String recommendation for a Precision 5 string?

[Kerem Koseoglu]

I have that exact bass - even the color is the same. In terms of flat-wounds, I'm content with the D'addario Chromes on that. My backup for that bass is a Sire P5, which also has Chromes.

If you are targeting round-wounds, NYXL 45-130 is my favorite, but I never installed them to my P.

 

[Yahboy]

I my collection I have a Fender USA Professional II Precision 5 string bass. Until now I have had Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on it, but somehow the sound has lost its "beef". I need to change the strings as I haven't gigged this thing in weeks because I have other choices (particularly my Ibanez BTB1825). Time for new strings.

The P Bass is new to me, and I have done no experimentation with other strings other than the original and the EBCF's which I've had on it for at least a year.

I don't play metal, or jazz or slap, but most regularly in a small ensemble until January where I usually pick up a musical gig, which might be more descriptive of the type of sound that I need. FWIW Currently on hand I have NYXL 45-125's and 45-130's (the difference is a question for another time), plus a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt ROUND WOUNDS. I wouldn't mind having another set of ECBF's on hand, but the price went from $36 to $60 (what, they're made out of "unobtanium"????). No thank you.

Based on the above, what might you recommend for my next string set on my P bass? [This is the first and only P bass I've ever owned]

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EB Cobalt flat are bright sounding flat , when mix with V-Mod II pickup sure sound thiner , lack weight ,ohmp and heft . Work perfectly on my Charvel Pro Mod PJ ( Dimarzio DP126 ) and Squeir Matt freeman P ( Alnico V )

DR Lo rider Nickel maybe do help to compensate with the V-mod P pickup.

I been setup Am Pro 1 V with mix set of Sadowsky blue label nickel and stainless steel for better string to string tonal balance. B/E with SS string , ADG with Nickel string.

 

[MtManiac]

I bought this same bass used and it came loaded with used Labella DTF’s. I found the B string to be very mushy sounding, lots of low harmonics, and I was contemplating changing the pickup until I changed strings, and found everything I was looking for - the strings were DR Nickel Lo-Riders. I’d normally played flats before this - Chromes, Fender, or Roto.

Understanding strings will help a lot in your search - the differences things like nickel vs stainless, hex vs round core, flat vs round wound, or medium vs light gauge will make in your tone. Then deciding what your goal is, and understanding what the pickup is delivering.

The VMod II has alnico 5 under the bass strings and alnico 2 under the treble strings.

Do some reading on each of those differences and place a bet based on what you learn, you’ll be a lot closer to your goal than you will by taking random string referrals from strangers who don’t have your ears, hands, or signal chain.

 

[One Way]

Bought my Am Pro 2 P5 new which came with the stock Fender 45-125 round wounds. I’ve been so impressed the tone that I’ve kept using them and the bass is now wearing its’ third set in 6 months. The Fenders don’t seem to last as long as other strings however maybe I’m playing this bass more.

My 4 string P bass is wearing LaBella light flats.

 

[bassnyc1]

+1 for DR Nickel Lo Riders. I mentioned a few posts back that I recently tried Pure Blues on my P Bass but actually NLR have been my goto for a few years for my P Bass.

 

[logdrum]

Before you go crazy on strings, check the nut and the setup in general on your bass, They will have a whiny open B if the nut and the string angles have issues. Also string twist and usually the looser winds on the cobalts makes the B susceptible, V-Mod is fine. I got one of these and I thought they sound as good as a some higher end 5 strings like my SR5 when played acoustically or no boost on the middle switch position (which is the P like sound on the SR5) The bass was setup by a repairer prior and the nut was upgraded, I sold it and played it again a few days ago and it is a good bass. Nothing to complain about. He strung it with the humble D'Addario XL and when I sold it it was using Fender branded strings.

 

[vindibona1]

If you are targeting round-wounds, NYXL 45-130 is my favorite, but I never installed them to my P.

I have a new set of NYXL 45-130's in the bin as well as 45-125's. I have NYXL's on my Ibanez BTB 1825 and love the sound. Interestingly, when I had a BTB 675m Ernie Ball Slinkys felt and sounded better. Lots of beef with my BTB.

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Bought my Am Pro 2 P5 new which came with the stock Fender 45-125 round wounds. I’ve been so impressed the tone that I’ve kept using them and the bass is now wearing its’ third set in 6 months. The Fenders don’t seem to last as long as other strings however maybe I’m playing this bass more.

My 4 string P bass is wearing LaBella light flats.

This Dark Knight Blue combo is my favorite. It was love at first sight and I got a "once in a lifetime" deal on it, brand new.
Just to confirm, the Fender strings are the Super 7250S stock number that you have? The Fender website is a little confusing because it says "Stick with what works! If you have a Fender Bass with a string-through bridge, then these are the strings for you! That's because Super 7250s are installed on all U.S. and Mexico Basses with string-through bridges." But I put strings through all my bridges. Did it mean to say string through BODY??? The way my brain works is that any drop of NON-SPECIFICITY sends my brain into confusion. The Fender strings are pretty cheap for bass strings these day.

 

[MtManiac]

I have a new set of NYXL 45-130's in the bin as well as 45-125's. I have NYXL's on my Ibanez BTB 1825 and love the sound. Interestingly, when I had a BTB 675m Ernie Ball Slinkys felt and sounded better. Lots of beef with my BTB.

This Dark Knight Blue combo is my favorite. It was love at first sight and I got a "once in a lifetime" deal on it, brand new.
Just to confirm, the Fender strings are the Super 7250S stock number that you have? The Fender website is a little confusing because it says "Stick with what works! If you have a Fender Bass with a string-through bridge, then these are the strings for you! That's because Super 7250s are installed on all U.S. and Mexico Basses with string-through bridges." But I put strings through all my bridges. Did it mean to say string through BODY??? The way my brain works is that any drop of NON-SPECIFICITY sends my brain into confusion. The Fender strings are pretty cheap for bass strings these day.

Yes, the 7250s are stock on almost all Fender basses.

“String-through” is short hand for string through body.

 

[Cahamp]

I just put a Nordstrand NP5FA in my Miami Blue P5 with maple. It has greatly improved the B string and opened up some string options for me. My favorite rounds are DR Lo Rider Nickels and my favorite flat are the Chromes. I’m waiting on the Chromes to break in a little more but it’s a great sound. The Lo Riders sound like they were made for P basses. Brighter than GHS pressurewounds but still great midrange qualities.

 

[vindibona1]

As I contemplate the next strings for my P5, I look at the string prices and want to pull up on the reins. Perhaps all I'm really looking for is a bid more low mid in the sound. But it's so hard to tell. My signal is pushed to FOH and the sound guy doesn't understand how to balance an ensemble properly. The piano always over-doiminates anything. On streamed recordingsI can barely hear the bass, even when I try to bring out fills in dead spots. And we have a new MD... who is a wet-behind-the-ears near amateur. People like him because he smiles and is friendly, but so lacks any kind of high level ensemble experience. I'm on the bench tonight and it may be that I'm only on every two weeks or so. At least I'm playing trumpet again in a local concert band that is half decent.

Sorry for the tangential rant, not connected with strings at all. Too much Prednisone in my "diet".

 

[maturanesa]

Ghs precision flats sounds great on my p 5.
They sound fat but clear, focused. Specially the 45-126 set. They have extra stiffness at the pup spot creating lot of attack

 

[Just go for it]

Love that bass! Very nice color.

 

[jholling]

I agree with jmlee, the Chrome B string is good.

Very few flatwound B strings are worthwhile IME.

Another good flatwound B string is the DR.

The Chrome high C string is also good if you want to tune E to C instead of B to G.

Other than Chromes and DR flats, what flat wound strings have good B strings for 34” scale?

The reason I ask is because I love flats and tapes on my four stringers. I tried Labella tapes on my fiver and the B string was terrible. Floppy doesn’t accurately describe how bad it was. I also failed to get the B string to intonate properly. I’m still grumpy about wasting $65. I put NYXL’s on it and the B string is very good. I just don’t really like rounds for the style of music I normally play.

I have Labella LTF’s on my main axes and love them. I would love to put LTF’s on my fiver, but don’t want to waste another $65 if the B string sucks. I am thinking of buying a four string LTF set and trying to buy a single B string of either a chrome or an DTF. Anyone tried this? Am I crazy?

 

[Low Main]

I have Labella LTF’s on my main axes and love them. I would love to put LTF’s on my fiver, but don’t want to waste another $65 if the B string sucks. I am thinking of buying a four string LTF set and trying to buy a single B string of either a chrome or an DTF. Anyone tried this? Am I crazy?

The online string sales folks I've spoken to in the past say that some players do use a single B flatwound string that doesn't belong with the rest of the set.

And some players use a roundwound B string with E to G flats because so many flatwound B strings are dull and dead sounding right out of the box.

I was really hoping that LaBella and Thomastik flatwound B strings would be as good as their other flatwounds.

I was disappointed both musically and financially to find out that this wasn't the case.

 

[MrAB4003]

Chromes would be my first choice for flats.

45-132 Regular Light 5-String, Long Scale, XL Chromes Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | ECB81-5 | D'Addario

These flat wound strings provide an ultra-smooth feel and a dark, yet warm tone, while allowing movement across the fretboard with no finger noise. Made for 5-string basses, 45-132 Regular Light gauge strings take our most popular bass gauge and add a low B-string. Learn more.

www.daddario.com

 

[Yahboy]

Other than Chromes and DR flats, what flat wound strings have good B strings for 34” scale?

The reason I ask is because I love flats and tapes on my four stringers. I tried Labella tapes on my fiver and the B string was terrible. Floppy doesn’t accurately describe how bad it was. I also failed to get the B string to intonate properly. I’m still grumpy about wasting $65. I put NYXL’s on it and the B string is very good. I just don’t really like rounds for the style of music I normally play.

I have Labella LTF’s on my main axes and love them. I would love to put LTF’s on my fiver, but don’t want to waste another $65 if the B string sucks. I am thinking of buying a four string LTF set and trying to buy a single B string of either a chrome or an DTF. Anyone tried this? Am I crazy?

EB Cobalt flat 2816 and Group flat 2810 has best B string tone and string to string tonal balance . But both sound different compare to DR flat, GHS flat ,La bella DTF/LTF , Dunlop flat , even broken in Chrome.

If you wanna put a other brand flatwound B mix with LTF4A , you should try GHS 126B for same hood tone.....

I have a set GHS3025 + XL126 B on my Ibanez SRMS725. Excpet the B string can't spot the intonation right, she sound quite focus and tight compare to LTF5A 118B.

Ask Matt@String by mail.
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