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Any guesses? Help identifying strings

Seth Miller

Seth Miller

Jul 10, 2014
151
81
53
Colorado
#1
Hi all. So I bought a new to me bass, used, and the seller has no idea what strings are in it. The problem is I really ended up liking these strings. I feel like they are nickel round wound steel. No silk on either end. Cooper colored ball ends. They are slightly thicker than .45-1.05. It’s difficult to get a good measurement but they seem to be around .50-1.10. They could be .48-1.08 or something in that ball park. Compared to another pretty new set of pure nickel I have they have a much more girthier sound. And aren’t too bright at all. They could be fairly worn but don’t seem completely dead to me.
I’d really like to find out what they are with the minimum or trial and error. If I can narrow that down I’ll be putting them on other basses as well.
 
#2
Please post a couple of pics of the strings - one at the headstock and one at the bridge, including the ball ends. There may be subtle visual cues as to which brand. Also, it would be great if you could measure the length of those strings from the ball end to the taper (end of full winding) at the tuner end.

By the way, .45-1.05 would be way too thick for bass strings. I would assume you meant .045 (45/1000th of an inch) - .105 (105/1000th of an inch). ;)
 
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#3
michael_t said:
Please post a couple of pics of the strings - one at the headstock and one at the bridge, including the ball ends. There may be subtle visual cues as to which brand. Also, it would be great if you could measure the length of those strings from the ball end to the taper (end of full winding) at the tuner end.

By the way, .45-1.05 would be way too thick for bass strings. I would assume you meant .045 (45/1000th of an inch) - .105 (105/1000th of an inch). ;)
Click to expand...
Thanks! Will do as soon as I get home! I think it could be dunlops or Ernie ball. Definitely not rotosound.
 
#4
michael_t said:
By the way, .45-1.05 would be way too thick for bass strings. I would assume you meant .045 (45/1000th of an inch) - .105 (105/1000th of an inch). ;)
Click to expand...

It's a very tall bass. Scale length around 10 meters, sure it takes a team of six to play and requires a special driver's license just to transport but these are the sacrifices we must make in the name of art.
 
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#6
Got some pics. Looks like the E string is .108. Or really close to it. Definitely bigger than .105. I think the A string is .86. The A string is around 44 inches but of course it had been cut. The pic is of the A string.
Thank you for the replies. Yeah 1.05 would really bring the low end. Sorry I’m so dumb.
 

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#7
Seth Miller said:
Got some pics. Looks like the E string is .108. Or really close to it. Definitely bigger than .105. I think the A string is .86. The A string is around 44 inches but of course it had been cut. The pic is of the A string.
Thank you for the replies. Yeah 1.05 would really bring the low end. Sorry I’m so dumb.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pics. I still need the winding length (ball end to taper) on them. Most manufacturers' "long scale" is 37"-37.25" in winding length. DR is one exception in that their "long scale" is half an inch longer at 37.75".
 
#9
Ok. On the e string it’s 37.5 inches from the end of the ball to the first taper. I don’t have a magnifying glass, and with the crimp, my guess is hex core. They’re not a hugely larger gauge but feel pretty stiff. Something like sunbeams is way softer. I took a pic but suspect it’ll be useless. Thanks for all this. I appreciate that you’re willing to spend some time on my crazy mission. I remeasured the G string and it could be a .045 up to .048
 

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#11
Seth Miller said:
Ok. On the e string it’s 37.5 inches from the end of the ball to the first taper. I don’t have a magnifying glass, and with the crimp, my guess is hex core. They’re not a hugely larger gauge but feel pretty stiff...
Click to expand...

SIT Power Wound Nickels, maybe...? They do come in both 45-105 and 50-110 set. Hex core and 37.5" winding length with brass ball ends.

Power Wound Nickel Bass Strings - S.I.T. Strings
 
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#12
A couple of things about SIT as a string manufacturer...

Their customer service is nothing short of outstanding. And their strings are very reasonably priced.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I actually have two new sets of the Power Wound Nickels 40-100 in my personal stock to try on one of my basses.
 
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#17
Look just like the factory 7250's that came on my MIM player plus PJ. Those were all brass, not color coded like packaged 7250s are. What kind of bass is it? Is it new enough that it could be never-changed strings?

Edit: I see in the pic it's a Jazz. Could be original?
 
Last edited:
#18
SharpCat said:
Look just like the factory 7250's that came on my MIM player plus PJ. Those were all brass, not color coded like packaged 7250s are. What kind of bass is it? Is it new enough that it could be never-changed strings?

Edit: I see in the pic it's a Jazz. Could be original?
Click to expand...
Maybe? I kind of doubt they are though. Plus they are for sure just a touch heavier than the standard that new basses default to. It’s a mim roadworn jazz. These are the first round wound strings that really hit the spot for me. I love the ti rounds but they’re just to skinny and loose for a fender bass, for me and I have ti flats on my other basses.
 
#19
Seth Miller said:
Maybe? I kind of doubt they are though. Plus they are for sure just a touch heavier than the standard that new basses default to. It’s a mim roadworn jazz. These are the first round wound strings that really hit the spot for me. I love the ti rounds but they’re just to skinny and loose for a fender bass, for me and I have ti flats on my other basses.
Click to expand...
Cheap to try them. Most Fenders come with 45-105s. Measured an aftermarket set I have, they measure E 0.1050, G 0.0445.

Good Luck!
 
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