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Old strings vs. New

#23
jabsys said:
New for me because old strings sound like crap with a pick, if I played purely fingerstyle I wouldn't be so bothered about the strings being old.
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YOU think they sound like crap with a pick, but they don't inherently sound like crap with a pick. There's a difference.

I recently got a bass that came with an old set of strings the previous owner apparently had on it for quite a while. When I tried it on some progressive rock, both fingerstyle and with a pick, that tone didn't do anything for me. But, when I tried it both ways on some blues, that was a very different story. I also found that the harder attack of the pick combined with the thumpy thud of the old strings really made me go "Ooooooooooooooooo!!! :D", especially one some bluesy originals I did with a friend of mine a while ago.

Obviously the tone of a pick on old strings won't work for every situation, but what tone does? Remember, just because YOU don't like it doesn't mean it's complete crap. I'm sure there are plenty of people who love your favorite tone but at the same time I'd be willing to bet there are an equal number who cringe when they hear it. ;)

Not picking on you or saying anything like, "Pffft, I bet YOUR tone SUCKS!!!! :spit:". I'm just saying "different strokes", ya know? :) :bassist:
 
#25
I like the zing new strings present... but I don't normally change 'em out until they start getting difficult to keep in tune. Noticed that over the weekend, so I replaced 'em. I replace strings about once every couple of years... sometimes a little less.

Interesting - while I was stringing my B-string last night, I just started putting a little tension on the brand new D'Addario string and POP - the core snapped. I hadn't even gotten a full wind and a half on the tuning peg... and it snapped right at the peg. That's a new one on me. The shop where I bought 'em gave me a new one and we're good now.
 
#26
If you play round wound and like the bright, crisp top end you will need to change you strings every few months or more if you can afford it. Another trick you can try to prolong the string life is boiling the strings. I used to do this when I was using round-wounds. If you play flats and are going for that classic Jamerson, McCartney sound you can probably play them till they break.
 
#27
bruce sorensen said:
If you play round wound and like the bright, crisp top end you will need to change you strings every few months or more if you can afford it. Another trick you can try to prolong the string life is boiling the strings. I used to do this when I was using round-wounds. If you play flats and are going for that classic Jamerson, McCartney sound you can probably play them till they break.
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Every few months?

When I was using that sound I was changing them every week, and would have been every gig if I could afford it.

The boiling trick works well once or twice. Do it too often and you start to get intonation issues and strings breaking.
 
#28
James Jamerson said "The funk is in the funk," when asked about the same question. I like 'em older and not so twangy, but there seems to come a time when strings are dead. I find this mostly only unplayed axes myself, and rarely change strings. I do change them all at once when I do break one, mostly because I can deal with break in twang, just rather deal with the whole rather than the part as far as replacing one string.
 
#30
For Christmas, I'm getting an ESP LTD F155 DX. I figure I could put some nice bright new roundwounds on her since I want her to be able to be nice and loud. Although, I plan on getting a high (or mid) C in replace of the B. In stead of shopping online for a 5 string, I figured I could get a twangy loud roundwound 6 string set. Can anyone tell me the twangy loudness I'm looking for? Thanks
 
#31
SirGrotius said:
Crisp is in bro.
Everyone tries flats here and there, but they have too mellow of a vibe. You have to be totally cool with providing thump and not standing out.
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Completely disagree. I like old old old roundwounds and haven't bought a new string in over 5 years for any of 10+ basses. To me they sit so much better in the mix...finding their space. If you are playing at home in your bedroom then a new set sounds grindy and fun, almost piano-like, but I respect the punch of old strings when paired against anything from an 18w vintage guitar combo to a wall of mesa triple recs.

Just my humble opinion.
 
#33
I kind of like new strings, but I think my favourite is where a set starts to lose the "zing" and then you clean them (denatured alcohol for me), and put 'em back on. Just enough 'zing' and plenty of cool thump.

I play with EB strings, so they're less than $20 anyway. I could just go new for gigs, but I love that 'worn in, but still bright' sound.
 
#35
bruce sorensen said:
If you play round wound and like the bright, crisp top end you will need to change you strings every few months or more if you can afford it. Another trick you can try to prolong the string life is boiling the strings. I used to do this when I was using round-wounds. If you play flats and are going for that classic Jamerson, McCartney sound you can probably play them till they break.
Click to expand...

There's a better way than boiling to maintain that bright crisp tone...(see sig).
 
#36
I prefer put a new strings on the E slot, A slot, and D slot. Because old string's gonna sounds crap with aged strings when you slap it. But I keep my old G string, because (in my ears) it sounds sweet when you pop it.
 
#37
Depends what music I'm playing, zing and new strings hands down suit punk and the heavier rock stuff I do but when it comes to my preferred styles of Blues, Jazz, POP I prefer old strings and flats, rounds only on when I'm playing punk or heavy rock, other than that it's flats all day everyday!
 

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