Just got a new jazz bass my other two have TI flats. I want to keep rounds on the J bass. My P and fretless jazz have TI flats but I can see keeping rounds on my new jazz bass. Will use the stock fender strings for now. Looking for light gauge nickel wrap. Considering DR Sunbeams maybe TI Jazz Rounds (if the nut will handle the thin gauge). I dunno help. Thanks
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Been away from Rounds for years and need advice.
- Thread starter MrRiff
- Start date
TI jazz rounds are awesome but don't last forever like the flats and given the steep cost I would recommend any DR string but I really like the pure blues 100-45, the fat beams are a close second
Both the Sunbeams and the TIJRs are good choices. There are a lot of options out there. Dunlop Super Bright Nickels are also pretty flexible as are DR Pure Blues.
Unless the nut has been cut too low you should be fine. I go back and forth between 40-100 and 45-105 regularly without issue.
Unless the nut has been cut too low you should be fine. I go back and forth between 40-100 and 45-105 regularly without issue.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Sunbeams have a great mellow tone for rounds, but I prefer the less floppy feel of hexcore, so I went with Lo Riders - similar in tone.
I’m use to floppy feel with the TIs, wonder how Pure Blues compares with Sunbeams? thanks
I play a P, but I’ll say DR Sunbeams are about the finest nickel rounds you’ll ever play or hear.
I was in the same boat as you. I got a Jazz bass a year ago. Started off with TI flats as those were also on my Precision bass. I came to my senses of not making the J sound like a P and trialed a bunch of rounds. When I installed a set of TI jazz rounds, I immediately knew it was "home." Why not try those? You can sell 'em fast if they're not to your taste.
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As long as they sit high enough in the nut as Fender is cut for a 105 E string and I think the TI’s are a .96 E.
I have a stock Fender American Jazz bass neck made in 2022. It has no modifications, and the TI Jazz Rounds work like a champ. Mileage may vary for other years? Of course I gave it a setup after installing the new strings. My string height is avg. to med. low.
D’Addario EXL165 or EXL170 Nickel Round Wound (depending on your preferred gauge). Can’t beat ‘em on price, feel, or tone. I’ve tried just about every nickel round wound and the D’Addarios will always be on my Fenders.
Whatever you decide, get them from GimmeSomeStrings.com. He’s the best dude to deal with.
Whatever you decide, get them from GimmeSomeStrings.com. He’s the best dude to deal with.
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DR Sunbeam has an articulate tone. I would use this if I play jazz music - it is so nice. For rock or pop, I prefer DR lo-rider as it has more mids and it helps cut through the mix even with loud drum and electric guitar. D’Addario is good but it does not impress me much.
Rotosound has nickel version, it sounds great but the tension is greater than the others. You may or may not like.
Rotosound has nickel version, it sounds great but the tension is greater than the others. You may or may not like.
I used a number of manufactures and models over the years, and my current favorite is a relative newcomer, Stringjoy.
One thing I've learned about strings: no matter what people say on this forum, the selection of strings comes down to the individual player's preferences and performance of the strings on each particular instrument. Often I've been surprised, and for this reason expect to budget $150-200 or so on trying a bunch of "candidate" strings on a bass that's new to me. That's maybe 5-10% of the price of a decent bass, and an even lower percentage the cost of acquiring a higher end bass. Despite this low $$$ amount, the strings may well contribute most to the tone and feel you get from the instrument. You can get lost in comments about strings and blow a ton of time hyperventilating over choices. It takes just a few weeks or so of hands-on trials to quickly zero in on the winning selection. Have fun while you do it! (And let us know what you learned!)
Ordered some Sunbeams light gauge 40-100 for now figuring it’s a improvement over Fenders that came with it.
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It's what I’m use to as I always play on TI flats and they are a very light touch string. These are 40-100 so the E string is respectable besides I’m easing in to Rounds. lol
I prefer DR Pure Blues, not overly bright out of the box, mellow gently and last a long time.
Turnaround
Commercial User
The nut height will be fine. It’s the distance from the top of the first fret to the bottom of the string that is critical. A change of string gauge does not change that clearance.
