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I am a string slut!

#24
I used to buy a new brand or model of string every time I changed the strings on my basses (usually changed every 2-3 weeks, cause I played quite regularly), so tried a ton of strings back then. I found that I really liked the sound of DR Marcus Miller signature strings, but once I got my EBMM Bongos, they kept slipping in the machine heads. Before the MM signatures, I used to get Rotosound 66s (Steel and Nickel, depending on the tone I wanted), so I went back to them and ended up liking them better on the Bongos than the MM sigs. Ever since, I haven't used strings other than the Rotos and Marcus Millers (on anything that's not a Bongo).
 
#25
saxnbass said:
I used to buy a new brand or model of string every time I changed the strings on my basses (usually changed every 2-3 weeks, cause I played quite regularly), so tried a ton of strings back then. I found that I really liked the sound of DR Marcus Miller signature strings, but once I got my EBMM Bongos, they kept slipping in the machine heads. Before the MM signatures, I used to get Rotosound 66s (Steel and Nickel, depending on the tone I wanted), so I went back to them and ended up liking them better on the Bongos than the MM sigs. Ever since, I haven't used strings other than the Rotos and Marcus Millers (on anything that's not a Bongo).
Click to expand...

I hear you, brother.

DR Sunbeams are the ONLY strings I've ever bought more than once. I've got 3 basses in my rotation and each likes different strings. I thought Sunbeams were it for my Brubaker Brute and then I went and changed pickups and found the Sunbeams too dark now. Great. Start all over again! It's actually wearing FatBeams right now (after trying Rotos, Black Beauties, and Nickel Lo Riders)and they sound fantastic. I want to still try Elixirs, though. I have an Elixer .130 left over and I put it on there just to see what happened, and it's the brightest B string I've found. I'm hoping the rest of the strings are that bright because I like the slippery feel. But I'll wait until the FatBeams are worn out, they just sound too good :)

Sunbeams still go on my main player which edged out Circle K's.

I have a set of RotoSound Rotobass 40's on my Warwick Streamer...best strings I've ever had on it. $13 a set. Go figure.
 
#27
I think I would conceder myself a "string slut" as well. Especially when it comes to my main player, my jazz bass. I had chromes (45-100) on for a year (tried rotosound 77 flats in two different gauges) and before that stuck mostly too d'addario XL's and DR sunbeams before that. Recently I have gone DR nickel lo-riders, back to chromes, to D'addario XLs, to chromes (50-105), to DR sunbeams (just this past weekend) and last night put on a set of chromes 40-100 that I had from last christmas that I hadn't opened yet. I have the 50-105 chromes on a p bass copy and like that just how it is. I think after enough tries and wasted money it's safe to say I prefer flats over rounds. I think I like lighter gauge chromes on the jazz. I get some of the snap I like about rounds but everything else about flats.

So the short answer is, you're not alone.
 
#28
I love the idea of flats even though I have always used rounds. I like the nickel lo riders I'm using now enough to not change them, but I have a set of 45-100 chromes coming in the mail so I will put them on just to be sure. My complaint with flats is the lack of brightness but the chromes are bright for flats and I like the midrange they produce on my MM Sterling. And they feel so damn good...

I do think I will "settle down" soon, but I ain't making any promises!
 
#29
I will consider myself a string slut as well. Well, it was short-lived for some of my basses. My T-40 will probably have Chromes on it until I die. Two of my basses will always have Circle K on them due to their lower tunings.

I'm still experimenting with my Yamaha (RBX765A). I really like have LaBella black nylons for EADG then having another string for the B. I might try to get a five-string set and see what happens. I'm really pleased with how they sound on that bass. They can be thumpy if I play gently, have a nice little growl if I play normally, and if I really dig in they're crunchy as hell.

When I get my P-bass from Dan, I'm pretty sure it's going to take me a year to find my strings. I'm already trying to narrow it down based on videoclips, but it's not helping me. You don't want to see the list of strings I want to try on it. :(
 
#30
Rotosound swingbass and their flatwounds are solid strings. Those are the only ones I will use since I first tried them two years ago. Once I purchase my Brute I'm using swing strings on it(round wound) and then stringing up my Schecter stiletto neck thru with their flatwounds. That should be enough for me.
 
#32
The slutiness is going to end soon. The sound of the DR Lo Rider nickels is perfect but my current band has me playing a lot of chords and the string tension is killing me. Going to try some .45 Sunbeams and also try replacing the D/G strings with light guage Lo Riders to see if that helps. Regardless I am pretty sure I will end up staying with Sunbeams or Nickel Lo Riders. Of course the divorce rate is pretty high these days...
 
#33
Why not try some lighter gauge Nickel Lo-Riders?

Off the shelf:
Lite-Lite: .040 .060 .075 .095
Lite: .040 .060 .080 .100
Medium-Lite: .045 .065 .080 .100
Medium: .045 .065 .085 .105

And you can add a High C or Low B to any of them if you play a multi set...
 
#34
mmbongo said:
If you're OCD about strings, stay away from Welcome to Bass Strings Online - Your Custom Bass String Shop... !!!

Not only does he have the best prices...
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Well, no, he doesn't have the best prices. Elderly generally does.

madbassplaya said:
Let me know how those Pressure Wounds work for you. Jason says they're one of his favorite strings. I haven't bitten the bullet yet, but I am considering some for sure.
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I have a set, and they're okay. They are pretty much right in between rounds and flats, sonically (duh, right?), and play easy. They are also gentle on the fingers. They aren't the sound I'm looking for, though. I keep bouncing between Chromes and Sunbeams.
 
#36
I'm so NON-OCD about strings that the strings on this bass were installed in 1972 and I have never changed them. They sound fine to me. I have one bass with 10-year-old rounds, some with 6 year old flats, etc.

P-bass.jpg


The only thing I don't like is the sound of new strings. They all have to settle in for a few months to sound good as far as I'm concerned.
 
#38
SLaPiNFuNK said:
Why not try some lighter gauge Nickel Lo-Riders?

Off the shelf:
Lite-Lite: .040 .060 .075 .095
Lite: .040 .060 .080 .100
Medium-Lite: .045 .065 .080 .100
Medium: .045 .065 .085 .105

And you can add a High C or Low B to any of them if you play a multi set...
Click to expand...

Well I like the tension of the Nickel Lo Riders, just not for chords, so I want to keep the thicker E and A strings because most of the chording I do is on the D and G strings with just a small amount involving the A and pretty much none involving the E. If I do not like the 40/60/85/105 Nickel Lo Riders set-up or the medium light Sunbeams I might try the 40-100 Nickels.
 
#39
tekdiver500ft said:
Well, no, he doesn't have the best prices. Elderly generally does.
Click to expand...

Jason will handily beat their prices, just ask. As long as the strings at Elderly are not marked down because they are 'old', which they do all the time. I used to buy old strings from them because they were so cheap. Strings are fine, but the packages are destroyed/covered in dust/outdated.

Just ask. He'll beat Elderly's price, plus Elderly does not give you the option to put together custom gauges.
 

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