Giving Pro Steels a try...

[paco weht]

I used d'addario nickels or NYCs on my 73 jazz. One day I needed to change strings and in the store they only had prosteels. I bought them, not very happy really.
Playing at home the feel is rougher and the sound too bright for my taste. But in a band setting the bass sings, and I can dig in more so the feel is more flexible, if that makes sense.
I think my bass likes them better, so I just enjoy the way they match.

 

[paco weht]

Oh and they last, for sure

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Hey All,
I've got a set of Spector/LaBella Strings on my Spector Euro but I think they are too tame? More in the "balanced and warm" category nickel wound. Sort of middle of the road tension with a decent feel. About as smooth as D'Addario XL's? But much less twang.
I tried a set of Pro Steels years ago and honestly can't remember what they were like? I vaguely recall the feel being somewhat rougher than my favorite Rotosound Swing Bass 66's if you can believe that? I found a set for a great price and since I already have Rotos on my X-Mas list I figured why not?
Any Pro Steel users out there?
Happy Holidays,
Brent

My experience with Pro Steels were them sounding a bit mid-scooped. Not a whole lot of longevity either. Try Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. Awesome feel and tone... and they should last you a good amount of time.

 

[fretlessguy]

I have found Pro Steels to be the finest stainless set around. I am not using them these days, but I would use them again if the opportunity arises.

 

[bassist4dalord]

I've had good experiences with ProSteels. I'll probably try them again sometime. I've had them on a Jazz Bass, a P-Bass and a humbucker Schecter bass and they've always done well for me. Now that I have a SBMM Ray5 I've landed on DR Pure Blues and have a stockpile (read: two unopened sets) that will last me until the end of next year.

I'm not sure how ProSteels would be on a Ray5 but maybe I'll find out someday. I'm sure you'll like them! If you don't they're a relatively low-cost experiment. Enjoy!

 

[Aldo Sanchez]

I used them on a SR5 HH. They were too harsh and bright for my taste (kept the treble pot fully dimmed and it was still way too bright). Switched to DR Pure Blues, better mids and not so harsh and clanky.

 

[baxter_x]

I used them on a SR5 HH. They were too harsh and bright for my taste (kept the treble pot fully dimmed and it was still way too bright). Switched to DR Pure Blues, better mids and not so harsh and clanky.

Yes, if you don't enjoy clean/bright tone, they are not the strings you'd want to play

 

[BrentSimons]

Strange, I always found them a bit smoother than Roto's, Prosteels are good strings, last a relatively long time, bright tone, only thing potentially wrong with them is that you have to expect to lose a chunk of your midrange as they are bright but they have a hefty scoop on the midrange so if you like a lot of mids they won't be for you

Yes I've used DR Hi Beams in the past and they have a large mid scoop as well.
Thank you,
Brent

 

[4StringTheorist]

Yes. I find them far more expressive and nuanced that RS66, they get better for longer as they age, and they sound more balanced across the set. Of course they can take your face off if you dig in, but even then, for my money, they still have a more 'musical' character that the unruly angst of the RS66.

YMMV

That is an absolute **chef kiss** summation of the Prosteels and the Roto 66s to me.

 

[BrentSimons]

Strange, I always found them a bit smoother than Roto's, Prosteels are good strings, last a relatively long time, bright tone, only thing potentially wrong with them is that you have to expect to lose a chunk of your midrange as they are bright but they have a hefty scoop on the midrange so if you like a lot of mids they won't be for you

+ 1 on DR-Lo Riders. I’ve been using them for almost 15 years now. Might be a little too refined for some however.

To be honest I thought they were a little polite and It's not that they lack grit or attack but for some reason they are so smooth that you almost think they are too smooth sounding. If you can picture what I'm saying. Still they are really nice and I'll play them over lots of things. Funny thing is if you have a fender jazz or p bass I feel like it's well suited to that. For like a Spector or Warwick I feel like they are so clean sounding that it's almost too much. I noticed that with my Warwick bass. Double humbuckers. I found that it likes to have some extra flavor due to how thick but clear the mec pickups are. Emg isn't as clear in my opinion so I feel like you can run cleaner strings and it'll work. I tried hi beams and I like everything about them on the Warwick but there was just a little something missing. Just minor overtones that the right string will bring out.

I think we agree on these. You call them polite, I call them refined. I do have. Fender as well as a Warwick. Trust me. I get what your are saying and agree 100%.

good post.

Just trying to share my experience. All the cash spent on strings isn't totally in vain since I can at least share the experience gained.

I picked up a set of Lo Riders years ago and remember them feeling somewhat like Rotosounds but having a much different tone? As you say more refined. I may have to circle back and pick up another set at some point.
So many strings and too little $$$!

 

[BrentSimons]

Tried em. Rougher on the fingers than my beloved HiBeams. Didn't have the same MOJO either. Went back to my DRs. But that's just one hacks opinion.

No i agree with you from what I recall. DR Hi Beams are some of the smoothest stainless steels I've ever tried.

 

[Geri O]

I've had good experiences with ProSteels. I'll probably try them again sometime. I've had them on a Jazz Bass, a P-Bass and a humbucker Schecter bass and they've always done well for me. Now that I have a SBMM Ray5 I've landed on DR Pure Blues and have a stockpile (read: two unopened sets) that will last me until the end of next year.

I'm not sure how ProSteels would be on a Ray5 but maybe I'll find out someday. I'm sure you'll like them! If you don't they're a relatively low-cost experiment. Enjoy!

Last weekend, I (apparently) bought the last two sets in town. I wound have bought 3 sets if they had been around.
With what I was able to buy locally, I put them on my two Mike Lulls. When my FretNation order comes in, I’ll have a set for my Stingray SR5, so I’ll be able to get back on that hopefully next week!

 

[GTHintz]

I picked up a set of Lo Riders years ago and remember them feeling somewhat like Rotosounds but having a much different tone? As you say more refined. I may have to circle back and pick up another set at some point.
So many strings and too little $$$!

They will be very close in feel to rotos but you'll find that they are just a bit smoother and the overtones will be much more clean. I played a set and they lasted a good while and the bass worked well with them. Depending if you have emg and a haz preamp or something like bartolini it's either going to balance out well or it'll be a little too clear to the point it sounds sterile and lacking something. I have a bass with emg pickups and pre and it seems like it'll work for lo riders. You won't know till you try. But from my experience and taste I found that I prefer Ken Smith strings just a bit over Dr. They have just a little bit of character but still very clear compared to heavy scooped steels. If you try lo riders and think it's too clean you'll probably really dig Ken Smith.

 

[GTHintz]

Fodera strings, first impression
This thread is something you might want to read through. This guy is a Warwick thumb player. Me and this gentleman went back and forth about strings and there may be some value in his sound demos he posted. He was looking at all sorts of steels for his bass.

 

[michael_t]

Fodera strings, first impression
This thread is something you might want to read through. This guy is a Warwick thumb player. Me and this gentleman went back and forth about strings and there may be some value in his sound demos he posted. He was looking at all sorts of steels for his bass.

Here's the link for the thread:

Fodera strings, first impression

 

[GTHintz]

Here's the link for the thread:

Fodera strings, first impression

Thanks Michael!!! I couldn't find a way to post the link.

 

[eriky4003]

Thats weird.... It seems to me extremely short. Mine can last at very least 6 to 8 months.

I'll blame the weather/humidity etc. as my daughter would take the bass once a week to school and carry it back in the soft case the same day. She probably didn't wipe down her strings after playing and likely didn't wash her hands before playing either. When the bass was home, it was left out of the case, as well.

 

[baxter_x]

I'll blame the weather/humidity etc. as my daughter would take the bass once a week to school and carry it back in the soft case the same day. She probably didn't wipe down her strings after playing and likely didn't wash her hands before playing either. When the bass was home, it was left out of the case, as well.

There must be something indeed. However I don't take of my strings at all, and they last for months!

 

[BrentSimons]

They will be very close in feel to rotos but you'll find that they are just a bit smoother and the overtones will be much more clean. I played a set and they lasted a good while and the bass worked well with them. Depending if you have emg and a haz preamp or something like bartolini it's either going to balance out well or it'll be a little too clear to the point it sounds sterile and lacking something. I have a bass with emg pickups and pre and it seems like it'll work for lo riders. You won't know till you try. But from my experience and taste I found that I prefer Ken Smith strings just a bit over Dr. They have just a little bit of character but still very clear compared to heavy scooped steels. If you try lo riders and think it's too clean you'll probably really dig Ken Smith.

Found some Rock Masters on sale. Stay tuned!

 

[GTHintz]

I'll have to check it out too. I only have my old worn in set for emergencies. I could use a fresh pack of strings. What's nice is since they aren't as well known on the string market they can go online for real cheap. The first set I got was like 10$ for a set of 4string on ebay.