Trying a new bass with strings you don't plan to use

[CryingBass]

You are starting with a fallacy. Each bass is going to tell you what strings work best on it. Just because you prefer one string doesn’t mean it’s best for all basses.

And here’s another shocker for Talkbass: maybe you don’t need another bass? Play what you have and know that your tastes and needs will change dramatically over the years

Blasphemy!

 

[porkynuggets]

In my pretty limited experience (owned 8 basses total, played maybe another dozen) I've found strings have an outsize effect to how a bass sounds (and feels.) Nothing ground breaking there, but as I progress along in my bass trying and acquiring journey, I've developed very specific tonal goals. I'm thinking about adding another bass to the quiver, but I want to make sure it delivers the tones I'm looking for — but how can I know if it's not strung how I would want it?

So when you've got your eye on a new bass and you give it a whirl but it's got strings that are nowhere near the sound or style you're going for, do you just focus on playability knowing the effect you're preferred strings will have? Seems crazy and I've never heard of people doing this, but do people bring their preferred strings along to a shop or private seller and ask to string them up? Or do you rely on your understanding of string, bass, pickup etc characteristics and just make the leap of faith?

TIA for any advice you have.

I feel like this is overthinking it. Either you connect with the instrument or you don't, imho.

 

[JazznFunk]

Never been an issue for me. I've ripped whatever strings came on a bass off and put the ones I prefer on. What MIGHT change on a subsequent string change is gauge - some basses just feel different/better with a different gauge of the same string, but I never have bought a bass and judged it off of whatever 'stock' strings came on it.

 

[J_Bass]

Strings are just as important as the bass you play.

 

[dune]

Classic TB over thinking. I have never even once in my 46 years of playing ever thought about this.

Nor I.

 

[FeltTipPen]

Yes, the strings can have an influence on tone, but I imagine if it's a new bass it has standard round wound strings with a general characteristic (brighter, unless it's been in the store for a while). If used, then true it can depend on the strings but I think the pickups would be the major influence on tone. Strings would be easier to change to your liking, since there's a plethora of choices (stainless steel, nickel, flat wound, tape wound, coated, hex core, etc., the list goes on and on and there are many helpful TBers here to help)

What bass are you thinking of and what are your tonal goals? What basses do you own currently and what gaps do you want to fill?

 

[mikeynets]

Yes, the strings can have an influence on tone, but I imagine if it's a new bass it has standard round wound strings with a general characteristic (brighter, unless it's been in the store for a while). If used, then true it can depend on the strings but I think the pickups would be the major influence on tone. Strings would be easier to change to your liking, since there's a plethora of choices (stainless steel, nickel, flat wound, tape wound, coated, hex core, etc., the list goes on and on and there are many helpful TBers here to help)

What bass are you thinking of and what are your tonal goals? What basses do you own currently and what gaps do you want to fill?

Thinking about a Reverend Dub King. I’m drawn to the neck pickup placement, short scale and semi hollow body.

I have a P with fender Original 62 pickups and Labella DTF 760FLs

Also a squier jag medium scale with Nordstrand bigsplitman and TI Jazz flats

Those two cover most of the ground for the two bands I’m in. But I’m curious if the Dub King will first off — feel right for me and second, cover new sonic ground that I’m not getting from my other two basses currently.

I’m looking for that woody, thumpy thing, but I’ve heard demos and the dub king seems capable of much more. I don’t need three basses so maybe if it felt great and sounded great I’d move on from one of the others.

 

[mikeynets]

To recap the feedback so far:

1. The bass itself will "tell" you if it's right or not.
2. You can't know so you've got to rely on your experience with different basses and strings
3. From 1 and 2, don't overthink it. Just play and let it rip.

 

[MrAB4003]

You are starting with a fallacy. Each bass is going to tell you what strings work best on it. Just because you prefer one string doesn’t mean it’s best for all basses.

And here’s another shocker for Talkbass: maybe you don’t need another bass? Play what you have and know that your tastes and needs will change dramatically over the years

Well said! Bass and string pairings are just like food and beverage pairings. The bass will tell you what strings work best with it.

For example, it took me 4 years to figure out that my MIA P Bass sounds best with Rotosound 77s. I tried rounds, tapes, and half rounds prior to flats only because I didn’t want to fall into the “P Bass with flats cliche”. But it turns out flats just work well with that bass.

Fewer basses are often better, despite the conventional TB advice of “n+1” being the “correct” number of basses one needs. I have 3 nice basses and I am very happy with them and I am grateful to have them in my life.

 

[Petethebassman]

Even if the strings on a bass I'm testing aren't what I prefer, I can deal with that. I bought this 1980 Fender Jazz Bass three years ago from a friend who had inherited it from his late father. The bass had sat on a living room wall unplayed for ten years, so the strings were dead and rusty and the setup was totally off (too much neck relief, nut slots were too high making it hard to play in the lower positions). Even with all that I liked it- very nice neck shape, not too heavy, good balance, perfect string alignment. Before closing the deal I took the bass to my luthier who checked the truss rod and filed down the nut slots for TI Jazz Rounds. But this was a private sale from a friend, you can't expect a guitar store to do such work on their expense before you decide if you're going to buy it.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Well said! Bass and string pairings are just like food and beverage pairings. The bass will tell you what strings work best with it.

For example, it took me 4 years to figure out that my MIA P Bass sounds best with Rotosound 77s. I tried rounds, tapes, and half rounds prior to flats only because I didn’t want to fall into the “P Bass with flats cliche”. But it turns out flats just work well with that bass.

Fewer basses are often better, despite the conventional TB advice of “n+1” being the “correct” number of basses one needs. I have 3 nice basses and I am very happy with them and I am grateful to have them in my life.

Two is enough for me. MTD 535 and a p bass

 

[HelpImaRock]

This is my life. I play a bass in a store with rounds. I might buy it, but once I can't stand them anymore, I'll swap for flats. So I'm all about the feel and the quality of the construction, and less about the overall sound.

 

[Avigdor]

In my pretty limited experience (owned 8 basses total, played maybe another dozen) I've found strings have an outsize effect to how a bass sounds (and feels.) Nothing ground breaking there, but as I progress along in my bass trying and acquiring journey, I've developed very specific tonal goals. I'm thinking about adding another bass to the quiver, but I want to make sure it delivers the tones I'm looking for — but how can I know if it's not strung how I would want it?

So when you've got your eye on a new bass and you give it a whirl but it's got strings that are nowhere near the sound or style you're going for, do you just focus on playability knowing the effect you're preferred strings will have? Seems crazy and I've never heard of people doing this, but do people bring their preferred strings along to a shop or private seller and ask to string them up? Or do you rely on your understanding of string, bass, pickup etc characteristics and just make the leap of faith?

TIA for any advice you have.

So this is clearly an important criterion for you, so I would consider the string swap, but only on an expensive bass and as the last step before money changes hands. You'll clearly be there in person to try the instrument and will have pretty much everything else covered (physical condition, electronics, frets, dead spots, etc etc) and depending on the price point I could see this as a last step to just confirm that you'll love the bass, provided you can talk to the seller nicely and they are game - bear in mind they are under no obligation, but you may run into a like-minded individual. HOWEVER: It is very possible that your new strings might require a setup before it feels as nice as you know it can with the original strings - this is where I would draw the line. No tweaking before purchase. You'll have plenty of time to get everything to your liking when you got the new bass home and can spend quality time with it and allow your ears to get accustomed to its individual voice

 

[CallMeAl]

you’re making a pizza. The bass is the crust, the strings are sauce, amp is cheese and topping. You can change the sauce and toppings and make a new dish, yet the crust still tastes the same.

Oh great now I’m hungry

 

[FeltTipPen]

To recap the feedback so far:

1. The bass itself will "tell" you if it's right or not.
2. You can't know so you've got to rely on your experience with different basses and strings
3. From 1 and 2, don't overthink it. Just play and let it rip.

Excellent! Sounds like you have a great handle on it! Make sure you keep a sticky of your recap when you find yourself heading into analysis paralysis!

P.S. I don't know anything about the Reverend bass but if you're able to experiment, why not? And keep your recap in mind

 

[mikeynets]

Excellent! Sounds like you have a great handle on it! Make sure you keep a sticky of your recap when you find yourself heading into analysis paralysis!

P.S. I don't know anything about the Reverend bass but if you're able to experiment, why not? And keep your recap in mind

Yeah the bass I'm looking at is at a Guitar Center so with their return policy, it's a good opportunity to try it out with no commitment. If I pull the trigger, I'll report back here.

 

[mikeynets]

you’re making a pizza. The bass is the crust, the strings are sauce, amp is cheese and topping. You can change the sauce and toppings and make a new dish, yet the crust still tastes the same.

Oh great now I’m hungry

I feel seen. I made pizza for 10 years in restaurants and amazingly, I still enjoy making them at home in my wood fired Ooni.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I feel seen. I made pizza for 10 years in restaurants and amazingly, I still enjoy making them at home in my wood fired Ooni.

Thank you for your service!

 

[Jeff Scott]

...when you've got your eye on a new bass and you give it a whirl but it's got strings that are nowhere near the sound or style you're going for, do you just focus on playability knowing the effect you're preferred strings will have?

When I spotted the B-301 (I now own) at my local former Sam Ash I played it for a while, noting the very old strings on it was probably the cause for some sonic anomalies. Once I got the bass home and put new strings on, it quickly became my favorite bass.

Regarding another instrument, I did ask the sales dude to put my preferred strings on it to check out before opening my wallet. That instrument has been with me ever since (I got it in September '12).

 

[Prodigus Filius]

A crappy set up comes before crappy strings in generating a first impression imho

you’re making a pizza. The bass is the crust, the strings are sauce, amp is cheese and topping. You can change the sauce and toppings and make a new dish, yet the crust still tastes the same.

Oh great now I’m hungry

What a yummo analogy. Mmmmmmm