I like 'em, too. Especially the Marcus Miller set.
OP, have you tried Finger Ease or some such string lubricant? Skin oil works fine for me; I just discretely rub the back of my ear or the top of my bald head to pick up some.
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I like 'em, too. Especially the Marcus Miller set.
OP, have you tried Finger Ease or some such string lubricant? Skin oil works fine for me; I just discretely rub the back of my ear or the top of my bald head to pick up some.
You are right, I used a 130 gauge. 125 would feel quite thinner indeed. The problem is that elixirs low b doesn't ring nicely. Or perhaps I have bad luck every time I buy them - simply very poor sustain compared to others.
I've used a couple of different brands of stainless over the years and have found the problem seems to be worst when they are fresh and gradually gets a little better after your fingertips burnish the surface a bit. But, I also always took a little piece of 1000 and 2000 grit sandpaper (used dry) and wrapped it around the strings and went up and down for a couple of minutes to burnish the outer windings.
Could be worth a try, thanks for the idea. Will try it on my current rotos before I replace them before I screw something up
Unfortunately here in Slovenia, Europe I don't have access to any store near enough to be able to get them...
If you're a pick player, you could try nickel strings with a metal pick. Might be cool.
I play every style since I professionally play in a wide variety of genres, ranging from jazz to alternative really.
Thanks for this idea, didn't try the dunlops much except for their flats which I liked pretty much.
okcrum
in your chest
That's a finger strength issue, then. I had it myself until I realized I needed to build up more so I could stroke through the string no matter how deep I dug in (well, to the point of bouncing the string off the pickup, anyway).
I also had it when I started playing DB again, and those are flatwounds, but ~20 lb. more tension.
I guess that means lower tension SS might be an option, but that seems like an oxymoron to me.
Ahem, I play upright bass with no problems at all so I don't think that finger strength is an issue
Strength is not the point. I can dig in really hard. Point is that the finger gets stuck there and I do not desire to play my instrument harder than needed. Also, for certain musical styles, less finger pressure is preferred.
okcrum
in your chest
Ahem, I play upright bass with no problems at all so I don't think that finger strength is an issue
Strength is not the point. I can dig in really hard. Point is that the finger gets stuck there and I do not desire to play my instrument harder than needed. Also, for certain musical styles, less finger pressure is preferred.
Ah OK. Well, dynamics is all about finger pressure control. I've had BLs check me out playing a touch fade on the first gig.
Just relating my experience. In my case, I needed more finger strength, and now things are fine, with one exception noted below.Mingus used to trim his calluses with a razor blade. Is one of yours hanging up on the rounds? I had one of those - from playing DB.
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Whenever I've had a problem with that it always seems to be in the summertime, ie. very high humidity. I always quickly rinse and immediately dry my hands before playing and I notice a smoother release from the strings from that. Worse case scenario I dip my fingertips into a bottle of 99% rubbing alcohol to totally dry them out.Ahem, I play upright bass with no problems at all so I don't think that finger strength is an issue
Strength is not the point. I can dig in really hard. Point is that the finger gets stuck there and I do not desire to play my instrument harder than needed. Also, for certain musical styles, less finger pressure is preferred.
Ah OK. Well, dynamics is all about finger pressure control. I've had BLs check me out playing a touch fade on the first gig.
Mingus used to trim his calluses with a razor blade. Is one of yours hanging up on the rounds? I had one of those - from playing DB.
Yeah calluses are a major pain in the ass for ebass. Fortunately somehow my callusess kind of settled down as I strengthened that part of the skin but it was a major issue in the begginig simce my finger was completely covered with blisters. But no, this is not the case. I tend to have a relatively dry hand when I play and this dry finger really likes to get stuck in there. If I cover my fingers with sweat then it is almost completely smooth.
KEN SMITH TCRM-5 TAPER CORE STEEL BASS STRINGS, MEDIUM GAUGE 5's - 44-130 | eBay
I've been using these Ken Smith SS strings for a while and never noticed a rough or harsh feeling on my fingers. They've got good tone, deep and clear with decent mid range and crisp highs. I started using em cause I liked the sound of stainless and wanted to find a set with tapered strings on the low strings and I've played em exclusively for about 5 years now.
I've been using these Ken Smith SS strings for a while and never noticed a rough or harsh feeling on my fingers. They've got good tone, deep and clear with decent mid range and crisp highs. I started using em cause I liked the sound of stainless and wanted to find a set with tapered strings on the low strings and I've played em exclusively for about 5 years now.
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I played rotosound SS strings for years. I loved them and the sound they produced. It was only after seeing a trend of getting some dead string out of the new packs did I decide to start looking around for a replacement brand. After trying many over the course of a few years, I decided on switching to DiAddario Pro steels.
For me, they had the sound of the rotos, but seemed to last longer and I never had a bad string. As an added bonus, the strings were a touch smoother than my beloved Rotosound strings were as well. I have been using them for years and I really like them. I too am a professional bassist and take my sound very seriously. I find if I've been playing my basses with flatwound strings, I have to adjust to playing basses with the SS strings on again. It's nothing major, but they do take a different touch to play right. Finger ease spray lube helps a little, but easing up with finger pressure works the best.
Good luck I hope you get things figured out
For me, they had the sound of the rotos, but seemed to last longer and I never had a bad string. As an added bonus, the strings were a touch smoother than my beloved Rotosound strings were as well. I have been using them for years and I really like them. I too am a professional bassist and take my sound very seriously. I find if I've been playing my basses with flatwound strings, I have to adjust to playing basses with the SS strings on again. It's nothing major, but they do take a different touch to play right. Finger ease spray lube helps a little, but easing up with finger pressure works the best.
Good luck I hope you get things figured out
You could grow a pair and just keep playing....
Just pulling your chain. But seriously it takes time you will get used to it your fingers will adapt. Took me a few years of playing rotosounds but now they feel kinda smooth and natural nothing else works for me or sounds the same. Btw don't use finger ease it's the devil if you play multiple sets or in multiple bands it moistens the under layer of your skin and either creates blisters or makes them tender I stopped using it a few years ago after my junkie binge for about 5 years that stuff is terrible. If you need to lube it up wipe your hands on your face or use your sweat no kidding works pretty well
Just pulling your chain. But seriously it takes time you will get used to it your fingers will adapt. Took me a few years of playing rotosounds but now they feel kinda smooth and natural nothing else works for me or sounds the same. Btw don't use finger ease it's the devil if you play multiple sets or in multiple bands it moistens the under layer of your skin and either creates blisters or makes them tender I stopped using it a few years ago after my junkie binge for about 5 years that stuff is terrible. If you need to lube it up wipe your hands on your face or use your sweat no kidding works pretty well
It was a joke clearly state by the line below "just pulling your chain"
Like I've said before multiple times on here you can't even crack jokes around here anymore bc either mods ban you or ppl get upset
