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

#64
Bigbri said:
I'm always rotosounds. But lately I have been playing the fretless with Thomastiks. Hard to describe but they feel kind of spongy and have "a very flexable core.". Sound amazing on the ebony fretboard. The gauge is absolutly perfect. They've been on for about 15 yrs so the package is long gone. They sit somewhere btwn a standard 45-105 gauge and the twangy funkmasters. For me, I don't really like standard roto's 45 g string, it's too tight and big for slapping. They are roundwounds but not quite as bright and very easy on the fingers.
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I've thought about ordering a 30-90 gauge (like funkmasters) only they would be flats.
 
#66
Beavisplaysbass said:
I've thought about ordering a 30-90 gauge (like funkmasters) only they would be flats.
Click to expand...
That might be interesting...a little less twangy. I tried the funkmasters 30-90 and didn't really use them for anything other than slapping on the spector.
When I started playing, flats were taboo, just not cool. Talk about a comeback. I'm going to grab a set of the Thomastik's jazz flats. Some of my basses don't get used very often. So I've got a 74 p-bass with 28 yr old rotosounds on it. You could throw it off the roof and it would stay in tune. One of the jazz's is a custom, heavy, rock hard 1pc walnut body and a thick ebony slab board. The thomastiks went on when the bass was finished in 1997 and have been there ever since. I'm not sure at this point what the exact gauge was but I'll guess 40-100. They slap great even on the fretless. It's hard to describe them other than being flexible and very easy to bend notes. Not that I do that really on the fretless but you get the idea. I remember they cost a bit more than roto's but i would highly recommend trying them atleast once. I used to put roto's on all my basses, but was missing out on what other strings had to offer. I've been meaning to string a 4 string bass with the 4 bottom strings out of a 5 string set.
 
#70
Flatwoundround said:
Many folks here have said that too but I don't understand why. I thought I heard they were pretty grippy sticky feeling based on some reviews on amazon. I also would think they would not have the low end and thump of chromes as I heard the cobalt flats are pretty bright. Am I missing something?
Thanks.
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Whoops, I re-read OP and forgot the "stickyness" part. That, they can be; I solve it mainly by using String Ease every so often, which I admit most people don't like to use. As far as punchy-ness, I'd put my Classic Sabre with Cobalts up there with the best of them as far as fingerstyle goes...not so much with slap.
 
#73
To be clear... Tapes don't lack low end... They just do not have the full phatness that a flatwound string has. After all they are nylon wrapped rounds (except GHS which has a half round E).

I wouldn't advise on Vaseline. That doesn't really evaporate and is thick... I would think you would end up with gunk build up.
 
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#74
Linnin said:
Keyboards. Just play synth bass.
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Thought about actually doing this once. Got so tired of bass issues with muting, tone, action on strings, fret noise etc... This would be the logical choice if there were not such a thing as articulations on the bass (i.e., ghost notes, trills, slides, palm muting, hammer ons and pull offs, stings, dynamics, note length etc..). I know some would argue that many of these dynamics could be accomplished on the synth bass, maybe so. Also, people might think it is the digital stuff in the keyboard that is making the music rather than me (arpeggiators and loop buttons). Most bands want an electric bass player rather than a synth bass.
 
#75
SLaPiNFuNK said:
To be clear... Tapes don't lack low end... They just do not have the full phatness that a flatwound string has. After all they are nylon wrapped rounds (except GHS which has a half round E).

I wouldn't advise on Vaseline. That doesn't really evaporate and is thick... I would think you would end up with gunk build up.
Click to expand...

The Gold Labella tapes I tried were MUCH less deep and punchy as compared to my chromes. I ordered a set of black tapes and I am hoping those will compare well with the Chromes.

Not sure about the vaseline. I have heard of studio musicians even using this trick. In addition there is a product called Ducks String Lube and the ingredients list petroleum which I believe is what vaseline is made of. But I agree with you I would think you would get a layer of gunk on the string.
 
#77
Bigbri said:
That might be interesting...a little less twangy. I tried the funkmasters 30-90 and didn't really use them for anything other than slapping on the spector.
When I started playing, flats were taboo, just not cool. Talk about a comeback. I'm going to grab a set of the Thomastik's jazz flats. Some of my basses don't get used very often. So I've got a 74 p-bass with 28 yr old rotosounds on it. You could throw it off the roof and it would stay in tune. One of the jazz's is a custom, heavy, rock hard 1pc walnut body and a thick ebony slab board. The thomastiks went on when the bass was finished in 1997 and have been there ever since. I'm not sure at this point what the exact gauge was but I'll guess 40-100. They slap great even on the fretless. It's hard to describe them other than being flexible and very easy to bend notes. Not that I do that really on the fretless but you get the idea. I remember they cost a bit more than roto's but i would highly recommend trying them atleast once. I used to put roto's on all my basses, but was missing out on what other strings had to offer. I've been meaning to string a 4 string bass with the 4 bottom strings out of a 5 string set.
Click to expand...

I use the FM 66 rotos more than anything really. I'm pretty dead set on the gauge of 30-90. 35-95 maybe.
If I had a fretless ... It'd be a warmoth J bass with an ebony fretboard, all black.
I'd probably put rounds on it. Screw the naysayers.
 
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#78
Hi everyone, OP here, wanted to say thanks for all the ideas etc..

I have two virtually identical P-bass setups. I decided I am going to keep the GHS pressurewounds on one bass, and as much as it saddens me, I am going to take my chromes off the other bass and try various tapewound strings. At band practice last night the chromes were feeling grippy again and it was not even hot or humid. I just think when I play my body temperature goes up and the extra heat on the fingertips causes more friction to the flat flatwound surface. I don't have this problem with the presurres because they are more like rounds.

So the pressures is going to be my main gigging bass unless the tapes can do it for me, but I am pessimistic as I also need to slap on some songs and I doubt I can get a tapewound that can do all three things that the pressures and the chromes can do which is 1) plenty of low end 2) great punch 3) sound good for slap.

As far as the finger noise on the pressures I will have to deal with it because:

a) you will not hear it in the mix anyways
b) better than dealing with the grippy stickcy factor I have with flats (a few times this occured at gigs which is not fun)
c) hopefully it will reduce more as the strings get broken in
d) as many have suggested I will also work on my technique to reduce it
e) I am still hoping there is a good string lube product that will reduce the finger noise (finger ease does not do much but there are others to try)
 
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#79
Flatwoundround said:
Hi everyone, OP here, wanted to say thanks for all the ideas etc..

I have two virtually identical P-bass setups. I decided I am going to keep the GHS pressurewounds on one bass, and as much as it saddens me, I am going to take my chromes off the other bass and try various tapewound strings. At band practice last night the chromes were feeling grippy again and it was not even hot or humid. I just think when I play my body temperature goes up and the extra heat on the fingertips causes more friction to the flat flatwound surface. I don't have this problem with the presurres because they are more like rounds.

So the pressures is going to be my main gigging bass unless the tapes can do it for me, but I am pessimistic as I also need to slap on some songs and I doubt I can get a tapewound that can do all three things that the pressures and the chromes can do which is 1) plenty of low end 2) great punch 3) sound good for slap.

As far as the finger noise on the pressures I will have to deal with it because:

a) you will not hear it in the mix anyways
b) better than dealing with the grippy stickcy factor I have with flats (a few times this occured at gigs which is not fun)
c) hopefully it will reduce more as the strings get broken in
d) as many have suggested I will also work on my technique to reduce it
e) I am still hoping there is a good string lube product that will reduce the finger noise (finger ease does not do much but there are others to try)
Click to expand...

If you are using nylon/flat strings, and looking for a lube like product. try baby powder/chalk. The powder should wipe off easily from the nylon wrap/flatwound; If there is any actual residue. I use it occasionally when its hot, and when I play billiards.
 

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