Initial Thoughts on EB Regular Slinky 5 string

[Big Benner]

Initial Thoughts on Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 5 string set

$27.99 @ local music store in Vancouver, Canada (Long & McQuade) on Fri., Sept. 5, 2014.

Bass is an EB MM Sting Ray 5 and I'm taking off a 3 month old set of D'Addario EXL170-5's. Plugged into a BOSS TU-2 Tuner pedal into a Markbass CMP102 with amp & bass EQ set flat (as usual).

- not super bright, not dark or "dead" but just not super "crystal" or "sparkly" bright, especially for slapping (considering these are brand new strings).

- good finger funk tone, nice midrange ballance.

- extremely, extremly well balanced from string to string, especially the low B - it sounds like the rest of the strings (it sounds like the Low B is one of the same strings as the rest of the set, I say this because sometimes I find that the Low B has a differnt sound & fell from the rest of the strings).

- again, extremely well balanced up and down the fret board from string to string with no tech adjustments (truss rod, bridge, etc.), it's as though these strings were made for this bass.

Excited to have 2x differnt band rehearsals this week.

Cheers, hope this helps somebody,

Benner

 

[JustForSport]

Great review-
I haven't tried EB Slinkys yet, and the point you made about the B string being 'part of the set' is a big plus.
I know what you mean about the B ((and sometimes the E) sounding like it's from a diif type string set with some makes.
Thanks for the review- gonna try a set.

 

[Double Agent]

I have used regular Slinkys many times in the past and felt they were decent, but unremarkable strings. Always stuck with DRs and La Bellas. However, my recently acquired SR5 came loaded with regular Slinkys and I love them on this bass. Can't see myself switching to anything different, they work perfectly together.

 

[Baird6869]

I used to buy these all the time as they are pretty cheap in Canada. I just found that they die very quickly. Not a slow and agonizing death to say the least. I would get 3-4 weeks out of a set max.

Without buying online, it is tough to get a good variety of strings in Canada from anyone other than EB, DAddario, GHS, Roto and Dean Markley though.

If they last for you, cool. They sell tons of them, so some people must love them!

 

[LowEndBuzz]

I need to re string my Ibby sr905. What is the tension like on the EB Slinky's ? I bought the bass off of CL and don't know what strings are currently on it. I like the tone but they seem kind of flappy.

 

[Mastermold]

I used to buy these all the time as they are pretty cheap in Canada. I just found that they die very quickly. Not a slow and agonizing death to say the least. I would get 3-4 weeks out of a set max.

Without buying online, it is tough to get a good variety of strings in Canada from anyone other than EB, DAddario, GHS, Roto and Dean Markley though.

If they last for you, cool. They sell tons of them, so some people must love them!

The new SR5 I bought new last year came with EB Slinkys (of course) and I was able to get at least 6 months out them before changing (to D'Addario EXL170-5s which are still on the bass). But I like how broken in nickel strings sound and I'm also playing a lot of different basses so the strings weren't getting worked out for hours every day. For me, I really didn't notice much if any difference between them and the D'Addarios. Both are the same gauge set and seem pretty comparable in feel and tone. I'm fine with either set.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

That's what I use on all my basses when I don't use flats and I agree with your review. They are well balanced, feel great, don't get too dark and mid thumpy when aging unlike D'Addario XL's which become horrendous after a month. Best of all they are cheap. I tried countless bass string sets and came full circle with those Slinkies. I get the best price buying them from Bassstringonline.

 

[joebar]

they work best on EBMM basses much in the way that fender strings seem to work well with fender basses IME.
I like them

 

[5 B LOW]

Might I add the fact that they are American made.

 

[tom-g]

Might I add the fact that they are American made.

Which nowadays is a good reason not to buy them.