Change your strings, not your bass - a cure for GAS?

[MCS4]

For me this is not a matter of GAS or dealing with being stagnant/uninspired, but I do agree with the concept that a different set of strings can change the whole vibe of a bass. I spent years not particularly enjoying the sound of my Zon VB4, which ended up being relegated to a backup role for my main band where I needed my basses to be strung up with rounds for the tone that suited that project, and I event went so far as to change the pickups to no avail. Later I threw on a set of Chromes on a whim during a slow period with the band and I instantly loved the sound. Nowadays I have a different bass I can use as the backup for my main band so the Zon can stick with flats.

 

[shirojiro]

My favorite bass was strung with La Bella LTF for about a year and while I love those strings and the sound, the bass was calling for rounds again. My secondary bass had Cobalt rounds on it so I did a string swap and it gave new life to both basses. I needed to be reminded how much I love my P bass and the string swap did just that. The other P bass hadn't seen flats before and I actually prefer the LTF on that bass over my favorite bass.

Anybody else have this experience? I wasn't interested in a new bass necessarily, but I was feeling a bit stagnant and uninspired and sometimes we bassists decide a new bass is the answer.

All the time.
Sometimes it’s not exactly what I wanted when I change strings, but it’s an easy swap back if needed.

This reminds me that I want to swap out my LaBella DTB flats on a Sadowsky PJ 5 string for some Cobalt flats to get a little more burp out of the J.

 

[noyou]

I love flats. experimented w stainless steel rounds--the furthest opposite of flats--and I'm impressed. good idea to swap strings, also nice to have more than one bass different strings. a little backward rn my fretted has tapes and fretless has stainless rounds. bass vi will have rounds and eventually try flats on it if i get around to it. yeah strings experiments 100% fun interesting way to change things up.

 

[noahw1]

I picked up my parts P with fairly fresh rounds on it (Ian Allison LaBellas), which was #3 in the rotation, and had a grand time playing it at a show the other day. My band members were digging the zing and grind compared to my #1 (sig photo) that has Thomastik jazz flats on it.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

My favorite bass was strung with La Bella LTF for about a year and while I love those strings and the sound, the bass was calling for rounds again. My secondary bass had Cobalt rounds on it so I did a string swap and it gave new life to both basses. I needed to be reminded how much I love my P bass and the string swap did just that. The other P bass hadn't seen flats before and I actually prefer the LTF on that bass over my favorite bass.

Anybody else have this experience? I wasn't interested in a new bass necessarily, but I was feeling a bit stagnant and uninspired and sometimes we bassists decide a new bass is the answer.

LTF..........................................................Cobalt rounds

Polar opposites. Must have felt and sounded like new basses.

 

[scuzzy]

Said it before, I'll say it again, as I think strings have the greatest impact on the overall sound of a bass.

The strings choose the bass, Harry...

 

[sawzalot]

I’ve said for years here that changing your strings is the fastest and cheapest way to completely change your bass tone. Before you go reach for that new amp, new cab, or new bass, change your brand/type of strings.

 

[RGerhart]

Yes, for sure. I used to use one type of strings for all my basses, but I've found that certain basses just sound better with a variety.

 

[MrAB4003]

Tunings are also helpful. I have a P bass that is better in BEAD than standard… no matter what strings I tried.

This! I started tuning down my 4 string basses to D Standard (DGCF) in 2023 and it slightly changed how my basses sounded. It also helped me think differently when writing music. I felt limited in standard tuning. My bass' "home key" went from E to D and that opened up so many creative possibilities for me. I can write and play songs in D, F, G, A, and B better than before.

Anybody else have this experience? I wasn't interested in a new bass necessarily, but I was feeling a bit stagnant and uninspired and sometimes we bassists decide a new bass is the answer.

I'm firmly believe that the bass chooses its strings. So changing your strings doesn't always yield good results.

For example, my Satin Autumnglo Ric 4003 sounds amazing with D'Addario Chromes. I tried putting a set of D'Addario NYXLs onto that bass last month. It sounded like I was playing someone else's Ric! It wasn't right. So after 10 minutes, the Chromes went back on and everything was right again. The old saying goes "the grass is not always greener on the other side".

Conversely, I put a new set of NYXLs on my Bongo 6 and it made me love it even more! It came with a 5 string set of La Bella White Tapes and a random C string. It sounded good except for the low B string, which was muddy. I put the NYXLs on and everything sounds even tonally. The low B sounds clear and defined the way it's supposed to. I can also hear the nuances of the EQ better with the NYXLs.

I want to try La Bella Gold flats again because I didn't give them a fair chance years ago. That's the only GAS I have right now for bass related anything.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Thats like the wife coming home with a new hair color. Now you're thinking you might get some "strange". Yeah, it works for a while. But soon you realize you're playing the same old bass.

Sounds like the "Playboy" magazine for married men, same woman every month?

If your wife reads this thread, I hope you have a Glarry to put out as a sacrifice bass? So she doesn't smash one of your good ones.

 

[logdrum]

Cure for GAS is to be broke -- works all the time,
Second cure is to play out more. Your priority will shift to playing the music, getting to the gig on time and dressing presentably. As long as your current bass and rig is decent -- the newest Sire or fender or EBMM isn't really that important. Recording and composing music is a close third

Yes string change better then looking for a new bass because the bass last month is not what you expected. Always have a replacement. Experiment with other brands , And just before you checkout or go tot the ATM. change the strings and wait a week, It's probably all you need. But this may have not work - the bass has to have a purpose hence playing with others or getting your music recorded for posterity.

As long as you have the money to burn -- then collect and keep on the spree. Don't agonize yourself with GAS. guilt and ignore what others are saying,

 

[Saetia]

Tunings are also helpful. I have a P bass that is better in BEAD than standard… no matter what strings I tried.

I had a sleeper Chinese CV 60’s P that absolutely was amazing in B. It stayed that way.

 

[tb-player]

I did the opposite of the OP. Instead of buying new strings for an old bass, I kept the old strings and bought a new bass. Those strings never sounded better!

Cured my string GAS.

 

[Topkat13]

Dude you are on to something! Another thing that works for me is changing my pants but not my underwear.

 

[red_rhino]

Changing strings is hard/boring. Ordering a new bass is easy/fun.

 

[Major Seven]

Changing strings is hard/boring. Ordering a new bass is easy/fun.

Except you usually have to change the strings on the new one anyway.

 

[drumvsbass]

It's literally in my signature....

 

[red_rhino]

Except you usually have to change the strings on the new one anyway.

Not really. In a few months when the strings need changing, the next one I buy will have fresh strings on it.

 

[Yahboy]

My favorite bass was strung with La Bella LTF for about a year and while I love those strings and the sound, the bass was calling for rounds again. My secondary bass had Cobalt rounds on it so I did a string swap and it gave new life to both basses. I needed to be reminded how much I love my P bass and the string swap did just that. The other P bass hadn't seen flats before and I actually prefer the LTF on that bass over my favorite bass.

Anybody else have this experience? I wasn't interested in a new bass necessarily, but I was feeling a bit stagnant and uninspired and sometimes we bassists decide a new bass is the answer.

I have Cobalt on 2 P and 1PJ , but cobalt flat 2814. Has round wound tone but smooth string surface , plus lasting crispy tone !

 

[Bodeeni]

For me, this is a big one. I frequently bring basses back to life by switching the string type.
My latest two big scores:
Putting rounds on the Gibson SG from plats made all the difference in the world and made the bass usable. And I was pretty much a flats only guy.

The opposite. My stingray had been collecting dust and I was planning on selling it. I also had a set of the Labella 760m 1954 super heavy string that did not work for me on my Fenders. What the heck, I gave them a try and I love it. It made the ray a new bass. I have been gigging with it.
This has been a much better way, for me, to jazz up a boring bass, way before modding the pickups.