But do tell me, what about body chemistry is subjective?Bit of an overstatement, wannit?
You'll find short-life complaints for almost every string out there. Both 1) expectations and 2) body chemistry are subjective.
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Ernie Ball strings on a Stingray, who knew?
- Thread starter FirewalZ
- Start date
I’ve only tried DR Pure Blues. I thought they were really nice strings, but they were just slightly too low tension for me. I keep meaning to buy a set of DR Nickel Lo-Riders, to give them a try.
Since the mid 80’s, I’ve mainly used GHS Boomers and D’Addario XLs. Before that, I was a diehard Rotosound Swing Bass 66 player. -I still like Swing Bass 66’s on my P-Bass.
I didn’t try EB Slinkys until ‘99 or ‘00. IMO they’re excellent strings. I don’t know why I waited so long to try them.
I also regularly used LaBella Slappers, which unfortunately have been long discontinued. They were great strings too, IMO.
For the most part, I get the same lifespan from any of the brands of strings that I mentioned. Possibly D’Addario XLs start out the brightest, and stay bright the longest for me. But since the early 00’s, I moved away from a bright tone, so GHS Boomers are my overall favorite, because they’re the least bright.
But so far, these EB Slinkys are winning me over. They have a great feel, and they have a brightness, that is in the right sweet spot for my tastes.
I like Boomers as well, but they are much to stiff for my hands. Have you tried round core Boomers? Much more flexible….but GHS are also a bit more $. I might try xl’s as well, but for under $20 a set the super slinky’s did the trick on my old Stingray
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I really need higher tension from my strings because I pluck rather hard at times.
I am working on developing a lighter touch. I haven’t tried the Round Core Boomers yet, but once I have better control over my plucking hand, I’ll give them a try.
Yeah, some people find that to be true... but, OTOH, some people don't. String life depends mostly on how hard you play; how long you play; how clean you keep them; and, probably most importantly - your body chemistry. There are people around here who can seemingly kill a set of strings, just getting them tuned up and intonated. And, there are people - like me - who have a very balanced, neutral body chemistry, and keep their strings pretty clean, too. I can make a set of EB Slinkys last for way more than a year - and have, more than once. And, that include swapping them to another bass a few times as well. Also; strings "dying" means different things to different people. Some folks consider a set of strings "dead" the minute the new "zing" wears off. String companies just love those people...
Others, like me, don't consider strings to be "dead" until they won't stay in tune - or intonate - any more. Those strings actually are really, truly, dead. So, how long a set of strings - any strings - will last for you, depends on a lot of factors...
I’ve got Cobalt Flats on my SBMM Ray5 and I don’t foresee them coming off.
Thought I’d post another clip of the same group…a webcast show we did, fast forward a few minutes past the intro.These days I mainly play on a 1996 3 band Stingray or a 2018 Special, and have been a stalwart DR user for years, Sunbeams and Fatbeams. I had an outdoor gig approaching with a power trio I play with, and on a whim decided to throw a set of super slinky’s on my 96. I was pleasantly surprised at how good they sounded, as the older 3 bands can be too sizzly. They were not overly bright like I thought, meaty lows, nice and clear and comfortable to play on. These will probably be what I keep on that bass.
Here is a clip, if Facebook permissions allow viewing….keep in mind this was outside, it had been raining and was in the 40’s, probably the coldest gig I’ve played on.
Link Removed
https://www.youtube.com/live/SiFGrzj9YNM?si=7W4Ikft983MGPQsa
Honestly, they're all I use on my Cort Action V-A. They sound great with jazz pickups. Maybe I'll slap some on my stingray eventually
Well, looks like I have something I need to try. I been meaning to put flats on a bass.
Super Slinky’s are $16.95 a set on Amazon at the moment.
Also, after having a couple sets, they last about as long as other nickel rounds I’ve tried.
Also, after having a couple sets, they last about as long as other nickel rounds I’ve tried.
I put a set of Super Slinky’s on my Stingray sometime back in October. It’s my main teaching and gigging bass so I use it A LOT. But the Slinky’s still sound good to me!
That has been my experience also 45yrs of using Rounds
I had a 25th Anniversary Musicman[aka Reflex] and now have 2023 Stingray Special and only used Super Slinky's
4 months now on Special and still sound great; when Gigging consistently I changed Strings every 6 months
never felt strings were 'Dead' when I switched
Saying that I may try Cobalt flats next string change; just because
Yea, I haven't tried the Cobalt's either, I don't like the price tag and some folks complain about rust? They would have to stay in that "broken in but still lively" state for a while to justify the cost. Ill usually change strings after 2-4 weeks or so, depending on how much I'm playing on them. That said I find not all strings die the same, Sunbeams for example, which I really love on some bass's, sound great but when they die it seems sudden and they are dull and lifeless. I find the EB Slinkys still have enough highs to stay in the game, even after several all night gigs.That has been my experience also 45yrs of using Rounds
I had a 25th Anniversary Musicman[aka Reflex] and now have 2023 Stingray Special and only used Super Slinky's
4 months now on Special and still sound great; when Gigging consistently I changed Strings every 6 months
never felt strings were 'Dead' when I switched
Saying that I may try Cobalt flats next string change; just because
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll be sure to snag a few sets!!!
The set of Slinky’s that I’ve had on my Spector are over 2 months old and still have a surprising amount of top end.
I play at least 2 hours daily. This set has been rode hard. And the thing that amazes me the most is how my Low B and E strings have retained their top end. They’re normally the first strings on a set to crap out on me.
The remaining strings are still sounding fantastic as well.
IMHO Slinkys are a damn good set of strings.
2-4 weeks
I have been a Club/Bar Cover Band player most my time playing not much recording or Videosand I am not fond of changing strings if still sounding good in Live mix.
But when I played with my Original Band [7 years] did change strings about 2 weeks before planned recording session and about every 2 months when while gigging consistently.
Seems to be less problems with Rust recently most complaints were pre 2020; some still complain about early stickiness that goes away in first 2-4 weeks
Was told it won't be a problem if Strings are treated with 99% Isopropyl before putting on Bass; which is what I am planning on doingThe tone you are achieving may have me changing my Re-Stringing habits
Do you have any Vid's using Special?
PS; If changing strings every 2-4 weeks and Cobalt Flats stay consistent for 2/3 months[A lifetime for you
] it is also good financially
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Yea, I’m in an originals band and a power trio cover band. I like the mid life of a string and find I can use them as long as there is still some amount of highs left. This varies depending on how much I’m playing, however I always try to have washed hands and wipe my strings down, that does seem to help.2-4 weeks
and I am not fond of changing strings if still sounding good in Live mix.
But when I played with my Original Band [7 years] did change strings about 2 weeks before planned recording session and about every 2 months when while gigging consistently.
Seems to be less problems with Rust recently most complaints were pre 2020; some still complain about early stickiness that goes away in first 2-4 weeks
The tone you are achieving may have me changing my Re-Stringing habits
Do you have any Vid's using Special?
PS; If changing strings every 2-4 weeks and Cobalt Flats stay consistent for 2/3 months[A lifetime for you
Here is a video, I recorded this with a Stingray Special and Mesa Subway.
