Strings for MTD - Ease of Playing + Less High End

[JethroD]

Hi. I have a MTD Kingston Heir 4-string bass with 3-band active EQ and J + MM pickups. I've had it for a number of years, but sadly has been sitting in a case unplayed. So may very well have stock round wound strings on it, unsure. But wanting to get it setup and start playing it again.

What I dislike:

• The action is high, making it not so easy on the fingers (especially my out-of-shape fingers).
• The string gauge may be heavier than my older bass, also not as easy on the fingers.
• The strings are MUCH too bright and 'ringy' for my taste.

What my preferences are:

• I've always preferred bass without a lot of jangly high-end. More smooth, with maybe a nice mid/low-mid punch.
• I'm pretty much 100% fingerstyle, no pick or slapping.
• Would love strings that are easier on the fingers, and smooth for sliding or emulating fretless a bit.
• My playing style might range from funky/groovy at times, to smooth & mellow 'almost fretless-sounding' at times.
• Between the 3-band EQ, and variable pickup selector, this bass has almost too much control and tonal variation. So feel like I could always eek out some more brightness if I ever needed it. Just don't want to be fighting it so much normally due to strings.

- Wanting suggestions for string type (maybe incl. brand/model) and gauge.

As a comparison, I have an old Ibanez SR1000 bass that I NEVER changed strings on, and loved the way it sounded. I dreaded a string break, as I knew it would kill the tone & balance I was enjoying. And with the active EQ, and low frets, a lot of folks thought I was playing a fretless at times. Could get that nice 'round' mid sound out of it, and with the low action could smoothly slide around. But, the super long / super thin neck is like a rubber band. So if I even slightly lean back while playing, it will totally mute out on frets ; ). Just want to get my MTD, with it's super solid beefy neck, to play a bit more like this old Ibanez...

 

[michael_t]

What my preferences are:

• I've always preferred bass without a lot of jangly high-end. More smooth, with maybe a nice mid/low-mid punch.
• I'm pretty much 100% fingerstyle, no pick or slapping.
• Would love strings that are easier on the fingers, and smooth for sliding or emulating fretless a bit.

If you want a non-zingy roundwound tone with punchy low-mid and some nice crunch in the mids, I would suggest the GHS Pressurewound. They're "rollerwound", meaning the outer round wire is slightly flattened, resulting in a smoother surface texture with reduced finger noise.

Products - PRESSUREWOUND™ - GHS Strings

Since 1964, GHS Strings has been expertly winding high-quality electric guitar strings in the heart of southwestern Michigan. As a leading manufacturer, we blend tradition with innovation to produce a wide variety of strings for electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, classical guitars...

www.ghsstrings.com

 

[moles]

This has TI Jazz Flats written all over it. Warm, supple under the left hand, growly without the zing. They do *not* sound like a vintage LaBella thing.

Pricey, but I popped them on my BTB and I'm really quite surprised by what I'm getting out of them.

 

[ahbradot]

Invalid Link Removed

Skip to the 12th minute for the neck pickup.
I record myself noodling around every day for about a half hour on video.

MTD Bass KZ4 SA Kingston Z

Strings LABELLA Deep Talkin' 760FL - 43-60-82-104 (installed Nov 2025)

 

[BassBrass]

First, try cutting high freq with the designated knob. Try adding low and or mids too. Some basses have a high mid freq center on the preamp and that may need to be cut, depending.
Darker strings--EB Cobalt flats, DR Bure Blues or Fat Beams (I don't like the feel or sound of 1/2 round/ground types). DR Dragon Skins have accented midrange and are slightly sticky (from the coating) but for some basses they sound amazing. You can select the gage by reading what the gage is, I like a 45 G vs a 125-130 B, usually 105 E unless it's a 5 string set with a 100 E. some people go light gage, I don't, they don't feel or sound right to me. PS I have a set of TI Jazz flats on the way for my new Mark Bass Gloxy Jazz because it's Christmas and the $120 plus price (Sweetwater) seems reasonable... so far rounds have been too bright on it and I have a pack of EB Cobalt flats 45-130, but I've been reading here about TI Jazz flats for years, let's see what the hubbub is about.

 

[Stranger Danger]

 

[red_rhino]

+1 on the GHS Pressurewounds. I’d also suggest D’Addario EXL220BT nickel wounds (40-95). A bit bright to begin with, but not as zingy as the MTDs. Once they settle in a bit, they’re a nice, even string with good lows and smooth highs. Both the D’Addario and the Pressurewounds have good tension for being a light gauge, with PWs being a bit stiffer. I’ve had both on my Tobias, for a couple of years each.

 

[H Nighttrain]

La Bella LTFs fit your preferences very well, feel- and tone-wise. I'd prefer a little more top end bite on my Precisions, but I blame the basses, not the strings. I also put LTFs on an active EBMM Sterling, plenty of bite with that bass.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

You might want to give DR Sunbeams a try. Not too bright. Not too dark. They feel nice.

 

[bass12]

Another suggestion for TI flats. Expensive but they'll last for years.

 

[PrestoZoom]

If you don't want to go with flats, I recommend GHS Boomers. The round core variant will be easier on your fingers than the hex core (which are somewhat stiff).

They have good mids and tone but are not zingy, even right out of the package.

 

[prndltech]

This has TI Jazz Flats written all over it. Warm, supple under the left hand, growly without the zing. They do *not* sound like a vintage LaBella thing.

Pricey, but I popped them on my BTB and I'm really quite surprised by what I'm getting out of them.

Invalid Link Removed

Skip to the 12th minute for the neck pickup.
I record myself noodling around every day for about a half hour on video.

MTD Bass KZ4 SA Kingston Z

Strings LABELLA Deep Talkin' 760FL - 43-60-82-104 (installed Nov 2025)

Very interesting… I keep thinking I want to try flats on my sadowsky modern and this may be reinforcing that thought.

Maybe flats on a more modern/active bass is more popular than I think

 

[Jeff Scott]

Some have suggested TI Jazz Flats which is an excellent choice, howver another would their Jazz Rounds. They feel almost like flats, have a broken-in round wound sound to them, and are even easier to play as they are lower in tension to the Jazz Flats a bit.

 

[GTHintz]

This is a dark horse recommendation but I would say to try DR Black Beauties. They are definitely smooth because of the coating but they are probably one of the more well rounded strings you'll find for tone. They can be bright when fresh but they don't ring out due to the coating. It really keeps the fundamental with clarity but not harsh. They are honestly too mellow for some because of this but they could work for you. It sounds like you like broken in tone so these will sound like that almost immediately. I'd also look at pure blues from DR if you like nickel. Also GHS boomers or round core boomers might be good for what you're trying to do too. They might be stiffer than DR strings but you'll have lots of mids and can possibly get a lower and more comfortable action depending on how they set up on your bass. I find that there's a difference in basses and strings and how easy they are to set up. Everything takes some tweaking when you start charging strings to get the optimum setup. I've spent plenty of time changing saddle Heights and pickup height and moving truss rods.

 

[trothwell]

I know someone with an MTD who favors the coated Elixir nickel strings. I've never used those myself on anything, but he seems to get good results, that may be down the path you're after.

 

[JethroD]

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies. I'll have to go through them and see if I can find some consistencies, and do more research on my own on them.

But I was reading a lot of reviews on the La Bella Low Tension Flats. Mostly really good reviews, with many stating that due to the lower tension they are a lot easier on the fingers than a typical flat wound might be (I guess it's the round vs hex core, but unsure if all advertise this specifically). Thoughts on these?!?

THANKS!

 

[GwenOnBass]

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies. I'll have to go through them and see if I can find some consistencies, and do more research on my own on them.

But I was reading a lot of reviews on the La Bella Low Tension Flats. Mostly really good reviews, with many stating that due to the lower tension they are a lot easier on the fingers than a typical flat wound might be (I guess it's the round vs hex core, but unsure if all advertise this specifically). Thoughts on these?!?

THANKS!

La Bella LTFs sound very much like the Deep Talkin' Bass line but with lower pulling tension. I replaced my LTFs with Pyramid Gold flats on the semi-hollowbody for the full British Invasion monte.

I find EB Group 4 flats hits that happy place between EB Cobalt Flats and DTFs. Replaced the Group 4 flats with Ken Smith Compressors (re-branded GHS Pressurewounds) after close to four years on the EB flats because I want something brighter for my LOW B video project. Pressurewounds record beautifully!

Incidentally, a set of Black Beauties is out for delivery today. My experience with them is Black Beauties bring most of the stainless steel vibe without any of the hassle.