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Biggest string disappointment ever - whats yours?

#241
I've got a new one for my list: Dunlop Super Bright nickel. The E and A were poorly balanced with regards to stiffness (either the A was too floppy or the E was too taut) and the tone was kind of blah with no real "punch" going on at all. Very rich open string sound with the tone knob dimed, but sounded almost muffled compared to Sunbeams. I'd describe them as a cross between D'Addario XL and Sunbeams, but with none of the better qualities of either. I almost get the feeling Dunlop put more thought into the packaging and marketing than the string itself, but others seem to love the heck out of them so what do I know?
 
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#248
seang15 said:
I'm a rounds player...these are the first flats I've really liked.
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I'm a rounds player as well. I have a set of the EB Cobalt flats on one of my basses, I like them but they are a touch "grabby". The Chromes, for me, were too stiff and I didn't like the tone when they were broken in.

JustForSport said:
I agree with most here, but don't understand the opposites. Different strings for different basses, most cases?
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I think sometimes that's true. I started using D'Addario XLs on my P bass recently, and I like them, but I never liked them on my Jazz basses.
 
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#249
For me:

Rounds: Warwick red labels, very rough surface, no thump or definition.

Flats: TI Jazz flats, well made, just way too low tension for me.

Favourites: D'addario chromes/Ernie Ball flats, DR FL45 flats and DR low rider rounds.
 
#257
KF2B said:
All things being subjective... meaning your mileage may vary:

Elixir Nanoweb 045-100 (14052)​

Those are mine - what a huge, HUGE, disappointment :spit:
They cost an arm and leg and whilst they do feel slick and durable what an utterly bland tone.

Well, all affecting everything I really cannot blame the strings per se but the mismatch with my bass (stock 2001 MIM Classic 60´s Jazz - one of the first batches) is apparent. - The force is not strong with this combo so out goes the Elixirs. Never again.
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I agree. They are almost R1000 here in SA and they have a vague sound - NO mids. And cranking the mids up on the amp doesnt rectify it either - u just trying to rectify a prob thats already there, but it doesnt work. If ur source is bad there s not much u can do, even using a GEB-7 doesnt help.
 
#259
Ianhin said:
Some people are knocking the same strings that others find fine.
I "THINK" maybe it could be more the bass the strings are used on, the amp one s using and even the acoustics of the room, not to mention technique as well? What say u?
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While I believe that those things come into play, in the end strings are a personal choice, and are going to come down to how they feel under the fingers in addition to how they sound or how long they last. That is why you have people knocking on the same strings that others find fine.
 
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#260
Well, I thought I had replied to this thread, but apparently not, so here goes...

The only set of strings I ever put on and took off in ten minutes were the Hartke strings that are sold pretty in-expensively. I positively think the gauge was mis-labeled and I've never felt a worse-sounding, worse feeling strings in my life. However, I had bought 4 sets, so I gave the other 3 to other bassists at my church (the ones with kids, mortgages, car notes, insurance, etc, in other words, guys that might appreciate them)...
Not one of them said anything bad about the Hartke strings. They were all glad to get them and I turned them onto the online source to buy them. Fair enough...

I use and love the Ernie Ball 5-string Power Slinkys in the heavy gauge (050, 070, 085, 105, 135). My personal experience with them is that they aren't the brightest, crunchiest set of strings out of the package, but they retain their inherent brightness for a good long while. I change them about once a month of so, although I have a set on my fretless that's over 2 years old now. They sound sooo good on that bass, I hope I never have to change them. The perfect amount of deadness for fretless playing.

I don't have a thrash right-hand style of playing, or try to beat the bass down, but I have a pretty strong stroke from playing a lot. I've tried several times to go lighter so I'd have more strings choices, but I've given up the chase. I can't imagine needing anything brighter, more or less tension, more balanced, and long life than what I have with the Power Slinkys.

I've looked long and hard for other strings in those gauges, and I may have missed some, but I haven't found other string brands that I can buy without making a special gauge order. Plus, because I have family ties with the local music store, I can get the Power Slinkys super-stupid cheap. And the Power Slinkys work on all four of my basses, I've felt no need to vary what strings go on what bass.

No flats for me, ever. I'm happy they are available for other players that need them.

Strings, like a lot of things musicians use, are a very personal choice and for very varied reasons. It's no surprise whatsoever that the same strings are loved by some and hated by others. At all.
 
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