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Opposite Day! Strings you hate.

#201
bunkie said:
Every thing they make seems to be excessively expensive. Any idea why? The materials or manufacturing process can't be that different or special, can it?
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Actually yes, they can. They make them more like classical strings, which is a different process that very few string companies apply to electric instrument strings. It's more time intensive and involves extra steps, more materials, etc..
 
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#202
There aren't any strings I hate; actually, I don't really hate much of anything. Hate takes too much emotional energy, and I'm much too lazy for that...:whistle:
Strings that I don't have much use for?
- D'Addario strings of any description. They use something in their polishing/finishing process that I'm seriously allergic to, and it takes dangerous chemicals and a lot of time to get them playable. I've gone to the trouble a couple of times, and to be honest? With a couple of exceptions, the time and effort simply isn't worth it. It is for the strings on my baritone guitar, and the phosphor bronze strings on my mandolin. Other than that, though; I'll pass...
- Round wound strings in general. I'm not a fan of how they feel - some of them feel like a wood rasp - or (usually) how they sound, either. If I want "bright", I'll play one of my guitars...:rolleyes: I do put Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys on every new 34" scale bass I get (unless it has flats on it), just for a common denominator starting point. But, they seldom stay there, unless I just want a generic "Thump" from that bass. I'm usually looking for something else, so off they come. GHS Bass Boomers do give me the sound I want from my T-Bird, and I'll never put anything else on my Kramer Duke. Other than that, though, it's mostly La Bella Flats and Roto 88 tapes for me...:cool:
 
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#203
I still dislike Chromes immensely and it boggles the mind that people even use them considering all the other options out there. Maybe it's just the more ubiquitous and relatively inexpensive flats out there, so people try them and just stay with them? I know that until I tried other brands, I thought all flats were like Chromes so I stayed away for years...I sure was missing out.
 
#204
Axstar said:
I'm voting for Fender flats again! I purchased a set for my Starcaster, as I figured their stiffness would offset the shorter scale length. That one element of my plan worked, but the tone wasn't what I was after. There is some sort of plastic-y element to Fender flats that I can't easily describe. A slightly lispy 'thuck' to the notes, with a twang that just doesn't seem to sit well with the rest of the tone. They are bright strings, but that brightness just hovers over the integral flats tone of each string, combined with an annoying 'pedalling uphill' feeling when you play. The E string is also surprisingly textured for a flat, with the winds not truly butting up against each other to provide a smooth surface.

I suppose the green silks are quite pretty.
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They are pretty awful (IMO), but that's probably because I feel little difference between them and Chromes, aside from maybe a duller outer wrap. I prefer flats, but if my choice is between rounds and Fender or Chromes, I'll just use Sunbeams. They're like the anti-default flat for me.
 
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#206
petrus61 said:
They are pretty awful (IMO), but that's probably because I feel little difference between them and Chromes, aside from maybe a duller outer wrap. I prefer flats, but if my choice is between rounds and Fender or Chromes, I'll just use Sunbeams. They're like the anti-default flat for me.
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I have a question for all you flats users and I'm being serious. What kind of music do you play most where you can really get away with using just flatwounds?
 
#207
michael_t said:
Is this the first time someone actually liked something you dislike? Why does it have to "boggle the mind" that some people actually like the Chromes?
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Because I dislike them that much. I find them to be so terrible in fact, that if I buy a used bass that comes strung with them, I'll cut them up into little pieces and throw them in the garbage so that nobody else will have to suffer their lameness. I consider it an act of goodwill. Pay it forward, that's my motto!
 
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#208
petrus61 said:
Because I dislike them that much. I find them to be so terrible in fact, that if I buy a used bass that comes strung with them, I'll cut them up into little pieces and throw them in the garbage so that nobody else will have to suffer their lameness. I consider it an act of goodwill. Pay it forward, that's my motto!
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I tried Chromes on a P-bass copy and I liked them. They actually sounded a little too Round wound-ish to me and I was looking for the true flats sound. They were very bright at the outset.
 
#209
petrus61 said:
Because I dislike them that much. I find them to be so terrible in fact, that if I buy a used bass that comes strung with them, I'll cut them up into little pieces and throw them in the garbage so that nobody else will have to suffer their lameness. I consider it an act of goodwill. Pay it forward, that's my motto!
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I do have to give you credit for being passionate about something. ;):thumbsup:
 
#210
jwilson67 said:
I have a question for all you flats users and I'm being serious. What kind of music do you play most where you can really get away with using just flatwounds?
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I personally can't get away with using just flat wounds because one project I'm in tunes down and I haven't found a flat on the planet that can do that well. I have one bass, so when that project is over I go back to flats. I find TI's and Labella to perform the best in actual live use and they can work great (for me, and what the audience is getting) for everything from Funk/R&B, to blues, to rock. You raise a good point because I actually came back to TI because the flats I was using just couldn't hack it in a live mix. All IME, IMO, etc.
 
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#212
petrus61 said:
I think Chromes can sound really good, though kinda scoopy. It's their feel and balance I just can't hang with.
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I'm not a big D'Addario fan overall. So many players - even pros love and use the XL's but I just can't stand those strings. I feel like I'm trying to wring tone out of them. For that class of string EB Slinky's are much better IMO. I'm a DR guy now though - Hi Beams or Fatbeams. Have you tried the DR Legends Flats?
 
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#213
jwilson67 said:
I'm not a big D'Addario fan overall. So many players - even pros love and use the XL's but I just can't stand those strings. I feel like I'm trying to wring tone out of them. For that class of string EB Slinky's are much better IMO. I'm a DR guy now though - Hi Beams or Fatbeams. Have you tried the DR Legends Flats?
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I've tried the Legends and really liked their tone, but were a bit stiff for me. They're a very balanced set and if my little hands could take it, I'd probably use them more. I wish they'd make a lighter gauge. For flats it's pretty much Labella 43-104's or TIJF's at this point. I've found those two to be the most manageable in getting a good, prominent live sound (mostly because of my technique and attack...I'm sure others can make them sound just fine) and the most balanced of any set I've tried. Another great set are the GHS 45-95's. They kind of are the middle ground between the Labella and TI, but are truly an old school type sound. I have no use for the tone or balance of the heavier GHS sets. Same for the Labella.
 
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#214
jwilson67 said:
I'm not a big D'Addario fan overall. So many players - even pros love and use the XL's but I just can't stand those strings. I feel like I'm trying to wring tone out of them. For that class of string EB Slinky's are much better IMO. I'm a DR guy now though - Hi Beams or Fatbeams. Have you tried the DR Legends Flats?
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I'm also not a fan of XL's for the most part, but was using the 45-100 with good results for the down tuning project. I will give them credit for being consistent and holding tune very well compared to other sets I've tried. I ultimately decided on Sunbeam 45-105 for that project because they still were less tense tuned down and sounded and felt better at standard pitch.
 
#217
jwilson67 said:
I have a question for all you flats users and I'm being serious. What kind of music do you play most where you can really get away with using just flatwounds?
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I'm in a neo-psychedelic band so, if anything, I'm wanting to highlight that tone. I've used flats in other, heavier, genres as well. They deliver a solid kick in the lower frequencies, whereas I've found that some rounds aren't always as consistent.
 
#219
e-flat said:
I've never tried any strings that I really detested, but I just don't get DR Neon Strings. Strictly on an aesthetic level, though... they probably sound & play great! But, gross. Just gross. :D
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