of Sadowsky flats might be really nice on that bass, but it's a shot in the dark.

[fullrangebass]

Give Ritter sword steels a try. They are bright enough for Rock, yet they sound full and they feel very smooth on the fingers

[metallicafan18]

Get some roundwound DR black beauties. Get the gauge you prefer. Since the strings are black, they would look really cool on a t-bird.

[Gubna]

Originally Posted by metallicafan18

Get some roundwound DR black beauties. Get the gauge you prefer. Since the strings are black, they would look really cool on a t-bird.

+1

you can't go wrong with any of the DR strings.
I played Rotos for years, but I think I'd only buy DR now.

[Thunder_Fingers]

If you got a little "extra" money to spare, try Optima Gold strings. they are simply exelent, but might be just a bit expensive over in the US. since the thunderbirds are pretty dark basses to start with...

But if you want to try flats, i'll say, stick to the company you allready have, and try the Rotosound Jazz Bass Monel strings.

[Hawaii Islander]

I have a new set of Fender tapewaounds that I recently put on my P-bass. They sound fantastic. I would love to hear how they sound on a T-bird! The tapewounds are brighter/clearer sounding than Stainless steel flats, but they also deliver a great bottom end. They are silky smooth to the touch too, which makes fingering easier.