Need string suggestions. Rounds. Higher tension. Growly.

[TerriblePeril]

Sorry to hear of your Kalium CS experiences. They are definitely pumping out great strings, but if they never get to you what's the point, right? It definitely sours the mojo.

I loved the heavy gauge DRs I had on my 5 back in the day. I don't recall exactly which 'type' they were, but they were designed for higher tension. The B string was tapered at both ends, as in it was thin going over the bridge. I thought I would hate it at first but it was great for what I was doing at the time- lots of tapping and chordal stuff to fill in more complex arrangements with a trio.

[Edited for typo]

 

[Phalex]

I'm digging GHS progressives lately. Plenty bright and growly with lots so punch.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I've been playing with Kalium for years, but I just can't handle the poor customer service anymore. I currently have my 4th paypal dispute open with them for not shipping the strings I ordered and not answering my emails. Just about 3 weeks since I ordered at this point.

So....needing an alternative for a 5 string set for half step down tuning. To stay balanced and in the mid 40lbs' tension wise with Kalium I've been using a .158, .114, .086, .063, .047 set.

I'm aware that I'm likely not going such specific gauges anywhere else, but I need to find an alternative to the Kalium's I've been playing for years.

So what I'm looking for:
+Round Wound (Nickel, Steel or other...doesn't matter so long as they sound good.)
+Growly. I definitely prefer that open grindy tone that really cuts through a mix.
+High tension/stiff/heavy gauge. I generally run high tension on the Kalium's bc they're pretty supple. I could go lower tension if the strings were stiffer.
+ I prefer hex core, but not a deal breaker.
+ I prefer a tapered B string, but not a deal breaker.

That's about it, but I'm honestly kinda having a hard time tracking something down that fits my needs. They'll be going on an MTD Kingston Z5. It's a Mahogany body, Maple Neck, Rosewood fretboard. So it's a traditionally "warm" sounding bass if you buy in to all that.

Suggestions?

Try the DR DDT strings.

 

[inthebassclef]

As all have said DR lo riders
One other option would be TI Powerade. Amazing strings but will run about $55 a set. In my opinion totally worth it, best higher tension set I have ever used.

 

[The Rage]

I'm thinking the DR Lo Rider SS

That was my first thought. I really like them but the last set I had died really quickly. Hope they haven't changed something...
You could also try DR Pure Blues. They're round core but to me they didn't seems too low in tension.

DR strings aside I loved the bright tone of Dean Markley Blue Steel (used the nickel ones), but don't remeber about tension.

Another one worth trying might be Ernieballl Cobalt. I've tried the cobalt flat, and it's true (at least in my experience) that they sound similar to rounds. Can't imagine how devastating the cobalt rounds can be!!

 

[Linnin]

GHS Bass Boomers = The Growl Kings! It's their slightly heavier hex core that yields the brutal heavy weight knockout punch and the dark snarling low mids of the dogs of war.
Release The Hounds!

 

[Systolic]

GHS Bass Boomers = The Growl Kings! It's their slightly heavier hex core that yields the brutal heavy weight knockout punch and the dark snarling low mids of the dogs of war.
Release The Hounds!

That's quite the endorsement

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

I've been playing with Kalium for years, but I just can't handle the poor customer service anymore. I currently have my 4th paypal dispute open with them for not shipping the strings I ordered and not answering my emails. Just about 3 weeks since I ordered at this point.

So....needing an alternative for a 5 string set for half step down tuning. To stay balanced and in the mid 40lbs' tension wise with Kalium I've been using a .158, .114, .086, .063, .047 set.

I'm aware that I'm likely not going such specific gauges anywhere else, but I need to find an alternative to the Kalium's I've been playing for years.

So what I'm looking for:
+Round Wound (Nickel, Steel or other...doesn't matter so long as they sound good.)
+Growly. I definitely prefer that open grindy tone that really cuts through a mix.
+High tension/stiff/heavy gauge. I generally run high tension on the Kalium's bc they're pretty supple. I could go lower tension if the strings were stiffer.
+ I prefer hex core, but not a deal breaker.
+ I prefer a tapered B string, but not a deal breaker.

That's about it, but I'm honestly kinda having a hard time tracking something down that fits my needs. They'll be going on an MTD Kingston Z5. It's a Mahogany body, Maple Neck, Rosewood fretboard. So it's a traditionally "warm" sounding bass if you buy in to all that.

Suggestions?

Labella. You can order singles through bassstringsonline.com

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Nephilymbass]

I've been playing with Kalium for years, but I just can't handle the poor customer service anymore. I currently have my 4th paypal dispute open with them for not shipping the strings I ordered and not answering my emails. Just about 3 weeks since I ordered at this point.

So....needing an alternative for a 5 string set for half step down tuning. To stay balanced and in the mid 40lbs' tension wise with Kalium I've been using a .158, .114, .086, .063, .047 set.

I'm aware that I'm likely not going such specific gauges anywhere else, but I need to find an alternative to the Kalium's I've been playing for years.

So what I'm looking for:
+Round Wound (Nickel, Steel or other...doesn't matter so long as they sound good.)
+Growly. I definitely prefer that open grindy tone that really cuts through a mix.
+High tension/stiff/heavy gauge. I generally run high tension on the Kalium's bc they're pretty supple. I could go lower tension if the strings were stiffer.
+ I prefer hex core, but not a deal breaker.
+ I prefer a tapered B string, but not a deal breaker.

That's about it, but I'm honestly kinda having a hard time tracking something down that fits my needs. They'll be going on an MTD Kingston Z5. It's a Mahogany body, Maple Neck, Rosewood fretboard. So it's a traditionally "warm" sounding bass if you buy in to all that.

Suggestions?

I'm a big fan of DR strings. My bass always has hi beams. I've also used the ddt drop down tuning sets in the past.

 

[catcauphonic]

...
Another one worth trying might be Ernieballl Cobalt. I've tried the cobalt flat, and it's true (at least in my experience) that they sound similar to rounds. Can't imagine how devastating the cobalt rounds can be!!

I'm 3 months into my first set of Cobalt Rounds, & I'll def be buying another set of these

 

[Jon Moody]

GHS Bass Boomers = The Growl Kings! It's their slightly heavier hex core that yields the brutal heavy weight knockout punch and the dark snarling low mids of the dogs of war.
Release The Hounds!

And available in a .150 and .160, which is one of the strings the OP was looking for.

 

[Reedt2000]

I've been playing with Kalium for years, but I just can't handle the poor customer service anymore. I currently have my 4th paypal dispute open with them for not shipping the strings I ordered and not answering my emails. Just about 3 weeks since I ordered at this point.

So....needing an alternative for a 5 string set for half step down tuning. To stay balanced and in the mid 40lbs' tension wise with Kalium I've been using a .158, .114, .086, .063, .047 set.

I'm aware that I'm likely not going such specific gauges anywhere else, but I need to find an alternative to the Kalium's I've been playing for years.

So what I'm looking for:
+Round Wound (Nickel, Steel or other...doesn't matter so long as they sound good.)
+Growly. I definitely prefer that open grindy tone that really cuts through a mix.
+High tension/stiff/heavy gauge. I generally run high tension on the Kalium's bc they're pretty supple. I could go lower tension if the strings were stiffer.
+ I prefer hex core, but not a deal breaker.
+ I prefer a tapered B string, but not a deal breaker.

That's about it, but I'm honestly kinda having a hard time tracking something down that fits my needs. They'll be going on an MTD Kingston Z5. It's a Mahogany body, Maple Neck, Rosewood fretboard. So it's a traditionally "warm" sounding bass if you buy in to all that.

Suggestions?

I've been using these taper core stainless steel Ken Smith strings on my 5 string Warwick corvette fna jazzman for quite a while now. They add bottom end clarity and punchy definition to what is a low-mid heavy bass. The tension feel good in standard tuning, the b string is not floppy. I get em from bass specialties on Ebay (they used to be a brick and mortar shop specializing in high end bass stuff right outside of Philadelphia).

KEN SMITH TCRM-5 TAPER CORE STEEL BASS STRINGS, MEDIUM GAUGE 5's - 44-130 | eBay

 

[ubernator]

SIT powersteels are growly and stiff, a little rough and zingy at first, but after they break in they are nice. On the stiff side, heavy cores I think. Not sure if they have taperd B

I won a set on Facebook, sit has lots of giveaways.

Bass strings online sells them as individual strings for custom sets. And they are pretty low price too.

 

[FirewalZ]

+1 for DR Lo-Riders, I use medium gauge nickels...super grindy on my P bass.

 

[BassmusM6674]

So I'd want to look at the Black Labels yes?

Yes, black labels. Higher tension than the blue label strings. Roger Sadowsky himself states that...

 

[SerratedBass]

I've been using Dean Markley Blue Steels, the bottom 4 strings of a 5 string set for drop A on a 4 string jazz. They stay bright for a long time and the tension works for me. They aren't overly expensive either

 

[punchdrunk]

Slong with LoRiders, I'd have to point you to the classic Rotosound strings. Just total growl.

 

[Nickweissmusic]

DR lo-riders fit the description you're looking for other than tapered core strings (unless they make tapered strings I'm unaware of).

 

[TJ Hums]

I've been playing with Kalium for years, but I just can't handle the poor customer service anymore. I currently have my 4th paypal dispute open with them for not shipping the strings I ordered and not answering my emails. Just about 3 weeks since I ordered at this point.

So....needing an alternative for a 5 string set for half step down tuning. To stay balanced and in the mid 40lbs' tension wise with Kalium I've been using a .158, .114, .086, .063, .047 set.

I'm aware that I'm likely not going such specific gauges anywhere else, but I need to find an alternative to the Kalium's I've been playing for years.

So what I'm looking for:
+Round Wound (Nickel, Steel or other...doesn't matter so long as they sound good.)
+Growly. I definitely prefer that open grindy tone that really cuts through a mix.
+High tension/stiff/heavy gauge. I generally run high tension on the Kalium's bc they're pretty supple. I could go lower tension if the strings were stiffer.
+ I prefer hex core, but not a deal breaker.
+ I prefer a tapered B string, but not a deal breaker.

That's about it, but I'm honestly kinda having a hard time tracking something down that fits my needs. They'll be going on an MTD Kingston Z5. It's a Mahogany body, Maple Neck, Rosewood fretboard. So it's a traditionally "warm" sounding bass if you buy in to all that.

Suggestions?

Did you ever try GHS Pressurewounds? I have an Aria Pro with a rosewood fingerboard. These have a smooth feel and do not eat into the fingerboard, but have a distinctive growl. I have had many compliments from fellow bass players on my sound.

 

[Rocker47]

I've been using the Cobalt's as well lately and love them on both my pbass and jazz special. Tons of growl and good tension. I use a pick exclusively so higher tension is needed in my case. Great strings!!