mids

[FunkMetalBass]

FWIW, larger string gauges will generally give you more upper harmonic clarity and thus, more mids. I can't suggest any flats, but there's my $0.02.

 

[Turock]

Hello I cant find website for TIs strings. Can you please post me a link?

Ty

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[One Drop]

Nickel rounds are generally very middy.

For flats, nothing has more mids than TIs, but IME Chromes and Sadowskys are very mid prominent, with lots of detail and character to those mids.

I like Lo Riders and Rotos for their throaty mids as well, but they are less balanced than some other rounds, with an emphasis on the Low Mids, and can sound a bit scooped depending on the bass and your EQ.

There isn't and never will be any kind of consensus or definitive answer to your question, too many flavours and subtly different voices amongst different strings.

 

[f.c.geil]

Thanks, One Drop.

 

[One Drop]

Thanks, One Drop.

You're welcome!

It's all very subjective, you might not agree with my suggestions. In the end nothing really replaces trying them out for yourself.

 

[soulman969]

Wow, that's the first time I've ever heard that. You've always given me good advice, so I'll have to take it in consideration, but it does throw me. All I hear is how Chromes are a scooped string. Just got done listening to Garth Fielding on YouTube raving about the scooped tone.

I wish there were a chart or something where you could compare all the strings, and have definitive answers as to tonality of them. I've spent many hundreds of dollars trying strings, and it gets old, you know?

You can visit bassstringsonline.com and pull up GHS Strings. They have a chart that shows where their strings fit on a spectrum from brighter to mellower. Knowing that you might ask some players of other strings who've also played GHS Strings how a certain string compares. You can also purchase strings online at a deep discount as a TB member.

My own experience is that DR Nickel Low Riders are strong in the mids and the GHS Pressure Wounds I have on my Jazz Bass are also very punchy in the mids and not muddy in the lows. That string is a fit between a round and a flat.

Good Hunting.

 

[experimental bassist]

I was going to say TIs, but I see this thread has already run it's course.

FWIW, I consider Chromes to be very similar in tone (mid heavy growl), a little more "metalic" and a little less "woody" than TIs, but without the loose feeling of TIs.

(Gosh it's hard to try to describe tone)

Chromes are an excellent suggestion for someone who likes the sound of TIs but not the looseness or higher price.

 

[dougjwray]

Here's another vote for Chromes.

And, among roundwounds, I'll have to go with GHS Boomers. They don't get enough respect, I think. To me, comparable (nickel over steel) D'Addarios, DRs and Dunlops have the "piano string" sound without the LOW mid punch that Boomers give you.

 

[Marty Forrer]

Midrangy flats? Describes TI's PERFECTLY (haven't tried the Roto or Sadowsky flats others mentioned, but I have tried Chromes and Lowriders, and TI's seem to fit want you want.)

What he said.

 

[f.c.geil]

Thanks, guys. The GHS Bass Boomers I've tried, and they have way too much low mid. I've also looked at the chart, and it really isn't helpful. It tells you how bright a string is, which is how much treble overtone it contains, but doesn't tell you how strong the midrange is compared to bass and treble, which is what I'm after. I want the exact opposite of "scooped."

 

[Duckwater]

Roto 66s have the strongest mids IMO, but it's a very aggressive midrange sound and they don't have a lot of bottom. For flats I agree that Chromes and Sadowsky flats are very mid prominent, haven't gotten around to trying TIs yet.

 

[ksandvik]

I predict that by the posting no #200 most brands have been mentioned.

 

[ahc]

For websites, try Welcome to Bass Strings Online - Your Custom Bass String Shop... or [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] aka Just Strings . com
they both should have a wide selection.

 

[f.c.geil]

Ksandvik, you're probably right.

AHC, I talk to Jason at Bass Strings Online quite a bit, but he doesn't have experience playing all the strings he carries, so more opinions are usually helpful.

 

[Metal Mitch]

"Mids" are a huge frequency range. We talk about it a lot on TB, and people have very different opinions on "mids" based on player preference. It would help A LOT if people could be more specific about what frequency range they're after, or object to.

What is the "mid-rangey-est" string? I'd strongly prefer a flat

As a general rule, a heavier string tuned to the same pitch will have more mids than a looser string of the same brand/type.

LaBella is very midrangey. Most people associate them with bottom end thud, but I find the honky mids around 500 Hz are more prominent than the thud.

Wow, that's the first time I've ever heard that. You've always given me good advice, so I'll have to take it in consideration, but it does throw me. All I hear is how Chromes are a scooped string.

Chromes are very bright when new. After about 2 months break-in, they develop a lot of mids. Personally, I find the Chromes mid character to be extremely nasty, and not in a good way. That's when I throw them out.

The Precision Cliff Williams uses to record with AC/DC has Chromes on it. That to me is the representative sound of Chromes.

Is that the P with an EMG he uses live? If so, I wouldn't call that representative of Chromes tone on a passive bass.

 

[f.c.geil]

Excellent points, Mitch. The frequencies to which I am partial are from 400 Hz to 3 kHz, and I object to excessiveness below about 150 Hz. I don't object so much to frequencies above 3 kHz, as I can't hear them (oops! lesson learned - too late, but I use hearing protection - now). Hope that helps.

 

[Metal Mitch]

The frequencies to which I am partial are from 400 Hz to 3 kHz

That's still a big range, and you're going to find a variety of strings with different midrange voices that fall into it.

For example, the old Fender flats had what I would describe as a "warm" mid voicing at around 800Hz. But they were somewhat scooped below that.

The Chromes nasty midrange voicing I mentioned earlier is probably around 600 - 650Hz.

Some earlier posts mentioned the Rotos as having a prominent mid character. I'd like to know where that voice fits in the spectrum. (Before I have to buy some!)

 

[f.c.geil]

I had some, loved the tone. They had great mids, but were too stiff for me to play well. That's why I have Sadowskys right now. They aren't quite as nice tonally, but are eminently playable.

 

[ryanfenderbass]

Chromes are doing it for me with the mids.

I'm with Jimmy on this one. I don't agree with any of the Chrome hate. I installed them on my MIJ P bass and after a week of break-in, it's like a religious experience every time I pick that bass up! I'm even using Wizard Thumper pickups which are extremely mid-forward p'ups, so my sound is anything but scooped! I think they're delicious with fingers or a pick. However, YMMV.

FWIW, I'm a Rotosound rounds guy, but I didn't care for their 77s and thought they were "gummy." I actually found this post by searching for options on Rotosound Nickel 66s. Just grabbed a set for my Jazz. I like the overall tonal character so far, just looking for experience with longevity before I commit my bass to that string!

 

[One Drop]

I have found that Chromes sound less than right on a few basses, something about where the high mids are emphasized not working so well, to my ears.

But on most basses they are a great string, really perfect in a rock mix, where Labellas might get lost.