Needing help with picking perfect strings

[isher1992]

Well, it's me again with another question, in a different category.

I love the sound of new strings out of the package, and I would love to find a set of strings for my ATK and my P-bass that would be able to keep this sound for a long time (Longer than a month if possible.) I've tried DR's, those were nice for the money, and I just tried Elixirs, but I put string cleaner in them once and I think it screwed the coating up. If that's all that I did, I think I might stay with Elxirs. But I'm still throwing this question out there.

I use a 1.14 Dunlop Gator Grip pick, and I tend to pick aggressively. My gauge of strings is .105-.45 or .50.

I've tried:
D'Addarios
Slinky's
Elixir's
DR Hi-Beams
Fenders

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I hate having to use string cleaner every week to keep my strings bright.

 

[JustDavid]

Any insight from the Elixer website about the effect of various string cleaners? My guess is the solvent in the string cleaner is too harsh for coatings. Dig into that; I'd guess coateds are you. They'll likely grunge up where you pick, but that's a small %age of the string.

 

[isher1992]

Yeah, the coating REALLY wears down where I pick within the first week of playing. That's how rough I tend to play. But, I'll look that up about coatings.

Does anyone know of cheaper brands that offer coated strings?
I wanted to say RotoSound had a coated string.

 

[isher1992]

Well, the Elixir website says it's not necessary to use string lubricants at all, because they are chemically set in that coating. I bet that's why they sound a little less bright, is because I used that frickin' string cleaner.

 

[JustDavid]

Yeah, the coating REALLY wears down where I pick within the first week of playing. That's how rough I tend to play. But, I'll look that up about coatings.

Does anyone know of cheaper brands that offer coated strings?
I wanted to say RotoSound had a coated string.

Surf the makers' websites, juststrings.com as a price reference.

 

[isher1992]

Well, DR have those Black Beauties for about 10 dollars cheaper, but I'm kind of curious if they're worth it.

 

[Kyon`]

Blue steel's are very bright and retain that characteristic for a while.

 

[isher1992]

How much do they tend to run for?

 

[EagleMoon]

The DR coated strings last a long time and they're cheaper than Elixers. And sound a lot better too.

 

[parsons]

Well, DR have those Black Beauties for about 10 dollars cheaper, but I'm kind of curious if they're worth it.

Black beauties are the only thing Ill use. Ever. I play mostly with my fingers but I do use a pick here and there. Other strings last me less than a week, DRs last me a month or more.

 

[steve4765630]

Cleartone strings. Expensive, but last a long time.

 

[RPIcka]

try some wyres coated bass strings