steel strings

[morehorn]

this goes out to everyone -- i usually go straight to the JMJ window when visiting talkbass. i find that posters here have similar tastes and outlooks to my own.

what's your take -from a sonics and industry-trends perspective- on pure steel strings? i.e. daddario prosteels, roto 66, etc. last time i checked you (JMJ) didn't seem to use them.

 

[jmjbassplayer]

Yeah, too bright for moi.

 

[vegas532]

I've been using DR Hi-Beams for around 15 years now. I've always preferred having the high mid and treble detail in my sound that steel strings give. The downside, at least for DRs, is that they're very unforgiving strings.
Although I can see how it wouldn't be for everyone, I'll always be a diehard steel guy myself.

 

[pbass2]

A pbass with a pick and some steel 66's can certainly deliver a mean rock sound with little fuss. I think of it as one of the classic rock tones. Still, easy enough to get that vibe with new-ish nickels with some EQ tweaking and whatnot.

 

[gillento]

I myself use either Sadowky Blue Steel strings on my Nordy PJ and JJ and Fender Flats on my reverend and a Fender P.

 

[Dan Bozek]

No steel strings for me. They're cool, just not what I'm usually going for. I'm a D'Addario chrome flats, half round, or nickel guy, and I'll use a pedal or some EQ-ing if I need more zing than the nickels provide, which is usually quite enough.

 

[morehorn]

the low mids and sort-of-shelved low end is what's attractive to me. they sound like they "hit" a little more where nickel steels tend to bump and bounce in the low end. but, yes, as primarily a flats player, I find the high end conflicts with the sound in my head plus I can't deal with being more delicate or setting up super high to avoid feet noise. have to have basses with some different strings for flavor and I prefer the steels to nickel steels but, again, really can't get over the buzzing I tend to get on the particular machine I'm trying to use steels on.

 

[JimmyM]

Started with Rotos, switched to nickels after playing Banner Thomas' bass with Dean Markley nickels (Banner used to play bass in Molly Hatchet). I like some high end but wasn't so crazy about the vast amount of it in Rotos so I swapped. Also wasn't crazy about the extra fretwear I got with Rotos. Used Markleys for a while, then Ernie Ball and GHS, then discovered that D'addarios were darn good strings despite being the cheapest, so since then I've stuck with them.