That about sums it up.
FWIW, I've settled on LaBella 760fl flats, and TI Superalloy rounds.
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I hate strings
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
FWIW, I've settled on LaBella 760fl flats, and TI Superalloy rounds.
I'd like to settle on strings that don't cost $40-50 a set!
I used to say that too, but I only replace them every 9-12 months anymore.
I'm in this same boat, but unlike Jimmy I've been able to get a nice fat tone out of my TI flats so that gives me a nice alternative to La Bella and Fender higher tension flats. The TIs don't have the same percussive thump as these two but their tone is so full (for me) that by adjusting my touch I'm enjoying enough "punch" that I can use them anyway.
One string set I've got in the box and haven't yet used but anxious to try is DR flats. I've read good reviews here and I'm hoping they might have the La Bella / Fender thump with less tension, more response, etc. Jimmy, maybe try a set of DRs?
I have...two different sets. Nice string but I wasn't knocked out by either set.
I don't hate strings. For the most part I have always used the same string: D'addario Chromes, I have them on over ten basses and have always been happy, I also have TI Jazz flats on two basses for a bouncier feel. My only gripe right now is I wish some one would make subcontra strings in flats, or at least lose the exposed core ends, those things can be a little hard to control at times.
As for DB strings........... Yeah............. I've done the same as you but I hated the Superflexible E and have settled on Jargar fortes.
As for DB strings........... Yeah............. I've done the same as you but I hated the Superflexible E and have settled on Jargar fortes.
Hmmmmm.... that's discouraging. I'm wondering if that pile of old strings next to my desk is ever going to stop growing.
I save all my old strings, and usually end up using them on strange projects............
I played a lot in the 70's and was always happy with light gauge Rotosound round wounds.
I all but quit playing for 29 years and just got back into it this year. I bought a new G&L Tribby L2000 that was strung with rounds. I just couldn't seem to get the zing out of my tone and still get a tone I was happy with, so I switched to TI jazz flats.
I've had the TI's on for about 3 months now. I *THINK* I really like them (I love the woody "thunk"), but sometimes I think not. I was playing my Ripper (strung with rounds) last night and found myself kind of missing the feel of rounds.
I'll stick with the TI's for a while, but when I get some spare cash I may experiment. Not sure which I'll go - all I know is that I like the feel of a light guage string without the overly bright sound that a lot of rounds have.
By the way, Jimmy, referring to your earlier thread about TI's - I haven't noticed that they have changed much at all tonally in the 3 months I've been playing them. I think they've gotta be broken in by now. I love the tone, I'm just not 100% sure about the feel, though.
I all but quit playing for 29 years and just got back into it this year. I bought a new G&L Tribby L2000 that was strung with rounds. I just couldn't seem to get the zing out of my tone and still get a tone I was happy with, so I switched to TI jazz flats.
I've had the TI's on for about 3 months now. I *THINK* I really like them (I love the woody "thunk"), but sometimes I think not. I was playing my Ripper (strung with rounds) last night and found myself kind of missing the feel of rounds.
I'll stick with the TI's for a while, but when I get some spare cash I may experiment. Not sure which I'll go - all I know is that I like the feel of a light guage string without the overly bright sound that a lot of rounds have.
By the way, Jimmy, referring to your earlier thread about TI's - I haven't noticed that they have changed much at all tonally in the 3 months I've been playing them. I think they've gotta be broken in by now. I love the tone, I'm just not 100% sure about the feel, though.
I played the trombone for 6 years and couldn't stand the spit anymore.
I have spent mucho dinero on strings in the past 4 years, settled on DR's fatbeams but curiosity will probably keep me looking for the best fit possible. Grass is always greener syndrome
I put some fat beams on my p-bass and really didn't care for them. I was thinking the midrange emphasis would be great for picking and such, but it just seems sorta muddy and bland...well, like you said, grass is greener
But on a positive note, I love the sound of my Elixirs on my SR500, really awesome strings for that bass
Feel wise the TI JFs are a odd string, they move more like DB strings but then considering TI's bread and butter IS DB strings.........
I've had them on one bass for I think 5 years and no real change after the third/fourth month, I have another bass that has a 10 year old set and the G is about gone.
Lord no.
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Stings are a necessary evil Jimmy. I'll bet the perfect long-lasting perfect sounding moderately priced strings are sitting in a dark secret vault right next to the 200 mpg carburetor.
Strings and dry cleaners have one thing in common: there are amazing differences in price from one provider to the other, but they are all pretty much selling the same thing.
In other words, I have found absolutely no advantage to buying expensive strings. I've settled on $15 Carvin nickels, which are really LaBella Slappers. Nothing works better for me, but nearly everything else is more expensive.
In other words, I have found absolutely no advantage to buying expensive strings. I've settled on $15 Carvin nickels, which are really LaBella Slappers. Nothing works better for me, but nearly everything else is more expensive.
TI SuperAlloys on the L2000 sound great. And they last a long time..... I've had mine on for well over six months. Not super zingy out of the pack..... settle in nicely, and stay that way for longer than any other rw string I've used.... even longer than Loriders.
I have TI JF's on my SB1, and they sound incredible. But I try not to think of them as a traditional flat.... the mids are just to sweet to think of them as traditional thumpers.
Jimmy... I'm still confused here on the Fender Flat thing... I have a set here that are brighter than any other flatwound I've tried (except for brand new chromes or rotos), and these things are like 12 years old.... on my jazz bass, they are extremely slappable.... even more so than the TIJF's.
Ljazz
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I have no clue, never seen one of these in real life and haven't even heard one (to my knowledge?) in a recording.
I hate strings too.
Put a set of DR Sunbeams on my Sterling and they're way too floppy. EB rounds I used to have were too clanky. And so on. I quit.
I use medium gauge flats, either Fender 9050's or D'Addario Chromes, more or less interchangibly. I like the increased tension as it allows me to play with a lower action and a lighter touch for my right (plucking) hand. I used light or extra light gauge roundwound strings for years, played with a high action and dug in plenty with my right hand. The result of all that abuse was tendinitis in my right arm. Playing with a lower action and a lighter touch has kept the tendinitis at bay.
I'm intrigued. I never thought of action as having much effect on how hard I pluck the strings. It does affect the fretting hand, but the plucking hand?
It doesn't really, it's the tension of the strings that he's talking about. A tighter string is going to take less of a dig with your right hand because it's, well, tighter.
Sure, if you have low action and play hard with the plucking hand you'll have a real buzzfest happening...the lighter/looser the strings are, the more buzz you'll get.
The thing I hate about strings is silk. I don't want silk on my strings and It is nigh impossible to find easy info(i.e. listed online in the description) on weather a string has silk or not.
