Longevity of Tone, your thoughts and preference(s)

[mikeyjm2]

I don't know squat about the materials used in them, but the coated DR strings definitely keep their tone over a long period in my experience. The only drawback I've found to them is visual - if you pick regularly the spot on the strings where you pick tends to lose the coating color. It doesn't seem to affect the durability of the tone though.

 

[static0verdrive]

I live on DR Hi-Beams and their Marcus Miller Fat Beams. One set in five so far (since switching to them exclusively) was about as good as other brands, rather than far surpassing them.

 

[Chasarms]

I think I must have some funky body chemistry that hates nickel. I play nickels and they seem to die very quickly. I can use any of the reputable brand SS strings, and they'll start losing their pitch center before the get too dull to use. I can sometimes get 3-4 months out of a set of Sadowsky Blue SS strings. Same with DR. Any nickels I have used are shot in a week.

 

[isher1992]

I have tried a lot of strings, and I keep coming back to Elixirs, especially now that they have a stainless steel. D'Addarios would be my first pick, if they'd also put the EXP coating on the stainless steels. I feel like stainless steels aren't any brighter than Nickel wounds out of the package, but seem to hold that sound longer than the nickel plated strings I have used. I have a set of Stainless Steel Elixir's that are just now losing their new string sound that have sat on a bass for almost a year and a half now.

I've also used GHS Super Steels and SIT Stainless Steel strings. The SIT's last a good long while, but they were murder on my fingers.

I've never been a fan of other stuff I've tried...DR's included. The only strings I absolutely cannot stand in any form is Ernie Balls. They always seem new today, dead tomorrow.

 

[Fender_Bender]

Firstly, I always rinse my hands for 1-2 seconds followed by immediately drying them. This gets gunk off your hands while not being wet long enough to get tacky. I also find that my fingers glide over the strings more readily after doing so. On the few occasions I've been too lazy to do so, and went onto rinse after a few minutes, I notice the difference.
I tried a different string every time my first few years to get experience but have settled into a D'Addario groove for a few years now. I was addicted to the buttery midrange of Fender pure nickels at one time but they seemed to change the recipe.I have a set of the TI flats on my p bass and appreciate the lower tension as I'm in my 50's now. I don't actually like the new roundwound zing so generally keep them on for a year or more,so I'm not much into slapping .

 

[Aidil]

+1 on the Elixir.... they are longevity for me.

I've used the Elixir Nickel Plated Steels w/ Nanoweb coating regularly on my go to bass for about a year, then moved them to least played bass, as my band set lists are best suited with stainless steel strings. They are pretty much still the same today after about a year and a half.

Some may have complaints about their coating, but I'm feeling nothing but smooth about their new Nanoweb coating. If only their Stainless Steels are available in longer than current 36.5" winding length...

 

[Jeff Scott]

....So what is it the Infeld and Fodera do during the string making process differently?...

Well, one difference between the two is that TI makes their strings, whereas Fodera has the name put on the package by the company who makes the strings for them (to their specs.) I am a huge fan of TI strings, both their Jazz Flats and Jazz Rounds. Very long lasting and great sounding (to me). I bought a set of Fodera VW Sig strings that I put on my former Rickenbacker 2030GF; they were superb strings with a nice balanced feel and long lasting tone (a couple years on that bass when I traded it for another bass). A set of Jazz Rounds were on my old '73 4001 for over eight years when I sold that bass; they did mellow out after a few years but still had a great '60s kind of tone to them at that point.

TI strings may cost more but are more cost effective, in the long run.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The Superalloys are incredible too, probably the best roundwounds I've ever tried. The only thing I couldn't adjust to is they're a lighter tension than I'm used to. Unfortunately I pluck fairly hard, which is something I've worked on for years to get greater articulation, and there's no going back to a light touch for me. Especially when I play a gig. I need my strings to have high tension because I really dig in.

Perhaps a Willis ramp could help with that.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Perhaps a Willis ramp could help with that.

Thanks, Jeff. I have thought about a Willis Ramp.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Well, one difference between the two is that TI makes their strings, whereas Fodera has the name put on the package by the company who makes the strings for them (to their specs.) I am a huge fan of TI strings, both their Jazz Flats and Jazz Rounds. Very long lasting and great sounding (to me). I bought a set of Fodera VW Sig strings that I put on my former Rickenbacker 2030GF; they were superb strings with a nice balanced feel and long lasting tone (a couple years on that bass when I traded it for another bass). A set of Jazz Rounds were on my old '73 4001 for over eight years when I sold that bass; they did mellow out after a few years but still had a great '60s kind of tone to them at that point.

TI strings may cost more but are more cost effective, in the long run.

TI must use the highest grade and most expensive materials. I haven't tried their other offerings, but Superalloys last a freakishly long time.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I have tried a lot of strings, and I keep coming back to Elixirs, especially now that they have a stainless steel. D'Addarios would be my first pick, if they'd also put the EXP coating on the stainless steels. I feel like stainless steels aren't any brighter than Nickel wounds out of the package, but seem to hold that sound longer than the nickel plated strings I have used. I have a set of Stainless Steel Elixir's that are just now losing their new string sound that have sat on a bass for almost a year and a half now.

I've also used GHS Super Steels and SIT Stainless Steel strings. The SIT's last a good long while, but they were murder on my fingers.

I've never been a fan of other stuff I've tried...DR's included. The only strings I absolutely cannot stand in any form is Ernie Balls. They always seem new today, dead tomorrow.

What were your thoughts on GHS Super Steels?

I really like GHS Bass Boomers, and I love Pressurewounds. I'm really interested in Super Steels provided their surface texture isn't overly rough.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I think I must have some funky body chemistry that hates nickel. I play nickels and they seem to die very quickly. I can use any of the reputable brand SS strings, and they'll start losing their pitch center before the get too dull to use. I can sometimes get 3-4 months out of a set of Sadowsky Blue SS strings. Same with DR. Any nickels I have used are shot in a week.

That ph thing might be my problem as well. Although I could get at least a month out of the brands of nickel roundwounds I normally use. Not to say they still sounded new, but a useable tone.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I've used D'Addario XL for over 20 years. Remarkably consistent, always feel the same, fit perfectly on all my basses, and I've only encountered one manufacturing defect over hundreds of sets and they took care of that. They last a long time for me, but due to personal body chemistry that might not be the case for everyone.

Same here. D'Addario's XL's are remarkably consistent. I've used them since the early to mid eighties and I've had one bad string in all that time. I called them, and they promptly shipped me an entire new set, even after I told them it was only one string out of the set.

 

[Linnin]

Now, over probably the past 10 years, my tastes on tone has gone to a rounder, less bright tone. And I've found GHS Pressurewounds to be my ultimate set of strings. I'm also a longtime happy user of GHS Bass Boomers, which for me keep a useable tone as long as most of the other brands, if not longer, now that I don't prefer a super bright sounding string.

^^^Strongly^Agree^^^

 

[iTzPrime]

Well, one difference between the two is that TI makes their strings, whereas Fodera has the name put on the package by the company who makes the strings for them (to their specs.) I am a huge fan of TI strings, both their Jazz Flats and Jazz Rounds. Very long lasting and great sounding (to me). I bought a set of Fodera VW Sig strings that I put on my former Rickenbacker 2030GF; they were superb strings with a nice balanced feel and long lasting tone (a couple years on that bass when I traded it for another bass). A set of Jazz Rounds were on my old '73 4001 for over eight years when I sold that bass; they did mellow out after a few years but still had a great '60s kind of tone to them at that point.

TI strings may cost more but are more cost effective, in the long run.

Luckily i am in Austria, so i can get the TI Flats for 45€ and the rounds for 40€ (Hi - Beams cost 35€ here)

 

[ubernator]

I have tried a lot of strings, and I keep coming back to Elixirs, especially now that they have a stainless steel. D'Addarios would be my first pick, if they'd also put the EXP coating on the stainless steels. I feel like stainless steels aren't any brighter than Nickel wounds out of the package, but seem to hold that sound longer than the nickel plated strings I have used. I have a set of Stainless Steel Elixir's that are just now losing their new string sound that have sat on a bass for almost a year and a half now.

I've also used GHS Super Steels and SIT Stainless Steel strings. The SIT's last a good long while, but they were murder on my fingers.

I've never been a fan of other stuff I've tried...DR's included. The only strings I absolutely cannot stand in any form is Ernie Balls. They always seem new today, dead tomorrow.

Did the sit steels murder your frets too, or just your fingers?

I just put a set of power steels on a bass, and I noticed they were very rough. Haven't really used them yet, band kindof on downtime.

 

[Toptube]

Dunlop Superbright nickels have the best nickel tone I have ever heard and it ages very well. I almost want two basses. One near fresh and one aged.

And their Superbrigths Steels also age very well. and its my second favorite steel tone, of the current market.

I'm also a fan of Fodera steel tone. Unfortunately, their strings are a bit grabby/slow on my finger tips. Its something you try to deny. And then you put on something like superbrights and your like....yeah...okaaaaaay.

 

[isher1992]

Did the sit steels murder your frets too, or just your fingers?

I just put a set of power steels on a bass, and I noticed they were very rough. Haven't really used them yet, band kindof on downtime.

Yes, the SIT's are hard on the frets. I had their 8-string Power Steels and I think they run their gauges smaller than most for that reason alone...they were very stiff strings.

 

[isher1992]

What were your thoughts on GHS Super Steels?

I really like GHS Bass Boomers, and I love Pressurewounds. I'm really interested in Super Steels provided their surface texture isn't overly rough.

I love the Super Steels, and it's the only GHS string I like. I love the Contact Cores, myself.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Yes, the SIT's are hard on the frets. I had their 8-string Power Steels and I think they run their gauges smaller than most for that reason alone...they were very stiff strings.

SIT strings are another brand I haven't tried yet. I do prefer higher tension strings, and they generally get positive reviews here, so I'm interested in trying a set out.

I appreciate your response!