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Recommend me some strings (single coil p bass content!)

bassistjoe93

bassistjoe93

Supporting Member
Sep 14, 2011
1,476
931
#1
I know this has probably been done to death but I'm gonna ask anyway!

Ok, recently acquired a Sting signature P Bass on a trade. So far, I'm really liking it. However I put my usual steel round wound SR2000's on it and they just don't fit. It's just too honky and bright.

I want a string that gives me some nice fat but defined bottom, but still retains some brightness. I was thinking maybe trying some Chromes? Unfortunately I don't have tons of money to test out different strings but I was curious if some single coil bass players in particular could recommend me some strings.

Thanks!
Joseph
 
#4
Tobybassplayer said:
I would probably use flat wounds on a 50's style p-bass like that. Maybe try some La Bella's
Click to expand...

I thought about flats but the only flats I've tried were fender flatwounds that I wasn't too impressed with. I know La Bellas are popular around here, but I'm not sure I want the thuddy thunk a dunk sound. Do they still retain good low end definition without being muddy?

As you can tell, I'm totally inexperienced with flatwounds :)
 
#6
Look into some GHS Precision Flats. Good definition but maybe a bit darker than you're looking for. Still, they're a great match for a PBass. Another direction to go if you want to lighten up the tone a bit are the GHS Pressure Wounds. They're a midpoint step towards a round.

Very mellow and very expressive but lacking in any kind of round wound zing and they're a much quieter string than a round but still retain some round wound feel and upper mid brightness to them. I use them on my Jazz Bass and they are truly the best match I've ever had on any Fender Bass I've owned.

Through bassstringsonline.com they'd run you about $20 a set with TB member pricing.
 
#7
You pretty much described DR Sunbeams. Huge bottom end, nice clear top end without being harsh or zingy. Chromes (or any other flat) were too dead and thuddy for me.

Another good choice would be GHS Pressurewounds. A less bright than Sunbeams, but more lively than flats.
 
#11
Hi Joseph,

"It's just too honky and bright."
"I'm not sure I want the thuddy thunk a dunk sound."

It's hard to recommend flats without knowing the player. It's all a question of personal taste in sound and feel. There are lots of good ones out there. None of them are single-coil specific, I would say.

Based on what you've said I think the TI jazz flats would be a good starting point... as long as you are cool with giving them a month or so to break in. It took me a while to get used to them but now I'm hooked.

The truth is: I have a drawer with two sets of Labella Flats, a set of Chromes, a set of Pyramids, some Fender nickel roundwounds, & a set of GHS tapewound strings. Every once in a while I switch things up to get super specific or to just refresh my hands & ears. Overall the TIs are my current favorite.

Good luck!
 
#14
Hey thanks for the response guys! I've got some reading and research to do for sure. They all sound like they could work, wish I had the spare $$ to try em all! I'm guessing my ideal string would be really smooth sounding without being thuddy or losing definition, I realize I'm all over the place with my vague descriptions so for that I apologize! :)
 
#15
bassistjoe93 said:
Hey thanks for the response guys! I've got some reading and research to do for sure. They all sound like they could work, wish I had the spare $$ to try em all! I'm guessing my ideal string would be really smooth sounding without being thuddy or losing definition, I realize I'm all over the place with my vague descriptions so for that I apologize! :)
Click to expand...

Nah, you're not all over the place. Your description is pretty simple...DR Sunbeams or GHS Pressurewounds!

Sunbeams can get brighter and will be lower tension.
Pressurewounds will be smoother and higher tension.
 

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