Warm rounds???

ROON · #1 09-08-2007, 08:27 PM

Hey guys,

I'm looking to go adventurous with strings. I swear by EB Slinky's for all my basses, but since I have gotten my new Ampeg rig, I've been able to hear my bass with a lot more definition. I've noticed now that EB strings are pretty bright and zingy, especially on my Stingray. So much so that it sounds really strange when playing along with tracks. I've heard that DR Sunbeams and Nickel LoRiders are nice and warm. Does anyone else have any suggestions? I play metal so I want something that sounds nice and low, but still with sharp attack. FYI, my Ray has a maple fretboard. Also, the strings MUST be available in heavy gauges, I tune down to BEAD quite a lot.

Cheers,

Josh

PocketGroove82 · #2 09-08-2007, 08:41 PM

I would try some nickels.
I like sadowskys.

steamthief · #3 09-09-2007, 01:13 PM

Sunbeams sound pretty warm on maple necked P, I thought SS Lo-Riders were pretty good, too.

I just strung my Ray with a set of Fat Beams, and the low end projection is awesome. Still pretty zingy, but they're only three days old.

Fender 7250s are very warm - fairly cheap, too. They may be worth a try.

Phalex · #4 09-09-2007, 01:23 PM

GHS Boomers. I love the heck out of them!

ROON · #5 09-09-2007, 11:48 PM

Phalex - I was thinking of getting some GHS Boomers, they come with a 105 E-string, so that's good.

I've also heard they are a lot warmer than regular rounds. Though I have heard they can go dead within two or three days. Fact, or audiophile's myth???

Pocketgroove - I thought EB strings were nickel? Or do you mean pure nickel?

Steamtheif - I love the zingy sound that Ray's have, but I think equipped with EB strings there is just too much zing. I might see if I can try some Sunbeams some time soon.

Thank you all for the replies.

Phalex · #6 09-10-2007, 06:12 AM

Dead?? No. They lose that cold metalic zingyness after a day or so, but that's what makes em warm. They are the only thing I put on my Ric, good round wound bite, and lots of low end warmth as well.

jasper383 · #7 09-10-2007, 07:52 AM

In my experience:
Fender Pure Nickels--warmest
Sunbeams--next warmest

Haven't tried the Rotosound pure nickels; I'm sure they're in there.

r379 · #8 09-10-2007, 12:59 PM

I happen to prefer TI Superalloys but I haven't used anything else recently so I can't compare them reasonably with anything else. I can say that D'Addorio Nickel XLs are good strings.

DavePlaysBass · #9 09-11-2007, 07:09 AM

TI Superalloys fit the bill when I was looking for warmth and punch. They have a nice low mid punch that was great after playing light Hard Rockin' Steels.

Dave

Bushmaster · #10 09-11-2007, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROON

I've noticed now that EB strings are pretty bright and zingy, especially on my Stingray. So much so that it sounds really strange when playing along with tracks.

Are these stainless steel or nickel-plated strings?

Maybe it would help to actually turn the treble down a bit -?

EB/Steel in lighter-to-medium gauges indeed can sound snarly.

EB/Nickelplated Steel still is one of the exceptionally bright NPS strings, though I found them somewhat bass-shy.

Quote:

I play metal so I want something that sounds nice and low, but still with sharp attack.

In this case I wouldn't go as far as downgrading to pure nickel roundwounds.

Quote:

Also, the strings MUST be available in heavy gauges, I tune down to BEAD quite a lot.

Well, which gauges are you using now? Probably that will narrow down the choice...

I'd prefer awaiting clarification on the above points before proceeding to recommendations.

AN0INTD · #11 09-11-2007, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r379

I can say that D'Addorio Nickel XLs are good strings.

These get my vote

**BFunk** · #12 09-11-2007, 09:27 AM

LaBella Deep Talkin Bass Nickel Round Wound.

ROON · #13 09-11-2007, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

Are these stainless steel or nickel-plated strings?

Maybe it would help to actually turn the treble down a bit -?

EB/Steel in lighter-to-medium gauges indeed can sound snarly.

EB/Nickelplated Steel still is one of the exceptionally bright NPS strings, though I found them somewhat bass-shy.

In this case I wouldn't go as far as downgrading to pure nickel roundwounds.

Well, which gauges are you using now? Probably that will narrow down the choice...

I'd prefer awaiting clarification on the above points before proceeding to recommendations.

They are Power Slinky Nickel Wound's.

Turning the treble down usually solve the problem, I just want try another set of strings and see what happens.

At the moment I use 55-110. I like heavy strings. I search for anything up to 100, 105 or 110.

**duff84** · #14 09-11-2007, 11:31 PM

fender nickels never let me down

Matt Dean · #15 09-11-2007, 11:32 PM

+1

They sound great IMO... Nice warm tone once they get broken in.

Bushmaster · #16 09-12-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROON

At the moment I use 55-110. I like heavy strings. I search for anything up to 100, 105 or 110.

I would recommend to try more of an all-purpose nickel-plated roundwound string like D'Addario XL which has a richer bass, cultivated mids with a fine growl (oh well, as for Fender NPS, they probably come closest, except for the mids which are way too dirty for my taste) and musical, "singing" highs (which I never manged to provoke getting obtrusive

). I used a .055 - .110 set when tuning down to only DGCF. They also have singles down to .145 available. Of course, if you switch between EADG and BEAD that might involve compromise on both ends.