Best Strings for a Warm, Growly Jazz

[Winton]

DR Sunbeams definitely

 

[petch]

DR Sunbeams are indeed an excellent choice, given your description.

 

[Joebone]

DR for the win...Fat Beams, Pure Blues and Sunbeams would easily turn the OP's trick

 

[Cleezmo]

I'd echo all the DR comments. IMO/IMO, FatBeams have more growl, Sunbeams have more warm mids. For the OPs goals, I'd try Sunbeams first.

 

[jasper383]

GHS Boomers after a couple hours of playing.

 

[MtManiac]

I put DR Nickel Lo Riders on one of my Jazz basses recently, sounds amazing - warm and growly definitely apply.

 

[Polardog]

I find the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky 45-105 to be quite growly. They're all I use on my Jazz.

 

[groove pump]

Hi all. I'm looking for some string advice for a new Jazz.

I'm shooting for a full, warm, mid-focused growl without the bright, metallic highs. I’ve already got Precisions with flats, and a Jazz with D'Addario Nickel Rounds, so I think I'm after something in the middle.

I've seen comments about D'Addario Pure Nickels, GHS Pressurewounds, and LaBella Super Polished (IMA signature) so far, but there are dizzying options...

If you’ve found strings that hit what I'm trying to describe, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you. Thanks!

I'll add another nod for the DR Sunbeams. These have been my personal normal for I guess 15-20 years. I've sampled some other here and there including other DR's, D'Addario Nickel XL's, Ernie Ball Slinky's, some Roto's (I think...). Once or twice I've used a set of Fender's nickel rounds and I've been more at home with those than with any of the others that weren't 'beams, but I also found that the Fenders just didn't stay decent for nearly as long as the typical year or three (for starters) that I can get out of a typical set of Sunbeams.

I very much like my strings when they're at least a couple weeks beyond that new string zing that's just not for me. Once worked in, Sunbeams keep on keepin' on with a warm, full personality that's great for everything I do, which isn't especially "out there" funky, experimental, etc. If I want to slap or just let a little more of the general brightness out of the barn, I get enough by either opening up the passive tone on my Jazz (another J that's equipped with DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups) or running the preamp on my other bass with the highs either set on the center detent or bumped up just a little bit for some extra snap.

Lots of strings are terrific and there may easily be more than one "right answer" for you here. But if I'm understanding your lingo correctly, what you're describing here reads like my description of Sunbeams.

 

[Hawk620]

I have never found a better sounding string on a Jazz Bass than GHS Pressurewounds. I've been playing them exclusively on all of my Jazz Basses and J-type Basses for over 15 years. Tonally they would seem to be what you're after.

 

[rayzak]

Nickel Lo-Riders for Me. You too, perhaps??

 

[DoctorZee]

I have never found a better sounding string on a Jazz Bass than GHS Pressurewounds. I've been playing them exclusively on all of my Jazz Basses and J-type Basses for over 15 years. Tonally they would seem to be what you're after.

Ooh, it’s been a long time, but I did love to play pressurewounds on a Jazz Bass. My memory is that they sounded “warm and full” rather than “growly”, but that could be due to differences in the bass itself. Either way, a strong choice.

 

[Yahboy]

Fat beam , and swap both stock volume pot with 500k .

 

[oren]

I’ve been liking the sound of DR Pure Blues on my Jazz bass for the past few years. Warm, but articulate. Worth a try!

 

[jtg]

GHS Boomers after a couple hours of playing.

I used boomers a lot years ago, then went string hunting for decades, and now I'm back to them. They're fantastic, and yes, they growl without being spanky. I mean, I'm genX but there are some things the boomers got right Nickel lo riders are great too, same tone country.

 

[mikecd1]

I've been enjoying the Sunbeams for their warm growl on my Pbass and Jbass for about 20 years now, but got an old ash body jazz this summer that came with Chromes and I'm really digging them in series using the switch I installed.

 

[silvaquas]

Thanks, all. Lots of great feedback! Think I'm between the GHS Pressurewounds and DR Sunbeams, at the moment.

Anyone able to comment on the differences between them on tone and literal feel (ie., tension, smooth vs. "grabby", etc.)?

 

[BassicJazzy]

Never played Sunbeams, but Pressurewounds can feel a little grabby sometimes, not too bad, though. Only on the fretting fingers. I may feel it more than most because for some reason at 71 I do not build callous (like I used to) on my fretting fingers.

 

[bassboysam]

J bass and Fender 9050 flats for growl.

 

[wncBass]

Thanks, all. Lots of great feedback! Think I'm between the GHS Pressurewounds and DR Sunbeams, at the moment.

Anyone able to comment on the differences between them on tone and literal feel (ie., tension, smooth vs. "grabby", etc.)?

I’ve tried both, the sunbeams are smoother to the touch and nicer to play in my opinion. They sound great as well. Sunbeams have become my favorite strings. I wasn’t a huge fan of the pressure wounds. Kinda the worst of both worlds to me. I would rather play full on flats ( labella LTF) or sunbeams.

 

[trothwell]

Thanks, all. Lots of great feedback! Think I'm between the GHS Pressurewounds and DR Sunbeams, at the moment.

Anyone able to comment on the differences between them on tone and literal feel (ie., tension, smooth vs. "grabby", etc.)?

I personally think the DR -Beams strings (Sunbeams, Hi Beams, Fat Beams) are a little too flexible. But lots of other people like them. Something to consider when trying them out, I suppose!