I wish I didn't swap string brands like socks!...

[bassist4dalord]

I love trying new strings. Strings are my favorite gear to purchase because they’re a relatively small investment that can drastically change the feel and tone of your bass.

If you gave me $500 I’d spend it on strings before I’d spend it on a bass.

 

[Tpi]

I suppose at this point I've settled into DRs. 30yrs ago I started with Boomers, went Blue Steel for a long time, wandered through Dadd's, EB's and likely a few others before finding DR however long ago now.

The only thing that sold me on DR was that I could get white for my white bass. I was happy to learn that I love the sound as well.

Recently got a set of DR BB's and love them just as much. I've got a frankenbass on the bench that will be going yellow, so is getting yellow DRs. It's a nice aesthetic touch on top of functionality.

Now, can DR be said to be this or that compared to others? Well, yes on this, no on that and perhaps middling on other points. All strings are different and each can be celebrated for their given characteristics they bring to each individual bass and player. I think I've found a home with DR.

That said, I just rec'd my first set of Optima 24ks which now await my primary bass to return from its first setup at the shop. From youtube, to my ears the Optimas sound similar to the DRs but are definitely just a bit warmer with a seemingly more enveloping presence -like being under a warm blanket as opposed to enshrouded in warmth by a blanket.

 

[secondbestcody]

My hands sweat a lot when playing, so I need to use coated strings, otherwise they go dead after a few hours. I used to use DR Black Beauties or Dragon Skins.

The Dragon Skins were awesome because one of my local shops sold 2 packs for $32, but then they ran out and didn’t carry them anymore. Now I’ve been using medium gauge Elixir’s in both nickel and stainless, they last a lot longer than the DR’s.

 

[Doug P]

I’m a Rotosound SS 66 player since the early 70’s. A Fender Jazz has always been pretty much my go to bass. Ric 4003 here and there. To get the sound, my rig and new strings make it happen, except when I step out and try something, anything….. but never the strings. I worked at a shop one holiday and with my discount I bought many sets of 66’s. And even when I found them on sale, I’d buy more. For I’ll say $15.00 USD average, I use new sets every show for sure. So trying new brands, most cost a bit more and to keep a new set on the three basses I use for shows, well again, I’m happy and I know what I’m getting every time. Sorry for the rambling, 3 espresso’s

 

[Dincrest]

I'm always GASing to try new strings. I call it string-pokemon "gotta try 'em all."

A part of me wants to achieve string brand loyalty, but despite my basses all being ESP/LTDs, they all seem to have different string preferences. It's all about finding the right strings for the bass, and I don't need to be brand loyal.

My F-205 is kicking butt with a set of LaBella Rx steels 40-118 (they're still zingy new so I want to see how they break in), but definitely prefers D'Addario ProSteels 40-125. I tried a set of Dunlop SuperBright steels 40-120 and my bass didn't like them. I feel like this bass has chosen its string and it's D'Addario ProSteels.

I'm still trying to find "the one" for my D-5. D'Addario XLs are decent. DR steel Lo-Riders give it a most aggressive metal tone but I play more than metal. I'm liking LaBella Rx nickels 40-118 so far, but I don't think they'll be "the one." They're still zingy new so I want to see how they break in. I want to try Rotosound RotoBass 40-125 on it next.

For something different I want to put flats on my HTB-600 4-string. As far as rounds go, it likes D'Addario balanced tension XLs. I'd like to try LaBella LTF 42-100 on it in the future.

So, yeah, the quest continues to find the right strings for each bass. The bass chooses the player, the string chooses the bass, the wand chooses the wizard.

 

[GTHintz]

Arrghhh...

Seems like every few months I'm changing string types.

At the beginning of the year, I was into the D'addario Pro Steels. However, I got interested in a more-in-the-middle between steels and nickels brought me to the NYXLs again (tried a couple of years ago).
So I got the NYXLs and started using them. Pretty much achieved what I was hoping for and I really like their long life.

However, early this week, I was playing a week-old set of the NYXLs and realized (through the headphones, then my small 210 combo kickback amp) that the B and E strings weren't, well, what I was used to. Not dead, but not very lively, especially with slap-style playing. Admittedly, I hardly play slap at all on gigs, but I still practice it because, well, I just like to.

This made me go "hmm...", then think back that I still had two sets of Pro Steels that I was about to give away (except that I can hardly give away new un-used strings because they are a little heavier than my other bass buddies use). So I put them on and yeah, there we go. Pro Steels are bright, but I seem to hear a little more warmth to them than other stainless steel strings I've tried. And yes, I'm loving the B and E strings with these strings. I put them on both my Jazz-style Lull and my Precision-style Lull. Same characteristics, much happier with the B and E strings.

All that to get to this point. I've been around the world with DRs, Dunlops, Ernie Balls, and other brands. Either the gauges were funky-feeling (how descriptive, I know!) or just didn't care for them. And Pro Steels come standard on Mike Lull basses. So hopefully, I'll stick with these for the foreseeable future.

Well ive tried almost every stainless string out there. It took that to be able to settle on strings i like and being able to match them with the right bass. I liked pro steels on my Warwick streamer but not on my Corvette. Being able to know what you're getting on strings and matching them to the bass is such a nice thing. It saves money and lots of time. I pretty much can get a bass and by the second set have a tone i like. Sometimes you can have a couple strings you can go to depending on what you want to sound like.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

I go on deep years long runs. The last half decade has been Chromes. Now I think the party is over.
I've got Slinkys on two of my basses and D'addario tapes on two of my basses. I'm down for another set of Slinkys.
I'm not gonna lie, my fingertips hurt like hell today. 3 solid hours of rounds last night. It's a whole different level of calluses that I haven't had in years.
For a decade I loved DR High beams. Then overnight I hated them, so noisy!
I kinda dig D'addario XLs.
I figure it's gonna take a month to build calluses for round wounds.

 

[crucislancer]

I've been a string swapping madman for a few years now. I think the last time I used one brand of strings for more than a year was when I was using Rotosounds for about a decade, and before that it was GHS Boomers. Since then, I've tried so many types:

GHS round code Boomers, Balanced Nickels
D'Addario XL nickels, Pro Steels, NYXLs, and Chromes
Fender 7250, 8250, and 9050
DR Hi-Beams, Dragon Skins, Black Beauties, Pure Blues
Ernie Ball Slinky NPS, Cobalt flats
Dunlop Super Brights
JustStrings bulk NPS rounds

And the most recent new set, Elixir SS coated rounds. I strung up my Lull M5 with them the other day, and so far I am impressed. We'll see how they do in the next few weeks.

I would love to just settle on a string and be done with it. The bulk strings from JustStrings are great, but they really don't suit the M5 as well as I hoped. They do better strung up on my Fenders, and sounds close to XLs or 7250s. Pro Steels, especially the 5 string set with the tapered B and E strings, are fantastic on the M5.