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Question For Bass Players With Many Basses

#141
ejaggers said:
View attachment 4258610 I've seen many family photos here on TB which has raised string management questions.
I believe I saw one family of all blue Jazz basses, @TBird1958 has multiple Birds.
Some families are diverse like mine which includes SS, MS, and LS.

I don't have any duplicate model basses in my collection,
nor have I used the same brand/model strings on more than one.
There's no philosophy behind this it's just how it happened.

Strings are expensive and also harder to find now days,
So my questions are:
  1. Do you use the same brand/model strings on multiple basses?
  2. Do you think it best to put flats on basses you only play every now and then?
  3. Do you find a brand/model that you like and stick with them for years?
  4. And of course, the controversial question, do you prefer flats, rounds or both depending on the bass?
057912
Click to expand...
I tend to stick to one or two brands just because. DR are my go to, EB are my "cheap and available" strings. I bounce around on which version of the DRs I like.

When I find a bass brand that has the things I am looking for I tend to be loyal to them as well. For a few years I had 3 Lakland basses. Now I have 2 Spectors and am looking at a third.

I don't really care for flats. I think they are over rated and don't have much place in anything I do. I have one bass strung with them just for giggles, and it isn't a bass I use very often.
 
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#142
ejaggers said:
View attachment 4258610 I've seen many family photos here on TB which has raised string management questions.
I believe I saw one family of all blue Jazz basses, @TBird1958 has multiple Birds.
Some families are diverse like mine which includes SS, MS, and LS.

I don't have any duplicate model basses in my collection,
nor have I used the same brand/model strings on more than one.
There's no philosophy behind this it's just how it happened.

Strings are expensive and also harder to find now days,
So my questions are:
  1. Do you use the same brand/model strings on multiple basses?
  2. Do you think it best to put flats on basses you only play every now and then?
  3. Do you find a brand/model that you like and stick with them for years?
  4. And of course, the controversial question, do you prefer flats, rounds or both depending on the bass?
057912
Click to expand...
Great questions here..me?
Squier 60s CV Precision(China)-TI jazz flats
80s Tune Bass Maniac- Daddario Flexsteels
Warwick Streamer Stage 2- Fender 9050 Flats
Steinberger XL2- Currently labella rounds but switch to LaBella flats depending on songs..
So I dont have a preference but I used to be exclusive rounds until I tried flats. I like both!
 
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#143
I use whatever strings I need to accomplish the task.
I really only have one main player bass, my others are just different flavors, that I might use for recording (short scale, 5 string, etc).

I like D'addario for rounds, but I am using some random Fender flats on another one of my basses. I'm not too picky, I use what works.
 
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#144
I've been using Boo.ers for a while because they are cheap. I didnt really care for them at first they were just cheap. I have a pretty big stockpile of them so that's why I like them.

I generally have a P with flats on it. That's the ultimate classic sound. I dont play it that often because it really doesnt fit the style of music I play.

As far as brands go Ernie Ball is pretty much my go to. I always like multiples of any bass I play out with. If I break a string or some6goes wrong can just plug and play. No EQ changes or anything like that.
 
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#146
ejaggers said:
View attachment 4258610 I've seen many family photos here on TB which has raised string management questions.
I believe I saw one family of all blue Jazz basses, @TBird1958 has multiple Birds.
Some families are diverse like mine which includes SS, MS, and LS.

I don't have any duplicate model basses in my collection,
nor have I used the same brand/model strings on more than one.
There's no philosophy behind this it's just how it happened.

Strings are expensive and also harder to find now days,
So my questions are:
  1. Do you use the same brand/model strings on multiple basses?
  2. Do you think it best to put flats on basses you only play every now and then?
  3. Do you find a brand/model that you like and stick with them for years?
  4. And of course, the controversial question, do you prefer flats, rounds or both depending on the bass?
057912
Click to expand...

Have narrowed it to 3 brands over my dozen of so basses.
Long Scale is always SIT Nickles, I try mediums 50-105 first, then standard 45-105's
Short Scale Vintage Gibson's only have Labella Deep Talking Nylons
Short Scale Modern Gibson's either have their original strings 45-105 or D'Addario Nickle. 35-100
 
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#149
USMC5547 said:
I'd like to know more about the HH Jazz.
Click to expand...
It's a Fender 'Modern Player' Jazz bass, discontinued in 2018, I think. Originally trans-black, I had Marty Bell refinish it, and I upgraded all of the electronics, except the original pickups because they sound so good. It has a drop D tuner and is sporting tapewound strings.

1.jpg
20210404_125544.jpg
DROP D.jpg
 
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#152
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#153
Flats on fretted, I have two. One has Ernie Ball, the other has Pyramids. Prefer the pyramids.

Roundwounds on fretless, not sure how many I have, but they all have Ernie Ball extra slinkies.
 
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#157
Every bass I have has different strings.
57 AVRI P Bass has TI Flats
Warmoth 51 P bass bass Chromes
American Deluxe Jazz 5 NYXL's
Stingray 5 has Slinky's
Stingray 4 Fretless Hi-Beams. Though I just changed from TI flats for a different sound
Gibson ES-Les Paul LaBella black tapes
The J bass and SR5 strings get changed more often than the others because I like bright new strings on them.
 
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#158
  1. Do you use the same brand/model strings on multiple basses?
Yes.
  1. Do you think it best to put flats on basses you only play every now and then?
No.
  1. Do you find a brand/model that you like and stick with them for years?
Yes.
  1. And of course, the controversial question, do you prefer flats, rounds or both depending on the bass?
Rounds.
 
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#159
I like bright and snappy tone on all my basses (including the two Ps) so I always use stainless steel rounds. DR High Beams, D'Addario Pro Steels, or Dunlop Super Brights.

I can always back off the tone and treble if I want thump, but you're not going to get bright, crushing bite with flats. I've never put flats on any of my basses. I've played other people's basses with flats and they just sound like dead rounds to me.
 
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#160
Rounds on all 4 strings other than my Hofner Icon and Squire P-Bass which have flats. Usually the rounds are Rotosounds lite or extra lite on most, but I prefer Ken Smiths for the Alembic. Always steel, never nicklle. Used to use Dean Markley Blue Steels on everything (I loved them on my Ric) but they've become too expensive and hard to find. I've used Optima golds from time to time, too. On the Ibanez 5-string, I use coated strings of various brands to tame the highs and also because I just don't play it very often.
 
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