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5 String Choices

M

Marsvoltian

Feb 22, 2010
35
0
#1
Hello everyone,
I have not had to buy many strings in my time of playing bass, and i have no idea what ones i should be looking at. I recently bought a Cort B-5 and am going to get it set up properly from the local bass tech and thought i should change my strings now.

I mostly play progressive metal but also like to play Chords and Tap. Im just posting this thread to quiz you experts on what choices i should be making in relation to brand, type and gauge?

Thanks,
Marsvoltian
 
#4
Ive been recommended Ernie Balls by a friend, but no idea on gauge and he has a 4 String so. I was thinking seeming as the only downtuning im likely to do is the E->D that maybe lights would do well. Do they generally have less stamina than heavys?
 
#6
Curt Mangan, DR LowRiders, or Elixers are strings I've been very happy with. If you can get a set of Curt Mangans, do that. They're a fairly new company I think but people are starting to catch on. These are some quality strings. I've been playing Elixers lately just because that's what is available where I am (no real chain music stores just small mom and pop stores).

On gauge, I tune my bass EADGC so my gauges run .100 - .30. I do a great deal of tapping and this gauge seems the hit the sweet spot for me. If you're tuning BEADG I'd probably go .130 to .45.

And of course go nickel wound. Stainless just feels a bit to "grabby" for my tastes
 
#7
Marsvoltian said:
Hello everyone,
I have not had to buy many strings in my time of playing bass, and i have no idea what ones i should be looking at. I recently bought a Cort B-5 and am going to get it set up properly from the local bass tech and thought i should change my strings now.

I mostly play progressive metal but also like to play Chords and Tap. Im just posting this thread to quiz you experts on what choices i should be making in relation to brand, type and gauge?

Thanks,
Marsvoltian
Click to expand...
my son has the same bass and uses ti jazz flats......we tried la bella deep talking...but the B was never in pitch all the way up the neck....I think its because the winding stops before the saddles
 
#9
I have a set of Ernie's on my five and they sound great. There's a lot of great strings and the guage is user preference. You're going to have to experiment to find what works best for you.

Just stay away from GHS Boomers! IMO, they're crap. Sound horrible and wear out fast. My Ernies have done really well for their price. Before this set, I used a set of DR's and they were pretty good. My Ernies are currently guage .130 to 0.45 Tapping isn't very responsive and harmonics are so so, but they can handle a beating of slap and pops and stay in tune.
 
#10
MNAirHead said:
sounds like stainless something
Click to expand...


Agreed. D'Addario ProSteels are good, as well as RotoSound RS66 and LaBella Hard Rockin' Steels. The Rotos and LaBellas will have a more balanced B string. Personal opinion: the Rotos have a unique growl that makes them stand out. Many will say they die too quickly, but even after they lose their brightness, they maintain that unique growl. And you can keep the brightness longer if you wipe the strings down each time you use them, but you should do that with any roundwounds.

EDIT: DR stainless are great, too.
 
#11
rymiraflores said:
my son has the same bass and uses ti jazz flats......we tried la bella deep talking...but the B was never in pitch all the way up the neck....I think its because the winding stops before the saddles
Click to expand...

Just for a differing opinion: My La Bella DTBs are wonderful, and that winding that you're referring to is the taper. It doesn't affect pitch and helps me get the action on the B lower than I can with non-tapered strings.
 
#13
Thanks everyone,
So now im going to search for either the Ernie Balls or the DR LowRiders. Some recommend Nickel some Stainless. What is the obvious difference?

Im not a slapper, only on a very rare occasion will i use it, and i have in no way got the rhythm down yet, i play fingerstyle also if i hadnt mentioned that earlier. About experimenting, the issue is cash but i guess a trial can last for a few months. And odds are im not going to hate any, i dont even know what are on it now!

Thanks again
 
#16
Marsvoltian said:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Ernie-Ball-S...08?pt=AU_Instrument_Accessories#ht_675wt_1137

They appear to be a good deal, lightest gauge i could find?
Last decision, Super or Regular?


DRs seems to be a lot more expensive, its hard to make a decision:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DR-Lo-Rider-...904?pt=AU_Instrument_Accessories#ht_617wt_911
Click to expand...

I've never played on the Ernie Ball strings but thats unfortunate that the lo riders cost so much. It must have something to do with the country because I've never seen any that expensive. Even a 6 string set of Elixers wouldn't be that expensive.

As far as Stainless vs. Nickel, I would go with Nickel. If you have the money you could try a set of each and see what you prefer. It's all about what you personally like better. I haven't played on stainless in a while so I can't give you a good idea on tone but I know that Stainless feel more "grabby." It'd be comparable to say an acoustic instrument whereas Nickel will have a smoother feel to it.

tl;dr: Nickel is much smoother and easier to play (my opinion)

Here is a video of me playing one of my solo songs. I'm playing on Elixers in this video: Maybe that'll give you a better idea of what sound you might be able to get. Of course the way your bass is set up makes a big impact, too.
 

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