Killing my bass strings too fast

[Arthur U. Poon]

Don't forget DR Hi Beams

I see DR gets a LOT of love here! Honestly I've never tried a set. When I was experimenting with different brands in an effort to get a fatter tone with more midrange growl I was getting ready to order a set of DR Nickel Lo Riders. But I kind of stumbled across the GHS Pressuewounds thread here. They sounded interesting, so I took a chance, bought a set, and they nailed it.

I still need to try a set of Lo Riders though. I require strings with a higher tension feel, and I like hex cores. I bet a set of Nickel Lo Riders might sound pretty awesome on my Spector NS4CRFM.

 

[Aidenn7]

I very much agree. A slight amount of overdrive makes a huge effect on how audible your bass is with your band. You may even find that you don't need to turn up amp up as much, and you may even be able to dial your high end down a bit, while still being able to slice through the live mix.

A clean boost.. 4.23mk boost

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

This is why I love (and depend on) my preamp pedal. Love it!

The Tech 21 GED-2112 preamp has been a real eye opener for me. And especially bring able to have an overdriven tone, along with a clean-ish Deep tone running simultaneously. I carry a lot of gear, but it's so worth it to me.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I see DR gets a LOT of love here! Honestly I've never tried a set. When I was experimenting with different brands in an effort to get a fatter tone with more midrange growl I was getting ready to order a set of DR Nickel Lo Riders. But I kind of stumbled across the GHS Pressuewounds thread here. They sounded interesting, so I took a chance, bought a set, and they nailed it.

I still need to try a set of Lo Riders though. I require strings with a higher tension feel, and I like hex cores. I bet a set of Nickel Lo Riders might sound pretty awesome on my Spector NS4CRFM.

I have PWs on my J bass and they sound/feel great! But I was looking for a bit "brighter" tone, so I went with the DR HBs and I love them even more. I generally like a hex core also and was a bit nervous about the (round core HBs). Turns out that they are not "floppy" at all. I use a pick about 70% of the time and play some songs in dropped D and E flat tunings. No problem with floppiness there either. Really pleased with the Hi Beams!

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

A clean boost.. 4.23mk boost

Hmmmm. Thanks for the heads up.

I'll have to see if I can try out a clean boost. I've stumbled onto a slight bit of overdrive. Before I bought my GED-2112 preamp, I was using an Aguilar Tonehammer Pedal, which was a much cleaner boost than the Geddy, but it still gave me little bit of grit.

Up until I bought the Tonehammer Pedal I was running my bass into a Demeter HBP-1 preamp, into a Crest CA9, into a couple of different brands of 8 ohm speaker cabinets for live gigs. The Demeter has a really clean tone, IMO. Although it can be a little difficult to overdrive it.

Depending how loud the guitarist and drummer I worked with played, I sometimes felt I was getting "Buried" in the mix. Especially when I used my older Bergantino cabinets, which are also really clean sounding.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

The Tech 21 GED-2112 preamp has been a real eye opener for me. And especially bring able to have an overdriven tone, along with a clean-ish Deep tone running simultaneously. I carry a lot of gear, but it's so worth it to me.

I have the Tech 21 VT Bass Deluxe and it is a huge part of my sound/tone. Great product!

 

[Aidenn7]

Hmmmm. Thanks for the heads up.

I'll have to see if I can try out a clean boost. I've stumbled onto a slight bit of overdrive. Before I bought my GED-2112 preamp, I was using an Aguilar Tonehammer Pedal, which was a much cleaner boost than the Geddy, but it still gave me little bit of grit.

Up until I bought the Tonehammer Pedal I was running my bass into a Demeter HBP-1 preamp, into a Crest CA9, into a couple of different brands of 8 ohm speaker cabinets for live gigs. The Demeter has a really clean tone, IMO. Although it can be a little difficult to overdrive it.

Depending how loud the guitarist and drummer I worked with played, I sometimes felt I was getting "Buried" in the mix. Especially when I used my older Bergantino cabinets, which are also really clean sounding.

A review of the Creation Audio Labs Mk.4.23 clean boost

 

[Mili]

I'm using elixir ss for more than three years. To me they are not even close to harsh! Maybe you should work on your fretting hand...(too much pressure)

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The only coated strings that I've tried and like were from Cleartone.

 

[Deleted member 261632]

You can buy housebrands or really cheap string so you don't have to worry about spending a lot of hard earned cash on new strings each and every week/2 weeks.
(here in Europe, every respected retailer has its own brandt of strings that go really cheap)

 

[Leonid Nidis]

If you are killing elixirs fast dont bother with other brands unless you wanna change strings every day.
Try elixir nickel.
BTW IMO elixirs are very smooth felling and great sounding strings.

 

[Iristone]

In some specific brands like ernieball i think i am one of those guys. Nice sound but low life

Have you tried the coated version of these? I remember they feel like thin-ish enamel coating to me, more like regular metal strings than Elixirs.

 

[leto]

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet as I have not read all five pages. But wiping your strings down with a cloth after playing helps me a lot.

 

[ThodorisKar]

I just order ordered a set of NICKEL plated elixirs , hope they do the trick for me.
I was happy with the life span SS plating but did not like the sound so much and was harsh on my fretting
hand as mentioned.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I just order ordered a set of NICKEL plated elixirs , hope they do the trick for me.
I was happy with the life span SS plating but did not like the sound so much and was harsh on my fretting
hand as mentioned.

I think you'll find the same thing with these. The metal will still be under the plastic coating.

 

[ThodorisKar]

I think you'll find the same thing with these. The metal will still be under the plastic coating.

I guess it's a non stop trial and error thing till i find the brand that fits my playing and has a fair lifespan for the price. The sad thing is that i already have tried A LOT of brands but still not all of them

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I guess it's a non stop trial and error thing till i find the brand that fits my playing and has a fair lifespan for the price. The sad thing is that i already have tried A LOT of brands but still not all of them

Have you tried Cleartone? I liked those, but have not liked Elixir. Elixir strings feel like plastic and then they get fuzzy if you use a pick. I do use them on a Taylor acoustic, as they are the recommended string and seem to work well with the electronics. Stringjoy acoustic strings seemed really bright through the electronics.

 

[ThodorisKar]

Have you tried Cleartone? I liked those, but have not liked Elixir. Elixir strings feel like plastic and then they get fuzzy if you use a pick. I do use them on a Taylor acoustic, as they are the recommended string and seem to work well with the electronics. Stringjoy acoustic strings seemed really bright through the electronics.

Cleartone is one the brands that i have not tried yet because no one ever recommended them to me , my ex bass teacher told me the only way to go are the elixirs with SS coating or the Low riders by DR but i neither of them fit my style of playing.Will certainly give them a try.

 

[TexasEdition]

Have you tried washing your hands before and after you play and wiping down your strings when you are done?

 

[ThodorisKar]

Have you tried washing your hands before and after you play and wiping down your strings when you are done?

Did not answer that previously but i think it's obvious. Although after some live shows i tend to leave it dirty but i don't think it matters so much for 1 or 2 lives every 2 months.The bad thing is that i get REALLY sweat while practising.