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Panic - need Elixir alternative fast, DR Hi Beams? Anything else?

CrashAlpha

CrashAlpha

May 16, 2012
141
106
Montreal
#1
I've been a fan of Elixir medium strings on my four string basses because I love the feel of them. But it's suddenly occurred to me that a problem that I've been blaming on my bass is really a problem with my strings - the tone of the D & G strings are miles off of the tone of the E & A.

The most obvious manifestation of the problem is that the exact same note - say 12th fret octave A on the A string is full and resonant with warm low mids. But 7th fret A on the D string (of course) bright but quite thin. I tried Elixir heavies which have the same 105 E 85 A strings but heavier 70 D 50 G strings. That improved things a bit, but I also played with the pickup angle at the same time to get the effect - and I'd rather have a pickup that isn't canted that heavily.

The fact is these strings are so expensive, it never occurred to me they might be the problem until now.

Here is my problem - I am in the studio in six days and I can't afford to screw around with these strings. Has anyone else experienced this problem with Elixir's and can anyone recommend a string that has similar feel, and is versatile? I play In an indie rock band with Brit hard rock, punk, post punk, psychedelic/progressive elements - and I alternate between picking, fingers and slapping. I live in Montreal so I have access to a decent music store, but I'd like to go with strings that are sure to be in stock, and I need them installed and settled on two basses.

I a thinking DR High Beam Medium 45 - 105, never used them but the description sounds like they may be similar. I like the Elixir Nanoweb feel and hopefully reduced fret noise... would these DRs be a good way to go?
 
#2
For studio work you'll need multiple sets. I went through 1 set per song on our last record. Elixirs will go further than other strings just because of the coating so maybe they're not bad value for a studio date. Maybe if you're having issues with the top two strings you need a custom gauge set?

It's really challenging to get a string that's as bright as an Elixir. For a bright rock sound I'd suggest either Rotosounds or GHS Boomers. Boomers in my opinion have the stronger tone but I found that they go dull much faster than other brands. Rota's last longer and have a good British tone.

I've had nothing but ho-hum experiences with DR strings on both my guitars and basses.
 
#3
Every string set is going to have a different timbre from string to string, the instrument will too. That is just the nature of the instrument.

You are describing exactly what happens on instruments and that is to be expected.

7th fret on the D string is never going to sound as full and rich as 12th fret on the A string. So save your money and don't buy strings trying to match it.

(in before someone says get flats because flats are going to exaggerate this more than any rounds in most cases)

What you need to do is a combination of two things...

#1 - You play for this... Say you are playing walking lines that are 1 3 5 6 8 6 5 3 1... Rather than play across 3 strings in one position, play it across only two strings with a couple of quick shifts in there... Yes it is a little more work but the tone will be the reward.

#2 - Add a compressor. You can set a compressor to compensate for this... You can push down the big boomy tone which will then phatten up the thinner tones.

While you are in the studio the sound guy (if they are worth anything) can do this for you.

So in short... Play across less strings and play further up the neck... I rarely play on the D and G string on the first 3-5 frets, NEVER do I play those open except for ghost notes...
 
#4
What's "a good British tone"? :confused:
I've found that Thomastik flats have (for me at least), a very similar tone across strings. They record wonderfully, but are (1) relatively expensive initially, (2) plenty bright, and (3) may not have the tension you prefer.
 
#5
This is a weekend recording session, the songwriter and producer are both fans of old school recording where we just play through (never done this myself, but I'll try anything once). The producer is no small time guy either, so I'm not going to question it. The point is there won't be time to change strings between songs.

I've dealt with tone change from string to, string of course, but this is more than anything I've ever experienced before. And I always use a compressor. The strings have been on for about three weeks. I am notching this effect whenever gong for octave accents and ornamentation. I actually want those notes to be louder and the right tone WOULD be from those strings, but they are just too quiet.

I have seen criticism of Elixir's D G tone, and was wondering if anyone else had experienced it. I would happily go for Rotosound or GHS, I was concerned about excessive pick or fret noise. (Quite frankly just prejudice based on the fact they are more "classic" designs)
 
#8
Yeah man, what you describe sounds normal. A thinner string being played at a different length doesn't produce the same fundamental or overtones. The only way you could get all 4 strings to sound identical on the same notes would be to have all of them the same guage and tuned the same, which would be rather silly. My 12th fret E sounds fatter than 7th fret A, and while they're both playing the same note, it's the physical difference in the plucked string.
 
#9
No. The DR hi beams are an uncoated stainless wound string that is pretty much the opposite of the elixirs. Try another coated string -- just about every company makes one, but they are always among the most expensive.

What kind of bass are you playing? Drastic change in string to string volume has always meant to me that string height, setup or pickup height needs to be addressed to even out individual string response.
 
#10
IPYF said:
For studio work you'll need multiple sets. I went through 1 set per song on our last record.
Click to expand...

:eek: How???

As for OP, I think DR nickel Lo riders might be better than the hi-beams for what you're looking for. Much closer to the Elixirs in string tension in my experience - going from Elixirs to Hi-beams was a big difference in playability, at least on my basses. I've had just about every string DR has to offer on my basses, and my BTB originally came with Elixirs - the nickel lo-riders were as close as I got to the Elixirs, not that that's exactly what I was going for. Maybe give those a shot over the hi beams. YMMV
 
#11
Another consideration is if you're used to playing a coated string, your playing style may be less forgiving of finger sliding noise (of course you might not have that at all but some do). Going to a non-coated round immediately before going into a studio may be hard for you...the adjustment you might have to make to reduce noise, and also the new string noise itself. I'd stick with my rsuggestion on Thomastik, if you can find them. They also require some familiarization due to the tension, and perhaps a little loosening of the truss rod which isnt a big deal, but I think the studio will really like your tone, and you will too.
 
#13
I have a 2004 Rick 4003 and a Fender Aerodyne Jazz. The Rick was bought used and came with a Seymour Duncan bridge pickup, and the Aero Jazz was bought new with a P neck pickup. I don't know what the Aero came with, but when I bought it my band mates said the Jazz had much more even tone across the strings, and we all blamed the Seymour Duncan pickup, even though I had adjusted it.

I changed the stock strings on the Jazz to Elixirs three weeks ago, and just now I am noticing that my problem is back. This is why I am wondering if the famous Elixir lifespan applies to the E A strings, but not D G.
 
#14
CrashAlpha said:
I changed the stock strings on the Jazz to Elixirs three weeks ago, and just now I am noticing that my problem is back. This is why I am wondering if the famous Elixir lifespan applies to the E A strings, but not D G.
Click to expand...

Well, if you use your E and A strings significantly more than your D and G strings it would make sense that the coating would wear through faster on those strings... If you're worried then just ditch the Elixers. There's plenty more out there to choose from.
 
#15
bass12 said:
Well, if you use your E and A strings significantly more than your D and G strings it would make sense that the coating would wear through faster on those strings... If you're worried then just ditch the Elixers. There's plenty more out there to choose from.
Click to expand...
You know, it's an excellent point... I spend 85 % of my time on the low end. Could be that it isn't the D G is degrading, but the E A coating g is coming off and those strings are getting louder.
 
#16
In the end, my choice was limited by what the store carried and time constraints. At the suggestion of the store clerk, I went for Cleartone treated strings as an alternative to Elixir. They are nickel plated, like the Elixirs and apparently the coating is durable and has minimal tone impact. As they only had one set, I also took good old stainless steel RotoSound Swing bass. Both sets 45-105. I know RotoSound on Ricks are a classic combination so I'll put those on the 4003, and I'll put the Cleartones on the Aerodynamic tonight. If anyone has thoughts on these particular guitar string combos feel free to jeer and mock. I also picked up some Brain 0.60 picks. I love Brains' grippy surface, but I figure my 0.80's were causing premature coating wear and contributing to pick noise.
 
#17
I like Rotos a lot. I have them on my 2 main players. But they bother me until the zing has gone, and for me, even if I try to deaden them, that process takes a couple of weeks heavy play. After that, they develop a rich mid/low-mid tone and great lows, with still enough chime on top. I'm afraid if you take brand new Roto 66 into the studio, you may have problems....but thats just my opinion.
 
#20
D'Addario XL Nickels now come in a Balanced Tension set which is also better balanced TONALLY than their (or other brands') Standard tension sets. If you KNOW that you want a fatter top, you can order them as individual strings. I say this because they are INHERENTLY well-balanced from top to bottom compared to other Mfg. NPS. Any change in gauge balance should also be followed with a pickup height adjustment to fine-tune the output and the tone.
 

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