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Focused, soft touch and sound.

D

Diegombass

Sep 19, 2012
566
417
Spain
#1
I think these are the factors that I would like for a bass string.

I used to have my bass stringed with Ken Smith Burners strings. Since 15 years ago they are my strings. I like the sound from 1-2 months on the bass until a year-year and a half, always with Fastfret.

Recently, looking for something kinder to my left hand, I have tried DR Hi-Beam strings. I like the sound since I put it on the bass but they are like a cat tongue, and the sound I get when I slide my hand over them, even with tons of fastfret. They are very focused and I like it.

Is there a string that mix best of both worlds?

Thanks
 
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#2
Thomastik roundwounds?
I'd even suggest Thomastik flatwounds (if you've never tried em), based on what you're describing.

At the end of the day, I think that string choice is something very personal: what some find "soft, warm, tense, deep", etc. can be all the opposite to others.
This subforum has been really helpful to me because a lot of players share their experiences and I've used them as an important reference to guide my buying. But the last word was always my own experience: you can't really know if you'll like a string until you try it on your own bass, with your own setup and for a couple of weeks.
 
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#3
I've tried the Thommastik flats, and they aren't my thing, I hear the flats on other basses and definitely they are not for me. I will investigate about Thommastik roundwounds.

Hillbilly Sam said:
At the end of the day, I think that string choice is something very personal: what some find "soft, warm, tense, deep", etc. can be all the opposite to others.
Click to expand...
Interesting point of view.

Thanks
 
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#5
Diegombass said:
Recently, looking for something kinder to my left hand, I have tried DR Hi-Beam strings. I like the sound since I put it on the bass but they are like a cat tongue, and the sound I get when I slide my hand over them, even with tons of fastfret. They are very focused and I like it.
Click to expand...

So, you like the bright, clear tone and relative flexibility of a round-core stainless steel roundwound (= Hi Beams) but not the rough surface texture and finger noise. Correct?

DR Sunbeams are nickel-plated steel on a round core, so they're warmer in tone than the Hi Beams but being nickel, their surface texture is smoother with less finger noise.
 
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#7
Diegombass said:
I've tried the Thommastik flats, and they aren't my thing, I hear the flats on other basses and definitely they are not for me. I will investigate about Thommastik roundwounds.


Interesting point of view.

Thanks
Click to expand...

The Thomastik Jazz Roundwounds are excellent strings but VERY low tension (the E-string is .089) and extremely supple, even when comparing with other ultra-light gauge strings. Most basses and playing styles will need the action to be raised a bit with these strings as they vibrate with a HUGE amplitude but they will still be very easy on the fingers. The tone is totally unique, very organic. Excellent articulation and clarity but no "zing" whatsoever. If you're looking for a bright, stainless steel tone you probably won't like them. Of course you won't know until you try them but trying is very expensive with these strings.

I've seen people selling them used but I wouldn't recommend this. These are roundcore strings and VERY flexible so there's always a chance the windings may loosen slightly from the core (or even unravel completely) when completely removing them from a bass. I've personally experienced this twice with the similarly designed Jazz Flats (which means my Jazz Rounds has been kept permanently on ONE bass to avoid any potential issues).
 
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#13
Diegombass said:
I think these are the factors that I would like for a bass string.

I used to have my bass stringed with Ken Smith Burners strings. Since 15 years ago they are my strings. I like the sound from 1-2 months on the bass until a year-year and a half, always with Fastfret.

Recently, looking for something kinder to my left hand, I have tried DR Hi-Beam strings. I like the sound since I put it on the bass but they are like a cat tongue, and the sound I get when I slide my hand over them, even with tons of fastfret. They are very focused and I like it.

Is there a string that mix best of both worlds?

Thanks
Click to expand...


Do you slap or finger style or pick?

Because those are round wounds right? And if I recall nickel plated round wounds?

Half rounds or chromes will be easier on the fingers. I like chromes, but they go dead (which for some is an advantage), and I don't use them on basses for slap. I think in your shoes I'd try other nickel plated rounds or some coated stainless steel round wounds.

For an alternative for nickel roundwounds, I've been trying stainless steel coated strings like Elixer. The coated thing does make them a little easier on the fingers.

But also there are some other stainless steel strings I've got a set or two of but haven't tried yet like: NY XL or others.

After trying them, I often come back to nickel roundwounds. When I try bass strings I have two jazz basses and two p-basses that are pretty similar. I usually restring one with a fresh set of the new string, and the other with a fresh set of my normal string. And then compare.

I will say the most important thing to me is the overall string tension if you want them to feel similar to the old strings. I like that some companies publish that for all their strings- makes it easy to get a good feel and similar setup.
 
#14
For focused and soft you’re talking round core nickelwounds for the most part.

My recommendation is a set of TI Rounds as others here have already suggested. My favorite string to use on a Jazz type bass FWIW.

If the price for the TIs is an issue then a set of DR Sunbeams is a very good alternative. Not as soft as a set of TIs. But seriously, what else ever is? Still, the Suns have a pretty mellow tone for a set of rounds. And they get smoother sounding with a little use.

Note: if you’re getting a lot of drag or finger noise playing rounds, even using a string lubricant, then there’s a good chance you’re either pressing down overly hard when you’re playing, or your string action might need adjusting. Just my tuppence for what it’s worth. :)
 
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#16
I really like Ken Smith Burners as well, but I haven't used them in a while because I prefer nickel DR Lo Riders. But my recollection is that they sounded very close to the nickel Lo Riders and had a similarly stiff feel.

If you want to keep that kind of sound but want a more flexible string, the DR Sunbeams are worth checking out. I found them to be a round core, much more flexible feeling version of the nickel Lo Riders. I used them on a couple of basses just to experiment and loved the sound (same warm tone with nice low mids) but I prefer a much stiffer string. Hence my love of nickel Lo Riders.

But it sounds like the Sunbeams should be a great fit for you.
 
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#19
Diegombass said:
I think these are the factors that I would like for a bass string.

I used to have my bass stringed with Ken Smith Burners strings. Since 15 years ago they are my strings. I like the sound from 1-2 months on the bass until a year-year and a half, always with Fastfret.

Recently, looking for something kinder to my left hand, I have tried DR Hi-Beam strings. I like the sound since I put it on the bass but they are like a cat tongue, and the sound I get when I slide my hand over them, even with tons of fastfret. They are very focused and I like it.

Is there a string that mix best of both worlds?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Do not try Rotosound Swing bass rounds. Save your money. They have more grip than rosin on a baseball.

I’m not sure what “sound” you are looking for, and surely I don’t want to send you down a rabbit’s hole at $25-$30 a pop.

I don’t have a problem with DR Lo-Riders, or GHS Bass Boomers, but I’ve been using round wounds since 1977 and I’m pretty used to all different brand of rounds.

Good hunting.
 

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