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Are there strings you actually dislike?
- Thread starter FunkyYeti
- Start date
Yep.
Thomastic Acousticores, silicone Ashbory strings, most flats other than Chromes, Rotosound rounds, bronze ABG strings, nylon upright strings, GHS Brite Flats, Fender BassVI strings, and probably others I can't remember.
My impression is that I'm in a very small minority, but I can't stand TI Jazz Flats.
They previous owners of my Precision V and my L-2500 had them on those basses when I bought them. I thought they sounded OK on the P, but I wasn't crazy about them on the L-2500. But what I REALLY disliked about them was the thing that most people seemed to like. They were WAY too loose for me. I like a much tighter feeling string.
They previous owners of my Precision V and my L-2500 had them on those basses when I bought them. I thought they sounded OK on the P, but I wasn't crazy about them on the L-2500. But what I REALLY disliked about them was the thing that most people seemed to like. They were WAY too loose for me. I like a much tighter feeling string.
Not that I dislike them, but when I started playing (1990’s), the local shop only carried A certain brand. They always seemed to get dead within a couple of weeks. I played pretty aggressive back then, chugging Metal with a garage band, learning slap on my own time.
Anyway, whenever I see red silk on a bass, I feel the need to change strings.
Some other ones I don’t dislike, but don’t prefer are flats. I had a Mark Hoppus i strung with them, and it was a blast to get the old school tones out of it, but after playing rounds for so long, I could never get used to the texture.
Speaking of, I tried a 5-set of a coated string brand. I really liked them, but it felt like the strings were wearing pantyhose.
Anyway, whenever I see red silk on a bass, I feel the need to change strings.
Some other ones I don’t dislike, but don’t prefer are flats. I had a Mark Hoppus i strung with them, and it was a blast to get the old school tones out of it, but after playing rounds for so long, I could never get used to the texture.
Speaking of, I tried a 5-set of a coated string brand. I really liked them, but it felt like the strings were wearing pantyhose.
The only strings I dislike are the most crap-tastic stuff they put on the cheapest of instruments.
I'm no string snob. More power to you if the search for the perfect string is on your agenda and you have the time and energy for that, but I have better things to do. I usually gravitate almost exclusively to EB or D'Addario for guitars and basses, both rounds and flats for standard basses. I have great luck with them and they're available dirt cheap almost everywhere you look. Only once in a while do I hunt further (short scale flats, 35" fivers, and such).
I'm no string snob. More power to you if the search for the perfect string is on your agenda and you have the time and energy for that, but I have better things to do. I usually gravitate almost exclusively to EB or D'Addario for guitars and basses, both rounds and flats for standard basses. I have great luck with them and they're available dirt cheap almost everywhere you look. Only once in a while do I hunt further (short scale flats, 35" fivers, and such).
I've been trying quite a few different strings the last few years.
What I've found is, even if I don't like them initially, I often eventually find another Bass they work well on.
example; I tried a set of Sunbeams on my fretless Jazz and didn't like them at all, but then really liked them on a fretless P.
The one string I did not care for at all were Brite Flats. (And I like GHS) But they seemed very uneven- from too bright on the G, to just dead on the E. I'm usually not that picky, but I didn't like the way they felt at all. I gave them away after a week. That person really liked them, as do many here...
"Different hearts beat on different strings", I guess.
What I've found is, even if I don't like them initially, I often eventually find another Bass they work well on.
example; I tried a set of Sunbeams on my fretless Jazz and didn't like them at all, but then really liked them on a fretless P.
The one string I did not care for at all were Brite Flats. (And I like GHS) But they seemed very uneven- from too bright on the G, to just dead on the E. I'm usually not that picky, but I didn't like the way they felt at all. I gave them away after a week. That person really liked them, as do many here...
"Different hearts beat on different strings", I guess.
Can't say that I've liked any flats at all since I switched to rounds about a year after going electric, maybe 1976.
Early on I used flats because 1) I came over from upright (flats) 2) I thought flats sounded more 'bass like' 3) They came standard on my '76 Mustang.
It took some time to save up for a new set of strings (like $30 even then, a big spend for a 14-year-old) Roto RS66 rounds opened up a whole new world, and, though I've tried several times and several TB-beloved brands, flats do not satisfy at all.
Yes, that includes highly-recommended brands and sets A, B ,C, and maybe even D.
Roto RS66 steel gave way to GHS Boomers gave way to Roto RS66 nickel --today I use DR Sunbeams exclusively.
Early on I used flats because 1) I came over from upright (flats) 2) I thought flats sounded more 'bass like' 3) They came standard on my '76 Mustang.
It took some time to save up for a new set of strings (like $30 even then, a big spend for a 14-year-old) Roto RS66 rounds opened up a whole new world, and, though I've tried several times and several TB-beloved brands, flats do not satisfy at all.
Yes, that includes highly-recommended brands and sets A, B ,C, and maybe even D.
Roto RS66 steel gave way to GHS Boomers gave way to Roto RS66 nickel --today I use DR Sunbeams exclusively.
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It's been almost a decade since I have used them, but GHS boomers. They left that bad of a taste.
There used to be a rep from GHS on here who did his best to defend the product... but it didn't last.
I wonder if they are better now?
There used to be a rep from GHS on here who did his best to defend the product... but it didn't last.
I wonder if they are better now?
TI Jazz Flats, and all tapewounds. Coated strings I'm on the fence about. And any cheapo "shop" strings I've tried.
Same. I hate them. Also dislike every stainless steel round I've tried (but that's only been a few). I like a flexible string with good mid-range for my playing style and fretless tone. These days I'm really just using TI Flats and Dunlop Super Bright Nickels, and these serve me very well. I'll branch out and try a few new sets one of these days though, I'm sure.
Those old Randy Jackson gold strings. They looked amazing. But come the second set, they had lot their brightness. By the end of the third set, the gold was gone as well.
