Still in Search of My Perfect String. Does it Exist?

[Flatwoundround]

Here is my criteria for the perfect string, which as yet I have not found:

1. No String Squeek Finger Noise (this suggests flats or tapes)

2. Good low end and punchiness (still suggests flats)

3. A more versatile sound that can sound a little more modern and even some slap potential and more old school via tone knob and palm muting (do I hear Chromes anyone? GHS pressurewounds?)

4. That do not feel too grippy under the slightest bit of heat and or humidity (Good Bye Flats)

Chromes

So I love Chromes. They fit the first 3 criteria above but not the 4th. My fingers will feel like they stick to the strings when it gets a little humid or too hot. That is a nightmare experience when you feel like you are fighting with your instrument and at a gig this sucks. Tried to spray finger ease but only helps a little. The problem is that flats are well flat, so the surface area of your skin makes the greatest contact with the flat surface. Thus the grippy or sticky feeling when there is heat or humidity.

GHS Pressurewound Strings.

These are awesome strings and satisfy all above except number 1. True they do not have as much string noise as your usual rounds but compared to flats there is a lot of it. Playing with the band of course the string noise is not an issue but when I play alone and record myself that noise I don't care for (my bandmates say they actually like it but I simply do not). I know some folks will say technique will cut this out alot but sorry, I have enough to work on already with my muting technique and slap, and many other things and still have to learn music too. I think tone wise these sound even better than the Chromes except these have the finger noise and Chromes do not.

Tapewounds

I tried the Labella gold tapes and they were great for all the criteria above except number 2. These strings felt so amazing but the tone was not nearly as good as the other two strings mentioned. They were not as deep and not as punchy as the other two strings even though they felt the best for sure. Yes they were also a little bit too loose feeling but I just gave the neck some more curve and that seemed to balance it out more.


Anybody got ideas? I wonder if fast fret would help the chromes on the grippy issue? Again I tried finger ease but to no avail. Is there such a thing as tapewound that could get a tone that is comparable to the Chromes or the GHS pressurewounds? Seems to me that would be the ultimate string.


Thanks.

 

[michael_t]

GHS Pressurewound Strings.

These are awesome strings and satisfy all above except number 1. True they do not have as much string noise as your usual rounds but compared to flats there is a lot of it. Playing with the band of course the string noise is not an issue but when I play alone and record myself that noise I don't care for (my bandmates say they actually like it but I simply do not). I know some folks will say technique will cut this out alot but sorry, I have enough to work on already with my muting technique and slap, and many other things and still have to learn music too. I think tone wise these sound even better than the Chromes except these have the finger noise and Chromes do not.

"Perfection" in life, including bass strings, only comes as a result of you making the right decisions on where you're willing to make some compromises in order to achieve your main objective most effectively. It's all about "getting the maximum return on your investment".

For me personally, switching from the Fender 9050 flats to the GHS Pressurewound for my Jazz bass meant I would have to accept the simple fact I would be putting up with some finger noise (as insignificant as it might be for some) - something I've always detested ever since I was an acoustic guitar player in my former life. Was it worth the compromise? You bet! I can put up with the small annoyance in the light of the fact my Jazz has never sounded this good!

 

[Flatwoundround]

"Perfection" in life, including bass strings, only comes as a result of you making the right decisions on where you're willing to make some compromises in order to achieve your main objective most effectively. It's all about "getting the maximum return on your investment".

For me personally, switching from the Fender 9050 flats to the GHS Pressurewound for my Jazz bass meant I would have to accept the simple fact I would be putting up with some finger noise (as insignificant as it might be for some) - something I've always detested ever since I was an acoustic guitar player in my former life. Was it worth the compromise? You bet! I can put up with the small annoyance in the light of the fact my Jazz has never sounded this good!

Thanks for the reply. I agree the GHS pressurewound strings are awesome, great tone and they are very easy on the fingers too. They seem to have similar tension as flats so fret buzz is not a major issue. The GHS pressurewounds and the Chromes are both the closest to the perfect string for me. I figure at gigs and playing with the band the pressurewounds are the way to go because the finger noise gets covered up and I don't have to worry about the grippy factor that the chromes have since they are flats.

If there was a way to get rid of the finger noise (string squeek) on the pressurewounds I would have found the ultimate string in the entire universe.

Question. I just got my pressurewound strings about 2 weeks ago but have played roughly 20 hours on them. As they get more and more broken in can I expect the string noise to reduce more and more significantly?

Thanks.

 

[michael_t]

The GHS pressurewounds and the Chromes are both the closest to the perfect string for me. I figure at gigs and playing with the band the pressurewounds are the way to go because the finger noise gets covered up and I don't have to worry about the grippy factor that the chromes have since they are flats.

My J bass wore a set of the Chromes for the first four years of its life. While I never did experience the stickiness you're talking about, I eventually gave up on them for their tonal quality that seemed to lack something compared to the way they sounded on the Fender MIM P bass I had at the time.

Question. I just got my pressurewound strings about 2 weeks ago but have played roughly 20 hours on them. As they get more and more broken in can I expect the string noise to reduce more and more significantly?

Just like any strings, the finger noise is the most pronounced when they're brand new, although I don't think you should "expect the string noise to reduce more and more significantly" as such.

Here's something interesting about the finger noise... Although the finger noise on the PWs is noticeably less than a typical set of rounds, what it has done is to help me clean up my left-hand technique. As a regular flatwound user, I'd gotten so used to having no finger noise that my fretting hand started to get lazy and sloppy. Whatever little finger squeak I get on the PWs now is actually forcing me to pay more attention to what my left hand is doing. I think there is a benefit in that.

 

[lz4005]

Here's something interesting about the finger noise... Although the finger noise on the PWs is noticeably less than a typical set of rounds, what it has done is to help me clean up my left-hand technique. As a regular flatwound user, I'd gotten so used to having no finger noise that my fretting hand started to get lazy and sloppy. Whatever little finger squeak I get on the PWs now is actually forcing me to pay more attention to what my left hand is doing. I think there is a benefit in that.

Yes!
OP shouldn't be looking for a hardware solution to a user error problem.

 

[Flatwoundround]

My J bass wore a set of the Chromes for the first four years of its life. While I never did experience the stickiness you're talking about, I eventually gave up on them for their tonal quality that seemed to lack something compared to the way they sounded on the Fender MIM P bass I had at the time.



Just like any strings, the finger noise is the most pronounced when they're brand new, although I don't think you should "expect the string noise to reduce more and more significantly" as such.

Here's something interesting about the finger noise... Although the finger noise on the PWs is noticeably less than a typical set of rounds, what it has done is to help me clean up my left-hand technique. As a regular flatwound user, I'd gotten so used to having no finger noise that my fretting hand started to get lazy and sloppy. Whatever little finger squeak I get on the PWs now is actually forcing me to pay more attention to what my left hand is doing. I think there is a benefit in that.

Thanks again. I will try to keep an open mind about cleaning up my left hand technique on the pressurewounds to reduce the string noise. You are lucky you never had the grippy sticky issue with your Chromes. I have two P-bass setups one currently with the Chromes and the other with the GHS pressurewounds. So I will probably just play both basses using the GHS PW's with the band and at gigs but more of the Chromes when playing alone (since no finger noise).

On youtube there is a video of a great bass player named Marlowe DK and he shows a very simple way to get dead sounding strings sound brand new. Apparently it really works as lots of folks have said. That may come in handy for many us.

 

[Gorn]

Cobalt flats.

 

[Flatwoundround]

Yes!
OP shouldn't be looking for a hardware solution to a user error problem.

What user error problem? That when I slide my hand on the string I don't like the string squeek noise? Even Jeff Berlin has string noise but admittedly I am sure it is a lot less due to his technique.

I hear what you guys are saying here but between working on muting technique and all the other techniques associated with bass (pick, fingers, slap, tap, trills, hammer-ons, etc. etc.) I am not excited to try to work on reducing a noise I don't care for all the while knowing I won't get rid of it 100%.

 

[Flatwoundround]

Cobalt flats.

I heard that these are very grippy which is why I gave up on the flats in general, particularly chromes.

I appreciate all the replies. I am just a difficult customer.

 

[Gorn]

I heard that these are very grippy which is why I gave up on the flats in general, particularly chromes.

I appreciate all the replies. I am just a difficult customer.

Grippyness is very individual. They might be fine for you. I've heard people say they're sticky. They weren't at all for me.

Labella white nylon tapes are another option worth considering. Probably the smoothest bass string option out there.

 

[michael_t]

between working on muting technique and all the other techniques associated with bass (pick, fingers, slap, tap, trills, hammer-ons, etc. etc.) I am not excited to try to work on reducing a noise I don't care for all the while knowing I won't get rid of it 100%.

This is why I feel I should stick with being a 100% finger-style player.

I am just a difficult customer.

I spent 28 yrs in retail business, mostly on the customer service/tech support end of things. So, I've had my fair share of "difficult customers".

One thing I've learned about those difficult ones over the years, though, is they're often the ones who will eventually turn into the most loyal customers if you know how to look after them with great patience and utmost courtesy. A little off topic, but hey...

 

[lixisoft]

Tapewounds
I tried the Labella gold tapes and they were great for all the criteria above except number 2. These strings felt so amazing but the tone was not nearly as good as the other two strings mentioned. They were not as deep and not as punchy as the other two strings even though they felt the best for sure. Yes they were also a little bit too loose feeling but I just gave the neck some more curve and that seemed to balance it out more.

Anybody got ideas? I wonder if fast fret would help the chromes on the grippy issue? Again I tried finger ease but to no avail. Is there such a thing as tapewound that could get a tone that is comparable to the Chromes or the GHS pressurewounds? Seems to me that would be the ultimate string.
Thanks.

D'Addario Black Nylon Tapewound...............last forever, easy on the fingers, low tension, they even sound good slapped, and roll off your tone and get that old school thump, roll up your tone for a modern sound.

For Chromes I always wipe them off with alcohol when new before installing them to remove the "grabyness" of the polishing compound used in finishing, keep wiping them until your cloth no longer shows black residue, after a few weeks they become smooth as "Butta".

 

[Flatwoundround]

Grippyness is very individual. They might be fine for you. I've heard people say they're sticky. They weren't at all for me.

Labella white nylon tapes are another option worth considering. Probably the smoothest bass string option out there.

I tried the labella gold nylon tapes but they did not have the low end and punch that the Chromes and Pressurewounds had.

What is your opinion on the white nylon strings? You are right in that tapes don't have the finger noise and they feel fantastic. They are so smooth and are really great if you like to do a lot of what they call stings (like a trill but just using one finger going back and forth between two frets).

 

[Flatwoundround]

This is why I feel I should stick with being a 100% finger-style player.



I spent 28 yrs in retail business, mostly on the customer service/tech support end of things. So, I've had my fair share of "difficult customers".

One thing I've learned about those difficult ones over the years, though, is they're often the ones who will eventually turn into the most loyal customers if you know how to look after them with great patience and utmost courtesy. A little off topic, but hey...

Well I appreciate everyone's input here. I promise I will be a loyal customer with all the help I am getting here.

 

[Flatwoundround]

D'Addario Black Nylon Tapewound...............last forever, easy on the fingers, low tension, they even sound good slapped, and roll off your tone and get that old school thump, roll up your tone for a modern sound.

For Chromes I always wipe them off with alcohol when new before installing them to remove the "grabyness" of the polishing compound used in finishing, keep wiping them until your cloth no longer shows black residue, after a few weeks they become smooth as "Butta".

Can you tell me more about the tapes? How did they compare to the Chromes in terms of low end and punch. Do the black tapes have more of grippy feel as compared to the gold or white tapes (I thought I heard this also).

Thanks.

 

[Gorn]

I tried the labella gold nylon tapes but they did not have the low end and punch that the Chromes and Pressurewounds had.

What is your opinion on the white nylon strings? You are right in that tapes don't have the finger noise and they feel fantastic. They are so smooth and are really great if you like to do a lot of what they call stings (like a trill but just using one finger going back and forth between two frets).

I've only ever played the white nylons and don't really remember details. They were very bright and clear.

 

[LanEvo]

Different basses call for different strings. There is no single "holy grail" IMNSHO.

For example, my '69 Les Paul Bass (30.5" scale) absolutely came to life with GHS Bass Boomers. Gorgeous, balanced tone with plenty of midrange punch. Perfect string tension. I had that "where have you been all my life?" feeling.

So, I put Boomers on my '66 Jazz and PBass (Yamaha Attitude Limited I) ... and was surprised to find the tone dull and lifeless: all bass and thuddy low-mids with none of the upper-mid honk they had on the Les Paul. With a regular 34" scale, the string tension was too high for my tastes and the string-to-string balance didn't feel right.

The '66 Jazz went back to DR Sunbeams (which had sounded awful on the Les Paul) and the PBass is back to Rotosound '66s.

 

[lz4005]

What user error problem? That when I slide my hand on the string I don't like the string squeek noise?

String squeak is a technique issue. You don't fix technique issues by changing hardware.

 

[lixisoft]

Can you tell me more about the tapes? How did they compare to the Chromes in terms of low end and punch. Do the black tapes have more of grippy feel as compared to the gold or white tapes (I thought I heard this also).

Thanks.

When Chromes are new they have more punch than D'Addario Nylons, but when the Chromes settle in they lose some of that "edge". The D'A Nylons don't really lose much of anything. I have a set of LaBella White Tapes (actually they look "clear" to me) and they are smoother than the D'A Nylons. The Black Nylons do seem to be a bit more "grippy" but not an issue for me after a few weeks. I tried the LaBella White tapes on few of my basses, but in all cases I liked the D'A Nylons or Chromes better, my all time favorite flats are TI Jazz Bass Flats. I have 4 Skyline basses, one with rounds (Dunlop Super Bright Nickels), one with Chromes, one with TI Jazz Flats, and one with D'A Black Nylons, that just about covers all my needs for now.

 

[Nev375]

Elixirs? Might be too bright. But they are slick and have less noise than typical rounds.