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Best stainless steel strings?
- Thread starter MartinSwe
- Start date
- Mar 27, 2016
- 68
- 88
- 37
- Disclosures
- I am not the famous Steven Harris, I just happen to share the name with a famous bass player! Can provide ID if necessary
Hey there, great question 
.
I also love the snappier SS sound. I have also used rotosounds and Mark bass energy strings for a long time.
I would use mark bass strings more if I could find them for sale more in the UK. I think I bought most of energy packs in the UK lol. I could only find them at Bass Direct UK. If anyone knows of any other UK distributor, please let me know.
Rotosounds are amazing. Very snappy and zingy. I find that the mark bass energy strings keep the fresh sound slightly longer, but I am still on the fence if they are worth the extra money. I play rotos more.
I play every evening at home for about an hour, and change my strings (rotosounds/mark bass) just as the e string starts to sound less zingy. This is normally just after a week, sometimes less.
I don't just buy new packs though. I put my strings in a pot of denatured alcohol, and alternate them. I tend to get 4-5 rotations before I put a new set on. Or I will put fresh set on for recording, shows etc.
Rotosounds are rougher, lol especially after the alcohol, but I don't find it hinders my playing.
I wish you luck and enjoy playing
.I also love the snappier SS sound. I have also used rotosounds and Mark bass energy strings for a long time.
I would use mark bass strings more if I could find them for sale more in the UK. I think I bought most of energy packs in the UK lol. I could only find them at Bass Direct UK. If anyone knows of any other UK distributor, please let me know
. Rotosounds are amazing. Very snappy and zingy. I find that the mark bass energy strings keep the fresh sound slightly longer, but I am still on the fence if they are worth the extra money. I play rotos more.
I play every evening at home for about an hour, and change my strings (rotosounds/mark bass) just as the e string starts to sound less zingy. This is normally just after a week, sometimes less.
I don't just buy new packs though. I put my strings in a pot of denatured alcohol, and alternate them. I tend to get 4-5 rotations before I put a new set on. Or I will put fresh set on for recording, shows etc.
Rotosounds are rougher, lol especially after the alcohol, but I don't find it hinders my playing.
I wish you luck and enjoy playing
Roto Swing 66. After a few hours/days they smooth out nicely and I love their broken in sound. That nice broken in sound is almost warm for SS and they last a while. There's no other string quite like them.
Before Joe Dart went to MusicMan he played a Jazz bass with really old 66's.
Before Joe Dart went to MusicMan he played a Jazz bass with really old 66's.
Dunlop Super Bright
DR High Beams
D'Addario Pro Steel
DR High Beams
D'Addario Pro Steel
hasbeen
Commercial User
- Sep 23, 2004
- 4,806
- 2,667
- Disclosures
- Executive Vice President, The Adam Hall Group
I really like a flexible string. I love DR and Dunlop and have been a fan of both for many years.
I have been using DR Highbeams since '96. I typically get a year per set, sometimes more. I also have tried many brands of B strings, and these absolutely are consistent with the E-G strings, where many other brands can have good E-G sets and sucky B strings.
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If they weren't quite so flexible, I'd be using Fatbeams. Still use them for fretless.
I don't know about "the best" but depending on one's sonic goals I'd go with DR Hi Beams/Low Riders or GHS Super Steels. All excellent choices IMO/IME.
It's OK to hate them if they do not fit your playing style-I just agree they are awesome, at least for long scale basses, and thus it's hard for me to experiment with others. When I look for roundwounds for my long scale basses, I always prefer RS66s (BS66 in my case). They have their own tone without EQ that I love, and do age well-would only be expensive if you wanted the 1st day tone, but I definitely enjoy how they mature (it's about their mids, IMHO, not so much their initial zing). Yes, they are/were popular, but for a reason-when I try another SS roundwound, I go back to the Rotos because they are so unique, for better or worse. I also like their much berated feel (I've never bled while playing them-definitely not something that happens to everybody.)
Another vote here for Rotosound 66’s. I also like DR Hi-Beams and Fat-Beams.
My first recommendation is stainless labella Rx. They will be the closest to what you play now but definitely won't sound or feel the same as nickel plated. I've used them and I think they sound nice. They get thick deep growly tones and they are pretty nice on the fingers. If not them then you might like rotosound. However I'm really liking the sound of Dunlop stainless steel. Not super brights but the standard series which is their original version. You also might like DR Fat beams. They are definitely closer to nickel because of the more supple and flexible design but they absolutely sound great if you want great fundamental fat Tone with enough brightness but not too crazy. So check out
Dunlop stainless
Labella Rx stainless
DR Fat beams
Dean Markley Blue Steel.
Those are what I use and I've tried so many different ones that those stick out as a cut above the rest.
OP: I hope you're ready to spend the money and try out a bunch of different strings. My preference is SIT Power Steel, but you're getting a ton of different answers. This is completely subjective. Plus, the same strings will sound and feel different on different basses. You need to experiment and find what you like.
Sorry, but... no, I haven't. All the stainless steel strings I've used - and use now - are Flat wounds. Which I like a whole lot. And, the "best ones? Probably La Bella DTF's, for me...
Thank you.
I believed this was possible but never tried it myself. I suggested it several times especially in defense of Roto 66, but no one ever replied. Thanks for the grit suggestion.
I like a stiffer string and find all of the D'Addario to slinky feeling for me. I also like a heavier B string than they produce. I feel that most manufacturers go too light on their E and B strings anyway. My favorite string od all time are the original Dean Markley Bluse Steels. Unfortunately later iterations where underwhelming. DR Lo-Riders were decent but not stiff enough on the lower strings for my liking.
I'm currently back to square one with Rotosound Swing Bass strings. Specifically I'm using the Billy Sheehan set as I really like the balanced feel. haven't had any issues with them lasting and the roughness doesn't bother my heavily callused fingers. I think the roughness is a little overstated.
In the 90' someone made an exposed core string called Progressives. I don't recall who it was but I used them for a while but switched back to Blue Steels. I wish the OG Blue Steels were still available.
I'm currently back to square one with Rotosound Swing Bass strings. Specifically I'm using the Billy Sheehan set as I really like the balanced feel. haven't had any issues with them lasting and the roughness doesn't bother my heavily callused fingers. I think the roughness is a little overstated.
In the 90' someone made an exposed core string called Progressives. I don't recall who it was but I used them for a while but switched back to Blue Steels. I wish the OG Blue Steels were still available.
Have you tried the Apex Cryos? I've read they're like the original Blue Steels. No personal experience with the Apex myself.
Brandon Shea
Commercial User
I'm glad you shared this, because I'd love to try something like the old school Blue Steels on my P bass again. I always thought those strings sounded fantastic, especially for rock and metal.
ProSteels used to be my favorite strings. Being SS they’re rough, don’t last too long, but super bright which is what I was after…and way cheaper than Rotos. Then I tried and settled on NYXLs, for me they’re almost as bright as the ProSteels, last much longer, smooth, but expensive.
