Please help with string decision

[Jason Schulhz]

So I finally got some Hi Beams today, I've been hearing people raving about them forever. All I can say is, what the H man?! I'm not going to say they suck, because it's a matter of opinion and I can tell they are quality made, but they don't cut through the mix at all. I like the fact that they are smooth to the fingers but it ends there. I'm playing a P bass through a Fender Rumble. The tone I'm going for is similar to McCartney, I'm a pick player and play primarily the neck pickup. I definitely want roundwounds, I'm not sure if nickel or steel is the way to go for me. I'm trying to get a booming low end and I use a Sansamp for a slight tube breakup tone. But I do like that zingy note definition when you play a fill high up on the neck. I usually play with the tone rolled almost off. The best tone I've found so far is steel Elixirs. Should I end my search or keep experimenting?

 

[michael_t]

The best tone I've found so far is steel Elixirs. Should I end my search or keep experimenting?

Sounds like you might like the DR Stainless Steel Lo-Riders, which provide more of the low-mid punch than the Hi Beams. The same smooth texture as the HBs, but they're hex-core and a bit stiffer-feeling than the HBs, so choose your gauges accordingly.

 

[DylanB]

For low mid punch also try Sunbeams, especially if you like how the round core Hi Beams feel. I'll confess I haven't tried Hi Beams so can't compare, but when I first played Sunbeams I was impressed with the presence in the low mids (I think I said 'Holy mids, Batman!').

 

[michael_t]

For low mid punch also try Sunbeams, especially if you like how the round core Hi Beams feel. I'll confess I haven't tried Hi Beams so can't compare, but when I first played Sunbeams I was impressed with the presence in the low mids (I think I said 'Holy mids, Batman!').

An interesting observation...

I once tried the Sunbeams and the Nickel Lo-Riders back-to-back on my Fender Jazz and ended up liking the LRs better for their punchier presence in the mix. The Sunbeams do have a nice full bottom and sparkly top end, but to my ears the LRs are stronger in the mids.

 

[DylanB]

An interesting observation...

I once tried the Sunbeams and the Nickel Lo-Riders back-to-back on my Fender Jazz and ended up liking the LRs better for their punchier presence in the mix. The Sunbeams do have a nice full bottom and sparkly top end, but to my ears the LRs are stronger in the mids.

Fair play. It has been a while since I tried the Nickel Lo-Riders.

 

[Vodyanoi]

Should I end my search or keep experimenting?

Experiment with Sunbeams and you may end your search sooner than you think. They used to be my go-to strings for nearly two decades, until I switched to flats.

 

[eriky4003]

DR Fat Beams might be the ticket! You'll still get the 'zingy note definition' but more lows/mids for sure. Michael_T's suggestion of Lo-Riders is also rock solid.

 

[MynameisMe]

I'm playing a P bass through a Fender Rumble. The tone I'm going for is similar to McCartney, I'm a pick player and play primarily the neck pickup

Please explain.

 

[Jason Schulhz]

@MynameisMe, just that I like a low end. I discovered some things, my friends. I boosted my mids and tweaked my EQ and the DR high beams are sounding much better. Maybe being broken in has something also to do with it. I also changed picks from felt to plastic and that improved the tone a lot. The biggest difference came when I removed the Boss compressor from the chain, it was sucking what little lows it had right out. Even though it is the compressor that is known for doing that the least, and I had it dialed down, it was still doing it. That leads me to another question! Does the Sansamp bass driver DI compress the signal? Running them both together I might have been double compressing it.

 

[MynameisMe]

Really what I wanted to know was how you played the neck pickup on a P bass?

 

[MynameisMe]

I tried high beams and fat beams. Too bright for my tastes. Finally settled on DR Pure Blues. I'm more of a nickel player.
That bring said the P Bass just got restrung with a pair of old Flatwounds I had in my pile of parts.

 

[Matty Koff]

While I love the sound of a P-bass with the tone rolled off.. I generally have to have it at 50% or higher for my high notes and articulation not to be buried in the mix. YMMV.

 

[Jason Schulhz]

Really what I wanted to know was how you played the neck pickup on a P bass?

A P bass pickup consists of two single coils, connected together. If you play in between the pickup closest to the neck and the neck you get a Geezer Butler/ McCartney sound, and if you play in between the bridge and pickup closer to the bridge, you get a twang sound.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Just a thought - if you want zingy note definition when you play high on the neck, why is your tone rolled off?

 

[Jason Schulhz]

Just a thought - if you want zingy note definition when you play high on the neck, why is your tone rolled off?

I never said my tone was rolled off, but "almost" rolled off. I put just enough that you can hear some overtones. Although I'm not going completely for Flea's tone, he is a good example of someone with a booming low end and zingy fills up high. You can have both. I think he uses GHS Boomers though. I haven't tried them yet but I heard they don't last long (don't know if it's true). But he's a millionaire rock star so he can afford to re-string as often as he wants.

 

[michael_t]

GHS Boomers... I haven't tried them yet but I heard they don't last long (don't know if it's true). But he's a millionaire rock star so he can afford to re-string as often as he wants.

I've made a few posts recently in another thread about the Boomers on my 5-string Yamaha. When people say "they don't last long", it refers to the fact they lose their initial zing very quickly and settle into a relatively darker tonal character (for NPS rounds) with a strong low-mid punch but not much up top.

I already recommended the DR Lo-Riders earlier as a better alternative to the Hi Beams. The LRs do retain their initial brightness longer than the Boomers while providing the low-mid punch that sits very well in the mix. If you want added warmth, you can always try the Nickel Lo-Riders.

 

[Jason Schulhz]

I already recommended the DR Lo-Riders earlier as a better alternative to the Hi Beams. If you want added warmth, you can always try the Nickel Lo-Riders.[/QUOTE]

What I got from this thread is that DR is what I'm looking for. I plan on trying Lo-Riders, Sunbeams, Pure Blues, and Fat Beams. I am confident that you guys are right, and that my desired sound is one of those four. Thanks to all for narrowing my search!