If you take tapes off a Ray and replace them with Slinkys or DRs an angel gets its wings.
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GHS Pressurewound on my Stingray, Really?
- Thread starter CoffeeLove
- Start date
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,167
- 257,036
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
The tapes on my Stingray are chock full of flabbergastilicousness. It sounds like a Ray, a Ray always sounds like a Ray no matter what strings are on it IMO. It's worn Roto and Dean Markley for most of its 41 years, and now the D'Addario tapes are there to stay. 
(I may replace the black tapes with white tapes but in absolutely no hurry on that.)
(I may replace the black tapes with white tapes but in absolutely no hurry on that.)
My StingRay came with the Slinkys from the factory. I tried the GHS Pressurewounds, the EB Cobalt Flats, and GHS Precision Flats. I put the Slinky's back on and they're staying on. They have the growl and bite, and as they age they've lost the brittle clank. Maybe I'll just keep 'em there forever like Bernard Edwards! I put the Pressurewounds on an (very) active Pbass and they've tamed that beast nicely. Great strings!
I like Pressure Wounds for many reasons, but the best one is that they have captured the best qualities of both flats and rounds. I bet they sound really cool on that 5 string Stingray. Enjoy!
Just for the record I believe Bernard Edwards had GHS Brite Flats on his Stingray as that's what came on his bass from new back in the day, and he never changed them. I wonder if he ever realised how much money he saved!
I know it's not a StingRay, but it's the only EBMM bass in my arsenal.
I've never tried a set of PWs on it, -yet, but I usually string it up with Hybrid Slinkys. I've tried LaBella Slappers, -which sound great on it too.
I was asked to play on song a friend was recording, and I didn't have any new strings on hand, so I went to my local GC and bought a set of GHS Boomers. I was a little worried their tone might not be optimum for my Sterling, but I was blown away how good they sound on it.
I've never tried a set of PWs on it, -yet, but I usually string it up with Hybrid Slinkys. I've tried LaBella Slappers, -which sound great on it too.
I was asked to play on song a friend was recording, and I didn't have any new strings on hand, so I went to my local GC and bought a set of GHS Boomers. I was a little worried their tone might not be optimum for my Sterling, but I was blown away how good they sound on it.
As I have mentioned in other Pressurewound related threads, I switched to these a couple of years ago and I love them. I have a set of light gauge PW's on my 65-P and my Tobias Classic 4. These basses are completely different, yet the PW's compliment both beautifully. Punch, crunch; it's all there. And smooth pure bass when I want that too. And yet, when I slap the Tobias I get all the hi-fi that's in that bass as well. (About a year of play on each set so far. They settled in over 2-3 weeks and then just stayed there.)
That said, I've recently acquired an MTD 535, and I'm very much enjoying the steel rounds. But I know it won't last. I'm trying to decide whether to put a set of MTD nickels on this when it's time, or see if PWs work well here too. My only hesitation is that the PW 5-string set only comes in the standard gauge. I really prefer a light gauge, because to me, they feel like they have the same tension as most medium strings.
@Jon Moody ; any chance there will ever PW 5-string sets in a light gauge?
That said, I've recently acquired an MTD 535, and I'm very much enjoying the steel rounds. But I know it won't last. I'm trying to decide whether to put a set of MTD nickels on this when it's time, or see if PWs work well here too. My only hesitation is that the PW 5-string set only comes in the standard gauge. I really prefer a light gauge, because to me, they feel like they have the same tension as most medium strings.
@Jon Moody ; any chance there will ever PW 5-string sets in a light gauge?
- Sep 9, 2007
- 5,309
- 4,977
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Eventide, GHS Strings, G&L Guitars, NS Design, Tsunami Cables
This is something I wish for as well. But don't hold your breath on it.
Meanwhile, you can always do what I do - get the light set (40-96) with a single 128B. Jason at Fret Nation can put together the custom set for you.
(I currently have the PW light set matched up with the GHS Progressive 130B on my Yamaha.)
This is something I wish for as well. But don't hold your breath on it.
Well now that there's two of us asking, of course they add that to the product line!
My only concern with building a set that way is the huge difference between the E & B strings in terms of size and overall tension. However, one thing I was considering is building a set using light gauge Ken Smith Compressors, (which I understand are manufactured by GHS and are really pressurewounds done to Smith's specs), and adding a taper core Compressor 125 B single-string (C125-T). That might work perfectly for my MTD, which is set up for a taper core B.
I've been experimenting with the idea of matching up a light 4-string set with a low B that's slightly larger than what would normally come in a light 5-string factory set. And it's been working out great for better balance in feel as well as tone.
Here are the actual tension figures for the Pressurewounds...
M7200-5 (factory 5-string set):
G 044 - 43.3 lbs.
D 062 - 48.6
A 084 - 47.2
E 106 - 48.0
B 128 - 34.0
L7200 + PW128/PRG130:
G 040 - 37.2 lbs.
D 054 - 36.5
A 076 - 39.3
E 096 - 34.2
B 128 - 34.0
B 130 - 31.5 (Progressive with exposed core)
I've also been playing a custom set of DR Lo-Riders (40-60-80-100-125) on my son's Ibanez SR-1205E for the last couple of weeks, and I like the way the 125B balances with the rest. The factory set comes with a 120B.
One thing to keep in mind is the taperwound portion on the KS 125B is 2.5".
Are you using the M7200-5 set, or as some suggested using a four string ML set with the B string from the "M" set, or a different B string altogether?
Your post was from March, curious if you're happy with the results. Just bought a Stingray special, but Pressurewound are my #1
Thanks
Some time ago, I bought a set of Galli Jazz Flats on spec. After I watched a Flats comparison video (with a Stingray) that used Gallis? I put that set on my new Stingray Special 4HH, and called it a day. AFAIC, they ain't coming off until they are stone...cold...dead. At which time, they will be replaced with another set of Gallis. If I had your bass? a set of Galli's JF45130s would be just what the doctor ordered...
Sorry for the delay, been slammed. I am using the m2700 5 set, and have had the same set on since March. I love these strings, and they have aged well. Not totally dead yet, and still some decent highs. I have not found a need to use a different B string, it is fairly even to the E and A, so all is good. I love everything about the Ray, minus the potentially clanky nature and over brightness for my tastes. While some love that, I do not and the Pressurewounds have been a great way to increase bottom end (compared to rounds) while limiting the harshess inherent in the Ray, but still retain solid/decent highs and zing unlike flats or tapes. Also put them on my other basses and has gone well with all of them for my desired sound and feel. Peace
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Thanks, just the answer I was hoping for. I am putting Pressurewounds on my other 3 that are strung otherwise. I have them on a Fender PJ and love everything about them.
Thanks for posting these tension numbers from the M7200 and ML7200 PW sets, Michael. They look quite a bit different between sets. Interesting stuff.
I'm on my third set of M7200's, and I've "hoarded" 2 more sets of M7200s.
At first I was tempted to try the ML7200 set, but I've been so absolutely happy with the sound and feel of the M7200 set, I personally don't see any reason to experiment.
I do realize though that a lot of players play with a much lighter right hand plucking touch than I do. I'd also say my fretting hand is pretty strong.
However I know it's not a one size fits all when it comes to string tension. I understand that other folks require much lighter tension from their strings than I do.
The tension feel of the E, A, D, and G strings on the M7200 feel very, very similar to the GHS M3045 set and the D'Addario XL165 set to me.
My main bass wears the M7200 5-string set with and added .028 high C-string. For me, across the neck, these strings feel very balanced.
Well... Ordered the M7200-5 from Amazon. Received them an hour ago. Package was clearly an M7200 4 string set, and I verified the contents as such. Someone put a barcode label that said M7200-5 on the package, Ugh. Waiting until Thursday for the replacement set. I'll suffer with the EB Slinkies for a few more days
Pressurewounds on my Ray 34 sound good , way better than EB slinky's it came with.
To me PW sound nothing like flats or the chromes I use on other basses.
Flats have WAY more thump and solid bottom than PW.
Rounds sound anaemic compared to PW and opposite spectrum to flats.
To me PW sound nothing like flats or the chromes I use on other basses.
Flats have WAY more thump and solid bottom than PW.
Rounds sound anaemic compared to PW and opposite spectrum to flats.
My philosophy is that a Stingray is always going to sound great no matter what kind of strings it's wearing (except for steel roundwounds, which really are too zingy, even when broken in). So I use GHS pressurewounds on my Stingray simply because, of all the strings I've tried, they feel best under the fingertips.
