Stingray Classic 5, string help.

[Killer Canary]

Okay, I give up.
What bike is that?

 

[bobdabilder]

I recently purchased a Stingray Classic 5. I really enjoy this instrument. I play mostly classic rock and a bit of funk. I tend to run the bass at 50% and the treble at 0 - 10%. I run my amp flat, the contour set at zero and my cab tweeter at 25%. I am looking for smooth strings (I think that eliminates all SS as far as I know), creamy highs and something with reduced "clank", also with nice mids. I love the tight bottom end of the Stingray, I know it is inherently a "clank" bass but I over come most of it by adjusting my technique.

I have tried (this is just my opinion, I do not want to offend anyone):
- Dadario XL, I don't like these strings.
- Dunlop Nickel, too flabby not enough definition in the mix.
- DR LoRider Nickel, love them just a tad bit too stiff.
- DR Sunbeams, great tone too flabby.
- EB Slinky - too sticky, bad dead tone.
- GHS Pressure would - way too tight.

And body have any thoughts on:

- Dean Markley Helix NPS? Do they sound like Sunbeam's but a bit stiffer?
- Dunlop Super bright Nickel? I wish they had a .130 B, I'm afraid the .125 will be too sloppy on the Stingray.

Also, I plan on running stock guage on this bass and it only has the option of thru the body.

Thanks

I have dunlop super bright nickels on a stingray 5 h and like them. I also liked the cobalt flats but they died pretty quick. I still need some zing for the stuff we play.

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

Stingrays sound amazing with flats!

+1. I love Cobalt Flats in my Sabre Classic; warms it right up while keeping that nice punch. Plus, they last _forever_ (mine are going on 9 months!).

 

[Bassometer]

It is the first generation GSXR 1100 ('86). That era of liter bikes had a profound effect on me.

 

[Bassometer]

Bodybuilder, how did you find the B string? Do you use a .125? Is there too much top end with these strings on a Stingray? Thanks

 

[Braden Persch]

I use LoRiders. If you find them too stiff I would drop a gauge, or try Hi Beams.

 

[99Z3]

DR Pure Blues!

I recently purchased a Stingray Classic 5. I really enjoy this instrument. I play mostly classic rock and a bit of funk. I tend to run the bass at 50% and the treble at 0 - 10%. I run my amp flat, the contour set at zero and my cab tweeter at 25%. I am looking for smooth strings (I think that eliminates all SS as far as I know), creamy highs and something with reduced "clank", also with nice mids. I love the tight bottom end of the Stingray, I know it is inherently a "clank" bass but I over come most of it by adjusting my technique.

I have tried (this is just my opinion, I do not want to offend anyone):
- Dadario XL, I don't like these strings.
- Dunlop Nickel, too flabby not enough definition in the mix.
- DR LoRider Nickel, love them just a tad bit too stiff.
- DR Sunbeams, great tone too flabby.
- EB Slinky - too sticky, bad dead tone.
- GHS Pressure would - way too tight.

And body have any thoughts on:

- Dean Markley Helix NPS? Do they sound like Sunbeam's but a bit stiffer?
- Dunlop Super bright Nickel? I wish they had a .130 B, I'm afraid the .125 will be too sloppy on the Stingray.

Also, I plan on running stock guage on this bass and it only has the option of thru the body.

Thanks

 

[Bassometer]

How do those DR pure blues feel? Are the soft like Sunbeam's? How is the tension?

 

[DaveAceofBass]

D'A XL Nickels - Too rough under my fingers, high end a little too harsh. (Referring to EXL170BT).
Yes - I agree

DR Nickel Lo-Riders - Smoother under my fingers compared to the D'A, top end a little more subdued as well. Good overall tension/stiffness on the 40-100 set I tried. What gauges did you find "too stiff"?
I was using .045, .065, .085, .105, .130. I am under the opinion that a .130 is required for a 34" scale.

DR Sunbeams - Full, warm bottom with smooth top end. Wonderfully supple for my left hand but a tad too floppy under my right.
I also agree, the right hand is floppy for finger style.


GHS Pressurewound - I find the ML7200 set (44-58-80-102) well-balanced in terms of both tension and tone. Again, what gauges did you try that you found "way too tight"?
There is only one guage for 5 string: .044, .062, .084, .106, .128. I found them to be very stiff

I find that the Nickel Lo Riders in .125, .100, .080, .060, .040 feel similar in tension to Sunbeams with a .130-.045 gauge. I really like the Lo Riders in the smaller gauge, not nearly as stiff.

 

[wpc1996]

I love Dr loriders (the stainless steel ones)

 

[Gasman]

I have played a Stingray with flat's and yes they do sound good but I just don't like the feel and tension of flats. Do they make a softer tension flat?

TI flats are low tension like rounds. Pricey, but worth it

 

[Liam Wald]

All strings are the same. That will not work. Clean ears and start over.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

All strings are the same. That will not work. Clean ears and start over.

^ Troll alert

OP:
Try TI Jazz Flats or just wait for your favorite nickel rounds to break in and get nice and old. Eat some greasy chicken wings and then go play your bass. haha. Also try engaging the foam mutes.

 

[musicman666]

Rotosound swingbass nickel strings are sometimes overlooked but very nice. Fenders nickel and nickel plated strings are very good too.

It has been a while since I used Rotosound swingbass, I seem to remember them as being rough textured. I used to use the old style Fender 8250's, I liked them but not a fan of the new style. The pure Nickel's - it has been a long long time since I heard those, interesting - what do the sound like?

The nickel rotosounds are not rough like the SS strings. They are much warmer with less top end.

 

[Bassometer]

One thing I don't like is a boomy bottom end, which is one of the reasons I play the Ray, it tends to have a tighter bottom end. I believe nickel plated strings are a bit boomy in the bottom (some worse than others). So maybe I should try a smooth set of SS strings? Maybe I am just over thinking this.

 

[Bassometer]

Are dunlop SB's NPS boomy?

 

[mmbongo]

Are dunlop SB's NPS boomy?

Definitely not. They are crispy and punchy, with a nice crunch in the mids and clear, non zingy highs.

But you said you didn't like the low tension feel of Sunbeams. If you didn't like the feel of Sunbeams, you won't like SuperBrights.

 

[Bassometer]

Are the Super Bright NPS as "loose" (low tension) as the Sunbeam's? I thought I read somewhere that the SB nps were half way between Sunbeam's and Daddario XL's in terms of tension. Why is there no tension chart for Dunlop and DR (and all other strings aside from D'addario and a select few for that matter)? If there is, can you please guide new to it.

 

[Bassometer]

Darn spell check "If there is, can you please guide new to it". Should be: if there is, can you please guide me to it. Re: string tension chart for Dr and Dunlop.

 

[michael_t]

Are the Super Bright NPS as "loose" (low tension) as the Sunbeam's? I thought I read somewhere that the SB nps were half way between Sunbeam's and Daddario XL's in terms of tension. Why is there no tension chart for Dunlop and DR (and all other strings aside from D'addario and a select few for that matter)? If there is, can you please guide new to it.

Keep in mind that tension charts don't tell the whole story as "tension" (pulling weight exerted on the neck) and "stiffness/flexibility" are two different things.

For example, the DR Sunbeams 45-65-85-105 actually have more "tension" (pulling weight) than the D'Addario 45-60-80-107 due to "larger mass", but they would feel more flexible/supple under your fingers due to the round core, not due to less "tension".

What you're asking is where the Dunlop SBs would sit in terms of "stiffness/flexibility" compared to DR and D'Addario, in which case tension charts wouldn't be too helpful.