Yamaha TRB6 - What Strings?

[dubblebubble]

Hi all, I need to replace the strings on my Yamaha TRB6 and am wondering what strings everyone else uses. I have already tried DR Low Riders and the standard D'addario strings and haven't been happy with either of them. I am looking for a warmer sound from the bass.

thanks
Paul

[timmbass]

I just got a 6 string bass and put DR Lo Riders on it and love them. The hex core is susposed to help the low B, and they have a consistent sound string to string. I have been a D'Addaro XL guy for years and am a DR guy now.

The DR Lo Riders and the D'Addaro XLs are both nickel round wound strings, the two string sets I recommend when people are looking for a nice warm sound. I am not aware of a string that is warmer, and if there are any I would not think they would be enough to make a big enough difference to make you happy.

If you think you are looking for a warmer sound, but did not find that sound in D'Addaro XLs or DR Lo Riders, you may have to rethink what the sound is you are looking for. Maybe you need to try flats.

[Beefbass]

Ken Smith

[Lorenzini]

Either Ken Smith Bass Burners nickel coated, or DR Sunbeams.You could always use D'Addario Half Rounds too. Patitucci uses those on his TRB6 because he wants that round sound.

[mastersrhythm]

I'm using Ken Smith's on my TRB6p now.
Try em... They last and sound great!!!:

RMM-6 Rock Master-Medium .030 .045 .065 .085 .105 .130

[dubblebubble]

Originally Posted by timmbass

The DR Lo Riders and the D'Addaro XLs are both nickel round wound strings, the two string sets I recommend when people are looking for a nice warm sound. I am not aware of a string that is warmer, and if there are any I would not think they would be enough to make a big enough difference to make you happy.

Yeah maybe that's the point, the bass seems destined to have a smiley eq sound - the reason that I have tried both D'Addario and Dr Lo Riders is that I knew them to be warm strings - I use them on my 4 string stingray. Maybe I need to look further than the strings - maybe pickups? I really was looking for the cheap fix before changing out expensive bits. I don't know whether Ken Smith strings are available in Australia, I'll have to look.

cheers

[timmbass]

I don't want to be argumentative, but even if you are a fan of Ken Smith nickel round wound strings, and even if you feel they are better than other brands, they are still nickel round wound strings, and again, how much difference would we see if we where attempting to solve a problem that the other brands did not solve?

There was a thread a while back where a guy changed out his preamp and felt there was a huge improvement in sound, and then his new pickups came and he did not see the same improvement. He felt that if he had a choice of one or the other, he would choose the preamp change.

And...I am not sure there is a drop in replacement for those pickups you have.

The Aguilar OBP-3 has active cut and boost bass mid and treb. Maybe that would help you. But, at 130 dollars or so plus the time and effort, it would be worth trying some more strings first.

There is a guy at www.bestbassgear.com who will pre wire up an aguilar preamp with the knobs the way you want.

And then there is http://www.audereaudio.com/

You have a great bass. If you like the way it feels and plays, it is worth a little tender loving care.

[Beefbass]

Originally Posted by timmbass

I don't want to be argumentative, but even if you are a fan of Ken Smith nickel round wound strings, and even if you feel they are better than other brands, they are still nickel round wound strings, and again, how much difference would we see if we where attempting to solve a problem that the other brands did not solve?

There was a thread a while back where a guy changed out his preamp and felt there was a huge improvement in sound, and then his new pickups came and he did not see the same improvement. He felt that if he had a choice of one or the other, he would choose the preamp change.

And...I am not sure there is a drop in replacement for those pickups you have.




The Aguilar OBP-3 has active cut and boost bass mid and treb. Maybe that would help you. But, at 130 dollars or so plus the time and effort, it would be worth trying some more strings first.

There is a guy at www.bestbassgear.com who will pre wire up an aguilar preamp with the knobs the way you want.

And then there is http://www.audereaudio.com/

You have a great bass. If you like the way it feels and plays, it is worth a little tender loving care.

No need to be argumentative at all. Here's the way I see it;

Dubblebubble came looking for opinions
I offered mine
A couple of others offered theirs
ultimately, it is up to the original poster to decide what is best for him, possibly taking in the opinions he sought here.

Dubblebubble, hope you are successful in finding what you are looking for

[dubblebubble]

Timmbass,
I don't see your comments as argumentative at all - in fact I tend to agree with you about the strings

I have actually tried wiring the pickups directly to the output (bypassing the preamp) and found that it had the same sound - this leads me to think that it is the pickups, but I would be happy to find out that this is not the case (do you have a link to the thread?) as it is still more expensive to replace the pickups than the preamp! I believe Bartolini have replacements, but it took over 6 months to get the last pickup I wanted.

I do like the bass - although it is a weighty beast, and the 35" scale does not completely agree with me while playing in the 1st position. I can live with that for a bass with a good sound though, but at the moment it doesn't have that.

What I really wanted was a cheap magic bullet, and if anyone had replied "I really like xxxxx string on a TRB6 because IMO it really warms the bass up" then I would try those strings first. I don't even think I can buy Ken Smith strings in Australia, so it might be a moot point!

Just to be certain everyone knows which bass I am talking about, it is not the TRB6p (pattitucci model) with the jazz style pickups, it has the soapbar style which I have also heard was the weak point of the bass. Still, I brought it 2nd hand for a steal to see if I liked 6 string bass - after a couple of years playing it, I still am not completely sure! but that's another post

cheers

Paul

[Lorenzini]

Originally Posted by dubblebubble

Timmbass,
I don't see your comments as argumentative at all - in fact I tend to agree with you about the strings

I have actually tried wiring the pickups directly to the output (bypassing the preamp) and found that it had the same sound - this leads me to think that it is the pickups, but I would be happy to find out that this is not the case (do you have a link to the thread?) as it is still more expensive to replace the pickups than the preamp! I believe Bartolini have replacements, but it took over 6 months to get the last pickup I wanted.

I do like the bass - although it is a weighty beast, and the 35" scale does not completely agree with me while playing in the 1st position. I can live with that for a bass with a good sound though, but at the moment it doesn't have that.

What I really wanted was a cheap magic bullet, and if anyone had replied "I really like xxxxx string on a TRB6 because IMO it really warms the bass up" then I would try those strings first. I don't even think I can buy Ken Smith strings in Australia, so it might be a moot point!

Just to be certain everyone knows which bass I am talking about, it is not the TRB6p (pattitucci model) with the jazz style pickups, it has the soapbar style which I have also heard was the weak point of the bass. Still, I brought it 2nd hand for a steal to see if I liked 6 string bass - after a couple of years playing it, I still am not completely sure! but that's another post

cheers

Paul

Here's my story on the TRB6p.

I bought it used at a great price. I hated it at first and almost sold it the same day, but then bought some new D'Addario stainless strings, and that helped, but I still didn't like the sound.

So I purchased new Bartolini G6 pickups (or is it X6?). It transformed the sound and made it MUCH more warm. Then I put Ken Smith Burner nickels and it helped, THEN I put on some DR Hi Beams and let them break in for a good 3 months.

I am very happy with the sound and plan on putting on some D'Addario Half-Rounds next, and then upgrading the preamp. IMO the stock preamp isn't that great. Probably should've upgraded the pre before the pickups, but that's fine.

I've heard Demeter pre's will give you a very smooth sound - a thought? Then again, try the Half-Rounds! Patitucci switched to them for the sole reason of wanting more warmth.

If you want a FULL transformation, you really should upgrade the pre and the pickups.