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The perfect strings...have you found yours?

I'm going with D'Addario Half Rounds on my 73 Mustang for a few years now. Great versatile string. Your tone knob helps you go from thump-muddy to growl'n, at least on my stang. Best string I've found to intonate on my bass also.

Big shout out for someone previously mentioning D'Addario Reds. I loved them on my bass, but man your finger tips would get all tarnished while they aged. But loved the sound.
 
Good to know I'm not the only one who hasn't found anything that stands out. Though, I put some LaBella flats on my dano (in the profile pic) and I really like them. Though, I haven't been able to play them live yet. I hope they're not so "thumpy" that I get lost under a couple of loud guitars. I'm also glad to read a lot of you are using flats. I've been considering them for years but everytime I asked about them, the guy behind the counter would give me a mean look. I like the feel of them so much I'm now considering putting flats on my Big Al. Would that be weird?
 
I put them on my SX Jazz Bass because it had roundwounds on it and all my others have flatwounds. I didn’t realize how much I would like the strings! My SX really didn’t play all that well with the roundwounds, and I thought it was because it was a lower level guitar. Now it plays lots better! I like how much smoother the strings feel especially the E and A strings. View attachment 4108892
They look smooth too
 
This is probably a very un-TB thing to say but, honestly, I'm just not all that picky (no pun intended) about strings. I've used a wide variety of flats, rounds, and other variants over the years and have rarely come across any that I really didn't like, and I've been pretty happy with almost everything I've tried. I seem to just adapt to whatever strings I happen to be using at the time. But if I had to pick one that seems to suit me best overall, I think it would be TI flats.

It's true, our hands make the bass, and I could play any gig with any professional strings. That said, TI Flats sing and sustain longer than any other flat wound string.
 
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One out of three for now...

GHS Precision Flats on my Jazz. This is it! You folks remember the old Jiffy peanut butter ads where the guy eating it goes “Wow!” like it’s the first time he’s ever had it every time he eats it? Well picking up this bass, playing it, and hearing what comes out gives me that same feeling every.single.time. Not a lot of output but man, the tone!:drool:

Now I want a second Jazz so it could have Pressurewounds on it. Great output and presence in a live mix. I really liked these too but only one working Jazz atm soooo...see preceding paragraph.:smug:

GHS Pressurewounds on my P for how. This would rock live! I want to try a different flat with some more clarity and maybe a little less thump and vintagey then the GHS. Maybe some Dunlop or EB Group or Slinky Flats. Still considering a pup change from the stock CV too.

Of all things, cheap arsed C$15 L&M Roundwounds for the Ray.:woot: Haven’t really found anything else fundamentally better yet so why spend more? One thing though. As much as I love flats and largely detest rounds for my FSO’s, so far it’s gotta be rounds for the Ray. I am considering trying out some pressurewounds though after I’m done with them on the FSO’s. I think their crunchy mids and good output will help out the Ray’s kinda anemic tone with the pre set flat. I hope so anyways. I’ve always loved the way the Ray plays but it’s flat tone, not so much.
 
One out of three for now...

GHS Precision Flats on my Jazz. This is it! You folks remember the old Jiffy peanut butter ads where the guy eating it goes “Wow!” like it’s the first time he’s ever had it every time he eats it? Well picking up this bass, playing it, and hearing what comes out gives me that same feeling every.single.time. Not a lot of output but man, the tone!:drool:

Now I want a second Jazz so it could have Pressurewounds on it. Great output and presence in a live mix. I really liked these too but only one working Jazz atm soooo...see preceding paragraph.:smug:

GHS Pressurewounds on my P for how. This would rock live! I want to try a different flat with some more clarity and maybe a little less thump and vintagey then the GHS. Maybe some Dunlop or EB Group or Slinky Flats. Still considering a pup change from the stock CV too.

Of all things, cheap arsed C$15 L&M Roundwounds for the Ray.:woot: Haven’t really found anything else fundamentally better yet so why spend more? One thing though. As much as I love flats and largely detest rounds for my FSO’s, so far it’s gotta be rounds for the Ray. I am considering trying out some pressurewounds though after I’m done with them on the FSO’s. I think their crunchy mids and good output will help out the Ray’s kinda anemic tone with the pre set flat. I hope so anyways. I’ve always loved the way the Ray plays but it’s flat tone, not so much.
PWs are fantastic on my Fender 60s (reissue) J. I also put them on my G&L JB-2... same result. Chromes on my Squier 70s CV. I think that running my Tech 21 preamp in front has a lot to do with the tone I get, though.
 
I have multiple basses, so I have to use different strings. Horses for courses, ya know?

FOR 34" SCALE:
thmb_900x900_Fender.FenderStainlessFlatwound9050CLBassStrings31593.jpg


FOR MEDIUM & SHORTSCALE:

81hNt3LcG1L._AC_UL320_.jpg


FOR HOLLOWBODY:

71ta693ODPL._AC_SL1064_.jpg
 

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Scotty-Scott, ignore the rude employee behind the counter and purchase what YOU want and/or need. I used flats on my Warwick for two years because the BL wanted 'that sound.' The last two BLs have wanted the zingy roundwound sound. My bass sounds great with either type of string. Yours should also.
 

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