What strings would help me achieve this tone?

JeffBTZ · #1 08-05-2011, 09:10 PM

Before everyone assumes it... This is not a "What's the best string for metal thread." I had to say it.

Basically, I'm sort of a noob when it comes to strings and I always see people raving about nickel versus steel when it comes to brightness, but I'm having a hard time determining what brightness is. Essentially, the tone that I have in mind that I would like to achieve (for now, it will probably chance 8 times by next week) is found in this video:

‪iConcerts - The Kooks - Always Where I Need To Be (live)‬&rlm; - YouTube
And
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFAoiMz3pcU

I would say the second one is a bit closer to what I'm trying to achieve.

Would this be defined as bright or mellow? I haven't tried many strings to actually know what a bright string sounds like.

I ask this because I'm heading to Sweetwater tomorrow to play around on gear I can't afford because I just wrote the check for my DB (Ow). It would be nice to know what kind of strings I want BEFORE I go. I'm on the fence between a few models of DR strings, mainly the two varieties of Lo Riders and Sunbeams. I play a Schecter Stiletto Custom 4 if any of you happen to have the same bass and can get that tone. I don't expect to be able to sound like a P bass, but that's a general idea of the tone I am looking to emulate. That said, which of the aforementioned strings would get me closest?

Sorry if this has been answered before. I searched, but I couldn't really find anything that was an example of "bright" or "mellow" and thus I'm not sure what to reference.

SLaPiNFuNK · #2 08-06-2011, 01:29 AM

In the Video's his strings have Red Silk...

They are from the UK...

Makes me think Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 Flats

One Drop · #3 08-06-2011, 05:25 AM

I wouldn't call that tone bright at all- classic overdriven SVT tones, the second clip with a bit more distortion than the first.

I get a similar tone with DR Lo Riders and Rotos, but most decent SS rounds will get you there, nickels might be a bit middy to nail those tones but you could get real close.

Jay2U · #4 08-06-2011, 07:03 AM

Not easy! It is a combination of a finger picked P-bass, some overdrive and/or shaping. They could well be Rotosound 77 Flats, but don't kill me if they aren't.

JeffBTZ · #5 08-06-2011, 07:55 AM

Flats... Really? And here I thought that I was always a fan of rounds on electric. Well.... I made the jump to upright... Maybe it's time for a jump to flats as well.

JeffBTZ · #6 08-06-2011, 08:56 AM

Question.

Can any of you provide a clip of what you would consider "bright" strings? I'm mostly just curious because of curiosity.

One Drop · #7 08-07-2011, 02:59 AM

Roto rounds have red silks, too, FWIW.

SLaPiNFuNK · #8 08-07-2011, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

Roto rounds have red silks, too, FWIW.

True,

As well as Boomers, Burners, Some LaBella Flats, etc... (working on pictures of all these and documenting)...

I put two and two together, from the UK, red silk, so thought of rotos...

I didn't hear many "round wound" qualities in the first clip though... Unless I was missing something.

One Drop · #9 08-07-2011, 04:28 AM

Really hard to tell once there is a lot of OD, especially when the highs are rolled off.

tekdiver500ft · #10 08-07-2011, 05:25 AM

If I have this right (might be a big "if"), those are LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats. The first video is Dan Logan, and the second is Max Rafferty, which is why the sounds are different.

Here is a fairly decent comparison of flats versus rounds.

Better yet, try this to hear the differences: Lakland. On this one, you get to hear a ton of different string and pup combinations. This will really help you hear the difference.

JeffBTZ · #11 08-07-2011, 06:56 AM

Ahh thank's for the examples. I checked out similar comparisons on youtube and now feel a lot more educated.

I think I'm going to go with some mellow nickel round wounds. That way there is a slight bit of brightness, but i can dial it off if I want that tone.

Does anyone have suggestions of which sort of string would fit those criteria? I was thinking possibly Sunbeams or nickel Lo-Riders, but Sweetwater doesn't appear to carry Lo Riders, even online.

Outside of DR strings, any ideas for a warm and mellow nickel round? Or perhaps a bright flat? (Sweetwater also doesn't list brite flats, sadly... Or pressurewounds.)

fourfinger · #12 08-07-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

Roto rounds have red silks, too, FWIW.

So do TI Jazz Flats. It sounds like flats to me.

tekdiver500ft · #13 08-07-2011, 07:06 AM

Ernie Ball Coated Slinkys are a nice, bright flat.

JeffBTZ · #14 08-07-2011, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

Ernie Ball Coated Slinkys are a nice, bright flat.

Maybe I'm just looking at the wrong thing, but Ernie Ball's site shows Coated Slinky's as round wounds.

tekdiver500ft · #15 08-07-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffBTZ

Maybe I'm just looking at the wrong thing, but Ernie Ball's site shows Coated Slinky's as round wounds.

Try here.

JeffBTZ · #16 08-07-2011, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekdiver500ft

Try here.

It looks like those are guitar strings: .10 to .52 guage. I noticed those when i was looking around too... Confused me for a bit.

SLaPiNFuNK · #17 08-07-2011, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffBTZ

I think I'm going to go with some mellow nickel round wounds. That way there is a slight bit of brightness, but i can dial it off if I want that tone.

The exact reason I personally prefer brighter strings... Easy to "dial off" than add brightness to a tone.

The Coated Slinkies are cool, there are a lot of other coated Nickel Round strings out there as well.

JeffBTZ · #18 08-07-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

The exact reason I personally prefer brighter strings... Easy to "dial off" than add brightness to a tone.

The Coated Slinkies are cool, there are a lot of other coated Nickel Round strings out there as well.

That's a great point. I might have to check those out. I guess I'm on the fence between something like a sunbeam (or nickel lo rider if sweetwater has them, which I kind of doubt) and the coated. The coated are nickel right? I noticed in their description it doesn't really say what material the wrap is made of.

EDIT: Thanks Brian. I've still got some deciding to do though. I'm a terrible decision maker at times. Especially with things that I really don't know that much about.

jasper383 · #19 08-07-2011, 11:56 AM

I hear rounds in that sound--in some of the parts, he "rips" into a note, and I hear the windings. Could be all in my head.

Red silks, UK band, makes me think Rotos. I have a MTD P Bass around here that has 6 month old Roto stainless strings in it, and with the highs rolled off a bit, they sound a lot like that live clip.