Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[bassboysam]

Started using DR SS Lo Riders and they just might be my all time favorite round wound string. Really punchy and thick. Running the 45-105 on my Dingwall Super J and gonna order some 50-110 for my 35" scale Drake

that's what I use on my Ps. I'm using Hi-Beams on by C# tuned Ric and am going to try out the Hi-Beams on my J next. Overall I really like DR strings. quality control is great, every pack is consistent.

On my other Ric I like the SS lo-riders but currently using La-Bella SS which sound great, when you get a good pack. It can be hit and miss with them.

My Js have been such a pain to string since switching to my 215 cabs. I used to use nickel lo-riders but with the already mid heavy cabs, nickel strings are too honky sounding. experimenting with SS on the Js now to see if I can tame the mids a bit.

 

[Corey Y]

I use the nickel Lo Riders, never tried the stainless steel. I usually associate steel strings with brightness and I'm usually trying to avoid that zing in my tone, but I haven't actually tried any in the past decade.

 

[JoeVictim]

I've always liked the way that hardcore punk bassists will use something like a Rat pedal or a guitar type OD to get a really raspy sound that cuts straight through.

I used a rat clone on all the Still Valley recordings. I like that cut.

 

[bassboysam]

I use the nickel Lo Riders, never tried the stainless steel. I usually associate steel strings with brightness and I'm usually trying to avoid that zing in my tone, but I haven't actually tried any in the past decade.

honestly, the zing doesn't last long, and once you add fuzz and/or OD it gets lost in the mix anyway. SS strings last a lot longer than nickel I find, and soaking strings overnight in denatured alcohol on occaision makes them almost new again and they are totall useable until they start showing signs of physical damage.

 

[Corey Y]

honestly, the zing doesn't last long, and once you add fuzz and/or OD it gets lost in the mix anyway. SS lasts a lot longer I find, soaking strings overnight in denatured alcohol makes them almost new again and they are totall useable until they start showing signs of physical damage.

I might have to try out a set sometime. I love the nickel Lo Riders, because I don't have to break them in like the D'Addarios, but when they go dead they go REALLY dead.

 

[The_Janitor]

DR Stainless are probably the least zingy strings that I've tried. Pretty dark right out of the pack.

 

[Muddslide]

Started using DR SS Lo Riders and they just might be my all time favorite round wound string. Really punchy and thick. Running the 45-105 on my Dingwall Super J and gonna order some 50-110 for my 35" scale Drake

This is good to hear. I bought a set of these (DR SS Lo Riders) as well as a set of Hi Beams recently. Never tried either.

I also got some Dean Markley Helix SS strings because they were on sale and I used to use Markley strings on guitars a lot. When I bought these I didn't realize they were Nikki Sixx signature strings...hopefully they are good though.

As I was griping about a couple days back, not sure how much of my musical gear I am going to be able to hold onto while I struggle to pay my bills this month, but assuming I am left with my Lotus P-copy and the SX P-copy I plan to rebuild, I'd like to put flats on the SX.

I haven't used flats in many years and am also interested in tapewounds (which I've never tried.)

Without venturing into the cold abyss of other parts of TB, can anyone here recommend a good set of flats or talk about what tapewounds are like?

I figure the Lotus (which will be getting a SD QP pickup) will get rounds and be for heavier music, while the SX will be getting a more vintage, lower output pup and flats for older music styles...

Incidentally, I already have all the parts I really need to mod and fix up the Lotus and the SX, I've just been lazy.

 

[Corey Y]

DR Stainless are probably the least zingy strings that I've tried. Pretty dark right out of the pack.

Good to know, maybe I'll pick up a pack to try out on the pine P bass when it's done.

 

[Speedor]

I've got Ernie Ball SS strings on my Ibanez P right now. Bought them mainly because they were on a discount and I was broke. I really like them, not much zing, they are bright, but I got to like it.
Never played SS before, I always had nickel rounds exclusively, but now I'll probably stay with SS, at least on the P.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I've got Ernie Ball SS strings on my Ibanez P right now. Bought them mainly because they were on a discount and I was broke. I really like them, not much zing, they are bright, but I got to like it.
Never played SS before, I always had nickel rounds exclusively, but now I'll probably stay with SS, at least on the P.

I had a set of power slinkies on my BFR Sterling. Loved those strings.

 

[Blank_0101]

This is good to hear. I bought a set of these (DR SS Lo Riders) as well as a set of Hi Beams recently. Never tried either.

I also got some Dean Markley Helix SS strings because they were on sale and I used to use Markley strings on guitars a lot. When I bought these I didn't realize they were Nikki Sixx signature strings...hopefully they are good though.

As I was griping about a couple days back, not sure how much of my musical gear I am going to be able to hold onto while I struggle to pay my bills this month, but assuming I am left with my Lotus P-copy and the SX P-copy I plan to rebuild, I'd like to put flats on the SX.

I haven't used flats in many years and am also interested in tapewounds (which I've never tried.)

Without venturing into the cold abyss of other parts of TB, can anyone here recommend a good set of flats or talk about what tapewounds are like?

I figure the Lotus (which will be getting a SD QP pickup) will get rounds and be for heavier music, while the SX will be getting a more vintage, lower output pup and flats for older music styles...

Incidentally, I already have all the parts I really need to mod and fix up the Lotus and the SX, I've just been lazy.

Chromes are cheap and sound great. Fender brand aren't bad either.

 

[Pelham Bleu]

Nerd alert: not sure if I shared this before, but in honor of Revenge of the Fifth, here's MDT drummer Dick Boots' drum head:

 

[Squanch72]

This is good to hear. I bought a set of these (DR SS Lo Riders) as well as a set of Hi Beams recently. Never tried either.

I also got some Dean Markley Helix SS strings because they were on sale and I used to use Markley strings on guitars a lot. When I bought these I didn't realize they were Nikki Sixx signature strings...hopefully they are good though.

As I was griping about a couple days back, not sure how much of my musical gear I am going to be able to hold onto while I struggle to pay my bills this month, but assuming I am left with my Lotus P-copy and the SX P-copy I plan to rebuild, I'd like to put flats on the SX.

I haven't used flats in many years and am also interested in tapewounds (which I've never tried.)

Without venturing into the cold abyss of other parts of TB, can anyone here recommend a good set of flats or talk about what tapewounds are like?

I figure the Lotus (which will be getting a SD QP pickup) will get rounds and be for heavier music, while the SX will be getting a more vintage, lower output pup and flats for older music styles...

Incidentally, I already have all the parts I really need to mod and fix up the Lotus and the SX, I've just been lazy.

I dig Fender Tapewounds since they are more like coated round wounds so a little less Dubby and more taught then the Daddario tapewounds, cheap too. I keep bouncing around though, I got four sets of strings I have to swap out. I really dig the new balanced tension Daddario Nickels, I have the light and heavy gauge, also just got saset of Daddario Prosteels, and those Fender Tapewounds. I will probably go back to the Fender tapewounds for comfort, less finger noise, and less clank though. When I get a second bass I want one Fender Tapewound and one balanced tension round set though.

 

[Pelham Bleu]

Historically I never cared much about strings since I used so much dirt. Since I've gone a "little" cleaner I've tried DR Hi-Beams and dug those.

 

[Squanch72]

Last night was NPD
Pretty cool but I think I can get close enough sounds with the Joyo American. It is so touch sensitive, never had a pedal like that, feel like I am heavy handed when playing it.

 

[Muddslide]

I dig Fender Tapewounds since they are more like coated round wounds...

That's interesting. I thought tapewounds were flats. Me ignernt.

 

[Muddslide]

Last night was NPD
Pretty cool but I think I can get close enough sounds with the Joyo American. It is so touch sensitive, never had a pedal like that, feel like I am heavy handed when playing it.
View attachment 610771

I've looked at those before....I miss being a pedal freak, but I obviously have to keep things very limited ($$$). I also like the idea of going more minimal. I am thinking the only pedals I really "need" are a fuzz (I have an MXR El Grande Bass Fuzz that I like quite a bit but have never played through a big rig) and a delay...an OD or an additional Rat would be cool, but whenever I can score anything else I believe it'll be a delay.

Am I mistaken or did someone on here recently say they dug a delay made by Joyo?

On edit: ah yes--found it, quote from kleinenenten:

Two things: delay odyssey for a few hours today. In and out of numerous shops, playing TONS of delay pedals. One of my favorites was actually the Joyo Digital Delay!

With most things pedal, I'd always go analog, but my finances far outstrip my tonal integrity...

 

[Corey Y]

Last night was NPD
Pretty cool but I think I can get close enough sounds with the Joyo American. It is so touch sensitive, never had a pedal like that, feel like I am heavy handed when playing it.
View attachment 610771

These are much touted on TB for being "amplike", which I think it a way of saying touch sensitive like you said. How are you digging it?

 

[Squanch72]

That's interesting. I thought tapewounds were flats. Me ignernt.

This is pic of Fender Tapewounds, you can see/feel the ridges of the string underneath much more than on Daddario tapes I had. I never messed with the pricier brand tapes though. The Fender are a nice mix between flats and rounds IMO.

 

[Squanch72]

These are much touted on TB for being "amplike", which I think it a way of saying touch sensitive like you said. How are you digging it?

Yeah the amplike deal they got going is what you really notice when using it, to the point of me wanting to play softer. I only diddled it a little while and I still need to raise the bridge saddles on the bass since I just got the neck shimmed right, and didn't finish setting the saddle height or intonation yet. So I was getting a lot of fret noise which really got amplified with the amplike quality of the pedal and didn't sound so good yet. So not really a chance to give a fair test and I only used it with the GK and want to try it with the TB since they play so different with pedals IMO. With the boost set up on the GK and the Blueberry set low to medium gain it really boost the GK grind. I was digging it more then my Rat Clone last night but it seemed pretty similar to the Joyo American Sound, though the amplike deal is unique to it. Seems more grindy then warm to me so far.