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String recommendation for an Ibanez SR650

sonojono

sonojono

Supporting Member
Feb 13, 2013
5,144
9,040
California
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#1
just invested in an SR650 line from Ibanez and have noticed the pickups are single coil to which I have never experienced in my playing years.

Not really going to list a few strings of what nickel or SS strings I prefer, I like them all. I was going to try out Fender Flats but someone commented on another thread that the Fender flats won't help work with the single coil pups. Although I am quite curious of which kind and or type of strings can help accommodate with the pickups the SR650 has, I would like to be shown the path of what strings to specifically buy to support this basses potential.

Any and all recommendations will be kindly accepted and further most am happy to have finally gotten my dream Bass :bassist:
 
#5
There is not reason flats wont work with that bass. There are plenty of Jazz basses out there with flat wounds (most jazz pickups are single coils). Also, the split P pickup in the neck position is a humbucker. By the way, I love that model of Ibanez and think it is one of their best offerings ever. I myself would probably string it up with some nickel round wounds like the Dunlop superbrites or Kalium/Circle K.
 
#7
winegamd said:
There is not reason flats wont work with that bass. There are plenty of Jazz basses out there with flat wounds (most jazz pickups are single coils). Also, the split P pickup in the neck position is a humbucker. By the way, I love that model of Ibanez and think it is one of their best offerings ever. I myself would probably string it up with some nickel round wounds like the Dunlop superbrites or Kalium/Circle K.
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I agree, I tried flats on that Bass and it didn't sound that great on them, would rather just use my other bass for flats. I currently installed Sunbeams on them and they sound standard. Not 100% gung ho about em.

I was recommended Blue Steels and Nickel Foderas for the 650's. Dunlop super brites are also on the list to try out.
 
#12
sonojono said:
I should add those strings to my list to try out then. I hear mix matched opinions about elixirs but I guess this will be a lonely journey to find out from there
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I don't know how you'll like the tone, but I got my bass in July. I play at least 2 hours a day, and play with a heavy fingerstyle for my bands music, and jam on Primus most of the other time. I still have the original strings on, and with a bright tone. They just won't quit. I used to play Ernie Ball Super Slinkys, and I'd have gone through at least 2 sets with the amount of time and slap I've put these strings through.
 
#13
Icemanaroonie said:
They're supposed to come with Elixirs, or so the manual says. Might be some employees are poaching the strings!
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Ibanez basses do come with Elixir Nanos - for a number of years now. All 4 of my SRs came with them, and I used them for about 6 months until they started to die out. They cost too much plus they have too much tension for me, but they are beautiful sounding strings. I've been using D'Add Prosteels for years now because they are a much lower tension string plus they are nice & bright the way I like them, but lately I've been using the * NEW * Dunlop Super Bright SS rounds. They have more of that piano tone than the D'Adds, but a tad bit more tension, and a little stiffer than the Prosteels which I don't really care for.

OP - congrats on the new Ibby; I'm sure you'll be happy! Ibanez makes great basses. I've got 5 of them myself.

Personally I'd never put flats on an Ibanez, and you might try a set of Prosteels. They're cheap, and sound great on Ibby SRs -or- if they're too bright you might try a set of SIT Powerwounds; they're very nice sounding nickel rounds. Good luck.
 
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#14
Solarmist said:
Ibanez basses do come with Elixir Nanos - for a number of years now. All 4 of my SRs came with them, and I used them for about 6 months until they started to die out. They cost too much plus they have too much tension for me, but they are beautiful sounding strings. I've been using D'Add Prosteels for years now because they are a much lower tension string plus they are nice & bright the way I like them, but lately I've been using the * NEW * Dunlop Super Bright SS rounds. They have more of that piano tone than the D'Adds, but a tad bit more tension, and a little stiffer than the Prosteels which I don't really care for.

OP - congrats on the new Ibby; I'm sure you'll be happy! Ibanez makes great basses. I've got 5 of them myself.

Personally I'd never put flats on an Ibanez, and you might try a set of Prosteels. They're cheap, and sound great on Ibby SRs -or- if they're too bright you might try a set of SIT Powerwounds; they're very nice sounding nickel rounds. Good luck.
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Thank you for the encouraging words. It's been going on a week with this bass now and I seem to can't put it down whenever I pick it up when I wake up in the morning :laugh:
 
#15
I just received my Ibby SR650 which I bought used in excellent condition from GC. It still has Elixir strings on it. I like the Elixirs very much but they will need replacing in the near future and would like to replace with strings that are less costly than Elixir Nano's? What strings have you settled on this model? Has anyone used DR's? Again I like the Elixir's so I don't need a drastic change in tone.
 
#16
Dean Sass said:
I just received my Ibby SR650 which I bought used in excellent condition from GC. It still has Elixir strings on it. I like the Elixirs very much but they will need replacing in the near future and would like to replace with strings that are less costly than Elixir Nano's? What strings have you settled on this model? Has anyone used DR's? Again I like the Elixir's so I don't need a drastic change in tone.
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First, make sure those are Elixirs. Ibanez has switched to D'Addario in quite recent years (out of my 8 Ibanez basses, last time I got Elixirs was on 2015 BTB. Prior to that, I got D'Addarios). They are visually different by their ball ends: all brass colored ball ends means possibly those are indeed Elixir (NPS Nanowebs), whilst color coded ball ends means those are most likely D'Addario (XL Nickels).

Second, lots of folks have been using DR's on their Ibanez, so go ahead & use them if they are you preference. Probably the Lo-Rider Nickels would have the closest tone and string tension (which somewhat might translate to playing feel) out of DR products. Although sleek-wise, these aren't gonna be the same as the Nanos. Even if you'd get DR's coated strings, the sleekness wouldn't be the same. Not to mention most, if not all, DR coated strings are round core, which translates to different playing feel than the Elixir or D'Addario, which all have hex core inside.

If you'd like the closest tone and string tension to the stocks, no matter they are Elixir or D'Addario, probably getting the XL Nickels would be your best bet. Lots of folks swear by the Elixirs are being made by D'Addario. For sure they are very economical compared to the Elixirs.
 
#17
Thanks for the information Aidil,
The current strings do have the gold ball ends, so I believe it is safe to assume that they are the Elixir Nano's.

I have been using DR Pure Blues on my SR1200 premium, and I agree that they have a coarse feel, though not nearly as grippy as Hi Beams. These are great strings for smooth sustain.

I was not aware the Elixir and D'Adarrion were the same company
 
#20
Okay so I took my new acquisition an Ibby SR650 to my guitar tech today to have him set it up, and he agreed with you about trying the D'Addardio XL nickels. He also threw a curveball suggestion, that being D'Addario Chrome (Flats) regular light gauge .45-.100. He said they would have a similar string tension as the original Elixir Nano's that are on it and he thought they would sound fantastic on this guitar. Obviously quite different qualities from the original strings. He is a sound guy and doesn't like the string noise that rounds make moving from fret to fret and said most sound guys will sacrifice the quality of the upper range or piano type qualities of rounds to eliminate it. Flats eliminate that problem so no need to tune out the upper end. Yes you lose the piano brightness with flats but they really fill space with bottom-end warmth. This is him talking.

So, I am very interested in hearing your responses. Agree with him? Anyone use Flats on an Ibanez SR650 or and SR for that matter?
 

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