I bought a Stingray; what strings should I try?

[GIBrat51]

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?

My 4HH Stingray Special came from the factory with Nickel Regular Slinkys. I don't care overly much for rounds - for a variety of reasons - but Regular and Hybrid Slinkys are the rounds I use the most. However... there's a Youtube video of a guy demo'ing flats on a Stingray, and the ones he liked the best were Galli Jazz Flats. And, frankly, so did I. So, they're what my 4HH wears. They're what I would call "low-modern" flats; really good lows/low mids; good mids; useful-but-not-great highs. IMO, on the opposite end of the "Modern" flats spectrum from D'Addario Chromes or Cobalt Flats. Tension/stiffness is about the same as Fender 9050s (Which, IMO, would also work quite well on a Stingray 4HH). They broke in quickly; weren't grabby/sticky at all - for me, but I have very dry hands; and, they're slick as wet ice. Balanced tension? I don't know; frankly, I never pay much attention. Balanced tone? That I do pay attention to; I'd say the answer is "Yes". I like the Galli's a lot. Others here have had quality issues with them, apparently; I've had none... I'd say the Optima Chromes (also on this end of the tone spectrum) might be a good choice. I use them on my old aluminum-necked Kramer 450B to very good effect. Dogal's R44 Traditional Flats might also make you happy. I have them on a Gibson Thunderbird; very versatile strings on that monster.
If you decide to use rounds? Sorry; I got nothin'. Other than the nickel Slinkys, the only rounds I've used - and could tolerate - are GHS Bass Boomers and TI Jazz Rounds. I'm pretty much a flats guy - and have been for... well, longer than I care to think about...

 

[west al]

D'Addario ETB92 Nylons.