Had a string intervention today...what strings for metal?

[SharpCat]

My buddy got a bass and has been working on learning metal bass lines for the last few months. I came by his house today and he was still using the factory strings (Specs just say NPS 45-105. It's a Jackson Dave Ellefson model.) Deader than a doornail, and not in a good way. I made him install SS Roto 66s I had given him to try a month ago. Remember: Friends don't let friends play dead factory strings. Unless they sound really good. But these didn't.

100% better tone with the 66s.

Followup question--what should I steer him towards for a good metal (Megadeth, etc) tone for next time? Thanks! Not really a genre I track.

 

[MrAB4003]

The 66s work just fine! Cliff Burton used Rotosound Funkmasters, which are really light gauge 66s.

However, I prefer either Rotosound 55s or La Bella White Nylon Tapes. I used both sets on my most recent album (click on my SoundCloud link to hear the strings in action), which is a metal album.

 

[Stan_da_man]

You use tapewounds for metal?

Steels all the way. Roto 66, Prosteels, DR Hi-Beam.

 

[themickster]

My buddy got a bass and has been working on learning metal bass lines for the last few months. I came by his house today and he was still using the factory strings (Specs just say NPS 45-105. It's a Jackson Dave Ellefson model.) Deader than a doornail, and not in a good way. I made him install SS Roto 66s I had given him to try a month ago. Remember: Friends don't let friends play dead factory strings. Unless they sound really good. But these didn't.

100% better tone with the 66s.

Followup question--what should I steer him towards for a good metal (Megadeth, etc) tone for next time? Thanks! Not really a genre I track.

Get a set of Whatevers

 

[MrAB4003]

You use tapewounds for metal?

Steels all the way. Roto 66, Prosteels, DR Hi-Beam.

Yeah, specifically the La Bella Whites. They're technically SS rounds covered by clear tape, so they retain the brightness of an SS round, but without the harsh overtones or roughness to the touch. They sound incredible with distortion! I also use Rotosound 55s, which are SS pressurewounds, for metal.

If you're wondering, I tried the La Bella Gold Whites and Blacks and they didn't sound right (as you might expect haha!).

 

[Nightsprinter]

DR Dragon Skin.

 

[StayLow]

The Ellefson signature strings are inexpensive on Amazon, made by S.I.T. so great quality, and presumably ideal for Megadeth.

They’re said to be above medium tension though, which is well suited for the sound and pick playing but might fatigue a newbie player.

When I played Megadeth covers I used any stainless strings and played fingerstyle, but nickel would’ve been fine too. EQ exists.

 

[kyral210]

The strings are less import than you think. Just a set of new round wounds is enough.

For metal bass, this is the typical effects chain.

• Tuner (needs to be in tune)
• Compressor (sound better)
• DI Preamp (the real tone secret)

Get those right (I’ve linked my budget favourites) and any strings will work. After all, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath use flatwounds!

 

[WillyW]

 

[SharpCat]

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The different colors all have the same tone, right? I have a set of Neon Green I didn't care for--maybe I'll send them his way.

 

[kyral210]

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That’s one awesome Thunderbird! Did you refinish it yourself?

 

[GTHintz]

Rotos are a very unique steel string. If you like them you should keep using them. If you want something a little different there's definitely options. The closest to rotos would be Dean Markley Blue Steel or DR lo riders. There's also Dunlop stainless as well as Marcus Miller signature that are good. Labella rx is also good. There are plenty of great string choices. I like all those depending on the bass. Blue steels on my Warwick Corvette, Dunlop or labella on my Ibanez SR. I'm trying DR fat beams on my Warwick streamer and they are pretty nice too. Less bright than the others I mentioned but they have a nice thick growly tone as well.

 

[SharpCat]

I really hate the feel of Roto 66s, but my buddy is a happy camper, so there you go.

DR Nickel Low Riders I quite liked, but SS, not as much. I have a set of SIT PowerSteels kicking around--I think I'll send them his way.

 

[GTHintz]

I really hate the feel of Roto 66s, but my buddy is a happy camper, so there you go.

DR Nickel Low Riders I quite liked, but SS, not as much. I have a set of SIT PowerSteels kicking around--I think I'll send them his way.

I tried power steel and they are fine. Not the most exciting for me but they are good strings.

 

[MrAB4003]

Yeah, specifically the La Bella Whites. They're technically SS rounds covered by clear tape, so they retain the brightness of an SS round, but without the harsh overtones or roughness to the touch. They sound incredible with distortion! I also use Rotosound 55s, which are SS pressurewounds, for metal.

If you're wondering, I tried the La Bella Gold Whites and Blacks and they didn't sound right (as you might expect haha!).

Update - I have switched the White tapes to D'Addario Nickel rounds. They're just as soft to the touch as the tapes, but with more tension and clank.

 

[Root 5]

Stainless steel rounds

 

[GTHintz]

Update - I have switched the White tapes to D'Addario Nickel rounds. They're just as soft to the touch as the tapes, but with more tension and clank.

Diaddario strings all have more clank than Labella. You have more options in the Diaddario camp but the Labella roundwounds are much better than most people give them credit for. The reason I prefer the roundwounds to Diaddario is because the tone is more full bodied. I do like the Diaddario clank and biting tone but I find that there's more thickness behind Labella RX tone