Another vote for Nickel Lo Riders. Unbelievable on my Sadowsky UV-70. Bonus: they get better as they break in.
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For me, I've first tried GHS Pressurewounds for 3 months, wanted to try something else so I went with DR Lo Rider Stainless Steels. Loved those a lot, had them on for 6 months until just recently I've tried out the Rotosound 66 Stainless Steels and am currently breaking them in after two weeks of installing them.
Up next I'm going to try out both the DR Nickel Lo-Riders and Rotosound Nickels as I've had experience with both on different basses and love how soft and flexible they feel.
Up next I'm going to try out both the DR Nickel Lo-Riders and Rotosound Nickels as I've had experience with both on different basses and love how soft and flexible they feel.
I also have DR sunbeams on mine. They're my favorite round wound string and they last forever. But if you want vintage-punchy I'd try some La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats, got them on two P basses and a Ric 4001 and they sound good, clear and punchy, I may even try some on my Jazz.
I took my factory strings off my new Jazz bass after three years and put GHS Brite flats on.
They're okay, but I haven't really given them a workout because I've only jammed locally through an acoustic guitar amp with them. They record nice from the mic'd amp, I'll say that.
I haven't really played them through either my Ampeg V4B or Roland Cube 60 except for a few minute
s in the basement.
To be honest, I would have preferred to try La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats if I could have found some.
They're okay, but I haven't really given them a workout because I've only jammed locally through an acoustic guitar amp with them. They record nice from the mic'd amp, I'll say that.
I haven't really played them through either my Ampeg V4B or Roland Cube 60 except for a few minute
s in the basement.
To be honest, I would have preferred to try La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats if I could have found some.
DR SUNBEAMS are my fave strings on a Jazz bass. They last a long time, have a great dynamic range and are mid present.
They sound great for any style of music.
Extremely versatile.
* honorable mention goes to Dunlop super Brite nickels.
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Ken Smith ‘Slick Rounds’ are groovie. I find them to be both warm and very punchy. Lots of top end when they are new, but it diminishes nicely.
GHS Precision flats. Loved them in all pup combinations.
I have TI Flats on my Sire fretless jazz bass and they sound great.
I made an ordering mistake a while back and ordered Dunlop Super Bright Steels when I meant to order nickel ones, but man do the steel Super Brights sound good on my 68 Jazz. Not vintage, but really present and full of life.
for vintage and punchy, I’d vote for Boomers.
I made an ordering mistake a while back and ordered Dunlop Super Bright Steels when I meant to order nickel ones, but man do the steel Super Brights sound good on my 68 Jazz. Not vintage, but really present and full of life.
for vintage and punchy, I’d vote for Boomers.
Looking for a vintage sound, I started with Rotosounds, but then switched to boomers as I felt the Rotosounds died very quickly. The boomers sounded more balanced to me, but lacked a bit of sparkle and ‘woodyness’. DR high beams felt like the perfect compromise between the two.
I’ve also tried Lo riders and felt they were great strings, but I wouldn’t really associate that sound with vintage. To my ear, they are quite piano-like and sound great slapped.
I’ve also tried Lo riders and felt they were great strings, but I wouldn’t really associate that sound with vintage. To my ear, they are quite piano-like and sound great slapped.
EB Cobalts for me. I like the sound of a roundwound string but like the feel of a flatwound. I'm chasing tone right now and I have a Orange Drop 30 to replace an Orange Drop 47. I want to be able to just roll the tone off completely (for ease of use, I won't have to search for the "sweet spot" with the tone control) to get "my" sound.
I have two JB and both have D'addario XL rounds. In the past, I've tried Rotosound and EB strings, but went back to D'addario, mainly because of lifetime and consistency. I do like the tone of broken in rounds better than fresh strings. I also tried Chromes a few times, but my basses sound way better with rounds. I've been waiting to try nylon tapewound string just for a change.
Anything from the Book of GHS to suit the sound, Pressurewounds or BalNicks if not Boomers, for me.
I've tried a bunch and always end up back at Slinkys and Boomers.
D
For "vintage punch" on a Jazz Bass I kinda like Rotosound 55. Very similar to Roto 66 but slightly less bright and easier on the fingers. But Rotos have a very distinct tone that you may or may not like. Even when broken in they have very unique and aggressive mids (but no zing). A kinda "dry" punch sound (for a lack of better words).
I'm referring to the BROKEN IN tone of Rotos here though. Not their bright zingy new sound that won't last very long. Most people seem to buy Roto steels for that aggressive zingy tone and complain that they don't last very long but I prefer them broken in (what most people would probably call "dead" when discussing Rotos).
I'm referring to the BROKEN IN tone of Rotos here though. Not their bright zingy new sound that won't last very long. Most people seem to buy Roto steels for that aggressive zingy tone and complain that they don't last very long but I prefer them broken in (what most people would probably call "dead" when discussing Rotos).
My MIA MarcusbMiller sounds bestbwith TI Jazz flats. Currently I have Dunlops on it, and can't wait for an excuse to switch back to TI's.
Rotosound RS66 stainless strings to really get that jazz bass snarl. Unfortunately, they die quickly as many people have mentioned. However, I have yet to find a string that sounds as good when they are new (tried DR strings - HiBeams, etc., started with D’Addario XL, also Fender SS, Dunlop, etc.). Always go back to Rotosounds. I have moved to the BS66 set (Billy Sheehan set with 0.043” G and 0.110” E strings).
