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I'snt it funny...

bobm2112

bobm2112

Aug 22, 2007
645
20
Jersey Shore Exit 74
#1
...How loyal we are as a bass player to a certain brand of strings. We spend our whole lives buying and trading and searching for "the" bass. With strings though, most of us who have found their "brand" stick to it for the rest of their lives.

I started with Rotosounds as a kid because Billy Sheehan used them. I loved the tone but they would die after 1 rehearsal. About 20 years ago I was turned onto DR Stainless and I still use them. I have zero interest in checking out another brand.

How many of you fellow tone searchers have found your string and will play that string to the grave?
 
#3
By and large, I stick with D'Addario. Chromes are my favorites, Nickel EXL are pretty great, and right now I'm lovin' on a set of Nylon Tapewounds. Some day I'll try ProSteels.

I would rather have unlimited string purchasing funds than an expensive bass. Strings are fun to experiment with!
 
#7
I have RotoSound heavy gauge Swing 66's, .50-.110, at the moment. Bought my Jazz bass used, and the strings were too. But they had a nice, thumpy worn in sound to them. Put new D'Addarios on and didn't like them. The new string twang and clank kills my ears. Don't mind it on my guitar, but it's too sharp for me on bass strings. The RotoSounds still sound fresh, but not quite so harsh, more like a slightly worn in set, which I like. I'll probably stick with them for the time being.
 
#8
Fender strings. I love ALL of them (at least the ones I've tried). I got 4 basses strung up with nickel-plated, pure nickel, stainless steel, and flatwounds for a little bit of everything. Used to have nylons on one of them but decided to let them go... weren't "snappy" enough for me. Love their basses and love their strings. Too bad every time I've purchased a Fender (always bought used) someone slaps on D'Addario XLs on them, so I never got to use Fender strings until recently. :rollno:
 
#9
bobm2112 said:
...How loyal we are as a bass player to a certain brand of strings. We spend our whole lives buying and trading and searching for "the" bass. With strings though, most of us who have found their "brand" stick to it for the rest of their lives.

I started with Rotosounds as a kid because Billy Sheehan used them. I loved the tone but they would die after 1 rehearsal. About 20 years ago I was turned onto DR Stainless and I still use them. I have zero interest in checking out another brand.

How many of you fellow tone searchers have found your string and will play that string to the grave?
Click to expand...

Why would one change something if it works-especially if, as may well be the case in some instances , it has taken some time to find that something?
I used to use D'angelico and tried DR, Cocco, Labella(all too short or too many bad strings)until I was told about Newtone strings.
Newtone works very well for me and has done for quite some years now.
 
#13
there are just too may strings to try out it would take years to try out every string brand and another 10 for each product.

as im only playing for 2,5 years ive only tried out a handful. ie nickel plated and pure nickel tfenders which died to soon, rotosound which had a long life but sounded rather thin and a hand full of DR strings, MM signature which sounded and felt great, bootzillas which died too soon, low riders nickel plated, my favorite so far and now i have sunbeams on it (for a week). i really love the sound and if they live as long as the lowriders im going to try the light (40-100) set. but im pretty sure i will stick with sunbeams or low riders

are there any other strings i should try out before deciding?
 
#14
I try out new strings as much as I can, and I also have my favorites. But my current favorites were not always my favorites, so that's why I like experementing with different strings on different basses. I've had my MIA Jazz since early 90s and I still cant find a set that sounds good. ;)
 
#16
I used to be all about D'Addario Nickel strings, now my favorite are DR DDT .105. They let me drop tune my bass without using thicker gauge strings which I'm all about, plus they sound killer. Tried Rotos which I liked, but not as much as the DDTs.

Didn't care much for Ernie Ball Slinkys or Dunlops, the Dunlops seemed to die way too soon.
 
#17
I have jumped on and off the wagon on strings. I like trying out new strings, and a lot of times, I will try new strings out when I get a new bass. Think Fender strings on a Fender, Ernie Balls on a Musicman, etc.

I do have a couple brands I am liking / using right now, but doesn't mean I am not open to exprimenting with other brands / options. Sometimes I try a new brand due to post here on TB.

To me, my years of switching around on strings has taught me that there are a lot of good strings out there, and if someone finds a set and brand that really works for them, that is a good thing. :cool:
 
#18
bobm2112 said:
...How loyal we are as a bass player to a certain brand of strings. We spend our whole lives buying and trading and searching for "the" bass. With strings though, most of us who have found their "brand" stick to it for the rest of their lives.

I started with Rotosounds as a kid because Billy Sheehan used them. I loved the tone but they would die after 1 rehearsal. About 20 years ago I was turned onto DR Stainless and I still use them. I have zero interest in checking out another brand.

How many of you fellow tone searchers have found your string and will play that string to the grave?
Click to expand...

I cannot say I am loyal to particular strings. I try every brand I can. However, I will say that sticking with the same strings is a pretty reliable constant when you're trying to craft a certain sound; just vary everything else around them.
 

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