Are you referring to the strings or the player?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Buying a Yamaha BBP34 and looking for string suggestions
- Thread starter Birddogcof
- Start date
Are you referring to the strings or the player?
I’ve also used Pure Blues, which I liked a lot better on a StingRay I used to have. The Pure Blues were definitely smoother.
The BBP34 is a quality instrument which deserves the best strings you can afford.
For context, I have a 1984 BB3000 (the progenitor of all modern BBs with the standard PJ config) strung with La Bella low tension flats and they are an exceptionally good match for the bass. I'd also recommend trying TI flats. I have them on my BB2000 and they are an exceptionally good match - better than the DR Sunbeams I had on it previously, and I rate those as the best nickel round wounds I've ever played (though not in the same league as the LTF's or TI's).
Good luck with your search.
Another vote for TI flats. Smooth texture and lower tension make them a joy to play. Had a set on my BB734 and worked really well with that bass. They are pricey, but will last forever.
Not sure what my BBP35 came with since it was used. It has EXL165-5 on it now, they seem to work really well and the B string isn’t tubby and flubby.
All over. Sweetwater, bestbassgear.com, juststrings.com, fretnation.com, direct from StringJoy… and that’s just off the top of my head, I’m probably missing a place or tw
ne of these days I’ll have to try Kalium for a custom set for my 5-string, just to see how they compare to StringJoy.
I’m curious, since they are a bit smaller gauge than stock did they vibrate above the nut on open notes? I had a set on a jazz bass and the A string did that.
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
D
This thread has already mentioned half the strings in existence... which was always gonna happen without being more specific about tonal preferences.
Things seem to be leaning heavily towards GHS Pressurewounds though so I'll share MY personal opinions on these strings to balance things out a bit:
I'll be honest, I've never liked GHS Pressurewounds much and especially not on P-style basses (like the BBP34). Their rather "clanky" midrange (even when they're broken in) combined with the mid-forward character of P-basses is not a very good match IMO. At least not for MY style of playing. I like to be able to dig in hard without sounding like a monkey in a mechanical workshop. Don't get me wrong, I like a bit of upper midrange "cut" when playing roundwounds but with the GHS Pressurewounds it just gets a bit too much for me. They may not be "zingy bright" but they're too "clanky bright" for my taste. Their midrange presence is kinda grotesque IMO.
The midrange presence "clank" of GHS Pressurewounds seems to be focused slightly lower in the frequency spectrum than with many other strings. This makes it hard to dial out with a passive tone control (like on the BBP34). At least without ending up with a darker tone than you perhaps wanted.
I also find GHS Pressurewounds to be too stiff at gauges I enjoy playing. The 044-102 set feels noticeably stiffer than most 045-105 roundwound sets. The 044-106 set is more or less unplayable to me, it's far too stiff. The 040-096 set doesn't feel right under my fingers, far too light.
I also dislike the rather "flat", unresponsive dynamics of these strings. I prefer more articulate strings with a livelier, more "bouncy" feel. If you like "flatter", more controlled dynamics with focus on sustain rather than "bounce" you will probably like the Pressurewounds a lot better than me. Attack is a lot more important than sustain to me and the GHS Pressurewounds just don't deliver the bouncy attack I want.
Still, GHS Pressurewounds are extremely popular on this forum. Which I've always found a bit strange because apart from the sets I've tested myself (to see what the hype was all about) I've NEVER seen a set installed on an actual bass in real life (and I work at a very busy guitar workshop).
But remember, these are just MY opinions, based on MY personal taste. The "best" strings for YOU will always depend on YOUR personal taste and YOUR playing style. You won't know until you're tested the strings yourself.
Things seem to be leaning heavily towards GHS Pressurewounds though so I'll share MY personal opinions on these strings to balance things out a bit:
I'll be honest, I've never liked GHS Pressurewounds much and especially not on P-style basses (like the BBP34). Their rather "clanky" midrange (even when they're broken in) combined with the mid-forward character of P-basses is not a very good match IMO. At least not for MY style of playing. I like to be able to dig in hard without sounding like a monkey in a mechanical workshop. Don't get me wrong, I like a bit of upper midrange "cut" when playing roundwounds but with the GHS Pressurewounds it just gets a bit too much for me. They may not be "zingy bright" but they're too "clanky bright" for my taste. Their midrange presence is kinda grotesque IMO.
The midrange presence "clank" of GHS Pressurewounds seems to be focused slightly lower in the frequency spectrum than with many other strings. This makes it hard to dial out with a passive tone control (like on the BBP34). At least without ending up with a darker tone than you perhaps wanted.
I also find GHS Pressurewounds to be too stiff at gauges I enjoy playing. The 044-102 set feels noticeably stiffer than most 045-105 roundwound sets. The 044-106 set is more or less unplayable to me, it's far too stiff. The 040-096 set doesn't feel right under my fingers, far too light.
I also dislike the rather "flat", unresponsive dynamics of these strings. I prefer more articulate strings with a livelier, more "bouncy" feel. If you like "flatter", more controlled dynamics with focus on sustain rather than "bounce" you will probably like the Pressurewounds a lot better than me. Attack is a lot more important than sustain to me and the GHS Pressurewounds just don't deliver the bouncy attack I want.
Still, GHS Pressurewounds are extremely popular on this forum. Which I've always found a bit strange because apart from the sets I've tested myself (to see what the hype was all about) I've NEVER seen a set installed on an actual bass in real life (and I work at a very busy guitar workshop).
But remember, these are just MY opinions, based on MY personal taste. The "best" strings for YOU will always depend on YOUR personal taste and YOUR playing style. You won't know until you're tested the strings yourself.
Last edited:
Beside the oval roller wound on GHS pressure wound, they are just nothing special . I am more pleasing with DR sunbeam and Dunlop SBN .
Curious, how do you like that Midnight Blue color? It seems more black than anything. Does the blue pop in different lighting?
I've used DR Sunbeams for so long that they've become my "personal normal". I like a not-too-zingy sound that's warm without getting clanky, but I've also noticed a softness in terms of the feel of these strings that I don't find with my other samplings.
I've generally stuck with nickel rounds because a teacher recommended them for being kinder/gentler on my frets, but then a luthier pal turned me on to the Sunbeams. These have never disappointed. The older they get, the more I like them... until they get sort of grungy and noticeably used up.
I've grabbed a set of Fenders, D'Addario XL's, or maybe Rotosounds in a pinch, but I always notice less of the softer feel that I've grown to appreciate with the Sunbeams. Once you work them through that initial brightness that we get with any fresh set of strings, they really settle in and get cozy... for me.
Unfortunately no experience with the GHS Pressurewounds to share. I've also tried a couple other DR nickel-rounds and they haven't given me the familiar mojo that I get with my 'beams.
I have never had any setup problems with TI flats. I've had them on P Basses, Jazz Basses, a Yamaha and even a JMJ Mustang with no issues.
