Help me identify these strings!

[RoyHorn]

I recently bought a 64 Reissue Jazz Bass which sounded absolutely great, but when I changed strings to Ernie Ball Slinkys, it didn't sound so good anymore. I mean it's close, but the strings that came with the bass just have a thicker sound with better low end and mids. They look somewhat similar to Slinkys, but the wiring is thicker, which makes them feel grittier. Please check out the photos, I've added pics of the Slinkys that are strung on the bass atm as comparison.

 

[michael_t]

Can you do something?

Measure the length of the E string from the very end of the ball end to where the first taper is at the tuner end (= where the full winding ends).

Also, would you happen to have a caliper to measure the gauges of those old ones? E vs. E, the old one looks thicker to me.

Thanks.

 

[RoyHorn]

Thanks, it's 94,3 cm or 37,125 inches. IMO they are both 105s, but I don't have a caliper at home. The old strings maybe look thicker because of the thicker windings, but they look and feel like the same gauge to me.

 

[michael_t]

Thanks, it's 94,3 cm or 37,125 inches.

That's a very common winding length for "long scale" by most manufacturers.

So, we have roundwound strings with brass-colored ball ends and no silk... A little too generic for a positive ID so far.

I can only tell you what they're NOT... D'Addario, GHS, Rotosound or DR.

Assuming you got the bass used, any idea how old it might be?

 

[RoyHorn]

Yeah, I got the bass used, but I very much doubt these are the original strings. They still sound pretty fresh. Maybe the gritty feel is an indicator, they feel pretty much like Rotosounds, Ernie Ball and most other brands feel much smoother. But Rotosounds have that red coating, so I don't know.

 

[michael_t]

Yeah, I got the bass used, but I very much doubt these are the original strings. They still sound pretty fresh. Maybe the gritty feel is an indicator, they feel pretty much like Rotosounds, Ernie Ball and most other brands feel much smoother. But Rotosounds have that red coating, so I don't know.

Rotosound Roto Bass (nickel-plated steel roundwound) are the no-frill version of the Swing Bass 66 Nickels. The relatively generic look does point to the Roto Bass.

Roto Bass • Rotosound Music Strings

I was also going to suggest the Fender 7250M (NPS roundwound), but for them to have brass ball ends they have to be the original factory strings. The 7250M in retail packages come with color-coded ball ends similar to D'Addario.

Coming back to the winding length (ball end to taper), can you check to see how the A and the D on the old ones measure - whether they're the same length as the E, or possibly longer? Thanks.

 

[RoyHorn]

Actually the winding on the A string is a little shorter, on the D string it's a little longer, as seen in this picture:

 

[michael_t]

Actually the winding on the A string is a little shorter, on the D string it's a little longer, as seen in this picture:
View attachment 4659452

Minor differences like that don't really matter. This rules out La Bella as the brand as they would have the A and the D a whole inch longer (38") than the E (37").

 

[bararan]

So, we have roundwound strings with brass-colored ball ends and no silk... A little too generic for a positive ID so far.

I can only tell you what they're NOT... D'Addario, GHS, Rotosound or DR.

Not sure about other DR strings but sunbeams have brass-coloured ball ends and no silk.

 

[michael_t]

Not sure about other DR strings but sunbeams have brass-coloured ball ends and no silk.

DR "long scale" = 37.75" ball end to taper. The ones the OP is inquiring about don't match DR's spec for the winding length.

Besides, DR's roundwound strings in general are finer in texture than the EB Slinkys, not the other way around.

 

[RoyHorn]

Maybe the Rotosound Roto Bass are a good shout, but I've seen some pictures where they have colored ball ends.

 

[michael_t]

Maybe the Rotosound Roto Bass are a good shout, but I've seen some pictures where they have colored ball ends.

You know something... I completely forgot about the colored ball ends on Rotosound! Yes, the Roto Bass would have colored ball ends (red-blue-white-red).

Sorry for the oversight... My bad.

 

[antfarm]

The bass on the photos is a Chinese Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazz, I have one too.

If these are the stock strings, they are Fender USA Super Bass 7250ML, NPS, (.045, .065, .080, .100 Gauges). Fender Squier Classic Vibe Jazz Bass 60's Olympic White - Vintage & Modern Guitars

 

[FranF]

Yeah, I got the bass used, but I very much doubt these are the original strings. They still sound pretty fresh. Maybe the gritty feel is an indicator, they feel pretty much like Rotosounds, Ernie Ball and most other brands feel much smoother. But Rotosounds have that red coating, so I don't know.

They could indeed be Rotosounds. Their budget "Roto" 45 series has no red silk or colored balls. Very good strings too.

 

[Freddy T]

It looks like, in the side by side string photo, that the mystery strings have a much thicker wrapping wire, so you might check which string suppliers advertise that feature. The mystery string seems to also have a blue-ish color tone compared to the coppery color of the Slinky, not sure if that's a clue. I assume the Slinkys you put on are the regular nickle plated steel type, if so, and the tone is similar, then you can probably rule out all stainless steel strings which are characteristically brighter than nickel plated strings. Did you message the seller yet and ask if they know or if they can find out what string brand was on the instrument when they sold it? Sometimes it's possible they can find out for you.

 

[Leigh Semmens]

I'd say they are Bass strings, don't thank me, I'm helpful like that.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

That's a very common winding length for "long scale" by most manufacturers.

So, we have roundwound strings with brass-colored ball ends and no silk... A little too generic for a positive ID so far.

I can only tell you what they're NOT... D'Addario, GHS, Rotosound or DR.

Assuming you got the bass used, any idea how old it might be?

RB series Rotosounds lack silks, so they could be Rotosounds.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Maybe the Rotosound Roto Bass are a good shout, but I've seen some pictures where they have colored ball ends.

Mine do, yes

 

[michael_t]

you can probably rule out all stainless steel strings which are characteristically brighter than nickel plated strings.

It's actually the other way around. Nickel-plated steel is generally brighter and shinier than stainless steel, which is darker and duller in color.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Mine do, yes

Rotosound RB45, no silks but colored ball ends: