Help picking strings for my first 6 string

[Mr Ralph]

Bought my first 6 string. I have been mostly playing DB for the last few years.
Any recommendations as to what strings I should try. I play mostly Jazz/Blues and worship. The bass is beat and needs strings but I got it really cheap just to see how I like it.
Thanks

 

[michael_t]

Bought my first 6 string.

What make and model?

 

[Mr Ralph]

Dean Edge

 

[BassiklyAC]

I've used D'Addario light gauge for many years (in the pink package) and was always very happy with them. A brief experiment with DR Sunbeams was interesting but found the tension to be too soft and went back to the D'Addarios.

Quite recently I tried what's called either "Custom Light" or "Custom Gauge" from D'Addario in the green package and absolutely loved them. It blends light gauge D-G-C strings with medium gauge B-E-A and I have to say I was really knocked out. The fatter low strings had such a nice warm round tone and the top strings had the crisp high mids just where I needed it.

For the styles of music you play I think you'll dig em.

 

[zillo]

I use Labella Deep Talking Flats. They are flats for flats lovers, but if you like that sort of thing they are great. I play blues, folky Americana stuff, and jazz.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I use medium gauge GHS Pressurewounds. I buy the M7200 5-string set, and I buy a single .028 gauge C-string. IMO they sound and feel great, and they have an impressive lifespan. They also have a very versatile tone.

Here's a video GHS' Jon Moody posted on YouTube. This should give you an idea of how they sound.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

And to chime once more, I've also used:
D'Addario XLs
Fodera Nickel roundwounds
Infeld Superalloys

I have a pretty aggressive plucking hand, so I do better with strings that have high tension. The XLs had the highest tension, followed closely by the Fodera's.

IMO XLs are a great set of strings. They're very affordable, and really easy to find. They have a nice feel and a good sound.

IMO the Fodera's are also great strings. Surprisingly affordable, great sound, and a good long lifespan. They're use a round core, which felt a little odd to my fretting hand, but YMMV.

The Superalloys lacked the high tension that I prefer, but YMMV. They're not a cheap set to buy, but they have a really long lifespan. They also had a very balanced, full range tone.

 

[ElectricBass72]

I've had good luck with Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Roundwounds: .032 - .130
I've used these strings on a Ibanez SR506 on recordings over the past few months and they still sound clear in the highs and high mids.

I'm gonna try Dunlop Stainless Steel for 6-string when the Ernie Balls go dull.

 

[Mr Ralph]

Thank you for the replies. After getting this Bass all put back together I put some Dunlop Nickel Medium's on it. 30 to 130. I thought they felt rougher than I like so I tried Jimmy M's solution with the Eucerin. It smoothed them out a bit. I had to dump the Tapered 130 B as it would never tune and I did not have enough travel in the saddle to set the intonation so i moved the bridge back and still could not get it. It was also quite dead. I replaced it with a XL 125 better tone and perfect setup. Every other string set up very well.

I am still not happy with these strings the tone is good. Still think they are a bit on the rough side, the G and C do not seem to match the rest of the set although I am not sure how you get a 30 to sound like it goes with a 125. The tension or stiffness feels okay, softer would be okay but not stiffer. The strings really do not articulate the chords very well. Could be my technique sucks as well.

My goal with his bass is to try and play chords and like I said Jazz and Blues. I like to play the cello suites and such.
In corresponding with Jon from GHS he recommended Boomers. I have no experience with those. I was very curious about the Pressure wounds and especially the Fodera. How would the Pressure wound or Fodera compare smoothness and tension? I have a 4 string with the deep talking bass flats on it, which I like but not sure that is the right string for getting clear chord voicings. I was leaning toward the Fodera light set.
I also looked at the special XL set but was worried it may be a little rougher than I like. I also was curious about the balanced nickels.
Thanks input is appreciated, the string rabbit hole is a deep one.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I was very curious about the Pressure wounds and especially the Fodera. How would the Pressure wound or Fodera compare smoothness and tension? I have a 4 string with the deep talking bass flats on it, which I like but not sure that is the right string for getting clear chord voicings. I was leaning toward the Fodera light set.
I also looked at the special XL set but was worried it may be a little rougher than I like. I also was curious about the balanced nickels.
Thanks input is appreciated, the string rabbit hole is a deep one.

IMO the Pressurewounds have the smoother surface, due their outer wrap is oval shaped. But their surface isn't as smooth feeling as a flatwound string.

IMO the Fodera Nickels had a nice feeling surface for a roundwound string.

It's been a while since I've used D'Addario XLs, but I don't remember them having an overly rough feeling surface, possibly that's changed since I regularly used them.

As far as the Boomers are concerned, I've never noticed their surface feeling overly rough. When I was gigging regularly, I used XLs on one of my basses, and Boomers on the other. I don't remember there was a noticeable difference in surface feeling between the two brands, -or with Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys for that matter. The surface felt very similar to me on those three brands. IIRC, the Hybrid Slinkys may have had an ever-so-slightly rougher feeling surface, but not by a long shot. And along with this, I gigged a lot, so my calluses were probably really tough back then.


During that time, I strung my main gigging P-Bass with D'Addario Prosteels, and I definitely felt a difference in surface feeling with those. They felt quite a bit rougher than my usual brands.