• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New Strings from SIT! "Foundations"

#61
So I've sat with the strings for a bit and done some more comparisons. They are definitely on the more flexible side, with smoother outer wrap. Similar to DR Hi Beams if i remember correctly. I still like these most out of the SIT lineup. They seem to have the best clarity without sacrificing depth.

Here's a few comparisons of eq balance. I did a match of a few I thought might be familiar so you can see the difference in overall balance of tone.
Dunlop.PNG
Dunlop Super Brights SS. You can see the Foundations have a scoop in the 500 to 1k area, with a bump in the sub low and more detail in the hi mid and extended highs

Rock brights.PNG

SIT Rock Brights SS - Much less in the sub low and more upper - extended mids

rider.PNG

DR Lo Riders - More sub and extended highs / a bit of a scoop from 500-1k

I really found these to have a unique tone and couldn't get any other strings to sound super close to the tone except the Rock Brights. They are clear and full sounding without being boomy. If you were hoping for more clarity and edge from DR strings like I was, that seems to be about where these land.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eff-clef, eriky4003, petrus61 and 2 others
#62
Got a chance to string them up and I really like them. They are the nickel 45-105. The best way I can describe them in terms of stiffness is that they seem to sit directly between Sunbeams and Lo Riders. They are pretty bright, but also punch a little harder than Sunbeams with the tone rolled back. The outer wraps feel very much like DR's and looking at the windings up close, one would be hard pressed to tell the difference. They have an only slightly rougher feel, but that could be a result of the minute amount of additional stiffness these have over Sunbeams.

They are definitely not as stiff as Lo Riders (which are one of the lesser stiff feeling of the hex core rounds, IMO). They are incredibly balanced string to string. It's hard to explain...they're like Sunbeams without the flop, but not as tight as Lo's. In fact, they remind me of a well broken in set of Sunbeams. Sonically and feel-wise, I find them to be superior to the Dunlops and GHS Roundcore, two sets that seem to aim toward a similar goal. I'm going to leave them on a while, at least for a gig or two, which is saying something because I typically know within the first 30 minutes of playing (many times, much less) whether a set is for me or not. As a disclaimer, I'm a regular Sunbeams user (45-105), they are my favorite round and the string by which I tend to judge all other rounds. After trying everything else, this was the first set that actually impressed me in terms of how they manage to capture that low tension feel without sacrificing tone or balance. I am very interested to see how they break in, or if they just suddenly up and die like some sets can. I'm also looking forward to seeing how they handle downtuning.

All in all, I'm happy to finally have an alternative to my regular rounds and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to folks who love DR Sunbeams and Lo-Riders, but are searching for a middle ground in the feel dept and a departure from the DR sound. Compared to Super Brights, it's no contest IMO. I can easily swap between these and Sunbeams with zero touching of the the saddles or truss rod and still be very comfortable. These are the first rounds that I can say that about. All IMO, etc..
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: eff-clef, Jesuguru, Stefan Verbeeck and 2 others
#63
Ok, third update - on the gig these things flex way too much for my style. Low tension is certainly not for everyone even if the current trend by most string manufacturer is to bring out products like this. Noodling around at home they feel great.
 
#64
It seems everyones already done pretty good in depth reviews on these SIT foundations! Ive had mine on for about 2 weeks and theyre really good tonally. They have a nice, tight punchy bottom end, they cut thru very nicely. Ill admit, ive only played Reggae and some Weezer style rock with these strings at a Gig this past friday, however i really enjoy them. I dont know if it was just me, but my strings seemed to have a bit more tension than SB nickels, however they are quite similar. I prefer high tension, low action on my bass, and these do an okay job of achieving that, however i felt Kalium was better for my situation. Comparing the prices though, if im ever in a rush to get some strings like in an emergency, and im on a slight budget, id definetly grab a set of these. They have a very nice crisp tone, very tight sounding, and they sit well in a mix. At least in my experience. I forgot to mention, theyre very bright on the top end and have a nice growl to them. They pair very well with my Darkglass Microtubes B3k! Theyre flexible yet still somewhat tense. Not super noodly. Id put them in between NYXL and SB, although closer to SB. Overall theyre really awesome strings and Id use them any day, and im considering using them on my P bass permanantly due to the price range. Theyre also still fairly bright for being on for about 2 weeks! :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: madjazzbass, DistortedBass and StayLow
#65
Well, call this a funny thing, I live about 30-45 minutes away from Akron, Ohio where SIT Strings are based. I reside in Cleveland. Anyhow, SIT charges me $8.50-$9.00 in shipping to Cleveland? I'm ordering them from Jason now on, free shipping and same price. In fairness the rep from SIT did mention I could pick the Foundations up at the store with a 2-3 day notice. I ordered from Jason, had the strings in 2 days. Go figure!
Thanks Jason.
Still love these strings, trying to decide between the nickel and stainless steels. Obviously the SS have a brighter sound. My other issue is when we gig, I'm a sweaty bastard under the lights.....need to see how long the strings last as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Darren02, StayLow and SLaPiNFuNK
#66
kevbassman said:
Well, call this a funny thing, I live about 30-45 minutes away from Akron, Ohio where SIT Strings are based. I reside in Cleveland. Anyhow, SIT charges me $8.50-$9.00 in shipping to Cleveland? I'm ordering them from Jason now on, free shipping and same price. In fairness the rep from SIT did mention I could pick the Foundations up at the store with a 2-3 day notice. I ordered from Jason, had the strings in 2 days. Go figure!
Thanks Jason.
Still love these strings, trying to decide between the nickel and stainless steels. Obviously the SS have a brighter sound. My other issue is when we gig, I'm a sweaty bastard under the lights.....need to see how long the strings last as well.
Click to expand...

Weird. They only charged me $4 both times I ordered and am in Cincinnati.
 
#68
Well, I recently ordered a bunch of strings, but now this thread gets bumped and from what I'm reading here these sound like my kind of thing: looser feel, smooth, bright with a nice bottom end. Looks like I'm placing another order :bassist::help:
 
#72
I ordered a set of the Foundations Stainless 40-120 direct from SIT. They ARE NOT the most flexible strings as advertised, they are quite stiff and I had to adjust my neck to compensation for the added tension. They sound fine but need some of the usual breaking in so they feel better. I found my hands pretty tired after playing them for about 30 minutes. An extra light (if they made one) set would probably feel better to me. Pro Steels and DR Hi Beams are more flexible than the Foundations in these gauges. I'll keep them on and give them a shot but I don't see myself playing these on a 2 hour show, 5 night a week. They aren't bad, just not right for me.
 
#74
So I got to give the Foundations a run through this past Fri at rehearsal.

Here was my set-up:

Sire V7 with maple neck
Helix Rack
Mark Bass STD 104 cab (4x10 with piezo tweeter)
S.I.T. Foundations Stainless Custom Lights

The V7 has an 18v system (9v for the PUPS and 9v for the preamp) and is extremely versatile. I played the bass in active mode with the bridge at full and the neck at about 8%. I had the bass set to about 90%, mids at about 70%, Mid sweep just shy of center, and the highs at about 60%. The level control on the Mark Bass was set at flat (full response). I dialed in a nice 2 signal route on my Helix. Signal path 1 was clean with a comp and some chorus and signal path 2 had some dirt ala Pierce Preamp. I kept the dirt a bit reserved..just enough to give it a good crunch ala Ged 2112.

The Foundations come in a slick matte black package with a metallic red "F" blazened across the front. The strings are sealed in plastic bags in pairs (1st and 3rd in one pack and 2nd and 4th in another) and have a cool red ball end that made me wish I didn't string my basses through the body. The winding wraps are clean and taper nicely toward the tuner end. 1st off the Foundations feel fantastic. Most stainless rounds tend to be a bit grabby but the SITs are little bit kinder on the fingers. Don't get me wrong, you know you're playing steels, but these feel just better.
Super responsive to articulation with just the right amount of flexibility without feeling thin and weak. I'm used to super light gauges (90-30) but these feel amazing. Tone wise they lack for nothing. They have an aggressive growl but retain a piano-like clarity that cuts through. In the lower registers the tone is defined and pronounced. Harmonics on the E string at the 5th and 7th fret are bell-tone clear and rich with subtle undertones. Moving on up (and over) the fretboard I could really dig into some crystaline harmonics and clear chordal voicing. Solos cut through nicely with razor sharp highs and beefy mids. Over on the funk side of things the snap and punch are directly in your face. I rolled off a bit of highs to see if the clarity was still there, and it was. I tend to play in the Lee, Squire,and Entwistle camp preferring the bright and crunchy sound which is why I choose round steels.
I was a die hard Swing Bass user for pretty much my whole musical career. Since discovering SIT strings my shift has been gradual but affirmed. I've tried the SIT Power Steels and Rock Brights, but, I believe, to my ears and hands, that these SIT Foundations are just about the best stainless steel round wounds yet. They deliver on all points: Tone, feel, articulation, and quality.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kipp Harrington, eff-clef, madjazzbass and 1 other person
#76
I got a set of nickel Foundations at NAMM and just put the strings on one of my basses. I've never used Foundations before but I'm pleased with these strings. They do remind me of Dunlop Super Brights, but I feel these Foundations are not quite as flexible and maybe not quite as growly as the Super Brights. Time will tell but for now they are punchy and feel good under the fingers. Not sure the low end is a big as Super Brights either.
 
#78
I was a long time Sunbeam user before moving to Fat Beams.

I tried Dunlop SBs but didn't like the tension and thin/clanky quality of them.

Tried Hi Beams but didn't like the big mid scoop.

Tried Pure Blues but found I preferred Sunbeams.

The string I'm after is a Sunbeam mixed with a Fat Beam with that piano type quality to it. I'm hoping nickel Foundations are the answer.
 
#79
I just ordered a set of the Foundations, they should be arriving sometime today or tomorrow; my "go to" string set are the D'addario EXL165TP (45-105's), I have them on 4 of my (currently) 6 Basses. I've tried many, many strings over the years and these D'addario's sound and feel the best of any of the other strings I've played, BUT, I've always thought 'if only they had just a liiitle more Umph in the lower mids what an absolute perfect set of strings they would be, Everything else about them - feel, tone, tension (EXL165TP) is perfect IMHO, and I can usually dial in those low mids either through my amp or the Bass that using at the time. So, with that being said, IF the S.I.T Foundations are everything I've been reading they are, I think I may have found a new "go to" set of strings. We'll see. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: tindrum and BrentSimons
#80
UPDATE
I have since switched back to the SIT Rock Brights.
Why? It certainly was not that the Foundation's lack in anything. They're amazing strings and my review stands.
But over the course of time there was something about the feel of the Rock Brights that I missed..and they have a touch more grit.
So when I ordered my custom set of strings for my Dean 12ver, I went back the Rock Brights..and subsequently my next case order was in the Rock Brights as well.
The difference is subtle and some might consider it negligible, but truth in fact is that they do feel and sound better to my ears. A matter of preference? Sure. But that's why SIT has so many choices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eff-clef

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back