Best string for rock player who likes to dig in

[Evil Undead]

I agree that you need a stiffer string - lighter ones would make it worse.

 

[bwest9]

 

[Jasisco]

What no one has mentioned is the importance of the strings core... round or hex will behave very differently even in the same gauge.. To the OP, don't worry too much about what brand of strings, just go for a hexcore string in a medium gauge for now and that, along with a decent set up that matches your playing style, should solve the problem.

 

[4001]

what jazz bass? the op has a musicman.

You know,...I have no idea why I typed in Jazz Bass.
I guess I have Jazz Bass on the brain.
My bad.

 

[basschrs]

of course it is. all strings will rattle if played hard enough. very wise. even wiser would be saving your money and sticking to whatever you use. unless of course you want to experiment around, but i think you'll find the same results no matter what you use.

That is one of my fears, that it won't go away regardless of string :-( in that case, it may be a technique issue, which I suppose would just force me to get better as a player. I guess I'm hoping that I can resolve it with a quick fix, and still play the way I have been, as I really like the digging in style and sound it produces.

Also, the rattle when fretted isn't the biggest problem, its the pronounced, almost "pop"-like sound when I play an open or fretted note on the B, E, or A string. It almost sounds like I'm hitting the string sharply with a pick rather than using my finger, its a similar type of pop. And this very pronounced sound is really noticeable (and harsh sounding) against the other notes I play that come out as the normal, much smoother sounding finger style.

On a side note, how would I adjust the nut to see if that is the issue?

 

[basschrs]

This is interesting, I was just reading a post about someone wanting to put Chromes on their Ray, and someone posted this video from youtube of a Ray with flatwounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho42fxFsE6M

I listed to it and almost at the very end of the vid, around 1:50, you can hear the exact same pop/clack noise that I get when the player in the video digs in on the low strings. I am wondering if this is simply due to the EQ of the 'Ray itself? Maybe it has so much of an aggressive EQ in the treble range, that the strings will automatically sound like that when pressed hard? I have dug into all of my other basses the same way, and never was able to achieve this type of sound, just on the Stingray.

When I was trying out the 'Ray in the store seeing if I wanted to purchase it, I never heard that sound. But then again, I was at low playing levels probably not digging in, so I guess in a full volume gig it would make sense I would start hearing it.

Any thoughts on this? I am going to feel like such a newb if the sound is just a result of the 'Ray's EQ itself. But, I guess I just gotta live and learn if that is the case.

 

[knuckle_head]

What you're hearing isn't the bass or the EQ - it's too-loose strings and an inappropriate setup.

Seriously - if you are an aggressive player come by a balanced heavy set of strings and have it set up properly.

 

[MrLenny1]

I play hard on Rock and use GHS Boomers medium gauge, medium action.
Works for me. Light gauges just clang and have no punch.

 

[PastorofMuppets]

For flats, try Daddario Chromes....pretty "dig-in-able" strings.

+ like a bunch