Buying a Yamaha BBP34 and looking for string suggestions

[Birddogcof]

As the title says, would like to get recommendations on some strings. Not to bright. Easier on the fingers.

I heard a little bit about GHS Pressurewounds. Anyone use them and what are your thoughts?

Thanks,
Birddogcof

 

[Yahboy]

Not too bright, easier on finger , you should try Dunlop Super bright nickel. 40-100 or 45-105.

 

[michael_t]

As the title says, would like to get recommendations on some strings. Not to bright. Easier on the fingers.

I heard a little bit about GHS Pressurewounds. Anyone use them and what are your thoughts?

I've been a regular user of GHS PWs since 2015. "Not too bright, easier on the fingers" ... That's exactly why I like them! Smoother surface texture than typcial roundwound for quieter slides. Not zingy bright, but a nice crunch in the mids for a strong presence in the mix, thanks to Alloy 52 (nickel-iron).

I've been trying rounds on my BB435 lately but I do have a few sets of Ken Smith Compressors on order. They're the same Alloy 52 "rollerwound" made by GHS, but I like the tapered low B on the 435.

 

[michael_t]

Easier on the fingers...

Just want to clarify something...

When you say "easier on the fingers", are you referring to the surface texture being smoother, or are you more concerned about the overall tension/stiffness?

 

[Birddogcof]

Just want to clarify something...

When you say "easier on the fingers", are you referring to the surface texture being smoother, or are you more concerned about the overall tension/stiffness?

Surface Texture

 

[michael_t]

Surface Texture

That's what I thought you meant. All good.

 

[michael_t]

By the way, does this BBP4 have a black headstock? If so, the black silk on the GHS PW will match perfectly.

PW on my BB435: (Ignore the Super Steel B.)

 

[dland]

As the title says, would like to get recommendations on some strings. Not to bright. Easier on the fingers.

I heard a little bit about GHS Pressurewounds. Anyone use them and what are your thoughts?

Thanks,
Birddogcof

I have a Jazz Bass with D'Addario Nylon Tapewounds (ETB92) that have a smooth, easy feel on my fingers.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Personally I prefer Roto 66s on my BBP34. Rotos start out pretty bright but mellow out really fast. Some people complain about this but I like the tone of broken in Roto 66. Very unique mids.

If I want warmer/mellower sounding roundwounds my first choice is Pyramid Pure Nickels.

Flats? There are so many COMPLETELY different flats to choose from that I would need to know more to make a recommendation.

It depends on what you're looking for:

-Flatwounds or roundwounds?

-Bright or warm/mellow? Or maybe something in the middle of the tonal spectrum?

-Supple or stiff feel?

-High or low tension?

-Lively, "bouncy" dynamics or flatter dynamics with more sustain?

 

[59jazz]

Converted to the GHS Balanced Nickels (green silks). Smooth and easy on the fretting hand, not too brite and mellow nicely. They have a nice mid-range growl to them too.

 

[Sean150]

I’ve got TI Jazz Flats on mine. I’ve thought about trying other strings but then I play it again and decide not to.

 

[Gizmot]

If you want rounds, I use DR strings - either Bootzillas or Hi Beams. If you want flats, I recommend TI Jazz Flats.

 

[Tubehed]

DR Sunbeams

 

[Mighty Thumb]

Not too bright, easier on finger , you should try Dunlop Super bright nickel. 40-100 or 45-105.

Was going to post exactly this. I had these on a BB435, they sounded and played great! I’d go with the 40-100 on a 4 string.

 

[michael_t]

If you want rounds, I use DR strings...

I do like the DR Nickel Lo-Riders that are on my BB435 right now for their punchy warmth and a smooth but clear top end. The OP doesn't want anything too bright, so I would recommend NLR over Hi Beams.

NLRs are not quite as smooth in texture as the PWs, but they're smoother than most rounds out there.

 

[Dragan]

D'addario NYXL or Elixir

 

[SunByrne]

I heard a little bit about GHS Pressurewounds. Anyone use them and what are your thoughts?

I spent a year or so in this phase where I experimented a fair bit with different strings on different basses. However, once I put Pressurewounds on my BB734a, that's always what it gets. They just seem like they were designed for this bass. Nice balanced sound, which really suits the tone of the BB.

For reference I tried Pressurewounds on a StringRay and dumped them almost immediately and went back to traditional rounds. I tried Pressurewounds on my BB404 (jazz bass) and they were OK, but found I liked stainless steels better on that bass. I also have Pressurewounds on my fretless--the mwah of rounds, but slide a little more like flats.

But of course this is just personal preference, YMMV.

 

[SunByrne]

Converted to the GHS Balanced Nickels (green silks). Smooth and easy on the fretting hand, not too brite and mellow nicely. They have a nice mid-range growl to them too.

I have these on my short scale. They were originally designed for short scale and I have to say they nailed it.

 

[Obese Chess]

Lots of good recs in here, but don't sleep on SIT Foundations.

 

[Birddogcof]

I spent a year or so in this phase where I experimented a fair bit with different strings on different basses. However, once I put Pressurewounds on my BB734a, that's always what it gets. They just seem like they were designed for this bass. Nice balanced sound, which really suits the tone of the BB.

For reference I tried Pressurewounds on a StringRay and dumped them almost immediately and went back to traditional rounds. I tried Pressurewounds on my BB404 (jazz bass) and they were OK, but found I liked stainless steels better on that bass. I also have Pressurewounds on my fretless--the mwah of rounds, but slide a little more like flats.

But of course this is just personal preference, YMMV.

Curious: where do you buy yours at?