Strings that keep their zing

[yakmastermax]

Hey all!
Looking for recommendations for a five string set that keeps its zing for as long as possible. "Stable" strings if you will. They don't even need to be that bright to begin with, what is important to me is that they don't dull, or if they do, they do so slowly.

Thanks!

 

[Gorn]

I don’t think that can be answered objectively. Some people thing two week old strings sound dead. The TI jazz rounds on my bass are about ten years old and I think they’re plenty lively. Elixirs hold their sound for a long time. Tapewounds are rounds covered in nylon and should sound the same for years.

 

[micguy]

My experience says Kaliums' hybrids zing for a good long while. I have one bass that is set up for zing, and that's what it gets.

 

[eriky4003]

If you are looking at stainless steels, I'd say DR Fat Beams, Hi-Beams, Lo-Riders and Dunlop Super Brights (regular & Marcus Miller's). I would definitely categorize these as 'bright' strings out of the gate, however.

 

[Tubehed]

D' Addario Pro Steels

 

[Yahboy]

The bass string possible keep their Zing more than 3 months usage are amazing enough.
On friendly price point, both D'addario Pro-steel and DR Lo Rider SS are great choice.

But..... if you looking for lasting Zing on B string ? I believe it only happen on Multi scale bass 34-37 instead 34 scale .

 

[31HZ]

Another vote for HiBeams -- they last a surprisingly long time!

 

[bwildt]

My choice of rounds is DR SS Lo-Riders. I like the more mid-focused and less bright sound as opposed to say, DR High-Beams. Kind of an unexpected sound for stainless string and they last a long time.

 

[Geri O]

A generalization that I (sorta) go by is that nickel strings aren’t quite as bright right out of the package as stainless strings, but they keep their brightness longer.

In general, of course…

 

[Aidil]

While I don't have sweaty hands, the Elixirs get my vote for the strings that keep their zing the longest. They match OP's criteria of not that bright to begin with and they don't dull or do so very slowly, if they do. FWIW, I still have a set of Elixirs NPS Nanoweb on my 6 string bass which dated from 2015/16.

Although, for my main, which is a 5 string bass, I prefer Dunlop Super Bright Stainless Steel strings. Not because the keeping brightness factor, cause again, I don't seem to have sweaty hands so any strings in general can be long lasting, but more on their tension and flexibility.

 

[Gorn]

That’s the thing about Elixirs. They sound like Elixirs forever. You just have to decide if you like that sound.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

D' Addario Pro Steels

+ 1 in my experience with them. And for nickel plated steel roundwounds, I recommend D’Addario XLs.

But bear in mind, new XLs aren’t quite as bright as most new stainless steel roundwounds.

But IMO XLs are one of the brightest sounding nickel plated roundwounds that I’ve used, and they stay bright sounding for quite a long time.

 

[yakmastermax]

I am interested in the Nanoweb coated Elixirs, however a guy at GC said they aren't very bright to begin with. I think though he was talking specifically about the nickel plated. I wonder if the SS nanoweb coated Elixirs might be the ticket.

 

[Aidil]

I am interested in the Nanoweb coated Elixirs, however a guy at GC said they aren't very bright to begin with. I think though he was talking specifically about the nickel plated. I wonder if the SS nanoweb coated Elixirs might be the ticket.

If you are aiming for stainless steel strings kinda sizzles, then you probably have known that any NPS strings aren't going to have the same kind of brightness. But, NPS strings still have their own level of brightness, including the Elixir NPS Nanowebs.

In regards of the Elixir Stainless Steel Nanoweb, I'd like to try a set too since ages ago, given that I like their NPS Nanos and I always put SS strings on my main. But, problem is that the Elixir SS Nanos only come in 36.5" winding length (compared to the available Extra Long 38" options on the NPS), whereas my bass, which I prefer to put SS strings on, is a 35" scale which requires at least 37" winding length of strings. I don't know whether they have changed this or not, given that most string manufactures have abandoned 36.5" winding length and moved to 37-37.25" winding length for their long scale products in the more recent years.

 

[rickster4003]

Dunlop super brights and Ernie ball cobalts have kept me happy.

 

[Funky40]

leaving "string topic":

I´m very happy that i put a John East EQ/pre in both my Basses.
Modded one Bass 2 Days ago. The Bass wears pure Nickels, 5 string, E-hiB.

With the East uni-pre3, has how i perceive theses Strings, completly changed.
The way you hear the strings, the way you can bring out the highs, is so different to usual (cheap) onboard EQs.
I personally would recommend to anybody who wants to have some brightness and clearity in its sound ,
to look at the East Uni-pre or equivalent in his line !

its not what you´ve asked for........./ but that tip suits here, imho.
( i run it as a semi-custom 4 band setup though / Its a uniPre 3 + a midsweep 01, prewired by John )

 

[WaveyDavey]

While I don't have sweaty hands, the Elixirs get my vote for the strings that keep their zing the longest.

+1

 

[GTHintz]

The strings I've gotten the longest performance from were Dr high beams and lo riders. These have a nice tone and are definitely quality strings. Both sets lasted months. Probably 5 months easy. Ken Smith Rockmasters which are special ghs strings custom made to his specs. These lasted a long time as well. I had a set on until I wore big grooves into the strings from all the playing. They never really lost the zing. This was about 7 months at least. Another honorable mention is sadowski blue label. They held right up with the Dr strings. Most recently I've had a set of Dean Markley Blue Steel going on 3 months or so and they have been great. They haven't shown much age at all. Still really bright and beautiful. You're not going to go wrong with any of those.

 

[TomB]

As a round-wound that’s not overly bright at the start, and keeps its character for a long time, I find GHS Pressurewounds are a good choice. The B-string is a .130 as I recall.

 

[pepj]

Subjective enough, but if you like bright snd zingy out of the pack, then after 6 weeks or so of continued use, the strings will be pretty dull by comparison. You can try various ploys but thats just the nature of the beast.

This is why I go for slotted bridges and usuable ties, so I can clean the strings and re use them 5 or 6 times.
All same guage, and interchangeable.
Apart from the sound of them, old strings play gunky so at that point the sound is so compromised, you change them.
If you can just about bare them practising, they dont work on gigs anymore, ime.