Coloured Strings. Yay or Nay?

[cronker]

Showing my age now....

I remember when Blue Steels came out. They were supposedly cryogenically frozen or some rubbish.
Next up were some black strings, where each string had a different colour nylon wound. What were they called? Anyone remember?
This would be late eighties.

They all sounded like bass strings once worn in. Back then, I would change my strings about every two months! And I wasn't even gigging.
Bass Player magazine, you have a lot to answer for!

 

[Killer Of Giants]

Showing my age now....

I remember when Blue Steels came out. They were supposedly cryogenically frozen or some rubbish.
Next up were some black strings, where each string had a different colour nylon wound. What were they called? Anyone remember?
This would be late eighties.

They all sounded like bass strings once worn in. Back then, I would change my strings about every two months! And I wasn't even gigging.
Bass Player magazine, you have a lot to answer for!

I used to swear by Blue Steels during the late eighties and early nineties seems like the longevity of roundwounds has to have increased since the old days

 

[cronker]

Blue Steels sounded fantastic out of the packet! But, like any other string, would deaden accordingly. And they cost the earth down here where I live!

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Thank you, No.

 

[Danomo]

If I could get a checkerboard set to match my Rick Nielsen converse...

 

[Mike A]

 

[Chef]

"colored strings"

No.

 

[Johnny Crab]

Was just wondering the general opinion on them

Good for audience eye-candy, you know, the people who paid to get in and see a band and spend money at the place that hired you. If the shoe fits, wear it sometimes. I have a couple of sets for a bling bass wifey is making me and for a Greco LP clone that was got for cheap because it is(and will stay) covered with stickers.

Here are some colored ones on Cindy's bling bass:


PS: As a former Rotosound user for decades, now only bargain-priced strings are bought.

 

[Chef]

You think that people are consciously paying to see colored strings?

"What band do you want to go see tonight Biff?"
"Well, Skip, certainly not this one, what with their plain, string colored strings. We must revel elsewhere, or, die trying."

Mokay.

 

[FretNoMore]

Not my cup of tea. I think it can look cool on a solid color bass, but on my clear coated or sunburst finished basses it would just be wrong.

If you like it, go for it, it's your bass.

 

[Fleebag]

 

[Malak the Mad]

Well, I'll join in with the minority and say "YAY!" for several reasons.

Esthetic appeal? Check…especially if you just want a little bit of visual showmanship. After all, Me Hearties, it is show business! Nothing wrong if someone wants to indulge in a little flair.

Sound/tone/feel? Mostly check. I had one set of DR Black Beauties that was amazing, one that was "meh" (bad day at the factory, guys?) and a couple that were just fine.

On a side note, I've also been using a set of coated Elixir 45-100's on my travel bass for some time now. To me, they neither feel plastic-y nor lack in any tonal characteristics. In fact, I think they sound great…mellow when played accordingly and gritty when played with a bit of aggression.

Black strings on an Aerodyne look nice. Back when I was a senior in high school I put black ones on the school's sunburst Jazz, with "meh" results.

Point one? Double-check!

Point two? I gotta respectfully disagree, but that's how subjective "esthetic appeal" is, yes?

 

[CGremlin]

Point two? I gotta respectfully disagree, but that's how subjective "esthetic appeal" is, yes?

Interestingly, the Jazz I played in school was almost identical to that one (sunburst w/blocks & binding), with the exception of a tort pickguard. It works better with the black guard.

 

[Ken J]

Interestingly, the Jazz I played in school was almost identical to that one (sunburst w/blocks & binding), with the exception of a tort pickguard. It works better with the black guard.

I see I found a fellow Brasswind player

 

[CGremlin]

I see I found a fellow Brasswind player

Yessir! Why limit oneself to just the stringed bass instruments?

 

[Killer Of Giants]

Blue Steels sounded fantastic out of the packet! But, like any other string, would deaden accordingly. And they cost the earth down here where I live!

if I remember during that time frame I was paying like 35.00 a set which was a lot of money back then

You think that people are consciously paying to see colored strings?

"What band do you want to go see tonight Biff?"
"Well, Skip, certainly not this one, what with their plain, string colored strings. We must revel elsewhere, or, die trying."

Mokay.

Geezer plays on Black Beauties, that's how I tried them out. The 13 album was recorded on black beauties and I can get a solid bright sound out of them as well as a month of them sounding fresh out of the package.. I only use them on my black bass so that's my 2 cents on it