I bought a Stingray; what strings should I try?

[JazzyJacuzzi]

I purchased a four-string Stingray Special HH this morning and I was wondering what strings to try.

I've spent the last decade playing passive Fenders, so I've no idea where to start on such an instrument. My favourite strings on Precisions were La Bella's Deep Talkin' 760FL. I never found anything I absolutely loved on Jazzes, but I was playing DR Sunbeams recently. I did play TI Jazz Flatwounds for a while on both basses. I loved the tension, but preferred the thumpy La Bellas for the Precision and wanted roundwounds for the Jazz.


I don't have a tone in mind. I'm open to anything, but FWIW, I play pop, dance and rock with my band and I'm learning jazz at home. Something not too trebly, maybe? I do like the tone Joe Dart is getting with his signature Stringray strung with Slinky Flatwounds. I think I'd like to go for roundwounds since the Stingray will be only bass, maybe flatwounds?

What are you using with your Stingray?

 

[GwenOnBass]

Using GHS Brite Flats



and very happy with them

 

[Tanner5382]

In my MusicMan playing days, I liked DR Hi-Beams and D'Addario XL Nickels the best.

 

[matti777]

I'm confused...did you want round or flats? If it was mine I would start with a nickel round wounds like D'Addario XLs.

 

[FunkHead]

Slinky's

 

[JazzyJacuzzi]

I'm confused...did you want round or flats? If it was mine I would start with a nickel round wounds like D'Addario XLs.

Opened to either, but I think rounds would be a wiser choice since it'll be my only bass.

 

[matti777]

If this is like any other thread you should get a flurry of various recommendations I also like Labella

 

[Dan_reeves]

Labella 760FLs and DR Sunbeams are my two favs! I have the Labella's on my Stingray currently and they sound great. The Sunbeams honestly sound good too, so it's more what general tone you are looking for but I like both. Currently my mood is a lot of pick playing, and the DTFs, Ray and pick are a great sound. Good luck!

PS - I have also found EB Slinkies to sound good on Rays as well, but haven't played them in a while.

 

[Lo-E]

For years I strung two Rays with D'Aquisto nickel rounds. When D'Aquisto went bust I switched to D'Addario XLs after trying several other options. I think they're a good all-around string.

 

[Wood and Wire]

I always think that StingRays sound great with the Super Slinkys they're born wearing.

That said, I always end up with Rotosound 66's on everything.

 

[mrjim123]

If this is like any other thread you should get a flurry of various recommendations I also like Labella

+1. What you're gonna get is a list of everyone's favorites, which will have very little correlation to what YOU want to hear. So, I won't even bother to list mine.

 

[Yahboy]

Some EB forum bassist prefer DR Lo rider nickel.

If you are a aggressive pick player, try EB Cobalt flat 50-105 .

 

[g-dude]

TI Super Alloys will sound very nice.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

42.

 

[Killing Floor]

DR Hi Beams. Make your Ray sound like a Ray.

= happiness.

Edit to say I went through many years changing the strings on mine about weekly. I've tried too many to count. And DR Hi Beams are the winner for me. I am a firm believer that you will be stricken from the book of life if you put flats on a Ray. But I am also a firm believer that strings are a personal choice.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

I always think that StingRays sound great with the Super Slinkys they're born wearing.

That said, I always end up with Rotosound 66's on everything.

I swapped my swing bass strings for Roto Nexus blacks purely for looks and am pleasantly surprised by them. Like a 66 but less raspy. I kept the 66s.

 

[r_bnks]

 

[dave64o]

My top 3 string choices on my Stingray are:
1) DR Nickel Lo Riders
2) D'Addario Chrome Flats
3) GHS Pressurewounds

Honorable Mention goes to DR Stainless Steel Lo Riders. They sound fantastic on a Stingray, but that's not a sound I need for what I play right now.

 

[JazzyJacuzzi]

If this is like any other thread you should get a flurry of various recommendations I also like Labella

Labella 760FLs and DR Sunbeams are my two favs! I have the Labella's on my Stingray currently and they sound great. The Sunbeams honestly sound good too, so it's more what general tone you are looking for but I like both. Currently my mood is a lot of pick playing, and the DTFs, Ray and pick are a great sound. Good luck!

PS - I have also found EB Slinkies to sound good on Rays as well, but haven't played them in a while.

Are you saying you like La Bellas on Stingrays or just in general? I loved them on my Precisions, but I remember them sounding hollow (as in mid-scoop) on my Jazzes. I suppose, though, the Stingray is a mid-forward bass and it has a mid control.

DR Hi Beams. Make your Ray sound like a Ray.

= happiness.

Edit to say I went through many years changing the strings on mine about weekly. I've tried too many to count. And DR Hi Beams are the winner for me. I am a firm believer that you will be stricken from the book of life if you put flats on a Ray. But I am also a firm believer that strings are a personal choice.

Have you tried the Sunbeams as well?

 

[bassist4dalord]

I just got my first StingRay (SBMM Ray5) and I started with my favorite rounds- DR Pure Blues. I liked the first set so much I stocked up with two more sets during Fretnation's Black Friday deal. I'm set for a long time!

Low tension, smooth, broken-in feel with the sound of near-new SS rounds. Very happy with them.