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Types of Bass String you use and why
- Thread starter The Water
- Start date
I chose balanced, high tension sets, and set-up two basses at stylistic opposites:
- 4-string Fender P with D'Addario Chromes (110-80-60-45), about 46 lbs per string.
- 5-String Jackson Spectra, 35" scale, with Kalium Stainless Steel (148-110-82-61-45), about 49 lbs per string
Chromes under high tension sound anything but dull, and the Kaliums are extremely bright, almost too much so.
And suprisingly, both kinds have nearly identical tension by gauge.
Why these brands? Pretty much the only ones that both provide a selection of single-string gauges and their tension at given tunings.
- 4-string Fender P with D'Addario Chromes (110-80-60-45), about 46 lbs per string.
- 5-String Jackson Spectra, 35" scale, with Kalium Stainless Steel (148-110-82-61-45), about 49 lbs per string
Chromes under high tension sound anything but dull, and the Kaliums are extremely bright, almost too much so.
And suprisingly, both kinds have nearly identical tension by gauge.
Why these brands? Pretty much the only ones that both provide a selection of single-string gauges and their tension at given tunings.
There's not an option for coated strings.
I use TI flats on my fretless, and I have one bass that arrived to me with flats that I decided to leave on. Everything else has rounds, and most of those are coated.
I use TI flats on my fretless, and I have one bass that arrived to me with flats that I decided to leave on. Everything else has rounds, and most of those are coated.
These days, all I use are Ken Smith stainless steel taper core in light gauge. They sound fantastic, and are just overall stellar in quality.
THE BEST STRINGS I'VE EVER PLAYED! With that being said, I started off like most with whatever rounds the bass was shipped with. Nothing of high quality. My friend and fellow player had a spare set of the LaBella LTs and asked me to try them out. It was love at first thump!! I now have the strung on everything including my AEB. Have I mentioned how much I love these strings!!
Lightweight round wound (40-95) DR Sunbeams for me. I had to go lightweight a few years back due to finger inflammation and forearm tendon issues. Those injuries have disappeared since using these strings. They have a good amount of snap and are long-lasting.
GHS Precision Flats 45-105 on both P Basses for at least the last 30 or so years . Jargar Dolces on my upright. All smooth as silk and exactly the tone I'm looking for.
I play pretty notey and somewhat fast fast rock with a pick so round wounds win.
Medium gauge because it's easy to play and provides nice low end.
Stainless Steel because I started playing with DR Highbeams and love their sound and how long they last and they happen to be stainless steel.
Medium gauge because it's easy to play and provides nice low end.
Stainless Steel because I started playing with DR Highbeams and love their sound and how long they last and they happen to be stainless steel.
I currently use rounds on two basses, and flats on one, but I also like tapes (sometimes--it's complicated). Generally prefer lighter gauges, but medium can work on one of them.
1. Godin Shifter Classic 4 has DR SS Lo Riders (Medium 45-105) -- I have mostly been playing this bass with a pick lately, and I pick over the P pickup or nearer to the neck, so the extra tension is preferred for this playing style
2. Warmoth fretless parts bass with MM pickup in the sweet spot has DR Nickel Lo Riders (Light 40-100) -- I would only play fingerstyle on this bass, and pick over the MM pickup, so higher tension strings aren't comfortable
3. Warmoth fretless parts bass with double reverse P pickups has La Bella DTF (Extra Light, 39-96 IIRC)
1. Godin Shifter Classic 4 has DR SS Lo Riders (Medium 45-105) -- I have mostly been playing this bass with a pick lately, and I pick over the P pickup or nearer to the neck, so the extra tension is preferred for this playing style
2. Warmoth fretless parts bass with MM pickup in the sweet spot has DR Nickel Lo Riders (Light 40-100) -- I would only play fingerstyle on this bass, and pick over the MM pickup, so higher tension strings aren't comfortable
3. Warmoth fretless parts bass with double reverse P pickups has La Bella DTF (Extra Light, 39-96 IIRC)
I go for flats that if you painted them red could be used on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Yup, I have different basses with different strings and setups. That was my thing, the variety of basses and wanted each one to be distinct and bring something new to the table, hence different strings to add to the differences.
I used to be really dogmatic about strings; nickel plated rounds exclusively. No exceptions!
Over the years my position has softened to the point that I'm using a bit of everything these days. I'm still mostly using nickel rounds but there's a lot of other stuff in the mix now as well:
SS flats
Compression wounds
Pure nickel rounds
Coated rounds
Nickel iron alloy rounds
In the world of rounds I have always used medium gauges but I've been drifting towards balanced tension sets, which are a little lighter.
In the world of flats I have always used light gauges.
As I get older I'm gravitating more towards lighter tension and more flexible strings. I'm finding that basses I had the setup dialed in on ages ago are now buzzing with the lighter, more flexible strings so I've found myself changing a lot of my setups recently.
Over the years my position has softened to the point that I'm using a bit of everything these days. I'm still mostly using nickel rounds but there's a lot of other stuff in the mix now as well:
SS flats
Compression wounds
Pure nickel rounds
Coated rounds
Nickel iron alloy rounds
In the world of rounds I have always used medium gauges but I've been drifting towards balanced tension sets, which are a little lighter.
In the world of flats I have always used light gauges.
As I get older I'm gravitating more towards lighter tension and more flexible strings. I'm finding that basses I had the setup dialed in on ages ago are now buzzing with the lighter, more flexible strings so I've found myself changing a lot of my setups recently.
About half my basses have TI Jazz Flats. I have 1 with TI Jazz Rounds and I can see sticking with those on some other basses as needed. I have a couple with DR High Beams, currently one with LaBella DTF, one with Roto 77 and one with LB tapes, one with Dunlop Super Brights. The one I play every day has TI flats.
What I currently use:
- Regular Flatwounds on my Godin Fretless. May try TI on this one.
- NPS on my T-Bird, easier on the fingers and the frets thant steel, and I like the balance, nor too harsh but still bright.
- Tried to put Flats on my P-Bass to get an old school sounds, the only ones the store had at this time was Cobalt Flats... I love the sound, but it is no Old School at all, really defined, loud and with a fair amount of brightness, will try it on the T-Bird for sure
- Regular Flatwounds on my Godin Fretless. May try TI on this one.
- NPS on my T-Bird, easier on the fingers and the frets thant steel, and I like the balance, nor too harsh but still bright.
- Tried to put Flats on my P-Bass to get an old school sounds, the only ones the store had at this time was Cobalt Flats... I love the sound, but it is no Old School at all, really defined, loud and with a fair amount of brightness, will try it on the T-Bird for sure
In the last year or so, I have been transitioning all my basses to EB Cobalt Flats. Great feel, longevity and fantastic tone! I have a set on the way for my Squier CV 70s (CIC) P bass, that is currently wearing Chromes.
