So our sound guy comes to band practice...

[Lava]

Go to GC and get a set of Ernie Ball Slinky Bass and start from there. They're inexpensive and decent until you experiment with different brands and ultimately find what you really like.
You might also get a real bass set-up if you've never had your bass serviced.

 

[Siggy]

DR Hi-Beams might be a good place to start for "stainless bright strings".

Plus 1

 

[InhumanResource]

The first thing he says after listening to us play 5-6 songs....murph, how long have you had those strings on that bass....I start thinking, then I say, half stammering..,uh...like I don't know...well, I bought the bass with them on it...and I think they were on it before that ...so a year plus...lol...he says yeah you should get new ones...you need more brightness out of strings and those sound dead... I have no idea what kind of strings are on them...I know they are stainless, rounds...maybe..lol could be nickel but I'm thinking stainless...So I need a new set of stainless bright strings...

Just start experimenting! I made it a point to get a different set of strings every time until I found something I really liked. Then I changed that after a while just because.

 

[sawzalot]

I use D'Addario ProSteels. They sound good, have a nice feel, last forever, and are cheap on Amazon.

 

[Bassbeater]

Turn up the treble, wipe the strings down and tell him you changed strings. See if he notices.
Plenty of people don't change strings unless they are damaged or wearing at the frets. Some change them almost constantly. Plenty of "sound guys" just sitting in with the band want to establish power and worth, so instead of working with what is there, they give members errands. Not saying this is the case, but maybe think about it.

 

[2112]

I'd tell my sound guy to pack sand! On a couple of my basses I prefer dead strings.

If you're gonna be in a band... it ain't about you anymore... it's about the group and how each of you can contribute to make the group's product better. We all hate on singers and guitarists and drummers that pull this stuff. If you can't get your mind around that, then you have no business being in a band.

 

[Avigdor]

Our sound guy comes to very few practices, but when he does, we tend to record the entire practice session for post analysis. When he talks about the way an instrument sounds or sits in the mix we listen. We may then discuss what kind of sound or effect we were going for and figure out a way to achieve that for the audience, but we listen. These sessions are invaluable and highly appreciated by all, and he gets to practice how to make us sound good at the next gig.

So regardless of the issue, someone is giving you feedback that should help you assess your sound from an audience's perspective. You could do worse than to engage with that in a professional manner.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

The first thing he says after listening to us play 5-6 songs....murph, how long have you had those strings on that bass....I start thinking, then I say, half stammering..,uh...like I don't know...well, I bought the bass with them on it...and I think they were on it before that ...so a year plus...lol...he says yeah you should get new ones...you need more brightness out of strings and those sound dead... I have no idea what kind of strings are on them...I know they are stainless, rounds...maybe..lol could be nickel but I'm thinking stainless...So I need a new set of stainless bright strings...

From your description, he did make an accurate assesment....

 

[mikeswals]

Steel strings sound just too bright for my taste; and some people claim that they eat the frets fast.

I've been playing DR highbeams for about 22 years now, and my frets have never been eaten, worn, or even barely marked.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

The first thing he says after listening to us play 5-6 songs....murph, how long have you had those strings on that bass....I start thinking, then I say, half stammering..,uh...like I don't know...well, I bought the bass with them on it...and I think they were on it before that ...so a year plus...lol...he says yeah you should get new ones...you need more brightness out of strings and those sound dead... I have no idea what kind of strings are on them...I know they are stainless, rounds...maybe..lol could be nickel but I'm thinking stainless...So I need a new set of stainless bright strings...

I just think that's dope as hell that the sound guy would take his time to come to practice, and tell you guys anything that would help. Not just, spouting off a moment or two before the show, or giving up half way through it. That's pretty darn cool in my book. Did he tell yall anything else? He is the guy that not only controls your sound, but actually knows what you sound like. Cause not one of you ever know what you sound like...ever.

 

[electracoyote]

It's a real bonus to have a dedicated sound tech who shows for rehearsals. One of my bands had that, it was very helpful. However, color me skeptical on your sound tech's "expertise." There is so much more to your signal chain than the age of your strings. If that's the first place he jumped to, I would take his advice with a grain of salt. It could be the materials and construction of your bass for all we know. Tone starts at the source with your on-board electronics (volumes, tone, blend, etc.). Then effects, amplification method, and amp EQ. I could easily make an older set of strings sound brighter without changing them, unless he has some crazy clanky brittle sparkling high end tone in his head that demands a specific string type (and that doesn't sound very appealing to my ears). Changing out my strings would be the last step after I tried manipulating other variables first. Only then, if I still thought I needed more zing, would I look to a new string set. But as others have said, if your strings are absolutely deader than a door nail and really that seriously dull, a standard set of nickel rounds would probably do the trick.

 

[Gigabajillion]

As a Bassist and an engineer I found that communication between the stage and FOH is crucial and can be very beneficial to help the band get “their sound” heard. String Choice is important but if it is your tone YOU are going for to fit the band then stick with that and communicate that.

If it is not my band I work with I will go up and listen to the cabs and speak with the band during soundcheck and find out what they are going for out in the house. Having listened to recordings beforehand I would reference that in my mix as well.

Side note: Board mixes most always sound like crap. They are a representation of what is being played not a good reference for how the mix in the house was. EQ for the room is in place and if the Bassist, Fullstacks or Drums are slammin from stage they will be lower in the mix to get the quieter and or direct sounds through the speakers to match what is coming from the loud stage. This is represented in the board mix. Yeah, there was no drums in the house except kick and some verb on the snare because we could hear them just fine and full from the stage.

Communication is key IME.

 

[Big Hoss]

Have you been playing long enough to get a preference for strings? Did you buy the bass new, if so what kind of bass is it?

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

Pretty cool that your sound guy is willing to come sit in on rehearsal and be helpful. Definitely do not tell him off like some are suggesting. A year is a pretty long time to go without changing strings unless you use flats or have otherwise developed a definite preference for old strings. Go with a nice set of steel rounds, like you said, that generally seems to be what most players like. You may eventually develop a preference for nickel wound strings or flats, but don't worry about that now, your taste in tone will develop over time. For now just get some nice, new strings on there and enjoy that new string sound.

As far as specific suggestions go, personally I prefer DR Fat Beams. You have a lot of good options to choose from though.

 

[Bassbeater]

I'll probably get some hate for this...
When I'm not sitting in the live mix very well, the solution has almost always been varied cuts to the bass frequency followed by volume adjustment.

 

[chaosMK]

I always get bright stainless (DR LoRiders are my poison) because they stay bright a little longer. Nickel might be preferred if you not wanting to cut through the mix that aggressively.

 

[gln1955]

We're not there, so we don't know what the sound guy is hearing. Maybe there's a problem, maybe not. Old flats and even old dead rounds can sound amazing if that's the tone you're looking for. Get yourself out in front of the band and hear what he is hearing. If it sounds good to you and serves the style you are playing, then it's good. No need to bow to a sound man's particular taste.

 

[Ronzo]

If a RESPECTED outside opinion from someone with a vested interest in the overall sound of the band is offered, it should be considered.

Seriously, would you tell Eddie Kramer or Tom Dowd (RIP) to “pack sand”?

 

[murph7489]

i trust our sound guy he is very smart and he is very good...

 

[rugrat]

If you're gonna be in a band... it ain't about you anymore... it's about the group and how each of you can contribute to make the group's product better. We all hate on singers and guitarists and drummers that pull this stuff. If you can't get your mind around that, then you have no business being in a band.

I've got plenty of business being in a band.........30 plus years worth. If I'm playing old country and some ding dong tells me that I need bright, clanky strings, I'm gonna tell him to buzz off! I know what tools I need for my job. I pretty much use a different sound tech for each venue. Some I trust, some not so much.