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Expensive strings are prefereable?
- Thread starter gigetto
- Start date
I don't really think the price of strings determines durability or quality at all, just like instruments, amps and effects you can have expensive ones that are crap, and cheap ones that are great.
My preferred strings are D'addario Nickel Rounds and Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats, nothing about my preference has got anything to do with price but everything to do with tone and playability, I tried a lot of different strings over the years and these are the one's that enable me to play what I want to play, for me strings have to perform well whether I'm playing bass lines, chords, melodies or a combination of those elements, an important factor for me is balanced tension and balanced output, whatever the cost.
My preferred strings are D'addario Nickel Rounds and Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats, nothing about my preference has got anything to do with price but everything to do with tone and playability, I tried a lot of different strings over the years and these are the one's that enable me to play what I want to play, for me strings have to perform well whether I'm playing bass lines, chords, melodies or a combination of those elements, an important factor for me is balanced tension and balanced output, whatever the cost.
same here. roto 66, 35-90, and TI jazz rounds.
i sure do like the jazz rounds on my axes (they're all fretless). they have a long life span for me, and i'm not spending more on the TIs than i would on the rotos --- which i'd change more frequently. i like the low tension aspect of the TI jazz rounds.
I've bought strings (in today's currency) from around $15 to around $70 for a 4-string set. I've found strings I like all across that spectrum. I usually use strings that cost around $25/set, because that's what I like, not to save money.
I don't really care for flats, so that keeps my decision space a bit smaller.
Had always played D'Addario XLs until recently. Bought a Ray, which came with EB Slinkys. Feel almost exactly the same as the D'A XLs... but they're actually cheaper. So probably Slinkys going forward on the Ray and probably the HH bass (Sire M2).
Just tried GHS Pressurewounds on my BB, which are a little more expensive than the D'A XLs, but it took about a minute playing them to see the appeal. Not quite as bright as the D'A XLs but smoother feel. If they also last longer, well, then it'll probably be worth it.
Had always played D'Addario XLs until recently. Bought a Ray, which came with EB Slinkys. Feel almost exactly the same as the D'A XLs... but they're actually cheaper. So probably Slinkys going forward on the Ray and probably the HH bass (Sire M2).
Just tried GHS Pressurewounds on my BB, which are a little more expensive than the D'A XLs, but it took about a minute playing them to see the appeal. Not quite as bright as the D'A XLs but smoother feel. If they also last longer, well, then it'll probably be worth it.
Elixer's are expensive and sound great on SOME of my basses. on the basses they don't, it's Dunlop super brights or DR lo riders. Between those three, I can usually find a fit. It's like wizards and wands.... Gotta find the right match.
Y'all youngins, sheesh. I remember back in the Eighties when Rotos were $38/set! Bass strings are about the only "consumable" in my personal life that hasn't at least doubled in price over the last 30 years/ D'Addario XL strings are still the same $20 or so they were back them.
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It's all what you like. I string all my basses with Dean Markley Blue Steels. Have tried a bunch of others (Elixir, DR, GHS) but I always come back to the Blue Steels. They can be found for about $18 a set.
I like the expensive Optima RB4440 strings on my Rickenbacker, but I love the cheap Fender 9050L strings on my Precision.
The composition of the sweat you personally produce on your hands when playing bass plays a role in how fast the tone of the strings will decay. Some strings will last longer for you than others will.
That said, I've always had the feeling that when you cut out the super cheap and the super expensive, most strings are in the same ballpark in terms of quality, but differ in tone and feel.
The expensive ones need to justify their price tag. For me, Elixirs easily did justify costing nearly twice as much, because I can leave them on about three times as long, so at the end of the year, I actually saved money.
The same goes for flats. When you play them for a decade, It's not that hard to pay a hundred bucks for a set.
I have one bass strung with LaBella DTF and another with TI Jazz Flats. The TIs are fairly new, but the Labella strung bass would be in dire need of a fresh set by now, had I used regular roundwounds.
That said, I've always had the feeling that when you cut out the super cheap and the super expensive, most strings are in the same ballpark in terms of quality, but differ in tone and feel.
The expensive ones need to justify their price tag. For me, Elixirs easily did justify costing nearly twice as much, because I can leave them on about three times as long, so at the end of the year, I actually saved money.
The same goes for flats. When you play them for a decade, It's not that hard to pay a hundred bucks for a set.
I have one bass strung with LaBella DTF and another with TI Jazz Flats. The TIs are fairly new, but the Labella strung bass would be in dire need of a fresh set by now, had I used regular roundwounds.
i prefer d'addario nickel rounds or fender nickel rounds. it has nothing to do with price - neither are expensive strings - but i don't consider price when trying strings. i just want strings that feel and sound good to me, period. i also like chromes and elixers.
that being said, i haven't tried TI jazz rounds because somehow the $70 price tag makes me think "i could get 3 sets of strings for this and have change". but i'll try 'em someday.
that being said, i haven't tried TI jazz rounds because somehow the $70 price tag makes me think "i could get 3 sets of strings for this and have change". but i'll try 'em someday.
The strings I use are based primarily on tone and longevity under my hands, cost is a secondary factor. Currently on electric bass, that means TI flats and DR nickel Loriders. I've tried some that while being initially cheaper, don't last as long with my body chemistry (my record was killing a set of slinky's in about 90 minutes) so a set that costs half as much costs me more in the long run if I have to change them 3 times more often.
I went through my 'expensive string' phase, and found that T-I's, Optimas, and all the other high-end strings went just as dead just as fast . . . . . as the cheapest strings I could lay my hands on.
So for me, I see no advantage. Others probably can. So for me, I'd prefer to spend less, change them more often, which tends to give me more time where they're still good. For some players, strings last far longer, but not for me.
So for me, I see no advantage. Others probably can. So for me, I'd prefer to spend less, change them more often, which tends to give me more time where they're still good. For some players, strings last far longer, but not for me.
Strings from D'Addario and other "mass" brands are less expensive because the have economies of scale and distribution networks that allow them to sell at a lower cost and still be profitable. Other than that, they are excellent strings and it just comes down to what floats your boat. I pay a bit more for DR HiBeams because, to me, nothing else compares at any price. Not the case with all things. More expensive often means better "quality" - however you want to define quality. But I don't think the price/ quality relationship applies to bass strings personally.
When it's about buying strings some different factors should be considered by you.
A.sound
B.Availability
C.Qulity
D.price
You should buy the string that fits your sound best.because without a good sounding bass it doesn't matter you spend 1$ or 200$.
It should be available around you because if the string breaks or die and you wanna change it you need have quick access to the string.
Every string has it's own sound but one other factor is the quality of the string.your body chemistry can effect the string lifespan so much.coated and uncoated has different price and can be good or bad.
Final word it does not matter what is the price if sound close to what you want and remember always the most expensive one won't be best one.
You should remember what are you using the string for like if you are recording a song that doesn't matter the lifespan is long or not but if it's a practicing string a longer life mean more value.
So you can manage the price by the usage.
My favorite strings are labella, elixir (is a little bit boomy ),fender flats.
Everyone ends up having their own preference for various reasons. Particular sound, fit, feel, etc. This is almost like trying to pick out a toothbrush for someone, or chasing the "Flux Capacitor". It's really not good or bad, it's different, when you need specific things. BTW, I already have a Toothbrush, and a Flux Capacitor, so I go with Ernie Ball, or D'Addario, unless there is a specific reason not to do so.
D'Addario ProSteels. EPS170-5. Doubt I will ever buy anything else, I have test-driven a bunch of other strings, cheap and spendy.
They are a bit bright for the first hour of play, but then they are soooooo perfect until they lose the zing. Then I boil them and give them another go. They hold up and give me what I want time after time. (I play primarily finger - style, some slap, and some pick)
They are a bit bright for the first hour of play, but then they are soooooo perfect until they lose the zing. Then I boil them and give them another go. They hold up and give me what I want time after time. (I play primarily finger - style, some slap, and some pick)
