What strings should I try?

BassPlayer900 · #1 11-02-2012, 11:21 PM

My bass is strung with EB Cobalts and they are almost 6 months old.

I never really liked their sound too much. Now that the strings have been on my bass for so long they're starting to sound boring and kind of dead.

I don't like changing my strings often. So if I change strings I want them to last a very long time and give me the sound I'm looking for.

I'm not sure if I should get coated roundwounds because I like using a pick every now and then and I don't want to tear off coating and have them die faster.

I'm looking for a string that has good lows, growly, warm, strong mids, nice bright highs (also, they don't have to be overly zingy), will last a long time, and aren't dull in sound. I like that warm, growly, midrange-y sound on the Rush song Digital Man (just in case you need an idea of the sound I like).

So my question is what strings would you recommend?

Thanks!

hotbass57 · #2 11-03-2012, 07:18 PM

Roto nickel with the blue silk. Great string mellow well. I have them on my fretless.

Phendyr_Loon · #3 11-05-2012, 03:33 PM

I'm quite certain Geddy used Rotosound steels on that song, of coarse the type of bass and setup are important for that sound as well.
I've never found Roto steels to be as warm in the mids as nickel wound strings. I use DR Black Beauties on my bass now, they are coated and produce a very consistent sound as they age. I play mostly with a pick and the coating does scrape off after a while but that only affect the appearance of the strings.
I used to use Roto steels on my bass but they were too bright for what I normally play, the DR's mellow the bass out just enough for fuller mids without sounding dead.

Jaco Taco · #4 11-06-2012, 05:18 AM

I'm very into mid-range sound and Circle K strings are just a great nickel-coated roundwound, and they last a long time, and balanced tension is very cool.

http://circlekstrings.com/store/index.html

mmbongo · #5 11-06-2012, 07:24 AM

+1 on DR's. Maybe give Sunbeams a shot. They are round core so they have a soft, low tension feel. Great strings.

Check out Bass Strings Online:
http://www.bassstringsonline.com/Sunbeams_c_33.html

Best prices, and you can custom build string sets for whatever you want! You can get a normal set, balanced tension, progressive tension, light top/heavy bottom...whatever you want. Killer.

BassPlayer900 · #6 11-06-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phendyr_Loon

I use DR Black Beauties on my bass now, they are coated and produce a very consistent sound as they age. I play mostly with a pick and the coating does scrape off after a while but that only affect the appearance of the strings.

the DR's mellow the bass out just enough for fuller mids without sounding dead.

Sounds like these could possibly be the strings I'll try next!

PluckyThump · #7 11-06-2012, 11:32 AM

If string life is your priority then you need to use coated strings, there is no getting around that. I wouldn't worry about wearing some of it off with a pick, it won't affect much. If you are dead-set against coated then stainless steel is your next best choice imo. DR Highbeams have been good for me, Fatbeams are supposed to be good as well though I have not tried them.

SasquatchDude · #8 11-07-2012, 12:27 AM

DR Fat Beams would suit you pretty well

CBRXJ · #9 11-07-2012, 12:33 AM

X2 on the Fat beams.

SquierJazz72 · #10 11-07-2012, 05:19 AM

I like a lot of those Rush tones too, so I'm currently having a go with some SS Rotosound 66's, but in heavy gauge. I don't like to have to replace very often either, and these are serving me well so far.

Ezmar · #11 11-07-2012, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquierJazz72

I like a lot of those Rush tones too, so I'm currently having a go with some SS Rotosound 66's, but in heavy gauge. I don't like to have to replace very often either, and these are serving me well so far.

I've gotten some dud sets from Rotosound, about 2 in 5 or 6. But I'm willing to chalk it up to poor luck. They each had one string that broke, not right out if the box, but still before it really SHOULD have. I can't speak for the reliability of any other strings, because I haven't really used any others. I like the Rotos, anyway.

MoeGJBeener · #12 11-07-2012, 07:31 AM

DR Fatbeams or Dunlop Stainless's. those are my go to strings. Both sound great and similar. Fatbeams are $$ and Dunlops are $. So if cash is tight, go Dunlop.

charliefreak · #13 11-07-2012, 07:52 AM

I've never actually been a big rotosound guy. I was playing with a progressive metal band about 2 years ago that did some serious rehearsing (5-6 hours/day). I put some new rotosounds on my warwick corvette 5er maybe 4 days before the show. I did notice my fingers growing sore and actually getting harder, but they remained a healthy skin tone and the pain wasn't.

We got to the show that weekend and probably 3 or 4 songs into a 10 song set, I noticed this sharp pain in the tip of finger and all of my fills suddenly loosened up and hurt. I looked down to find my beautiful (new to me) '97 vette just absolutely covered in blood (brutal! right?). It sucked.. I'm never playing rotosound's again. Those things were like Razors on my fingers.

My recommendation-- Warwick black label. I put those guys on all of my gig basses. They last longer than most strings I've used and have the perfect growl for any kind of rock and a deep tone that's bright on the edges if you're wanting to pull the mid-lows up for a smooth tone. Kinda pricey, but between you and me- the salesman can come own off that price a little.

Sorry about the long post-just tryina share a lil' exp w/ ya'll. Don't ruin your finish!

SquierJazz72 · #14 11-07-2012, 05:16 PM

Quote:

I've gotten some dud sets from Rotosound, about 2 in 5 or 6. But I'm willing to chalk it up to poor luck. They each had one string that broke, not right out if the box, but still before it really SHOULD have. I can't speak for the reliability of any other strings, because I haven't really used any others. I like the Rotos, anyway.

Haven't had any troubles yet, but I always have back up strings around, just in case.

I likes the way these went on, fresh sounding, but not too sharp with the new string sound. Maybe it's just my ears, but brand new D'Addarios were killing me. Way too harsh.

Ezmar · #15 11-07-2012, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliefreak

I've never actually been a big rotosound guy. I was playing with a progressive metal band about 2 years ago that did some serious rehearsing (5-6 hours/day). I put some new rotosounds on my warwick corvette 5er maybe 4 days before the show. I did notice my fingers growing sore and actually getting harder, but they remained a healthy skin tone and the pain wasn't.

We got to the show that weekend and probably 3 or 4 songs into a 10 song set, I noticed this sharp pain in the tip of finger and all of my fills suddenly loosened up and hurt. I looked down to find my beautiful (new to me) '97 vette just absolutely covered in blood (brutal! right?). It sucked.. I'm never playing rotosound's again. Those things were like Razors on my fingers.

My recommendation-- Warwick black label. I put those guys on all of my gig basses. They last longer than most strings I've used and have the perfect growl for any kind of rock and a deep tone that's bright on the edges if you're wanting to pull the mid-lows up for a smooth tone. Kinda pricey, but between you and me- the salesman can come own off that price a little.

Ouch. That sucks, man. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones; I seem to have really good Bass-playing hands. My palms and fingers don't get sweaty, so my strings remain dry, and the roughness of the Rotos just give me outrageous callouses. haven't had a legit blister since I first started playing. I guess I have Manual Labor sort of hands. I've heard so many stories about bass players popping blisters and bleeding all over their instruments.

In your case, what exactly happened? Was it a popping blister, or did your finger just split from playing the string? One of my best friends did work in a library once, and her fingers started splitting from putting BOOKS on shelves, which seemed ridiculous to me. She didn't have fingerprints for MONTHS.

BassPlayer900 · #16 11-07-2012, 07:46 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I tried Rotosound Swing Bass 66 strings once and they only lasted 2 months for me.

I think I may try DR strings.

BassPlayer900 · #17 11-10-2012, 04:58 PM

Bump. Any more suggestions? If I get any new strings, I want them to last at least 8 months, if possible, while still getting me the sound I want.

One Bad Monkey · #18 11-11-2012, 05:58 AM

I normally go through a set of strings every two weeks (which is around 14-18 gigs and rehearsals). GHS Pressurewounds are one of the few that lasted longer than the other sets; about three times as long in fact. They have a nice mix of articulation and low end thump.

Randyt · #19 11-11-2012, 06:39 AM

My top three choices right now for use are : FBass strings...Circle K strings...and Fodera SS lights

Margus Alviste · #20 11-11-2012, 06:40 AM

Just clean your strings after every gig and rehearsal with the string cleaner (like Dunlop 65) and pick the strings that sound the best for you. I had Sadowsky blue steels on one of my basses more than a year and they still sounded like new.