strings for Stingray?

[air_leech]

hey,
I'd like to hear what Stingray owners use to get the most out of thier SRs.
personally I think steels dont sound good with the SR (or any other active bass).

 

[alexei]

what about STRingray strings? (i had to!!!)

 

[scottbass]

I used to use the Ernie Ball Slinkys, but then I tried a set of DR Sunbeams, which are nickel roundwounds. STINGRAY HEAVEN! I use Med Lights: 45-65-80-100. They lose some of the brittle highs (and fret squawk) while still maintaining a roundwound brightness. YMMV

 

[JanusZarate]

Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys.

No matter how many times I've tried other brands, they're still my overall favorite for a 'Ray. In a close second (but for a very different sound) are D'Addario XLs, which IME sound great on pretty much ANY bass.

For a while, I was sketchy on the brightness of Slinkys until I had started doing my own setups and adjusting my Stingray to my personal preferences. A good setup (and a tweak or two if changing to different strings) is essential for getting the best sound your bass can deliver with any particular set of strings.

 

[DudeWheresMy182]

Dunlops are surprisingly good for my tastes on my 'Ray.

i liked them better than the Hybrid Slinkys i had on before.

 

[Sparkdog]

Another vote for the D'Addario XL's. I went through a couple of sets of Ernie Balls when I got my first Musicman. I liked the sound and feel, but they were completely dead within a month.

My dealer recommended the XL's to me as a good replacement that sounded similar but would last far longer. That was right on the money. I change mine every few months.

You can get them in the same gauges as what comes standard on the MM's (45/65/80/100) but if you have a Ray that suffers from weak output on the D and G strings...a common complaint, my current Ray doesn't have this at all you can also get the XL rounds in medium gauge.

That set is 50/70/85/105. More tension in this set (which I prefer, but not everyone does) but you get considerably more beef out of those top strings.

 

[Lorenzini]

I have had great luck with D'Addario XLs on an SR5. Lasted about 3 weeks where I was playing them extensively and needed good tone for many different styles.

I usually don't like XLs on other basses -- on the SR5, they were a winner!

 

[buffordbass]

my vote goes to the DR Sunbeams as well. That's what is on her right now!!

 

[Michael L.]

I've always used EB Super Slinkys on mine for no particular reason. I haven't done much experimenting with this bass for strings, but the super slinkys have always seemed like a good fit.

 

[wazzel]

On my SR5 I was a long time D'Addario user until I tried the DR low riders. Love the tone and feel of the low riders.

 

[CElton]

I love the tone and feel of Regular Slinkys on my SR5. My only gripe is they just don't last as long as I would like.

 

[Stingray_EB]

Im going through a test of strings for mine. So far I have tried Hybrid Slinkies, DR Sunbeams ( best so far) next I will be trying Hi-Beams.

 

[EarlSandwich]

I have D'Addario Chromes on my Stingray. Flats on a Stingray (or anything) seem pretty uncommon, and I was dubious at first, but the more I use them, the better I think it sounds.

 

[mobax]

I like TI Powerbass.

 

[bobunit]

On my 79 Stingy and my SR5 I use EB Slinkys. They just seem to work for me and are reasonably priced.

 

[Jonyak]

I used to use the eb slinky's, but at one point I broke the d string 4 times in a row, once in concert and I went to the d'addario dtrings... I liek them.

 

[Lucas G]

on my bongo and SUB i use slinky's. started with supers, have moved on to regulars. they are cheap enough, feel really nice, and i think they sound nice.

 

[mdiddium]

For a long time I was using Ken Smith stainless steels and really liked them for the bite. I just recently decided to put on TI Flats since a friend of mine gave me his old set, and wow, what a great tone. As someone said earlier, it's unexpected and perhaps a lil unusual, but I'm loving the flats on my Stingray 5.

 

[CapnSev]

I like the semi-tight tension and broken in sound of Elixirs on my SR5.

 

[JTE]

My (pre EB) Rays sounded best to me with either GHS Brite Flats or Ken Smith Rockmasters.

jte