Biggest string disappointment ever - whats yours?

[hintz]

Ghs boomers, dead within hours of use!!

 

[michael_t]

despite their popularity here, I was very disappointed with Fender flats, the two times I tried them.

Just curious...
Are you talking about the new Fender 9050 with green silk and color-coded ball ends or the old ones?

 

[AdamK]

Any flatwound. I kept trying them assuming they would be fat juicy sounding, but every time they just ended up sounding boxy with nothing but low mids and a super stiff feel.

While I kind of agree with this, I have to say the sound is definitely much preferable to the roundwound string sound.

 

[AdamK]

Chromes

Nah, they've performed very well for me. I originally was going to go with TI flats, but they didn't have any so I had to get D'Addario flats. I'm glad I got them because of the tension.

 

[Scooberto]

The last set of Cobalts I bought. I got a 5 string set for my active Spector and they sounded amazing, the 4 string set I bought were garbage. Died in less than a week and the A was deader than a mackerel out of the package.

 

[SirMjac28]

Nah, they've performed very well for me. I originally was going to go with TI flats, but they didn't have any so I had to get D'Addario flats. I'm glad I got them because of the tension.

I'll have to give them another shot

 

[Timmah]

DR Fat Beams, the Marcus Miller String. Blah tone, died within two hours. I hear they last forever for other people, so go figure.

 

[radioface]

D'Addario halfround 5 string sets no longer are available with a tapered 5th string in a set. Now a tapered 5th string must be ordered separately.

 

[Matthew_84]

Chromes were a disappointment on my fretted P, as I was hoping for a much boomier tone than I got... However, they worked great on my fretless J... But while they sounded better, they were still too stiff to my liking.

Tried GHS Pressurewounds on the same fretless later, and at first they were the best strings for the bass, but after a week, the shine very much dulled in the commonly played areas, which was very noticeable to people other than myself without me mentioning it to them. I even noticed some black marks on my fingers after playing them.... Could very well be some acid in my sweat specific to me, but was still a big disappointment. Tossed them after 3 weeks for Ken Smith Compressors and couldn't have been happier.

Any tapewound on a fretless has been a disappointent as well. I always try them for a somewhat upright tone, but the way they clack off the fingerboard sounds very unnatural and plastic sounding, as opposed to the rattle that comes from metal strings.

 

[redhed]

Hey, how many sets do you still have sitting around brand new?

9, I have them on an American p-bass and a MM stingray.

 

[michael_t]

9, I have them on an American p-bass and a MM stingray.

Thanks. Now I know who to contact when I need my next set of 9050CL.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Rotosound flats. I've been using the Swing for about 30 years, and wanted to try flats. They have a nice thump, but are SO stiff.

 

[redhed]

Thanks. Now I know who to contact when I need my next set of 9050CL.
You know my name is Michael and my last name starts with a T....

 

[Jay Mastro]

All of them, they get in the way of the pickguard

 

[Snowglo]

D'addario Pro Steels. They sucked the tone out of my Rick big time. Almost a complete loss of mids and loss in volume. Went into the trash in a couple hours. Probably one of the worst music related purchases I've ever made.

 

[michael_t]

You know my name is Michael and my last name starts with a T....

...and we both live in Canada. Cool!

 

[JORREG]

D'Adario EXL - died after 2 weeks
Elixir - strinds in condoms

 

[organworthyplayer337]

E-Ball Slinky Colbats.

They literally died in a day. I didn't play the bass I put em on for more than an hour or two (not continuous play either) with clean hands (no sweat)... They're as dead as can be... I even wiped me down between playing... Came out the package with E and A string completely different shades than the D and G strings, D and G being darker and dirtier looking. They're expensive (to me) and not worth $25-27. Even when they were clean and fresh out the package they sound very metallic like (could be a good thing for some) but it sounded TOO 2D-ish for me. And I was really excited about them too Definitely disappointed with these...

 

[Tom Howland]

Rotosound Flats- They sounded horrible, right out of the box. lifeless and stiff.
From the box, to my bass, to the rubbish barrel.

 

[Big Hoss]

GHS Bass Boomers. Kept trying them, kept getting strings that broke easily and went dead fast...