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DR string advise

G

Galaxy

Mar 1, 2011
34
14
#1
Before I spend a lot of money on different sets of DR strings I would like to get some advise for a 5-string set.

So here are my wishes/ingredients:

- Starting with 0.40 maximum on the G

- Hex core or round core?

- Roundwound is a must

- I want a good slap sound on the B-string (for example Something Got Me Started - Simply Red & Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel)

- Nickel or Stainless?

- Normal or taperwound?

- 120, 125, or 130 B-string?


It's for this bass:


SRMS725 | SR | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars


I hope you guys can give me some advise with this info.

Thanks in advance!
 
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#3
Galaxy said:
So here are my wishes/ingredients:

- Starting with 0.40 maximum on the G

- Hex core or round core?

- Roundwound is a must

- I want a good slap sound on the B-string (for example Something Got Me Started - Simply Red & Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel)

- Nickel or Stainless?

- Normal or taperwound?

- 120, 125, or 130 B-string?
Click to expand...

If I were you, I'd start with Stainless Steel Lo-Riders (hex core) 40-60-80-100-120, and take it from there.
 
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#7
80jazz said:
I'll second this, but Lo-Rider stainless singles are available if you wanted to buy a 4-string set and then add a larger gauge B.
Click to expand...

I've used the SS Lo-Riders 40-100 with a 125B, but that was on a standard 34" scale. Considering the OP is talking about a multi-scale with 35.5" for the B, the 120 should work fine as it will be better balanced in tension with the rest.
 
Last edited:
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#8
Killing Floor said:
If you’re looking for a good slap string the HiBeams are top of my list.
Click to expand...
Those are my favorite. I have Sunbeams on every bass I have except for my Lakland. If I'm playing most slap, it will be on the Lakland and that bass has HiBeams on it. Oh.....sorry, correction: I also use HiBeams on the Ken Smith that is in my avatar.
 
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#9
I prefer the round core tension/feel, so I have not used Lo-Riders, but I can recommend Fat Beams; stainless on round cores. They are my favorite string, have them on several different basses and they work great on all of them for fingerstyle and slap. They have a great growl to them and (for me) last forever.

If you like round cores, but you want a little more warmth and low mids, then I'd go with Sunbeams.
 
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#14
Lots of options and some really good advice here.
Hex core will give you the feel of greater stiffness, and SS will typically be brighter than nickel.

You have to start somewhere, and the suggestion of beginning with a 40-60-80-100-120 set is solid. Adjust your variables (core, wrap metal, and gauge) as desired.

Enjoy the exploration. It's part of the fun!

Additional thought... Victor Wooten gets pretty neat slap sound out of Pure Blues, which are neither hex core nor stainless steel. I don't slap, but they are my go-to string. Love 'em! (Of course, YMMV!)
 
#16
Bassman Spiff said:
Lots of options and some really good advice here.
Hex core will give you the feel of greater stiffness, and SS will typically be brighter than nickel.

You have to start somewhere, and the suggestion of beginning with a 40-60-80-100-120 set is solid. Adjust your variables (core, wrap metal, and gauge) as desired.

Enjoy the exploration. It's part of the fun!

Additional thought... Victor Wooten gets pretty neat slap sound out of Pure Blues, which are neither hex core nor stainless steel. I don't slap, but they are my go-to string. Love 'em! (Of course, YMMV!)
Click to expand...

Pure Blues bass strings are made with a Quantum Nickel wrap (the guitar Pure Blues strings are just straight Nickel). Quantum Nickel is an alloy of steel and nickel so it won't sound like either one, exactly.

I'm intrigued by them but I don't know if I'd suggest starting there - I think @michael_t is right about stainless Lo Riders being the right starting point. Try them out and see what you like, or don't like, about them. There's no way to guarantee that they'll be the right strings for your bass, through your amp, played with your fingers - too many variables there to really pin down the exact tone without trying it out. But I think these have a good shot of being close to what you want, and worst case scenario will be a starting point to figuring out exactly what you want. Best case scenario, of course, is that they're exactly what you want - and I wouldn't be surprised if that ends up being the case.
 
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#17
Galaxy said:
- I want a good slap sound on the B-string (for example Something Got Me Started - Simply Red & Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel)
Click to expand...
I have no string-specific advice to offer, but I feel compelled to comment on this: Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel was not played with a slap technique. It was a pick on a fretless Musicman with an OC-2.

Pedantic chiming in complete. Please carry on :smug:
 
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#20
I think the .040 will limit your choices.

My all time favorite rounds are DR Pure Blues Victor Wooten set. .040 G and lighter than “normal” E-D. Nickel outer winding. Pure Blues come in a variety of gauges, so by mixing sets you can dial in your preferences, if stock set don’t do ya.

I’ve tried the nickel low riders, and Hellborgs as well. Both of these were stiffer than the Pure Blues.

If you want even lighter, GHS Boomers come in a .030 set, and D’Addario has XL’s in .035.

I don’t do stainless, so I can’t comment on that.

FretNation.com is my go to source for strings. Jason is always a huge help if you have questions about winding lengths or other issues.
 

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