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Need opinions

#22
I’m a big fan of EB Cobalt rounds. They are extra bright at first, almost like stainless. The top end settles fairly quickly but they seem to retain crispness and clarity for a really long time. For example I installed a set on one bass almost a year ago. On another bass I just put on a set of D’Addarios and those already sound dull compared to the older more used Cobalt rounds.
 
#25
Id say generally for rock you will be looking at rounds. I know Ernie Ball slinkys and Rotosound are some tried and true classic choices but I have personally had a great sound and experience using GHS Boomers! Very punchy strings. I know Flea also uses them. But im sure lots others are good too.:)
 
#27
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Always use the Oxford comma.
 
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#28
I like nickel alloy roundwounds... however, I just bought a set a GHS Balanced Nickels and really dig them. They sound great and feel killer.

If I hadn't gone with these, I was gonna look into DR Pure Blues = nickel alloy with a round core.

For a hex core, I've always had really luck with D'Addario NYXLs.

Lincoln518 said:
I just purchased a Schecter Stiletto Studio 4. I wanna play hard rock on it with a pick. What strings should I get?
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#29
If you want the feel of flats, but a little bit of brightness, not totally like rounds but pretty darn close IMO, D'addario chromes are my go to choice for myself, and you can play them em enough to get flat-ish but it takes a bit at least for me. GL
 
#31
I ended up going with GHS Round Core Boomers. I love their Balanced Nickel strings, but wanted something a little brighter for this particular bass (But not overly bright). Plus with the round core, it should be a little easier on my fingers.
 
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#32
I play finger style and with EBCFs on most of my basses, but I do still check out the pick sound for curiosity sake on all my set ups. I found that a great compromise between the clarity of rounds with the thump of flats when using a plectrum resided with my set of D'Addario chrome flats. I also found that if I wanted just unbridled old-school thump plectrum or not, Tapewounds. Anyway, good luck!
 
#33
It sounds like with the tension you want and with the smoothness you might like a couple different strings. DR hibeams are flexy and I noticed very smooth for being round wounds. Probably worth a shot if you haven't played them before. Sadowsky Blue label strings are also very nice and will give you a smooth feel and some flexibility. Less bright than hi beams but lovely articulate tone nonetheless. After that Ken Smith Rockmasters are nice, Fodera Strings are too. I like them over hibeams which are similar btw. There's also Dean Markley Blue Steels which are another great string that you could try. I haven't found anything I like better than those on my Warwick with humbuckers. It seems like a good pairing tonewise for some reason. Also LaBella RX strings are possibly a good idea too. All these are on the more flexible side especially in medium and lighter gauge and none of them were ever rough on my fingers. I know it's subjective but anyway I hope it helps. I don't think you'd go wrong with any of those.
 
#36
Lincoln518 said:
I guess maybe punk rock, like Black Flag for instance.
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While normally I would totally agree about the Dunlop Super Brights and I have owned a Studio 4 up until just recently. I would suggest that you just try the nickel wound. I guess if you really want to sound like Chuck or Kira then you should go with your flats instinct. Those two always sounded like they had the tone roiled off. Even in the very early 80's Chuck always seemed boomy to me rather than having any attack from brightness.
 
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#37
metron said:
I’m a big fan of EB Cobalt rounds. They are extra bright at first, almost like stainless. The top end settles fairly quickly but they seem to retain crispness and clarity for a really long time. For example I installed a set on one bass almost a year ago. On another bass I just put on a set of D’Addarios and those already sound dull compared to the older more used Cobalt rounds.
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Cobalt has the potential for more magnetic interaction. It is a prime ingredient in traditional pickup magnets: the "Co" in "AlNiCo." I'm glad you have a good experience with them. For me, they were as you say: bright, present, big sounding. I would say the brightness is just a little lower in the tonal spectrum than the zing of new stainless rounds, but satisfying none the less. But one day on my basses they just died and went thunk: no settling in, no gradually getting mellow, no transition. Just bright and present one day and dead the next. I actually went back to D'Addario XL170BT to get more evenness of tone over their life span, even at the expense of a little new string zing at the beginning, which I roll off with my tone control a number or two until they settle in.
 
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#38
I mean I was playing rock with a felt pick on my P bass with La Bella flats two nights ago. Treble on the amp cranked. It worked for sure.

If all things are equal, just grab a cheap and readily available string set and go to town!
 
#39
iiipopes said:
Cobalt has the potential for more magnetic interaction. It is a prime ingredient in traditional pickup magnets: the "Co" in "AlNiCo." I'm glad you have a good experience with them. For me, they were as you say: bright, present, big sounding. I would say the brightness is just a little lower in the tonal spectrum than the zing of new stainless rounds, but satisfying none the less. But one day on my basses they just died and went thunk: no settling in, no gradually getting mellow, no transition. Just bright and present one day and dead the next. I actually went back to D'Addario XL170BT to get more evenness of tone over their life span, even at the expense of a little new string zing at the beginning, which I roll off with my tone control a number or two until they settle in.
Click to expand...

Interesting thanks for sharing. I wonder if you had a bunk set? The year old Cobalt rounds on my L2500 still sound fresh n zingy. Outstanding clarity on the B.
 

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