Recommendations for diversity?

[bolophonic]

I like to keep my eyes peeled for good deals on other people's string experiments. I have purchased multiple package deals for 5-10 sets of barely-used strings out of the TB classifieds.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Yeah, I don't recommend the DR Neons...I'm a huge fan of DR strings and I avoid those at all costs. SS Hi Beams and Nickel-plated steel Lo Riders for SS, but I actually prefer GHS Precision Flats for flatwounds.

 

[SharpCat]

I know you will like TI Jazz Rounds. And also bibimbap tacos.

Hungry now!

 

[SharpCat]

GREAT individual suggestions! Thanks so much. But I’m hoping for suggestions of combinations of strings. For instance:
9050 flats plus sunbeams plus LaBella tapes plus ??? (Something brighter maybe?)

I’m looking to build a combination of “tools in the toolbox” if you will. So what combinations of strings complement each other?

 

[DJ Bebop]

I dig they are not for everyone but if one has a bass to spare, especially a P bass. La Bella 1954 flats. To see what Duck Dunn and James Jamerson had been working with. It's like playing an upright. It brings another perspective to forming bass lines.

 

[GIBrat51]

Out of 24 basses, only one wears rounds, and one wears tapes. Every other bass? Flats, baby... My Gretsch Broadkaster wears TI Jazz Rounds; not because I think they're wonderful, so much as that they're the only strings - any kind of strings - that actually make it sound like a useful bass. But, that said? Yeah, they're awfully nice strings.
The Tapes are Roto TruBass88's on an old violin bass. Mainly because - miracle of miracles - they are the only strings I tried on the thing, that not only tuned up with no problem, but actually intonated without a problem, too. Which is a very rare occurrence on basses like that... Kind of stiff, but really "woody" sounding; great if you want to try and fake an upright bass...
The only other round wounds that I've tried - and really liked - were hex-core GHS Bass Boomers. I've had EB Hybrid Slinkys on several basses - for a while. Those are kinda nice, but also kinda "Meh", too. However...
If you want some flats that are fairly versatile; smooth; break in easily; and won't break the bank? Try some Fender 9050L's. Added bonus? They sound an awful lot like TI Jazz Flats (like the ones on my Alembic Epic). Slightly less harmonic overtones, but not as "floppy/flexible", and a lot less expensive...

 

[staurosjohn]

I recommend Roto 55s if you want versatility and diversity in your tone. They're smoother to the touch than the nickel Roto 66s and they sound even better IMO. I used to play Roto 66s (both nickel and SS versions) and I switched to the 55s after the nickel 66s made my fingers bleed while practicing one night.

Kinda like this?!?

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

DR Fat Beams are some of my favorite strings, they are nice feeling on the fingers despite being stainless. SunBeams are good as well mellow but still plenty bright.

 

[MrAB4003]

Kinda like this?!?
View attachment 5182536

Not to that extreme! My fingers were covered in blood, but thank goodness it didn't get on my bass.

 

[MrAB4003]

one of the varieties of LaBella white nylon tapewounds might be worth trying out... not sure what the differences are between them (every description I've read from people seems to suggest different things) but in general they are all a lot brighter than flats but feel as smooth as flats.

In essence:
1. Regular Whites - They are the brighest of the bunch, but they still have plenty of mids and low end. They sound like new nickel rounds or broken in stainless steel rounds. They're fantastic for all genres (including metal).
2. Gold Whites - They have nice mids and can still be very bright. But they are lacking in the low end compared to the other strings. They sound like broken in nickel rounds, but without the low end.
3. Copper Whites - They have a nice mid-low presence, but don't have the brightness of the above strings. They're also the darkest of the white tapes. These are great for fretless basses.
4. Blacks - They are the darkest of the bunch. Typical black tapes.

 

[staurosjohn]

Not to that extreme! My fingers were covered in blood, but thank goodness it didn't get on my bass.

Just checked out ‘Vices’ on Soundcloud… I like it!

 

[MrAB4003]

Just checked out ‘Vices’ on Soundcloud… I like it!

Thank you so much! I have a second album in the works right now. All but the last track is done.

 

[Grahams Groove]

I love flats, but I have DR Hi Beams on my jazz bass at the moment and I’ve been enjoying them quite a bit. They’re fairly flexible with the round core and while they’re bright, I don’t find them to be abrasively so. Worth a shot in the interest of diversity.

Went back to DR strings after sticking to Dunlop Super Brights and RC Bass Boomers. Did Hi Beams for a bit and then shifted to fat beams. They are killer on my jazz bass.

 

[SharpCat]

Kinda like this?!?
View attachment 5182536

 

[SharpCat]

In essence:
1. Regular Whites - They are the brighest of the bunch, but they still have plenty of mids and low end. They sound like new nickel rounds or broken in stainless steel rounds. They're fantastic for all genres (including metal).
2. Gold Whites - They have nice mids and can still be very bright. But they are lacking in the low end compared to the other strings. They sound like broken in nickel rounds, but without the low end.
3. Copper Whites - They have a nice mid-low presence, but don't have the brightness of the above strings. They're also the darkest of the white tapes. These are great for fretless basses.
4. Blacks - They are the darkest of the bunch. Typical black tapes.

Appreciate the list. So what kinds of things would you use Gold Whites for?--No low end seems...not a bass.

 

[staurosjohn]

Not as bad as it looks (I think)… popped a callous, mid-set, and didn’t realize for awhile… cleaned ‘er up during a break… liquid bandage… ready to continue on

 

[MCF]

Try some SIT strings. I’ve been a recent convert. Powerwound nickels

love them on my jazz so maybe try them there

SITs. The Power Steels are my choice, along with Dunlop Marcus Miller Stainless Steel Superbrights, on almost all of my basses. Neither are as rough, at least to me, as the Roto stainless. The SIT Powerwounds sound almost the same, but are smoother to the touch.

 

[MrAB4003]

Appreciate the list. So what kinds of things would you use Gold Whites for?--No low end seems...not a bass.

Thanks! Some bassists use them in lieu of the regular Whites because they don't want too much brightness. So you can use them for almost any genre of music. The Gold Whites are basically brass alloy rounds with a layer of clear tape around them.

To clarify what I said before, the Gold Whites have low end, but not as much as the Copper Whites or Blacks. But they also sound plasticky compared to the regular Whites and Blacks in my experience, so therefore, I can't recommend them. I isolated some of my bass tracks that I recorded with the Gold Whites and what I heard made me switch them to the Roto 55s.

Check out the Tapewound Club for even more info! TapeWound Club~Anyone?

 

[lunarpollen]

In essence:
1. Regular Whites - They are the brighest of the bunch, but they still have plenty of mids and low end. They sound like new nickel rounds or broken in stainless steel rounds. They're fantastic for all genres (including metal).
2. Gold Whites - They have nice mids and can still be very bright. But they are lacking in the low end compared to the other strings. They sound like broken in nickel rounds, but without the low end.
3. Copper Whites - They have a nice mid-low presence, but don't have the brightness of the above strings. They're also the darkest of the white tapes. These are great for fretless basses.
4. Blacks - They are the darkest of the bunch. Typical black tapes.

I wish they would make a Bass VI set of the regular whites

 

[GBassNorth]

OK, so first, I love flats, but don't want ALL flats.

I've got 4 basses to shoe...
- Fender active PJ with Aguilar 4PJ-HC pickups, currently have DR neons on it, don't like them much. (Don't like the coating, the tone is just ok, IMHO)
- Yamaha BB234 PJ with passive Dimarzio Sixties PJ, currently 9050MLs, happy with them.
- Yamaha TRBX504 with OEM active humbuckers, DR Pure Blues, happy with those too.
- On the way, Fender player jazz bass.

So clearly nobody knows what I'll like, but got suggestions for what to put where? Probably want to keep the TRBX in rounds.

Strings I like (so far):
- DR Pure Blues
- GHS Pressurewounds 44-106
- Fender 9050ML
- D'Addario tapewounds 45-105
- Roto Ultramags
- DR Nickel LoRiders
- Roto Nickel 66
- Fender 7250s are OK

Did not like feel of:
- Roto 66 SS (Rough!)
- D'Addario half rounds

So if you wanted to get a good diversity of tone, what would you put where? No need to be too serious about it, but any suggestions that sound good I'll attempt to give a try.

Fender Active P/J - La Bella Black Tapes, medium gauge. I have a set on an active Tbird and the range in tones is fantastic.
Keep both Yamahas as is
Fender Player Jazz bass - Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. One of the most round wound sounding flat wounds out there.