Tried 30-50-70-90

[JazzCrazy]

Sorry, I haven’t tried the high beams, just the Pure Blues. I really like the Pure Blues, but 95-40 VW’s are the lightest set. Very nice on my 35” Cirrus or the Dingwalls. They are just long enough for the four string, longscale Dingwall AB1. Great on the Super P as well.

I’ve got a couple sets of nickel Low Riders .040, I’ll be trying on the longscales.

The 90-30 set I just installed are GHS Boomers, and they are darker sounding than the Pure Blues. I really like these on the Super P, the G string is only 32”.

I’m tempted to try the rotosound funkmasters, even though I know I don’t get along with stainless steel.

I also want to try the TI jazz rounds. Love the TI flats.

Oops I thought you were 600 Ohms when I quoted you!

I used to play the TI rounds on my old Ibanez 6 stringh The .043 G &
027 C was twangy & nasal. The
068 A & .089 E& .118 were DEAD! The .051 D wasn't quite Mam Bear either, but better than the rest. I was told the TI flats are much better. I hated my TI Rounds!

You've inspired me to try the 30-90 boomers. Hibeams have limited midrage, just not entirely robust & I'm sick of boosting my amp's contour & low midrange to get a nice round generic sound.. I can't imagine HBs bring convincing with 30-90 gauges.

I always liked Boomers best but my reason for not using them is that they're hard on my fingers & (ski jump) bass neck. Now @ 30-90 I can give em a try. (I also wear guitarist gloves now

 

[singlemalt]

The .30 Boomers will only do 34” scale. Just a tad short for my 35” Cirrus.

I suspect the .030 C wouldn’t work that well at 35”, it was a bit thin on my six string at 34”.
Works great on the Dingwall Super P at 32”.

I found a sunbeam .030 in my string stash, I’ll try it and see how it compares.

 

[JazzCrazy]

The .30 Boomers will only do 34” scale. Just a tad short for my 35” Cirrus.

I suspect the .030 C wouldn’t work that well at 35”, it was a bit thin on my six string at 34”.
Works great on the Dingwall Super P at 32”.

I found a sunbeam .030 in my string stash, I’ll try it and see how it compares.

I'm gazing into my crystal ball & can predict that .030 Sunbeam would make a terrible G string on a 34" scale if you don't like the Boomer.

I'm quite familiar with Sunbeams as my 34" scale fretless bass strings are black coated Sunbeam's (105-30) it's not an ideal C string let alone G ,& I've decided to give hex core Black Diamonds a try. I give up on round cores.

As for light gauge Boomers, intuitively 30 seems too light. Actually, GHS makes a single .035 gauge to go on a 35 scale bass. I'm going to try going 35 60 70 90, maybe 95 (later).

While on the subject, can anyone here confirm that the GHS Boomer in 50 gauge has a single outer winding like the other 45-25 gauge C & G strings? If so, I think it might work on my Marcus Miller bass. I cannot stand that twangy change in timbre going up from the D to G string. I believe going from a double wound A to a single wound D string seems less crucial.

(Edit) OK! Bad news. Apparently GHS has discontinued there extra long .035 gauge string. I decided to give up on that because 30 gauge is too thin & lean for a G. It seems that all 30 50 70 90 can really offer is supplying the bassist with an clear image of success in his head, without the full, beefy sound. (Which could conceivably come later with practice.) Maybe I can find what I want in a set of round core Boomers. Low tension, flexibility & beef. (Hibeams just don't quite make it without lots of EQuing.)

Also GHS doesn't make Boomers in a short scale 65. They make 60 or 70 for a short scale. My new Ibanez MiKro ain't gonna get no Boomers if they dictate to me my string gauges. Yjis tiny MiRo triggered this change in string philosophy. It's so famn robust!& at 28.6" scale. Obvious the equipped strings are hex cored & got me thinking.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Also GHS doesn't make Boomers in a short scale 65. They make 60 or 70 for a short scale. My new Ibanez MiKro ain't gonna get no Boomers if they dictate to me my string gauges.

If you know where to find singles, don't worry about installing a long-scale .065" on a short-scale instrument: it's thin and flexible enough not to risk breaking at the post even if wound thereon at full thickness; in fact, I've even used untapered .08" flatwound strings (which are notoriously stiffer than rounds as a rule) on thin, guitar-style tuners without having them break on me. IME, the worrisome zone, as far as a string needing to be tapered at the post (for peace of mind at least), starts above .085".

 

[singlemalt]

I’ll wind the Sunbeam .030 on my Dingwall Super P. The G string is 32”. It’ll be a spare for that bass.

If the cut allows, I’ll put it on the Cirrus 35”, just in the interest of scientific exploration.

It’s amazing how quickly playing a 90-30 set can start making 95-40 feel stiff.

I think the DR Pure Blues VW or nickel low riders will be the longscale strings.

I’m going to give the funkmasters a try.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Y'know, this is one of the things that if I had Too Many Basses or Too Much Money I would definitely want to explore: Having one instrument dedicated to ultra-light strings just to see what the hubbub is all about, and to use for those times when I specifically want that sound or feel.

As it is right now I could certainly dedicate a bass to ultra-light strings but that would be taking one of the more commonly-used Knowns out of my arsenal, and I just don't feel like I have the luxury (even temporarily) of being without one of my go-to instruments just to experiment with an Unknown.

In short, the idea of ultra-light strings is intriguing...but not so intriguing that I plan to do anything about it.

 

[600 Ohms]

Aren't all the DR strings some really (unnecessarily) long scale, like 37.75" ? I always have to wind full wrap around my E and B strings. Not my fave thing in the world. I emailed DR about this and received no replay. Harrumph.

 

[singlemalt]

Fret Nation has a flash sale on Daddario XL’s.

It’s been years since I used them, but I figured I’d give the 95-35 nickels a try out.

Set me back $12.79.

We will see. I’m thinking for the 35” Cirrus.

I’m really enjoying the Boomer.030 set.

 

[singlemalt]

Got the XL 95-35 set installed on my Cirrus today. Replaced the DR Pure Blue VW 40 set. The DR’s went in my alcohol soaking tube. They will return.

The XL’s won’t be long enough for my Dingwall, bummer.

No fiddling with truss rod or intonation, so these sets are very close to each other. Action and relief are just a smidge lower, so I’d guess a slight reduction in tension. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a slight backbow in the morning, it might need the truss rod loosened.

But, yeah, so far so good. They feel great, definitely notice the reduced G string.

A different voice than the DRs. They seem to be opening up as I play them in and they settle.

It’s been years since I used XL’s. They were always a great budget choice. For $13 it’s hard to complain. Very middle of the road, nickel, rounds. I do like the light gauge. Kind of meh at this point, but glad to have a new, very light set.

Next up Rotosound funkmasters. I’m going to give stainless a shot.

 

[manbass]

Rotosound makes light nickels
Rotosound RB35 Nickel (Unsilked) Bass Guitar Strings (35 55 75 95)