String hunting led me back to where I started. D'Addario's

[Element Zero]

I love the pink EB Super Slinky 5 string set for my (wife’s) fretted StingRay, Elixir Nickels on my fretless StingRay (though it’s currently wearing D’Addario tapewounds) and Dingwall Nickels on my Dingwall. I used to be a HUGE fan of DR LoRiders but that was lol 15 years ago.

 

[MrAB4003]

I don't buy based on endorsements anymore, usually they take the endorsement from the highest bidder, (not always).

Funny you say that! Frank Bello switched from D'Addario to Jim Dunlop this year. Dunlop gave him his own signature strings to go with his plethora of other signature bass items.

I've had one failure and one success with buying strings based on endorsements. The Rotosound 66s (as endorsed by a lot of classic rock era bassists) are some of the worst strings I've ever played. And I can say the opposite about the NYXLs (as then-endorsed by Frank Bello).

I also want to try D'Addario Pro Steels to compare them to the NYXLs. Does anyone have any experience with them?

 

[Yahboy]

NYXL MS set on my Ibanez SRMS725 , great tone and awesome clarity on both tapered B and E string.

 

[Clark W]

Funny you say that! Frank Bello switched from D'Addario to Jim Dunlop this year. Dunlop gave him his own signature strings to go with his plethora of other signature bass items.

I've had one failure and one success with buying strings based on endorsements. The Rotosound 66s (as endorsed by a lot of classic rock era bassists) are some of the worst strings I've ever played. And I can say the opposite about the NYXLs (as then-endorsed by Frank Bello).

I also want to try D'Addario Pro Steels to compare them to the NYXLs. Does anyone have any experience with them?

I love NYXLs on my custom bass from Ferner Fine Instruments. I have two sets of Prosteels waiting to be used. When it comes to strings, that bass is like the brighter the better, and everyone says the Prosteels are brighter than NYXL sets.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I'm a fan of D'addario XL and Black Tapes for my fretted basses. For my Jazz Plus I prefer GHS Pressure Wounds. I'm totally stuck on their Chrome light flats for my two fretless basses.

 

[Kyle_S]

I keep coming back to good old XL's. They may not excite, but they also never disappoint.

 

[Clark W]

I keep coming back to good old XL's. They may not excite, but they also never disappoint.

If you're playing a maple board on a maple neck, it's definitely the go to for rounds.

 

[Sam Dingle]

130/45.

Try the purple package for 5 strings. Power slinky’s I think it’s a 135-50 but the E and a are 105 and 85 which is standard. I’m an Ernieball artist so yes I’m bias but I used and chose their strings for years and love them

 

[Pier_]

I always go back to Rotosound Swing, my first imprinting when I bought my first set of strings for a cheap Peavey.

I've tried every damn set of strings, every material, every tension and gauge, but even if for some time I like them, when I go back to Rotosound Swing 66. the feeling, the tension, the consistency, the red silk, the sound... they also last me longer than any other string (except Elixir).

 

[TheDuff]

I started off playing whatever came stock on my basses when I was first starting out. I had no idea about string gauges, how to change strings, or anything. I remember putting a set of Ernie Ball Slinkies (45-105 gauge) on my first bass after my bass teacher said I needed to change my strings for the first time. This was in late 2010.

I then switched to Rotosound 66s (and later 55s) from 2012-24. I played those because most of my teenage bass heroes also played them. But they turned out to be the worst strings I've ever played in hindsight.

My bass tech turned me onto D'Addario regular XLs in the beginning of 2024, so I stuck with those for a year or so. Then, I tried the NYXLs after seeing Frank Bello play them. I been playing NYXLs ever since.

I want to compare the NYXLs to the Ernie Ball Slinkies I was playing in the early 2010s. But I'm afraid of not liking them and switching right back to the NYXLs.

You just have to try switching back to the Slinky’s in order to find out.

It is the only way to see if the sound you remember still has the charm that it had for you back then.

Time changes things and perception changes with time. Your sonic preferences probably are evolved now and more refined.

 

[TheDuff]

I always go back to Rotosound Swing, my first imprinting when I bought my first set of strings for a cheap Peavey.

I've tried every damn set of strings, every material, every tension and gauge, but even if for some time I like them, when I go back to Rotosound Swing 66. the feeling, the tension, the consistency, the red silk, the sound... they also last me longer than any other string (except Elixir).

I like Rotosound 77’s but mostly use Chromes or rounds these days.

 

[MrAB4003]

You just have to try switching back to the Slinky’s in order to find out.

It is the only way to see if the sound you remember still has the charm that it had for you back then.

Time changes things and perception changes with time. Your sonic preferences probably are evolved now and more refined.

I don't remember the Slinkies having charm per se. I chose them because they were the only bass strings available at the music school where I took my first bass lessons. I kept them on because they sounded better than the stock strings that came on my Squier Affinity Jazz Bass at the time. I had no knowledge of strings other than "they make my bass sound like a bass" and some knowledge about waves from my Physics and Pre-Calculus classes I was taking in high school.

I might try them out to compare them to my preferred D'Addario NYXLs in the future.

 

[Wyvern]

I just played a bass I've been eyeing- a Sheckenbacker and immediately recoiled by how horrible the strings feel.

Yep, Slinkies, the only strings I hate.

Unsold on the bass, super trebly and clanky, not sure if it's the strings or the way it just is.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

After many years and dollars spent, I usually use either EB Hybrid Slinky’s or GHS Boomers for rounds. Though I also like a lot of DR’s strings. But the advice I give my students is always find what works best for you and stick with them. Don’t drive yourself insane experimenting.

 

[The B Keeper]

After grabbing a couple packs of Regular Slinkies to throw on a Peavey Millennium with alnico 5 pickups and a now passive Stingray just to have strings on them I'm having a similar experience. Stainless Lo-Riders will forever be my favorite but as far as nickels go, it looks like I'll be coming back to Slinkies for the basses that wear them

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Plentiful, good price and consistent quality make D'addario a good brand imo. I can't get em at the local pub or fish n' chip shop, but they aren't hard to find

 

[CElton]

Xls on my Fender P5 is just a great rock tone. I use NYXLs on both my Music Man SR5s. They feel and sound great. I've tried many other brands and honestly many of them could work, but whenever I come back the NYXLs, I always asked myself why I strayed.

 

[iiipopes]

Anyone else do some string hunting? what NPS round did you settle on?

I have used a D'A XL170BT set with an additional 130 on my gigging 5-string bass since at least 2012. Occasionally try others, then come straight back. With EMG actives, they give an even tone and intonation that keeps my sound man happy.