Best Bass Strings Results

[ElectricBass72]

I've had bad and horrible experiences with Rotosound strings going dead after 2-3 days. On the other hand.... Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats are the best thing since sliced wheat bread.

 

[Hawk620]

Threads like this are the reason why everyone keeps picking carrots on here. And why we all use the proverbial YMMV. Everyone will keep posting Thier favorites and what they like but in reality the best are literally anything that sounds good to you and doesn't mess up your hands or bass.

Amen to that, so anyway......(no one mentioned these yet, LOL)

I'll just post that the one string I've found that works well on every bass I've ever played them on; GHS Pressurwounds. Nice feel from the outer wrap, greatly reduced string noise, mellower tonality yet they still retain some roundwound characteristics, great tonal dynamics, and they tend to keep their tonality over time.

Just a very good all around string for any style.

 

[hasbeen]

I disagree and I CAN'T be wrong, unless my wife hears me say something.

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

The best is.... ( a maple-necked G&L L2000)

Yes.


I haven't gotten around to the DR Pure Blues because I like the idea and feel of strings being coated. So, I'm mostly on the Neons. Hard rock maple neck, carribean rosewood G&L MJ-4 (and others)
C# standard 125, 110, 90, 70, 50 IIRC

Did I over look the guages and tunings used for the OP?

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

objectively, the most consistent roundwound strings tonally across all 4 or 5 strings

I actually do not want this. I play higher frets on lower strings for the extra girth. I slam the higher strings when I want a little more of an aggressive brightness.

@BassBrass:
I Just tried DR Dragon Skins (coated steel) on a Schecter Studio 4 and they pretty much resurrected it, actually more tone in the attack, but a little sticky- not too much.

Nice! I've got the Studio 8. Same thing but, double the strings. Tuned to Drop C but with a Low G.. lol

G1 125 DR Neons Red
G0 145 DR DDT
C2 DR Neons Yellow
C1 DR Phosper Bronze
G2 DR Neons Red
G1 DR DDT
C3 DR Neons Yellow
C2 DR Phosoher Bronze

I forget the rest of the guages off hand, sorry. But, they're probably on the heavier side and main courses being 0.05g heavier than the secondary in the same tuning of the other pairing.

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

I Just tried DR Dragon Skins (coated steel) on a Schecter Studio 4 and they pretty much resurrected it, actually more tone in the attack, but a little sticky- not too much.

Nice! I've got the Studio 8. Same thing but, double the strings. Tuned to Drop C but with a Low G.. lol
G1 125 DR Neons Red
G0 145 DR DDT
C2 DR Neons Yellow
C1 DR Phosper Bronze
G2 DR Neons Red
G1 DR DDT
C3 DR Neons Yellow
C2 DR Phosoher Bronze

I forget the rest of the guages off hand, sorry. But, they're probably on the heavier side and main courses being 0.05g heavier than the secondary in the same tuning of the other pairing.

 

[Robiin]

The Cobalt flats are the most popular string I haven't tried yet. I guess because, while versatility is nice, ultimately I do want my flats to sound like flats.

Do Cobalts ever reach a point where they break in and acquire something closer to a traditional flatwound sound?

After a few weeks of regular playing their 'edge' almost disappears, they sound quite like d'addario chromes but feel a little bit rougher with lower tension. They are worth trying, buying flats just to see what they're like is a pain in the wallet though

 

[booch29]

I stuck with GHS for flats - best feel and overall tone. And i wish more manufacturers made a 45-95 set (as opposed to 0.40).

For rounds i stuck with daddario XL nickel ( sometimes it might be prosteels), they're the most available, good price and nice middy tone.
YMMV

 

[Bliff Curton 2]

Dr Pure Blues Nickels rounds on my NS Design CR5. Maple body, maple neck, ebony fretboard. Emg-x pickups and piezo bridge.
Very grindy tone like a Spector. Great feel and tension. Quick response and adaptive to different attacks. I play real hard a la Geezer Butler, but they also sing with a soft touch. Deep lows, punchy low mids, wide response in the mids. Bright but not sizzly highs.

I also love Cryo Steels, but steels are too bright for my NS Design bass.

I love Ernie Ball rounds, but they only sound good for a week or two. Perfect for a sponsored artist or pro who can afford to change strings twice a month. I know a number of artists who do a fresh set of EB's for each show.
I just put on Power Slinky 50-130 on my Carvin LB75 Koa/Maple-Koa/Ebony for recording in the studio and I love the sound. Haven't tried them since then, so can't comment on the shelf life.

D'addario XL orange pack on my Aria SB025 with Bart's and TCT. Mahogany body with rosewood top/back, maple neck, rosewood FB. Brilliant sound. Really happy. Could use a little more low-mid punch.

In the past, my favorites have been
-TI flats (never tried their rounds but if I had the funds I would) P.S., did they stop making electric bass strings? I don't see any on their website
-Cryo Steels.
-Rotosound 66 and 77
-Dadarrio XL - very neutral and even
-Pro Steels

Hates:
-Fender. I found them rough on my fingers
- old EB/Slinkies

The tone I like is a piano-like tone. Think Modulus, Spector, Ken Smith.
I have a somewhat heavy attack where pluck downwards to create a type of harmonic, like Geezer and Cliff Burton.
Been playing for 30 years and my first ten years I bought a Lot of different strings to explore and compare. Thanks dad

 

[Bassman 60]

Nope. Elixir nickel and stainless...sound great, and last forever. I don't like thinning my wallet regularly on strings. A set lasts me a year, easy, and that's with frequent playing/gigging.

Leaves me more money for buying basses.

Just tried out Elixirs after years of string hopping. So far love the sound and feel.

 

[Bass Ameg]

Totally agree with OP.
Roto 66 swing steels and Ernie Ball cobalt flats rule them all.

 

[GIBrat51]

After twenty years of trying new strings in an attempt to get that *perfect* tone... I think I've landed on a couple of winners that, finally, will not be changed (for a few years at least)

The best flatwound is.... Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats (on a maple-necked G&L L2000)

The best roundwound is.... Rotosound Swing 66 Stainless Steel (on a maple-necked American Pro Jazz Bass)**

This is not just an opinion, but I believe also, the objective truth. Feel free to disagree.... but you'll be wrong!

**For nickel lovers, the winner is DR Pure Blues**

Well... Since none of my 30 basses are Maple-necked G&L L2000's or Maple-necked Fender Pro Jazz Basses? You embrace your "objective truth", and I'll enjoy the 27 different non- EB Cobalt Flats and 3 different Tape wounds that my basses wear. And we'll both be happy...
And, as for those Roto Swing 66 fret eaters - the ones that ate the frets off my '78 Fender P-Bass? I - canned those things 38 years ago, and they've never been allowed within 100 yards of any of my basses since. And, that is MY objective truth...

 

[Dominoes]

I am surprised to hear all the Cobalt flat recs here! I had just bought them, then tossed after a few days of trying to like them. My fingers can't seem to play them; they are grippy/"sticky" to the point where playing is unpleasant. Once I play a note, there is inertia (?) to moving my finger. It is a very odd feeling; not sure how to describe. I gave them a shot (Sound great), but came to the conclusion that I don't think I will ever tolerate them.

I bring this up because they are mentioned many times in this thread, but this experience caught me off guard as weird. Is it possible I had a defective set? Does this effect wear off over time or you get used to it? I've seen a few mentions of it, but generally this isn't something that comes up in online reviews/discussion of these strings. It was a deal breaker for me, and I'm usually not picky about strings.

 

[Bass Ameg]

I am surprised to hear all the Cobalt flat recs here! I had just bought them, then tossed after a few days of trying to like them. My fingers can't seem to play them; they are grippy/"sticky" to the point where playing is unpleasant. Once I play a note, there is inertia (?) to moving my finger. It is a very odd feeling; not sure how to describe. I gave them a shot (Sound great), but came to the conclusion that I don't think I will ever tolerate them.

I bring this up because they are mentioned many times in this thread, but this experience caught me off guard as weird. Is it possible I had a defective set? Does this effect wear off over time or you get used to it? I've seen a few mentions of it, but generally this isn't something that comes up in online reviews/discussion of these strings. It was a deal breaker for me, and I'm usually not picky about strings.

That stickyness wears off after a few days, but you can thoroughly clean the strings with a cotton cloth before installing them. Tension and give it a good rub with the cloth. After 1-2 weeks of playing they're shiny and slippery as a soapy fish and you'll have zero finger noise.

 

[Dominoes]

Ty! With this hindsight I wish I hadn't tossed them. I bought arbitrary strings from a brand I've used rounds of, then had a surprising experience once strung! Related: Is there intended to be a notable gap between windings? IIRC about 1/4 of a winding gap between each. Compared to most flats which have no perceivable gap. And, what causes the grippiness/friction?

 

[Luckydog]

After about 36 years of chasing strings, I am happily back to the original rounds and flats that I started with. Amazing how that happens. And only out about $XXXX for the effort. I could have furnished a kitchen with the $