ProSteels - undesirable mids?

[Tubehed]

I've been using ProSteels on my fretted bass for about 5 years now, and really like them. My experience is that they age gracefully, developing a modern full-range tone without significant top-end loss. I find them articulate and easy to control, so capable of a wide range of tones through technique alone. I also like the piano-like top-end extension when playing in the upper registers. Of course the fashion right now seems to be for more 'traditional' thicker tones that can be easily buried in the mix, so ProSteels might well disappoint if that is the goal.
YMMV

Excellent description that matches my experience.

 

[Samatza]

I use them on some basses, I can’t say I found the mids offensive, they are bright though and these days I prefer a warmer tone so I use them less.

I suppose it depends on the bass and a lot of other factors. I mainly use DR Hi Beams but I do like Daddario tape wounds on my fretless.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

I’ve always loved cobalts

only used them on my classic ray 5 and 4

and my peavey G bass
And peavey Randy Jackson IV

 

[HeavyGroove]

I've read pretty often about Pro Steels being "mid scooped". Are we talking about low mids? If anything, I think Pro Steels sound like they have somewhat boosted upper mids like the XL's. I really like them after they settle in a bit. They lose some of the top end zing but stay bright and punchy for a long time. They also lose that sticky feeling pretty quickly and don't feel as rough to me after a few hours of break in. Nice tension, too.

Yeah, for me it was the opposite - much preferred the tone the first week of having them as opposed to now.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

The lows on the Lo Riders are focused and not boomy at all. Very balanced set.

Yup. been using them for almost 16 years now. Good strings.

 

[matante]

Yeah, for me it was the opposite - much preferred the tone the first week of having them as opposed to now.

You've only used them once and you're complaining about the A string, so it sounds like you got a bad string. Pro Steels are good strings but they're not great at any particular thing, not the smoothest, not the brightest, not the most character. They're good though and have a fair price. I wouldn't knock them so easily.

 

[Lenny JG]

Imo the problem is that you used d'addario. Definitely wouldn't recommend Ernie ball as a replacement either.

 

[HeavyGroove]

You've only used them once and you're complaining about the A string, so it sounds like you got a bad string. Pro Steels are good strings but they're not great at any particular thing, not the smoothest, not the brightest, not the most character. They're good though and have a fair price. I wouldn't knock them so easily.

Fair enough. I've had individual strings die on me before but I can't remember one one actually stood out more than the rest once broken in. I already ordered a pack of the SS lo riders, but if those don't work out I'll give the ProSteels another shot - I did really like them at the start.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I recently switched over to D'addario ProSteels on my fiver and thought they were great for the first two weeks. Now, not so much. I'm guessing that they are settling in now but the A string has developed some serious honk / quacking mids. This is very apparent when played in the 3-7 fret range. I'm usually a fan of mids but these are actually distracting when I play and don't seem to fit the other strings.

I tried to search around and saw people mentioning scooped mids with ProSteels if anything so this is a surprise to me. Anyone else experience this? I want to keep this level of tension (or more) so I might try out EB edit: cobalt next if these don't work out.

Thanks!

I hate the weird honky twang that you get with steel/stainless strings. Nickel all day for me. Nickel strings are bright too. In fact, because of the non scoop, they actually sound brighter to me than stainless strings. You don't get the weird honk twang, and you can still fry a tweeter no problem. I, myself, never understood why people like them.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Imo the problem is that you used d'addario. Definitely wouldn't recommend Ernie ball as a replacement either.

Hella word

 

[matante]

Fair enough. I've had individual strings die on me before but I can't remember one one actually stood out more than the rest once broken in. I already ordered a pack of the SS lo riders, but if those don't work out I'll give the ProSteels another shot - I did really like them at the start.

If I understand correctly these are for a short scale bass? Does it require short scale strings? Is the fat part of the string wrapping around the tuning key?

If you need short scale strings you don't have a ton of options for stainless rounds, but Pro Steels are available. Same goes if you need medium scale strings, even fewer options but Pro Steels are one of them.

 

[HeavyGroove]

If I understand correctly these are for a short scale bass? Does it require short scale strings? Is the fat part of the string wrapping around the tuning key?

If you need short scale strings you don't have a ton of options for stainless rounds, but Pro Steels are available. Same goes if you need medium scale strings, even fewer options but Pro Steels are one of them.

This is for an Ibanez EHB 1005SMS. It's a headless bass so no winding at either end (tuners behind the bridge that just pull on the ball end). It came stock with a normal D'Addario nickel EXL170-5SL set. There is a clamp for each string that you tighten just past the nut and then just clip off the excess sticking out. The string is straight minus the normal break at the nut and bridge.

 

[Chad Michael]

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a perfect string for electric bass?

I fall for brunettes with brown eyes... and Pro Steels

 

[Stranger Danger]

I don't know about undesirable. You have to want to really cut the mix if you use them.

 

[Topkat13]

What about trying another brand?

 

[Aloe]

the A string has developed some serious honk / quacking mids. This is very apparent when played in the 3-7 fret range.

I'm probably late to the party, but I suspect a problem in action, cause I've seen it recently with other strings and fixed that by lowering action for the A string a tiny bit. I don't really understand the physics behind this, but somehow it worked. I've tried it on other strings on same bass and it was the same: lower the action -> less hi-mids in the exact string. on fresh strings that's not so evident though.

so my advice is: before changing the strings, try tweaking the action: raise and lower the A string and see if it helps.

 

[tindrum]

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a perfect string for electric bass?

I fall for brunettes with brown eyes... and Pro Steels

To prove your point I’m also a total sucker for brown eyes brunettes but I’m a hardcore DR guy.

 

[frankie5string]

What do the strings look like going over the bridge saddles? That could provide clues as to why they die quickly, or why they're acting strange.

D'Addario's manufacturing has been extremely consistent for decades and they do stand behind their products. They do make adjustments here and there, but if their strings are dying due to a problem with their strings, they probably want to know about it and make it right for you.

 

[HeavyGroove]

What do the strings look like going over the bridge saddles? That could provide clues as to why they die quickly, or why they're acting strange.

D'Addario's manufacturing has been extremely consistent for decades and they do stand behind their products. They do make adjustments here and there, but if their strings are dying due to a problem with their strings, they probably want to know about it and make it right for you.

I hadn't thought about reaching out to them if that is what you are suggesting.

When I put strings on I "bend" the strings over the saddle before tightening them all the way to make sure there is proper termination.

I'm probably late to the party, but I suspect a problem in action, cause I've seen it recently with other strings and fixed that by lowering action for the A string a tiny bit. I don't really understand the physics behind this, but somehow it worked. I've tried it on other strings on same bass and it was the same: lower the action -> less hi-mids in the exact string. on fresh strings that's not so evident though.

so my advice is: before changing the strings, try tweaking the action: raise and lower the A string and see if it helps.

I set my action pretty low - I enjoy a little bit of fret buzz for my standard tone. Not sure if I could go any lower without causing issues, but I could try raising it slightly and see what happens.

I don't know about undesirable. You have to want to really cut the mix if you use them.

It is less noticeable in the mix (I boost my mids for my normal tone as it is). That said, I guess it's a bit of a once it's heard it's always there in the background situation.

What about trying another brand?

I have a set of SS DR lo riders on the way to compare.

 

[Aloe]

I set my action pretty low - I enjoy a little bit of fret buzz for my standard tone. Not sure if I could go any lower without causing issues, but I could try raising it slightly and see what happens.

in my case that was really micro-adjustments, so that 'lowering' didn't affect playability.