The TalkBass String Comparison Sound Clip Thread!

[rob_thebassman]

Ages ago I ordered a 3 pack of Labella strings from Sam Ash. I think it was $25 or $29? it included a set of Hard Rockin' Steels (Now Stainless Rounds), Slappers ( Now the aforementioned Nickels) and Super Steps. I can't remember for the life of me if I liked them or not? I think the Hard Rockin' steels had some crunchy mids going on like Rotos. I'm going to check out @rob_thebassman clips again for a refresher. I do remember I tried out all of the sets on the Iron Maiden P-Bass ('arry's first signature bass, which I didn't like that much? Even though I scoured the entire country for it!)
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and vaguely remember transferring the Hard Rockin' Steels to my Geddy Lee Jazz. I remember the black silk.
I still like the Labella Rx's I have on and might put them on my Cirrus. I ran into an order snafu this weekend. I didn't realize that my order for my Auroras had been cancelled so I had to order from another store. I'm really going to give them another chance due to the $$$.
Best wishes all,
Brent

I tried hard rockin steels about 11 years ago when they were still called hard rockin steels, tried them cos I was playing alot of metallica and heard Jason Newsted used them, I liked them made my thunderbird sound great. I've tried Steve harris' signiture strings on my sisters ex bass before and felt horrible to play. He even got me a pack for Xmas, and I sent them to dave's World of Fun Stuff haha! Gutted that they cancelled your order mate

 

[BrentSimons]

Hey @rob_thebassman !
Cool. I might have to try them out again at some point. I like the grind you were getting in your clip! The Labella Rx's I have right now are pretty good. They are supposed to be lower tension and more flexible than the nickel rounds and stainless rounds. They seem to be holding up pretty well on my Geddy Jazz.
I tried the Rotosound Jazz 77's eons ago it seems. That's what Steve used before his signature set. They are a very un-flatwounding sounding flatwound, at least when new and have a great feel. I tried a set in 40-100 and liked them. They aren't cheap though. But the gauges in 'arry's signature set scare me! Those are big strings!
I should receive the Auroras any day now from the other store. I'm curious as to how they will sound on my Cirrus.
Cheers Mate!
Brent

 

[rob_thebassman]

Hey @rob_thebassman !
Cool. I might have to try them out again at some point. I like the grind you were getting in your clip! The Labella Rx's I have right now are pretty good. They are supposed to be lower tension and more flexible than the nickel rounds and stainless rounds. They seem to be holding up pretty well on my Geddy Jazz.
I tried the Rotosound Jazz 77's eons ago it seems. That's what Steve used before his signature set. They are a very un-flatwounding sounding flatwound, at least when new and have a great feel. I tried a set in 40-100 and liked them. They aren't cheap though. But the gauges in 'arry's signature set scare me! Those are big strings!
I should receive the Auroras any day now from the other store. I'm curious as to how they will sound on my Cirrus.
Cheers Mate!
Brent

I tried the RX series before on my jazz bass, sounded great. But then I discovered setting up my basses properly. And because I used to stretch the strings out when I restrung a bass (bad advice from the Internet) they'd be super loose and the RX was way too loose. I'd defo try them again though I used roto flats too, roughest flat I've ever used, liked them at first then discovered la bella flats never went back

 

[rob_thebassman]

Right, I've officially ran out of ideas of what to put on my stingray (nickel wise), any ideas are welcome. I wanna avoid doing strings what everyone else has done as they'd already get the gist of what they sound like.. Maybe steels? Maybe dig out my P bass?

 

[rob_thebassman]

@IconBasser have you anymore strings in the pipe line?

 

[IconBasser]

Mmm nope, other than that set of coated Caye's I got from China that are still sitting around. The regular Caye's were so abysmal, I have no expectation of these being any good either.

I've been working on recording stuff for my various bands and projects now that I've been done with school for the semester. Now that I have a "go-to" (the Ziko's), I've been less curious about stuff and more focused on finishing old songs that have been sitting in Pro Tools for far too long.

 

[IconBasser]

One interesting thing I could do:

I've been experimenting with reamping my DI bass tracks through my Genz Benz rig, and I've gotten some really rad tones for some of my songs. I could do the same with all my string comparison clips so people could get a taste for what they'd sound like in a live setting.

 

[rob_thebassman]

One interesting thing I could do:

I've been experimenting with reamping my DI bass tracks through my Genz Benz rig, and I've gotten some really rad tones for some of my songs. I could do the same with all my string comparison clips so people could get a taste for what they'd sound like in a live setting.

That'd be awesome! Be good to hear how they'd drive the amp. I'd really like someone to record a guitar track over the main lick I do, like a deep purple guitar tone, and maybe a keyboard track too.

 

[rob_thebassman]

Mmm nope, other than that set of coated Caye's I got from China that are still sitting around. The regular Caye's were so abysmal, I have no expectation of these being any good either.

I've been working on recording stuff for my various bands and projects now that I've been done with school for the semester. Now that I have a "go-to" (the Ziko's), I've been less curious about stuff and more focused on finishing old songs that have been sitting in Pro Tools for far too long.

Those cayes are just awful haha 'percist in ones old ways'... Maybe thats why they're so bad cos they've stuck to their method of making them lmao! Hope your projects are going well mate. Really wanting to be in a band, just haven't got the time to these days

 

[IconBasser]

I'd really like someone to record a guitar track over the main lick I do, like a deep purple guitar tone, and maybe a keyboard track too.

ask and ye shall receive.

You're on your own with the keyboard part though.

 

[rob_thebassman]

ask and ye shall receive.

You're on your own with the keyboard part though.

That is awesome cheers dude! Scrap the keyboard haha.

 

[rob_thebassman]

ask and ye shall receive.

You're on your own with the keyboard part though.

Can't stop listening to it cheers again dude, really appreciate it

 

[BrentSimons]

Right, I've officially ran out of ideas of what to put on my stingray (nickel wise), any ideas are welcome. I wanna avoid doing strings what everyone else has done as they'd already get the gist of what they sound like.. Maybe steels? Maybe dig out my P bass?

I would love to hear the p Bass mate!
The only strings I have left are the Auroras and the Rotosound Swing Bass 66. I'm hoping to do some clips this weekend.
Have we done any Dean Markley's? I haven't used Blue Steels since they came out ages ago.
Best wishes,
Brent

 

[BrentSimons]

I tried the RX series before on my jazz bass, sounded great. But then I discovered setting up my basses properly. And because I used to stretch the strings out when I restrung a bass (bad advice from the Internet) they'd be super loose and the RX was way too loose. I'd defo try them again though I used roto flats too, roughest flat I've ever used, liked them at first then discovered la bella flats never went back

Exactly! I had my tech setup my 62 Jazz with the Dunlop Super Brights. He had to raise the action a bit more than he likes to prevent rattle and buzz. Floppy.
I remember that the E and A on the 77's had a bit of a rough feel but it didn't seem to bother me much.
Brent

 

[Wood and Wire]

Right, I've officially ran out of ideas of what to put on my stingray (nickel wise), any ideas are welcome. I wanna avoid doing strings what everyone else has done as they'd already get the gist of what they sound like.. Maybe steels? Maybe dig out my P bass?

If you're desperate...

No idea if it's really true, but I've heard that those dirt cheap strings by Marshall, are actually re-badged Ernie Ball Slinkys.

Would be interesting to hear a direct comparison, and to know how long they last - could be false economy / could be an incredible saving for the same product...???

 

[rob_thebassman]

If you're desperate...

No idea if it's really true, but I've heard that those dirt cheap strings by Marshall, are actually re-badged Ernie Ball Slinkys.

Would be interesting to hear a direct comparison, and to know how long they last - could be false economy / could be an incredible saving for the same product...???

Could try em, I've also been told numerous times that Warwick strings are good too, a mate uses them

 

[IconBasser]

Can't stop listening to it cheers again dude, really appreciate it

No worries mate!

Gave me an excuse to play around with reamping a DI guitar track, something I've been meaning to experiment with.

Amazingly, I got that guitar tone by running it through my Genz Benz bass rig! I just stuck my Revv G3 distortion pedal in front of it, played back the guitar parts from pro tools, and mic'd it up with a Heil PR40 dynamic. Thing sounds like a vintage Marshall!

 

[rob_thebassman]

No worries mate!

Gave me an excuse to play around with reamping a DI guitar track, something I've been meaning to experiment with.

Amazingly, I got that guitar tone by running it through my Genz Benz bass rig! I just stuck my Revv G3 distortion pedal in front of it, played back the guitar parts from pro tools, and mic'd it up with a Heil PR40 dynamic. Thing sounds like a vintage Marshall!

Nice one! It's turned out to be a success. Used to love my genz benz sounds great on guitar, and I actually had that microphone too it's amazing what you can do with technology these days

 

[rob_thebassman]

here is my poor reamp attempt, the headphone jack of my focusrite going into my line6 GX lmao. Using the GK 800rb model on it. Also including the track icon did for me \m/

 

[IconBasser]

^ that actually sounds pretty good!