I have tried everything under the sun and have settled on SIT Power Wounds 45-105 for my three Fenders, and SIT Phosphor Bronze on my AEB. I also use SIT on 3 guitars. I really like the way they feel and sound. Eventually I’d like to try their flats but I haven’t really been in a flats mood for a while.
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Bass String Brand User Poll
- Thread starter Brian Patterson
- Start date
I've never tried SIT's, but I have tried a ton of others. What's the closest string you'd compare them to?
SIT Power Wound Nickels fall somewhere between DR Nickel Lo-Riders and GHS Boomers in their tonal character. Not quite as gritty and grindy as the Boomers but they have a nice bite in the midrange. $18 for a 4-string set, they're one of the best values out there.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,066
- 45,998
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
The SIT Silencers are somewhat familial with GHS Pressurewounds, IMO and IME. A little more air, a bit less low mid grunt, and what some perceive as a stickier feel, but personally I find them easier on my fingers than the PWs due to the coarser windings on the PWs. Each complements one of my fretless fours just a little better, FWIW: Pressurewounds for the single coil one, Silencers with the humbucking sidewinders.
Optima strings are amazing, I like their “Chrome” flats. Have also been very pleased with La Bella, Ernie Ball Group flats, GHS, Fender 7150s and 9120s.
I don't think there's one right answer to this just for me, much less one right answer for everyone. Play what works for you.
I lean toward the camp that says there's a right set of strings for each bass. I currently have basses wearing three different kinds of GHS strings (pressurewounds, balanced nickels, and super steels), D'Addarios, and StringJoys. Have tried a few others (EB, DR, Ken Smith) with mixed results.
I lean toward the camp that says there's a right set of strings for each bass. I currently have basses wearing three different kinds of GHS strings (pressurewounds, balanced nickels, and super steels), D'Addarios, and StringJoys. Have tried a few others (EB, DR, Ken Smith) with mixed results.
I'm somewhat torn here and my answers reflect that...
The strings that I've used for the longest period of time were Rotosound/Superwound BUT their lack of longevity always bothered me deeply so they didn't get my vote.
La Bella produced two of my favourite types of bass strings ever - White Nylons and the sadly discontinued Deep Talkin' Rounds - so they got my vote although some of their other offerings were very much not to my liking.
Stringjoy has been my choice for rounds for the past few years and I have no complaints so far.
GHS Contact Core Super Steels are my go-to for the sole 5-string bass in my collection so they got the vote.
Had SIT and/or Pyramid been an option they would have gotten my vote as well.
I used to like Dean Markley strings an awful lot in the '90s, however every single set I purchased over the past 8 years has been a disappointment. No vote from me.
In all fairness I could've possibly given a vote to DR because I've used their strings a lot but was never ecstatic about them.
My $0.02 only...
The strings that I've used for the longest period of time were Rotosound/Superwound BUT their lack of longevity always bothered me deeply so they didn't get my vote.
La Bella produced two of my favourite types of bass strings ever - White Nylons and the sadly discontinued Deep Talkin' Rounds - so they got my vote although some of their other offerings were very much not to my liking.
Stringjoy has been my choice for rounds for the past few years and I have no complaints so far.
GHS Contact Core Super Steels are my go-to for the sole 5-string bass in my collection so they got the vote.
Had SIT and/or Pyramid been an option they would have gotten my vote as well.
I used to like Dean Markley strings an awful lot in the '90s, however every single set I purchased over the past 8 years has been a disappointment. No vote from me.
In all fairness I could've possibly given a vote to DR because I've used their strings a lot but was never ecstatic about them.
My $0.02 only...
DR Lo Riders since the turn of the century!
A poll for just the favorite Flats, and a separate poll for favorite Rounds would be useful for those that use both.
For a few months now I've been searching for six string sets in light gauges (~30-40-60-80-100-120). I'm using La Bella RX N6A now, but decided to take a look at SIT given their popularity in this thread. I prefer mellower sounding nickel strings. Would the Power Wound nickels be worth a try? The descriptions on the Website are not very clear, and I honestly don't know anyone on the "artists" page. Most of the sound like metal bands? Are the Power Wound actually mellow sounding?
It has been years since I played SIT Power Wounds. I always found new sets were bright for my tastes but after a few weeks they would start to mellow out. Really liked them when they were good and dead. Ran them on a G&L L2500. They were the factory string for G&L when I was using them. Changed them out every 6 months or so.
Agree completely.
They also feel really unique to me - very smooth and comfortable. A great all-purpose round wound string.
I haven’t tried the Labella’s so I can’t really opine. But I’d encourage you try them at some point, if you can afford it.
Not sure I’d call them mellow - they have a really nice low-mid thing going on that makes them sound darker than a Daddario or Ernie Ball nickel plated steel string. It’s not as strong as a GHS Boomer but in that direction.
SIT Power Wound Nickels are "mellow" in the sense they don't have any of the harsh overtones I hear in D'A XL Nickels. A clear top end without being zingy bright or brittle-sounding. I also like their low-mid grunt, which reminds me of the GHS Boomers in some ways. For the way they're priced, they're definitely worth a try.
Switch out Boston and Adamas with my current, SIT and Magmas...
Nobody uses those.
..And from 3 pages of praise for SIT, they are definately in the top three imo. If you like SIT, try Magmas.
All I use is Stainless fwiw.
I'd also recommend Dogal Carbonsteels, but since the prices rocketed 20+%, I won't recommend them anymore, especially when SIT and Magmas and company's like Ken Smith and DR are keeping their strings at reasonable prices. Hell, Magmas are imported from Argentina and are one of thee cheapest, so....
There is no reason for Euro strings to be twice or three times as much as strings in the states--it is just obscene.
Comparing beer prices, my (Czech) Pilsner Urquel is $9.50/six, same as my (USA) Sierra Nevada. Most imported beer is on par with USA prices, so you can see, there is no reason for the excessive pricing of Euro strings.
Rotosound, still keepin' its prices nice though.
Nobody uses those.
..And from 3 pages of praise for SIT, they are definately in the top three imo. If you like SIT, try Magmas.
All I use is Stainless fwiw.
I'd also recommend Dogal Carbonsteels, but since the prices rocketed 20+%, I won't recommend them anymore, especially when SIT and Magmas and company's like Ken Smith and DR are keeping their strings at reasonable prices. Hell, Magmas are imported from Argentina and are one of thee cheapest, so....
There is no reason for Euro strings to be twice or three times as much as strings in the states--it is just obscene.
Comparing beer prices, my (Czech) Pilsner Urquel is $9.50/six, same as my (USA) Sierra Nevada. Most imported beer is on par with USA prices, so you can see, there is no reason for the excessive pricing of Euro strings.
Rotosound, still keepin' its prices nice though.
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