5 string players what strings do you like?

[tylerwylie]

Depends on the brand that .142" Circle K makes is one ballsy sounding motherhumper I mean

Those strings don't cut it on my fretless. On my fretted bass they sound really nice but I still like the .136 and .124 more than the .142, I think their traditional .136 and .124 sets sound better than the balanced .142, though not necessarily feel better.

 

[Hapa]

I used to play DR hi-Beams mostly but I have been playing on DM Helix Strings - Med (heavy guage) the Tension is a little more than the DR's. The Taper at the bridge also forces a higher saddle position and creates a more even break angle across the strings. They do seem to last a long time as well.

 

[tylerwylie]

I used to play DR hi-Beams mostly but I have been playing on DM Helix Strings - Med (heavy guage) the Tension is a little more than the DR's. The Taper at the bridge also forces a higher saddle position and creates a more even break angle across the strings. They do seem to last a long time as well.

I love the Helix strings but the taper's just a bit too long for my bridge, causes issues the farther down the neck I go.

 

[klokker]

Sadowsky Blue Label Nickels on my 5. My favorite strings are lo-riders, but for my 5 these work the best. Not super bright, and what brightness they have mellows pretty quick, but stay clean and live forever it seems. Tapered B is the cleanest I've tried.

 

[bass geetarist]

I'm only 3 days into my 5 string journey, so I only have experience with whatever strings came on my bass (T Bird Studio), and the DR Nickel Lo Riders (45-125) I put on it on saturday.

No idea what the original strings were, but they were apparently very dead, as the bass originally sounded dull and thuddy. With the DRs, there's plenty of low mid growl and punch.

Apparently, these strings are somewhat higher tension, which I figured would make for a less floppy b, but I see some posters above stating that they did better with a lighter b, so I may have to do some more experimenting.

 

[Furious_Man77]

DR Fat Beams 45/125 on my Rumblefish R5L. Usually only play it when a five string is necessary, but what a lush piano-like B string.

 

[PluckyThump]

Out of everything I have tried over the years these have the best B strings:

Ernie Ball Slinky .045 to .130
DR anything except Lo-Riders

For flats I like Chromes or TI for E-G combined with a roundwound B string.

 

[Precision101]

Out of everything I have tried over the years these have the best B strings:



Ernie Ball Slinky .045 to .130

DR anything except Lo-Riders



For flats I like Chromes or TI for E-G combined with a roundwound B string.

Flats with a rounwound? Sounds awesome.

 

[lexefx]

GHS Boomers in pick your own gauges. Lakland flats & round. Depends on which bass.

 

[mimaz]

I only play my 5s...the 4s that are still hanging around, I really don't know what I put on them, 'cuz it's been so long.

On all of my electrics, I use Dean Markley Blue Steels, .045-.128. They work well for me, and seem to settle very quickly into a sound that lasts consistently for quite awhile.

On my "acoustics" (meaning my Rick Turners, Warwick Alien, Godins, etc) it's still more of a mixed bag, and I'm still experimenting with everything from the TI Acousticores on one of the RTs, to tapewounds, to phos-bronze, even Blue Steels.....an ongoing experiment at this point.

 

[hrodbert696]

I've got DR Marcus Millers on my active 5er and D'Addario Chromes on the passive one.

 

[Icculus]

I'm about to order some Ken Smith Slick Rounds. Changing from halfrounds to flats on my P has made me wonder how halfrounds would sound on my active 5 string. Mike Gordon uses them and I would kill for his tone, although he uses a graphite pick, so I don't expect to get very close to his sound.

 

[Mas Fuego]

Chromes on my P5

 

[TTPbass1]

I have three fivers, a Cort GB5 active with Seymor Duncan 1/4 pounders (jazz + hambucker) strung thru bridge with D'Addario Nickels EXL-170-5SL; a Cort Artisan A5 active with Bartolini MK1 pups strung thru body with DR Black Beauties; and a Cort Action V-DLX with Mighty Mite Soapbars strung with Ernie Ball Super Slinky...

I'm getting a really nice tone from them, love the combination of the D'Addarios nickels and the Duncan's pickups, I'm just getting used to the texture of Black Beauties, but they sound terrific on the A5...

 

[Burwabit]

What do flats sound like on an active 5?

My P 5 deluxe was on the chopping block until I put TIs on it. Now it's my #1 gigging bass with tone for days. I'm a huge believer in these strings.

 

[shenager]

I have the maple American deluxe version.

 

[tylerwylie]

View attachment 385603

I have the maple American deluxe version.

Was never a Fender America fan until I visited my buddies in GA and they had one of those sitting in corner for me to jam with. Heavy bass but the tone was something I dug a lot of.

 

[Dug2]

I've only played these two strings so take it fro what it's worth. DR Hi Beams, hated them. Circle K - custom even tension set,Loved 'em.

CIRCLE k's .142 balanced

 

[eamonn5219]

I use roto sound jazz bass. They're hard to get ahold of but they sound like heaven!

 

[Up the dose]

Love the ADPV's. Black and Gold beauties. both of them