• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

strings for a pbass

R

Ryanrocksursock

Jan 17, 2008
49
0
#1
so i recently got an American pbass i love it! the stock strings on it are pretty nice but im looking to replace them. the stock strings come with a 110 e thats taper wound i whould like to keep that gauge, but there hard to find. im thinking of expirementing with dr strings so here are my questions

-whats the difference between high beams and low beams
-can i string them threw the body
-will changing from the 110 to a 105 be a big difference in tension
-how long do they last
 
#8
To answer your question, the string that comes factory tapers to a 60 at the bridge. So the bridge saddle is much higher than normal and will probably require a drop if you dont use the factory strings anymore.

As for what you should put on them, my recomendations are as follows:

For Ultra bite and growl, DR High Beams
For a smoother growl and more mids, Sadowsky Bright Nickels or DR Lo Rider Nickels.
And my personal favorite which offers a smooth tone with nice deep lows and full mids:

D'addario Chromes, 45-100 set. Just perfect for me.
 
#10
joelb79 said:
To answer your question, the string that comes factory tapers to a 60 at the bridge. So the bridge saddle is much higher than normal and will probably require a drop if you dont use the factory strings anymore.

As for what you should put on them, my recomendations are as follows:

For Ultra bite and growl, DR High Beams
For a smoother growl and more mids, Sadowsky Bright Nickels or DR Lo Rider Nickels.
And my personal favorite which offers a smooth tone with nice deep lows and full mids:

D'addario Chromes, 45-100 set. Just perfect for me.
Click to expand...

I agree, of course I use them on my SX-P, but they do sound great.
 
#12
joelb79 said:
To answer your question, the string that comes factory tapers to a 60 at the bridge. So the bridge saddle is much higher than normal and will probably require a drop if you dont use the factory strings anymore.

As for what you should put on them, my recomendations are as follows:

For Ultra bite and growl, DR High Beams
For a smoother growl and more mids, Sadowsky Bright Nickels or DR Lo Rider Nickels.
And my personal favorite which offers a smooth tone with nice deep lows and full mids:

D'addario Chromes, 45-100 set. Just perfect for me.
Click to expand...


How do the above roundwounds differ from the factory ones in sound?

Anyone ever try Ernie Ball slinkys, they're great on the Stingrays.
 
#13
If you want a fat sound with not much bite (less than you have now), go for some flatwwounds as other suggested before.

If you want a sound simmilar to the one you now have, try nickel strings,

If you want more bite, try stainless.

I have a P-bass, it's pretty much my favorite one, I keep coming back to it over any other bass I have or had.

I have tried a lot of strings on it over time, and recently I found an old package of fender strings on the bottom of a pedal bag, it's the one you probably had stock with the 110 taper E. Man do I love those strings on that bass, they sound very even and have just the right amount of definition.

I would advise against high-beams tho, these strings are very scooped in the mids, pretty much the antithesis of what a p-bass is about, they tend to get lost in a band setting.

Again it's my preferences, just find yours.

Anyway, on P-basses, heavy gauges work the best to bring out the natural tone of the bass, so a 110 set is a very good choice.
 
#15
Don't mean to hi-jack the thread, but what about if you're tuning to Eb Ab Db Gb and Db Ab Db Gb ?

Would a 110 gauge be good? I doubt there are a lot of strings with a thicker gauge out there for a 4 string, right? I reckon the 110 should be fine.

Comments? Suggestions?
 
#19
hey joel,

i'm trying to get some good audio of flatwounds. does any of the playing in your band's myspaces give a good representation of those strings on a P?


joelb79 said:
To answer your question, the string that comes factory tapers to a 60 at the bridge. So the bridge saddle is much higher than normal and will probably require a drop if you dont use the factory strings anymore.

As for what you should put on them, my recomendations are as follows:

For Ultra bite and growl, DR High Beams
For a smoother growl and more mids, Sadowsky Bright Nickels or DR Lo Rider Nickels.
And my personal favorite which offers a smooth tone with nice deep lows and full mids:

D'addario Chromes, 45-100 set. Just perfect for me.
Click to expand...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back