Is it okay to mix and match strings?

[JoshSmith]

I bought 2 single d'addario strings and 2 ernie ball power slinkys indvidually. Is this okay to do?

 

[Mystic Michael]

It's OK with me...

MM

 

[knuckle_head]

No guarantee that they will match perfectly in tone, but it'll certainly work.

 

[BioWeapon]

No guarantee that they will match perfectly in tone, but it'll certainly work.

This, AND, tension might feel off between the two brands. Different construction 'n' stuff.

 

[BeowulfKingsley]

It's all OK. Hey, The Beatles used to cut strings out of the house pianos in Germany to put on the bass...

 

[SidMau]

I know upright jazzers did it all the time, it was practically a rule. Many still do. But you will have to experiment with multiple brands, gauges, materials, construction, etc... Until you get the right mix

 

[LowBC]

Turn up your amp a a little, and you'll be fine.

good luck!

 

[iiipopes]

G strings tend to twang, so when I needed a new G string on my half-fanned fret P/J, even though the A & D Fender Flats were fine, I selected a GHS Precision flat in the same gauge, which the slightly darker tone matches very well. Then the E string went thumpy, but I didn't want to change the entire set, so I got an Ernie Ball 105 flat, which has a similar mid growl to the tone, just not as pronounced as the Fenders when new. Everyone thinks the bass sounds great.

 

[BaitPhish]

Its okay if you like it! Dont worry what other people think. Its all about YOUR sound man.

 

[remainthesame]

No its not ok. you must never mix strings together because science and stuff. just like a 410 with a 115. it causes bad things to happen.

Oh wait, i thought this was the misinformation thread.





for those who cant tell, im joking.

 

[groooooove]

it's normal for DB players.

i can't see and reason to on electric bass, but if you find a reason to prefer it... go ahead.

 

[BawanaRik]

I bought 2 single d'addario strings and 2 ernie ball power slinkys indvidually. Is this okay to do?

Go ahead. You have my permission

 

[Jon Moody]

I know upright jazzers did it all the time, it was practically a rule. Many still do. But you will have to experiment with multiple brands, gauges, materials, construction, etc... Until you get the right mix

Yeah, classical and jazz players do this on a regular basis. It's pretty rare to find a classical instrument with a complete set of one brand/type of string on it.

To the OP, give it a go. The worst that can happen is you find something you don't like.

 

[porterbass]

Flamenco and classical guitarists do it all the time with nylon strings. Part of the crazy, oops, I mean fun, is finding the combination that works for that "sound in your head".

 

[bass geetarist]

I actually have a couple boxes of my old band's unsold CDs. I'm pretty sure the reason they didn't sell is because I mixed strings. Just sayin...

 

[unclebass]

Put em on and try em out. If they sound good, play on. If not, decide which you prefer and replace the others. FWIW I bought a set of Curt Mangan strings, 30, 50, 70, 90, 125. EADG strings way too light for me, replaced them with 45-105 D'Addarios and left the B string. They sound fine. However when I replace them again, I will go back to a single brand set.

 

[Turxile]

I had an emergency and put a Sunbeams B while the rest of the strings were broken in. One would expect a huge difference between rounds and flats, but it worked.
Used it for a rehearsal, and within the mix even I didn't hear much difference.
So yes it can be done.

 

[Jeff K]

Yeah, it's okay to mix strings, as long as you play them through mixed cabinets. The TalkBass guys LOVE it when you mix cabs...