what is your Favorite 5 string strings?

BassGreaser · #1 09-11-2006, 10:48 PM

I'm looking for bright growly round wound string for a 5er I'm building. What do you guys like?

DavePlaysBass · #2 09-11-2006, 10:54 PM

Labella Hard Rockin' Steels. Great B.

James Hart · #3 09-12-2006, 05:23 AM

Fat Beams or Hi Beams

christle · #4 09-12-2006, 07:36 AM

Peavey Cirrus 5 or DR Lo-Riders

BassGreaser · #5 09-12-2006, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

Fat Beams or Hi Beams

James what is the difference between the two strings?

James Hart · #6 09-12-2006, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassGreaser

James what is the difference between the two strings?

Fats are a little stronger in the low mids & lows, nicely aggressive top and are a tad tighter.

The Hi-beams have more of the standard stainless round raw bite.

Both are very similar... I think I prefer the fat beams

BassGreaser · #7 09-12-2006, 09:27 AM

thanks james....

Roland777 · #8 09-12-2006, 11:41 AM

I've been whirring around pretty much on all boards trying to gather as much info as possible on tuning down to A...
How will a 50-110 DR LoRider set compare sonically to a D'Addario taperwound .145? (XLB145T) That's what I plan to use - I just want to make sure that the strings don't sound completely different to one another.

DavidRavenMoon · #9 09-12-2006, 12:16 PM

I've been using D'Addario XLs for a while, and lately ProSteels, gauge 45-130. Both have a Great low B.

I've also used Ken Smith strings Rock Master-Light, gauged 40-120. Those are very good also.

You can hear the ProSteels here: Bridge Pickup

Fuzzbass · #10 09-12-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavePlaysBass

Labella Hard Rockin' Steels. Great B.

+1. My faves, too.

For bright and growly I also like Ken Smith Tapercore Steels, Sadowsky strings (steel or nickel), Rotosound RS-66.

Also, DR Lo Riders or Hi Beams. Hi Beams are brighter, but sometimes I don't need that much top end. I've been favoring Lo Riders lately... nice punch and growl, with enough highs for me.

Finally: I like Elixir Nanowebs a lot, they have good roundwound tone and last a looooong time, but their brightness is muted a bit due to the coating.

lgrankin · #11 09-12-2006, 01:27 PM

I've always liked DR High Beams, but have recently started using Sadowsky steels. I prefer the taper core B string...

I put some Sadowsky flats on a 4 string and they're awesome as well. I will have to try the 5 string flats next. I've never heard flats with this kind of punch and clarity.

LR

Fuzzbass · #12 09-12-2006, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgrankin

I've always liked DR High Beams, but have recently started using Sadowsky steels. I prefer the taper core B string...

Excellent point. I prefer tapered B strings also.

ergodynebass · #13 09-12-2006, 02:53 PM

Well I just started playing 5 string, I was using D'addario XL .125 B
but I just bought a set of DR Low Rider .130-.45's so I'm gonna see how I like them

Copycat · #14 09-20-2006, 09:46 PM

I really like the stainless S.I.T. Rock Brights. I use the light gauge (45, 65, 80, 100, 125). In fact, I liked the five string set so much that I just ordered a four string set, medium light, from juststrings.com and I've been a DR guy for years (Fat Beams and sometimes High Beams if the Fat Beams aren't available). Ken Smith Rock Masters are worth checking out as well.

Stumpy · #15 12-27-2006, 09:55 PM

I am not seeing anyone that is using the MTD 135x taper core strings (only the B is tapered).

Have you used those? If not, why not? am looking for an alternative to these (MTD's) as I can' get them at a local store.

Thoughts?

You can hear what I sound like with the tapered MD 135x's on a Yamaha TRB5.

All suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

1kinal · #16 12-27-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumpy

I am not seeing anyone that is using the MTD 135x taper core strings (only the B is tapered).

Have you used those? If not, why not? am looking for an alternative to these (MTD's) as I can' get them at a local store.

Thoughts?

You can hear what I sound like with the tapered MD 135x's on a Yamaha TRB5.

All suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I got the MTD strings (45-135tc) on my MTD Heir and I really like those strings. To date this is the best B-string I've ever used.

I was very surprised to like the MTD strings but I did! They have a very bright sound, super string-to-string balance and last a long time.

To date the closest I could recommend to the MTD's would be DR Lo-Riders Stainless. As I've never been impressed by the DR low-B's in general, I'd recommend to go with at least a 130 if you try DR's.

I also just got a pack of Sadowsky Bright Nickel (130 tc-B) that I'm gonna put on soon. I've heard great things about them and will let you know how they compare to the MTD strings.

You should be able to order MTD strings at your local store. If not, send an email to Mike Tobias and he will hook you up. Mike really believes in his strings and will find a way for you to get them.

pickles · #17 12-29-2006, 12:05 PM

DR hi-beams: my standard, loads of growl. Great slap and finger string. B is finicky about basses.

DR fat beams: stiffer, snappier, a little less mids than hi-beams ... I like hi-beams better.

La Bella HRS or Slappers: perhaps the best Bs on earth, huge growly sound and a great feel on the whole set. Slappers are much mellower but also great.

Dean Markley SR2000: very bright, dry, lots of impact.

Ernie Ball Slinkys: full, powerful, with a different type of brightness being a nickel string. Great all-around string with lots of support in the tone. Another favorite of mine.

Sadowsky stainless: high tension, solid, very defined, another A+ B string. These like a near-zero relief setup. Maximum snap.

TI Superalloys. Great soft feel, deep and round tone with a polite top end. Very good B. These like some relief.

Rotosound Swing Bass 66: A lot like hi-beams, just a slightly different tone.

Pedulla Stainless: impeccable B string and a great overall balanced set. 34" scale only. I think they are custom labellas.

All great, all different ... and each bass responds to them a little differently. They also require different setups for best results. Experiment!

mimaz · #18 12-29-2006, 12:39 PM

I've tried most of the brands that I've seen in this post at one time or another. Lots of valid points made, and some pros and cons to each, I'm sure.

That being said, everything that I play on a regular basis is strung with Dean Markley Blue Steels. The 5's get .45-.128's, the 4's get mostly .45 to .105, a couple of the 4's slightly lighter.

I like a clean, bright, tight and focused sound, and so far the Blue Steels deliver......I've been using them for years. They also seem to last for quite a while without becoming dead.

Crabby · #19 12-31-2006, 03:36 AM

Blue Steels are my number one choice. I keep going back to them and they always make me smile. Tons of growl and last a long time.

I love the 50-128 Medium set. Just put a set on my SR5 and WOW, they sound amazing!

dragoon419 · #20 01-01-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabby

Blue Steels are my number one choice. I keep going back to them and they always make me smile. Tons of growl and last a long time.

I love the 50-128 Medium set. Just put a set on my SR5 and WOW, they sound amazing!

So true man, so true!

I just got a pack of Deans, and they're excellent. They completely blow Rotosounds out of the water. That, and they're a hell of a lot cheaper than Rotos or D'addarios (though I have never tried D'addarios). I got a pack of mediums (same as Crabby) and they are so good. Though the B is lighter than the Rotos (.002 lighter), it has much better response and is tighter.

My favourite part about the Deans is that you can get the E, A, D and G strings in 50-105 gauges. These make 'em perfect for tuning to A.

I love Deans, and hate Rotos.