Mids? SIT Foundations or Power Steels/Wounds

[dagrev]

I'm considering some SIT Foundations (nickel or steel) and wonder how they compare in the mid department to either the Power Steels or Power Wound? Thanks!

 

[GTHintz]

Great question I would like to know what people found in these. Never tried sit but have been curious about them.

 

[dagrev]

Great question I would like to know what people found in these. Never tried sit but have been curious about them.

I love their Power Steels. Their Power Wounds used to come on G&Ls and I liked them years ago. Interestingly enough I ran across some of their David Ellefson series for less than $15, so I'm giving them a try as well. Not sure how they differ from their Power Wounds since they don't describe some of their strings well at all.

 

[Vinny_G]

I think @LowEndLobster uses NPS SIT Foundations in his videos.

 

[dagrev]

I think @LowEndLobster uses NPS SIT Foundations in his videos.

Thanks!

 

[GTHintz]

I love their Power Steels. Their Power Wounds used to come on G&Ls and I liked them years ago. Interestingly enough I ran across some of their David Ellefson series for less than $15, so I'm giving them a try as well. Not sure how they differ from their Power Wounds since they don't describe some of their strings well at all.

I recently expirinented with nickel and found they blister my fingers too bad because I think I'm allergic to it. I was really shopping the Ellefson signature set before I bought what I bought. So how would you describe power steels in the mids and the overall tone?

 

[dagrev]

I recently expirinented with nickel and found they blister my fingers too bad because I think I'm allergic to it. I was really shopping the Ellefson signature set before I bought what I bought. So how would you describe power steels in the mids and the overall tone?

I would say they are more full than say Rotos for example. They are nice--maybe more balanced. I would say they have more mid-mids than high mids (like 66s sound to me), if that makes some sense. While steels and having a fair amount of brightness, they also have solid and tight lows. The highs are ver crisp, but not clanky. A very thick sounding steel string. I've put them on two basses that didn't sound as good as I hoped and they made both sound better. (My tone target is big and thick with good punch and sweet highs for presence.) I hope that helps. Oh, the 105 set I have feels a little more stiff that Rotos, or seems that way.

 

[GTHintz]

I would say they are more full than say Rotos for example. They are nice--maybe more balanced. I would say they have more mid-mids than high mids (like 66s sound to me), if that makes some sense. While steels and having a fair amount of brightness, they also have solid and tight lows. The highs are ver crisp, but not clanky. A very thick sounding steel string. I've put them on two basses that didn't sound as good as I hoped and they made both sound better. (My tone target is big and thick with good punch and sweet highs for presence.) I hope that helps. Oh, the 105 set I have feels a little more stiff that Rotos, or seems that way.

Excellent run down! That actually sounds a lot like what I like in a string most of the time.

 

[dagrev]

Excellent run down! That actually sounds a lot like what I like in a string most of the time.

Jason at Fret Nation has sets for $15.95. Buy two and shipping is free. No affiliation other than having bought strings from him before (and he's always been great at answering questions).

I had these in my cart, but found a set of the David Ellefson's really cheap elsewhere and thought I would try those.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I think @LowEndLobster uses NPS SIT Foundations in his videos.

Only since recently — previously he was endorsed by MJC Ironworks, so many existing reviews were done on them. I just double checked the captions for a couple of reviews before and after the change - they're both labelled clearly as to what strings are being used.

 

[dagrev]

Quick update on the SIT David Ellefson series I just bought and put on the NR. They are NPS, they feel as good as any round wound I recall playing (except TI Jazz Rounds, which are really small strings with small windings). I have not used them live or in a band setting yet, so this is simply impressions from home which may or may not produce equally well live. I have a med set and they don't feel stiff to me, and I don't care for heavy or stiff strings. The lows seem big without sounding hallow, the mids are thick and full bodied, the highs are very present but not clanky sounding--but this bass is on the dark side, so I would expect them to have even more nice sounding highs on other basses. They replaced Roto 66s (different animal I know), and sound bigger and more even across the freqs. In fact, they seem to be well balanced in that respect. Some rounds seem to have a definite focus on a certain mid freq, but these seem to have all the mids nicely balanced, making for a beefy sounding string without being dark or lacking character.

Just swapped the A string back to Rotos to compare. The the SITs are bigger sounding, but also more clear. That was a little surprising to me. The Roto's have no more than 10 hours playing time on them, if that. I've never thought 66s were crazy bright in the first place, but I'm playing through Ampeg tube heads. But it's an interesting finding.