Need to identify D'addario string set for fretless

[vindibona1]

As I posted elsewhere I now have a used fretless bass which I'm really digging. I have no idea how old the strings are that it came with, but I think they play well. I have (had) a bit of a n issue with the #1 G string being less robust sounding than the other strings. So yesterday I pulled out what I thought was the closest gauge strings wo what was on there, D'Addarios and put on Sandberg SS 50-128 gauge strings. I was not thrilled with the Sandbergs. They obviously have more tension than the D'Addarios and required a truss rod adjustment (no biggie). But after getting the relief where I wanted it, I didn't play as fluently and effortlessly as the original strings.

So back on went the original D'Addario strings, except I did use the .40 gauge G string which was a pretty good match with the D'Addario set. But I'm going to want to replace that set in time; now or later- I don't know. I'm having difficulty identifying which strings are on that bass. I know they're D'Addarios because of the colored ball ends. I took out my caliper and measured each string, They are not flat wounds and do not appear to be half-rounds, though I've never seen a half-round in person. The gauges are as I measured them:
44 58 73 95 116

As a side note, the Sandberg 40 felt like the D'Addario 44. Obviously the Sandberg's have more tension built in for similar gauges.

What do you suspect this set is???? TIA

 

[michael_t]

As I posted elsewhere I now have a used fretless bass which I'm really digging. I have no idea how old the strings are that it came with, but I think they play well. I have (had) a bit of a n issue with the #1 G string being less robust sounding than the other strings. So yesterday I pulled out what I thought was the closest gauge strings wo what was on there, D'Addarios and put on Sandberg SS 50-128 gauge strings. I was not thrilled with the Sandbergs. They obviously have more tension than the D'Addarios and required a truss rod adjustment (no biggie). But after getting the relief where I wanted it, I didn't play as fluently and effortlessly as the original strings.

So back on went the original D'Addario strings, except I did use the .40 gauge G string which was a pretty good match with the D'Addario set. But I'm going to want to replace that set in time; now or later- I don't know. I'm having difficulty identifying which strings are on that bass. I know they're D'Addarios because of the colored ball ends. I took out my caliper and measured each string, They are not flat wounds and do not appear to be half-rounds, though I've never seen a half-round in person. The gauges are as I measured them:
44 58 73 95 116

As a side note, the Sandberg 40 felt like the D'Addario 44. Obviously the Sandberg's have more tension built in for similar gauges.

What do you suspect this set is???? TIA

As I always insist, pics of the strings can help a great deal. One at the headstock and one at the bridge.

Just to confirm, the ball ends are purple-gold-red-black-green (B-G)?

 

[MIMike]

My fretless 4 has (almost) always worn D’Addiario nickel rounds (45-105).
They last a long time and sound great on fretless (or fretted)…and they are priced right.
Sounds like you might have something similar on yours, or a slightly lighter gauge.

 

[vindibona1]

My fretless 4 has (almost) always worn D’Addiario nickel rounds (45-105).
They last a long time and sound great on fretless (or fretted)…and they are priced right.
Sounds like you might have something similar on yours, or a slightly lighter gauge.

To be honest, I've never trusted D'Addario strings. I had bad exeprience with their strings on my acoustic guitars. I haven't tried D'Adds on bass since 2013 when I was just getting back into bass. I really like the lighter touch and feel on my fretless.

As I always insist, pics of the strings can help a great deal. One at the headstock and one at the bridge.

Just to confirm, the ball ends are purple-gold-red-black-green (B-G)?

I don't think that the images will tell you much. Remember, earlier I noted that the G string is from a Sandberg set, so a single in a hybrid setup. I don't see a green ball end in this set. I'm not sure why the original owner ditched the original bridge. This one is pretty crappy, but it works.

As an unrelated side note, I spoke with GHS and they told me that the Sandberg strings were their Super-Steels, but just a slightly different gauge set. On my next string change on my Sandberg I'm going to try them. More to say about the Sandberg strings, but another time.

 

[michael_t]

To be honest, I've never trusted D'Addario strings. I had bad exeprience with their strings on my acoustic guitars. I haven't tried D'Adds on bass since 2013 when I was just getting back into bass. I really like the lighter touch and feel on my fretless.

I don't think that the images will tell you much. Remember, earlier I noted that the G string is from a Sandberg set, so a single in a hybrid setup. I don't see a green ball end in this set. I'm not sure why the original owner ditched the original bridge. This one is pretty crappy, but it works.


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Thanks for the pics. Those look to me like the XL Nickels. Based on the measured gauges, E-A-D come from the factory super-light set (40-60-75-95), except the 5-string set would come with a .125 for B.