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Need new strings, cant decide

F

facepalmmaster

Jan 4, 2012
441
3
#1
So, i've had my stock strings for about 3 months, and I want to change them because they look like they're getting old, and they don't sound quite as good (i dont even know how old they are, they were on the bass when it was on display). So, i was thinking about getting a heavy set of strings, just because i think i would like the sound, but when I saw the DR Neon strings, i really wanted them. Now, besides the fact that i'm not sure if my local guitar center or sam ash will have anything you suggest, i'd like to know some opinions about which i should get. Are the DRs good, and do they come in heavy gauge? Or would it just be better to get some nice Bass Boomers or something if i want heavy gauge?
 
#3
facepalmmaster said:
So, i've had my stock strings for about 3 months, and I want to change them because they look like they're getting old, and they don't sound quite as good (i dont even know how old they are, they were on the bass when it was on display). So, i was thinking about getting a heavy set of strings, just because i think i would like the sound, but when I saw the DR Neon strings, i really wanted them. Now, besides the fact that i'm not sure if my local guitar center or sam ash will have anything you suggest, i'd like to know some opinions about which i should get. Are the DRs good, and do they come in heavy gauge? Or would it just be better to get some nice Bass Boomers or something if i want heavy gauge?
Click to expand...

There are a lot of options, and unfortunately no substitute for experience.

Generally you should only use heavy gauge strings if you want to tune lower or have higher tension... and have a good neck that can take it. I'd take a look at the Roto dropzone strings if that's your thing. Basstrings oinline should give you a huge variety to check into.
 
#4
Pretty Much all manufacturers make heavy gauge sets, you just may not be able to find them locally.

DR only makes the NEON's in 40-100 / 45-105 sets...

But they make Black Beauties in 50-110

(appropriate B strings are available for both NEON and Black)

so if you did want DR Coated strings, you can get black in a heavy gauge.

You may find you like the tone of the 45-105 DR's though...
 
#5
mmbongo said:
Not sure why you'd want to buy strings from Guitar Center or Sam Ash, seems strange.

Bass Strings Online is the only place to get strings these days.
www.bassstringsonline.com

Register as a TB user on his site to get VIP pricing!

Also, any particular reason why you want heavy gauge strings?
Click to expand...

Well, i found somewhere that one step to a Flea-like tone is to get heavy strings, and also i just feel like that kind of tone would be good for me, and its something different. And would I really get good prices just for being a registered TB user, because that would be awesome :D
 
#6
PlungerModerno said:
There are a lot of options, and unfortunately no substitute for experience.

Generally you should only use heavy gauge strings if you want to tune lower or have higher tension... and have a good neck that can take it. I'd take a look at the Roto dropzone strings if that's your thing. Basstrings oinline should give you a huge variety to check into.
Click to expand...

Now that you say that, i think i should reword. I would like a set of strings heavier than the normal, but not that much, i believe they sell them. I usually dont go lower than low D, and thats only occasionally if i really want to play a specific song.
 
#7
SLaPiNFuNK said:
Pretty Much all manufacturers make heavy gauge sets, you just may not be able to find them locally.

DR only makes the NEON's in 40-100 / 45-105 sets...

But they make Black Beauties in 50-110

(appropriate B strings are available for both NEON and Black)

so if you did want DR Coated strings, you can get black in a heavy gauge.

You may find you like the tone of the 45-105 DR's though...
Click to expand...

Awwww, thank you for reminding me about Black Beauties, I love those as well :D. I may just have to get those, will those stand up to normal tuning, the 50-110s, or should i get the next down?
 
#8
As stated, I would get DR 10 times out of 10, I personally hate their coated strings, they feel clammy and slow for me, though I did like the neon green... only other bassists seem to like them, everybody else hated them on my bass.

Use bassstringsonline like the rest of us, most of his prices cannot be beat in the US. Since he dropped his shipping charges he is now the cheapest for me in Canada by far... I will be ordering another set of DRs later this week.

I will add that if you get a chance, and if your using a 4 string, try D'addario BXP reds, you think they will be noisy and awful because they look like acoustic guitar strings, but they are probably the best new string I have tried since I tried DR 3 years ago. They were stellar strings and I would really recommend you give them a try, they will be cheaper than DR as well.
 
#9
facepalmmaster said:
Awwww, thank you for reminding me about Black Beauties, I love those as well :D. I may just have to get those, will those stand up to normal tuning, the 50-110s, or should i get the next down?
Click to expand...

You can tune standard EADG with that set...

You mentioned flea... You know he has a signature set right?
 
#11
DiabolusInMusic said:
As stated, I would get DR 10 times out of 10, I personally hate their coated strings, they feel clammy and slow for me, though I did like the neon green... only other bassists seem to like them, everybody else hated them on my bass.

Use bassstringsonline like the rest of us, most of his prices cannot be beat in the US. Since he dropped his shipping charges he is now the cheapest for me in Canada by far... I will be ordering another set of DRs later this week.

I will add that if you get a chance, and if your using a 4 string, try D'addario BXP reds, you think they will be noisy and awful because they look like acoustic guitar strings, but they are probably the best new string I have tried since I tried DR 3 years ago. They were stellar strings and I would really recommend you give them a try, they will be cheaper than DR as well.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by saying they looking like acoustic guitar strings, are they thin? Or nylon? And are the black beauties coated?
 
#15
And they look like this...

expreds_keithr.jpg
 

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