Too many possibilities based on those specs. A good place to start would be the stainless steel version of Ernie Ball Slinkys. No one on talkbass talks about these but they're good strings and match the description.
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Another string question
- Thread starter gip111
- Start date
- Feb 23, 2009
- 81
- 25
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Markbass Amplification
They look like my Elixir Strings. I use the Elixir Nickels which I find to be snappy and growly - moreso than their stainless steel ones. I know that doesn't make sense but just my experience. Good strings anyway and i think the scale length lines up although someone else might be able to help with that.
They not Fender or Daddario, because as noted they’d have colored ball ends.
I would also like to suggest they are not DR, because the fat part of the E string would wind around the E tuner a bit due to their 38” winding length.
Furthermore, they are also not Rotosounds, as they have silk and colored ball ends. Also not GHS because they have silks too (but maybe not all?).
My guess is that these would be either Dunlop’s or Ernie Balls, based on the fact that they are easier to come by and available in most stores. Not saying the original owner didn’t use the internet, that’s possible too. But I am just dealing in likelihood...
You could try a set of Super Slinkies and Super Brights for about $20 each and find out if I’m right
I would also like to suggest they are not DR, because the fat part of the E string would wind around the E tuner a bit due to their 38” winding length.
Furthermore, they are also not Rotosounds, as they have silk and colored ball ends. Also not GHS because they have silks too (but maybe not all?).
My guess is that these would be either Dunlop’s or Ernie Balls, based on the fact that they are easier to come by and available in most stores. Not saying the original owner didn’t use the internet, that’s possible too. But I am just dealing in likelihood...
You could try a set of Super Slinkies and Super Brights for about $20 each and find out if I’m right
Wow, lots of different opinions when it comes to strings. I guess my inexperience shows with my posting. Though I've been through a few basses, I never paid much attention to strings and outside my usual go to D"Addario strings and flats for my short scales, I have not ventured much. I appreciate all the comments.
yeah, +1 to Elixir rounds for snap and growl. I’ve had good results from the SIT Power Wound as well.
What is confusing to me, however, are all the requests for string length to help in identification. I always have to cut my strings to get the correct winding length of 2-3 wraps around the post. And, even if they aren’t cut, how on gods green earth are you going to be able to stretch them out to get an accurate measurement?
"Winding length" is the length from the ball end to the first taper (or where the silk starts) at the tuner end. It has nothing to do with the part that is cut off at the end.
Different manufacturers have different "winding lengths" as part of their specs.
See here: Bass String Lengths by Manufacturer
My first guess would have been EB and not that I have used them before but have noticed the gold colored ball ends. I might just try them. Amazon is having a sale on the Super Brights. Thank you!
That's fine, too. Excellent strings, D'addario. Used them for decades and still use them on one of my basses but switched to Dunlops on most of them.
Speaking of which, what does the tension feel like on them? They could be Dunlop Super Brights if the tension is lower than most. I use the Nickels and they have a lot of characteristics of steels and nickels both when they're new.
Very true. That's why it takes me a bit too long to replace strings normally. I don't like new strings, I like them after they settle and lose some of the initial brightness, and then they get into the territory I like. They last some time. Then they start moving away from that sweet zone, slowly. By the time I'm thinking they're not quite right, the alternative is new strings, but UGH! so I wait... hesitate... drag my feet.
A couple of months ago I met these guys who wanted to start a RHCP tribute band. I played in one for 5 years and I thought it would be fun to play that style again. I decided to put fresh strings on my Stingray. Oh, how I hated it at home. Yet, in the rehearsal room, with a nice Trace Elliot head and an 810... that bass sounded amazing.
I get that a lot, I wait too late if it's not my primary bass, and I get into a "yeah this bass is nice but it's not all that" and after new strings BOOM.
The good news is that it got better over the next 8 weeks
I should find someone who likes the same strings as me, but only when new. They could use the strings for 4 weeks, and then pass them on to me.
They do look like EB to me too. They are not necessarily EB, but they look consistent. And they're not Rotosound, Fender, D'Addario, Warwick... and I don't think they're GHS either (they have that spiral thing without silk where they get into the tuning post, like Warwick stings, if I remember correctly?)
The OP's strings also look a little like DR Fat Beams (stainless steel) which happen to be my favourite string.
Although perhaps the taper at the headstock end is not quite the same... The A string looks spot on, but not sure about the E on that picture.
They could be Rotosounds, the Roto Bass nickels have no silk and gold ball ends.
Yes. I remember when they changed to colored balls years ago. Hmmm. Of all the colors they use, they don't use blue...seems appropriate for a G string....
Oh - BTW: D'Addario OEM strings, like what come on Ibanez instruments, for example, have brass balls...yeah.... That, the taper of the leader, and that the strings were already on there could lead a person to that attribution, but we don't know if they were the original strings on the instrument. Probably not.
Yes. I remember when they changed to colored balls years ago. Hmmm. Of all the colors they use, they don't use blue...seems appropriate for a G string....
Oh - BTW: D'Addario OEM strings, like what come on Ibanez instruments, for example, have brass balls...yeah.... That, the taper of the leader, and that the strings were already on there could lead a person to that attribution, but we don't know if they were the original strings on the instrument. Probably not.
At this point Im not so much interested in what strings are on the bass now as much as which strings can give me that growl sound. Im probably making more of it than I should and perhaps this shows my inexperience but a nice lesson on strings... for me anyway.
BTW I recently purchased an Ibanez TMB30, not sure what strings are on them but talk about growl!
Based on his comparison between the old strings and a fresh set of Daddario nickels, I think we're working on the assumption that the old strings are stainless steel.
