Do Strings Make The Bass?

[markanini]

Yes an no. If your bass requires a very specific string to bring out it's best qualities maybe it's not the strings that's the problem...In other words string it with a neutral set like Slinkies or Pro Steel and figure out what your bass is doing for you. You can't really put that on the strings.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

IMO, strings make a big difference. Over the years I’ve become pretty familiar with 4 different brands, and what to expect from them tonally, surface feel, string tension, and lifespan.

I used to “tailor” the sound of my basses by which brand of strings I put on them. For instance, back when I wanted my basses to sound bright, I used D’Addario XLs, because they had the brightest sound, and they stayed bright sounding the longest. My Alembics and Spectors sounded too bright, so I used GHS Bass Boomers on them. Bass Boomers are the least bright sounding strings that I use, and I found that they made my Spectors and Alembics sound slightly warmer.

I bought an EBMM U.S. made Sterling, which came with EB Hybrid Slinkys. I experimented with my favorite brands, and I found that it sounded it’s best using Hybrid Slinkys.

For the last several years I’ve been using a fatter sound, with a lot less high end, so I’ve been using GHS Bass Boomers on most of my basses.

I use GHS Pressurewounds on one of my main basses. The sound of these strings match up perfectly with what I want from it.

And I use Rotosound Swing Bass 66’s on my P-Bass. I feel the sound of SB66’s on a P-Bass is a very iconic Rock bass tone.

Largely agree that Slinkys sound best on a Music Man. That said, my roasted SBMM wears Sunbeams well too. Gives me additional play in the active Mid and Bass EQ to deviate from typical MM sound towards Warwick.

 

[jamro217]

Strings play a very important role in determining tone as well as playability. Do they make the bass? No. Luthiers do that.

 

[dougjwray]

TB is a fantastic place to do research and get advice, but sometimes I worry that beginners might get overwhelmed. In this case, they might think that they need to try every one of the thousands of strings out there, to find the "perfect" set.
I'm humbly providing a very brief list of "classics", all of which feel different and sound different but will work just fine. Maybe beginners could select what each manufacturer considers "medium gauge", make sure the scale length matches the bass, and start there. They can spend the rest of their lives experimenting and losing their minds!
Here is my list of "classics":

Roundwound (stainless steel)
Rotosound Swing Bass
DR Hi-Beams

Roundwound (nickel-plated steel)
GHS Bass Boomers
DR Sunbeams

Flatwound
LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass
D'Addario Chromes
Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats

 

[DianaBass]

My Sterling Stingray (short scale,) came with Slinkies. And then I put them on two more basses, and now I have a new bass who will be getting them. I have yet to find any strings that have the same rich and heavy sound that I love. Everything sounds so twangy compared to them. I do believe that strings are a giant part of the bass sound, but we all have our own preferences. For me, it can't sound dark and thumpy enough.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

To echo what many others have said...whether good or bad, strings can most certainly change the tone of an instrument. If it's an improvement or not is up to the listener. With as many variables as there are, experimentation with different strings may be enlightening, but costly.

 

[Tom Bomb]

An electric instrument, especially, is a committee. Regardless, every element pulls together.
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[BigDrew]

Just try playing your bass without strings.

Or strings without a bass.