Fresh string connoissures, j'ever notice...?

No, I've never noticed it. But I guess it could be because I never paid attention to it. Never thought of it. I'm about to change strings in a weeks time, and I'll sure give it a listen. Interesting idea, and I don't see why you couldn't be right.
I'll report back.

 

You mean you're meant to change the strings?

Actually, I've got a new set to put on sometime soon, so I'll bear it in mind to listen for.

Wulf

 

Fresh light guage Rotosounds sound sizzly and zingy, but lost some high end snap after a few weeks. Heavier guage strings have less snap to start with.

 

I think new strings in general are just more expressive. I think the low end is much tighter and audible with new strings. As they age I think they become much rounder and less defined.

 

This has happened to me with the Smith Rock Masters...
they sound too boomy after installing them...

They seem to settle very good afterwards.

 

I understand the phenomenon you're talking about here...if I'm doing a decent paying gig on a fretted bass, I always put fresh ones on - I want every bit of harmonic content I can get.

The notes just seem to jump out of newer strings, and yes, that includes the lows.

 

IMO...it is the upper harmonics that die first...but, the upper harmonics are necessary to define the lower fundimentals and make the notes ring out properly...

I use flats primarily, but on the bass that I use rounds on I like to choose strings that are just a little too "zingy" at first and just tone them down a little with the tone pot...and after they age a bit, I can take my tone control completely out of the equation and let the pickups sing out with even timbre...I end up changing strings a lot less often this way...I find D'addarios are good for this purpose.