• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mixing differrent brand of strings?

C

ChaserHUN

Jul 18, 2020
114
27
36
Hungary
#1
Don't laugh I'm on a budget here.....

So currently I am using warwick red label nickel string, .55 .75 .95 . 140 for Drop A# tuning, but I am feeling I could go for a .145 for the low A#, sadly warwick doesn't offer thicker than .140. Also the shipping costs from Germany are 22 euros wich are like double the pirce of the 4 strings, so it is wise to buy like 5-6 sets for a year.

In a store Hungary they offer .145 from D'addario, also there is the EXL180 set wich is .35 .55. 75 .95, so I could drop .35 and use the rest with the .145 wich would cost me about 40 euros, since the store is in Hungary, the shipping is relatively cheap.
BUT what is I would use a set of red lable warwicks wich are .35 .55 .75 .95 with the .145 D'addario? This would only cost me like 22 euros....almost half the price.....

Both have hex cores, I know there are lot of other factors. Would they sound and feel too much differrent? Is it worth a try?
 
#2
Based on my experience, mix and matching is a viable option when it comes to the low B (or the low A# in your case).

Ever since I got my one and only 5-string bass 4 yrs ago, I've experimented with the idea of mix and matching the low B and discovered I can achieve better tonal balance doing it that way than factory 5-string sets. By the way, I do use the standard BEADG tuning.

For example...

GHS Bassics (NPS roundwound) 4-string set (40-102) with D'Addario XL Nickel 125T (tapered). This particular bass of mine (Yamaha) does benefit from the tapered B string for added clarity and definition, which GHS doesn't offer for the Bassics (or the Boomers). No way anyone can tell the low B is of a different brand from the rest. It appears matching the brand is not as important as matching the type (nickel-plated steel roundwound).

So, go ahead and experiment.
 
#5
FYI...

I've also mix and matched different TYPES of strings of the same brand with positive results.

My Yamaha is currently wearing GHS Pressurewound (Alloy 52 rollerwound) 40-96 and GHS Progressive (Alloy 52 roundwound) 130B (exposed core). When I tried the Pressurewound 128B (non-tapered), I found it to be darker in tonal character than the rest, so just as an experiment, I tried the Progressive as a slightly brighter alternative. And lo and behold, I was pleasantly surprised how well it matched up with the rest in tone, not to mention the exposed-core feature added extra clarity and definition to the low B. If you were to hear my Yamaha in a band mix, there is no way you can tell the low B is of a different type from the rest.
 
#6
I have mixed-and-matched, but to a very limited degree, two examples:
1) On my Rickenbacker 4002 (yes, "2," not "1" or "3") I use GHS Progressives on the EAD strings, 105-80-60; and on the G string I use a Pressurewound 44, which is the same wire wrap, but compressed to remove some of the high end.
2) On my Ibby SRA305 right now I am using a 130 NYXL for the B string and the XL170BT for the other four strings.
Because of the wide variety of tonal spectra of strings, it is good to stay in the same general family to accentuate a particular characteristic, but not wholesale change that could more easily come across wrong or inconsistent, as opposed to double bass players who mix and match more fluidly.
 
#9
You won't know unless you try.

Matching strings from different brands (or even different types of strings within the same brand) is something I personally NEVER do except as an emergency if I break a string, need the bass working FAST (like on stage) and don't have the correct type of string available.

Why? Because there are too many things that would most likely make the set unbalanced:

-Different tone.
-Different output.
-Different stiffness.
-Different "feel" under the fingers.

I'm guessing from the 22 Euro shipping costs that you have been buying your strings from some major European musical equipment webstore like Thomann or similar. Being in Europe you may want to look into smaller string specialist stores like Lord of the Stings in the The Netherlands or Saitenmarkt in Germany. Both are great, Lord of the Strings is my personal favourite. Both have far lower shipping costs than the major instrument dealers (probably more like 5 Euros, although I don't know the exact details for shipping to Hungary). They also have a much better selection of single strings than the major stores and generally competetive prices for full sets (although this may differ slightly between brands).

Anyway, I would strongly recommend that you replace the entire set. I'm sure there are .145-strings that would work great with your current Warwick strings but finding the best match would probably need some experimenting, which is clearly not an option when you're on a tight budget. For all I know the D'Addario .145 could be a great match but you really won't know until you try. You could end up wasting money on a -145-string that doesn't feel right with the Warwicks. I would rather save that money and buy a full 5-string with the specs you want as soon as you can afford it. Buying cheap now can turn out to be more expensive in the long run.
 
#10
Deleted member 271037 said:
You won't know unless you try.

Matching strings from different brands (or even different types of strings within the same brand) is something I personally NEVER do except as an emergency if I break a string, need the bass working FAST (like on stage) and don't have the correct type of string available.

Why? Because there are too many things that would most likely make the set unbalanced:

-Different tone.
-Different output.
-Different stiffness.
-Different "feel" under the fingers.

I'm guessing from the 22 Euro shipping costs that you have been buying your strings from some major European musical equipment webstore like Thomann or similar. Being in Europe you may want to look into smaller string specialist stores like Lord of the Stings in the The Netherlands or Saitenmarkt in Germany. Both are great, Lord of the Strings is my personal favourite. Both have far lower shipping costs than the major instrument dealers (probably more like 5 Euros, although I don't know the exact details for shipping to Hungary). They also have a much better selection of single strings than the major stores and generally competetive prices for full sets (although this may differ slightly between brands).

Anyway, I would strongly recommend that you replace the entire set. I'm sure there are .145-strings that would work great with your current Warwick strings but finding the best match would probably need some experimenting, which is clearly not an option when you're on a tight budget. For all I know the D'Addario .145 could be a great match but you really won't know until you try. You could end up wasting money on a -145-string that doesn't feel right with the Warwicks. I would rather save that money and buy a full 5-string with the specs you want as soon as you can afford it. Buying cheap now can turn out to be more expensive in the long run.
Click to expand...
Yeah I know epxerimenting can be more expensive in the long run. I ordered warwick string from warick shop. 22 euros is a bit expensive for shipping I think, Germany is pretty close to Hungary. I will check out the sites you mentioned.
My easiest option would be getting the D'addario EXL180 wich is 35 55 75 95 with a 145 single, just the 35 goes to waster wich I pay for and I can't find any shops in Hungary that sell these gauges in singles :/
 
#11
Hah thanks for the advice. Lord of the rings have all the gauges I need from D'addario and I don't have to throw out a string this way and it is like 13 euros cheaper this way :)

Also how do you think the D'addarios tension would compare to the warwicks? I asked about D'addarios customer service and they suggested a 160 for the low A# as that would get around 42 pounds of tension, think that would be a bit thick though.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Deleted member 271037
#12
ChaserHUN said:
Hah thanks for the advice. Lord of the rings have all the gauges I need from D'addario and I don't have to throw out a string this way and it is like 13 euros cheaper this way :)

Also how do you think the D'addarios tension would compare to the warwicks? I asked about D'addarios customer service and they suggested a 160 for the low A# as that would get around 42 pounds of tension, think that would be a bit thick though.
Click to expand...

I have no idea. Just be aware that tension does not necessarily translate to stiffness/feel. They could have more or less the same tension and still feel VERY different (and also have different tone, different output...).
 
#14
Hypocrite said:
@ChaserHUN
For what it's worth, I'm using DR Lo-Riders (130-105-85-65-45-30) for A-standard tuning on a 35" bass, and they are plenty stiff, no flub at all. I bet they'll work great for drop A#. They do cost a bit more than D'Addario ProSteels (my favourite), but they also last a bit longer too
Click to expand...
My bass is 34". I used DR DDT 135, 115 (threw that one out), 95, 75, 55 and the A# felt floppy. Now I am using 140 Warwick wich is better a bit, but still feel I need more tension. But thanks anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hypocrite
#15
I'm using GHS Boomers on one of my basses - for the top 4 strings. As is often the case, the B is a bit thuddy - not too bad, but....the 130 B from their Bassics line (nominally a bit brighter sounding string set) seems to match the set better sonically than the 130 Boomer B, so I've been using that string as a "set" with a 4 string Boomer set for the upper 4.

Double bass guys mix strings all the time, and their strings are a mixture of all kinds of different materials. Ours are all metal, so the "risk" in mixing strings on an electric bass guitar is pretty much non-existent. You might find a difference in how magnetic (and therefore how loud) a string is, but that's about the biggest issue you're going to find.

Experiment away!
 
#19
micguy said:
I'm using GHS Boomers on one of my basses - for the top 4 strings. As is often the case, the B is a bit thuddy - not too bad, but....the 130 B from their Bassics line (nominally a bit brighter sounding string set) seems to match the set better sonically than the 130 Boomer B, so I've been using that string as a "set" with a 4 string Boomer set for the upper 4.

Double bass guys mix strings all the time, and their strings are a mixture of all kinds of different materials. Ours are all metal, so the "risk" in mixing strings on an electric bass guitar is pretty much non-existent. You might find a difference in how magnetic (and therefore how loud) a string is, but that's about the biggest issue you're going to find.

Experiment away!
Click to expand...
Well I won't be mixing. I can get D'addarios in singles from lord of the strings at a fairly good price :)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back