Utterly Disappointed

[dyuaru]

Just swapped out the old DRs I had on my stingray for some ernie ball slinkys thinking they'd be a better fit...

...bad move. My bass sounds totally different and just doesn't sound nearly as good as it did with the DRs. I was looking for some strings to get me a bit more sizzle but I fear that I now have too much sizzle and it just sounds bad . The harmonics aren't very good and I can't really get the same Jaco sound as I could get with the DRs.

Anyways I asked you guys before on which strings could get me a more sizzly tone but now I'm feeling I may not need it. So now I ask, which strings will work best for that Jaco tone while at the same time still be able to do Jamerson along with getting a good slap tone. Might seem like alot but I gotta find the right strings

 

[mellobud]

The slinkys deaden up quite a bit after some playing...they seem to lose the sizzle faster than the DRs in my experience. I like the sound of old DRs better than I like old Slinkys

 

[Tbirdbassist]

Slinkies die quick.

DR's will break in after a week, and stay that same "broken in" way for months. And thats without cleaning them with alcohol. I went 6 months (alcoholing them about every week or so) without changing my Highbeams at one point.

 

[bovinehost]

So now I ask, which strings will work best for that Jaco tone while at the same time still be able to do Jamerson along with getting a good slap tone. Might seem like alot but I gotta find the right strings

Okay, you want Jaco tone and Jamerson thump and then also a good slap tone?

Yeah, that does seem like a lot to ask from strings.

 

[Machines]

Okay, you want Jaco tone and Jamerson thump and then also a good slap tone?

Yeah, that does seem like a lot to ask from strings.

Now you've incurred the wrath !

 

[dyuaru]

Okay, you want Jaco tone and Jamerson thump and then also a good slap tone?

Yeah, that does seem like a lot to ask from strings.

Yeah thats true, I'll see how things go after playing them for awhile and decide on changing again after.

Main thing is just versatility. The DRs were able to get me all those things but the slap tone wasn't as punchy as I'd like and definitely not as sizzly. The good points of the Slinkys are that they sound incredibly good slapped and do have that sizzle that I was looking for but just doesn't do as well with harmonics and more jaco-y type things.

I would go back to the old strings I had but they were already on there when I bought the bass and I'm not sure which exact ones they were, only that they were DRs. I'm asking the previous owner right now via email but I was just wondering what you guys would recommend for the more versatile bass strings that could get me most of those things.

 

[ehque]

me thinks the low-riders will do you good. DRs are great strings, im not surprised at your reaction at changing strings.

 

[Earwigger]

I've tried so many strings and I always end up back at DRs.

 

[Munjibunga]

Give 'em a month. I had the same Lakland strings on my 55-94 for four years. I decided to change them, not because they didn't sound good, but because I kept reading about people who change their strings every couple weeks. I just felt, well, dirty, or lazy, or something generally negative. It was killing my self esteem. So sure enough, I ordered up a new set of Lakland strings, put them on, and they sounded horrible to my ear. Too springy, just like yours. After a month of playing, they were almost back the way I like them. So hang in there.

By the way, if you can deal with slinky strings and a mildly "floppy B," you should try some Thomastik Infeld PowerBass strings. Weird gauges, but really major sound with a light touch.

 

[easy]

I tried lowriders after using (almost exclusively) the highbeams, and I hated them. but they might get what you want. They were really bright and crackly, if I recall correctly

 

[evil b]

For your needs I would try Rotosound Swingbass. I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[JKT]

For your needs I would try Rotosound Swingbass. I don't think you will be disappointed.

I also keep ending up with rotos. I am however experimenting with some DR's because so many here like them. I have used rotos almost exclusively for about 30 years.

Joel

 

[dyuaru]

Hm the previous owner of the bass said that the strings that were originally on the stingray were d'addario exl170's nickle roundwounds. How do those compare to lowriders in terms of what I'm looking for?

 

[SuperSnake2012]

I also keep ending up with rotos. I am however experimenting with some DR's because so many here like them. I have used rotos almost exclusively for about 30 years.

Joel

I had a bad experience with Rotos... first set of bass strings I ever bought were the stainless steel Roto 66 strings and they were completely dead within two weeks. Bummer

 

[elbush]

Anyone have experience (good/bad/ugly) with RotoSound FunkMasters? Thinking of rying them on my Jazz bass. I just picked up the bass, and my hands get sore (arthritis) after a while, heard these are a "lighter/friendlier" string.

Any thoughts?

 

[T. Brookins]

Slinkys are fine strings! I use them on my basses And they are wonderful!

But...

They seem to be a LOWER TENSION string because they are marketed to a bass like the E.B. M.M. with the one-piece flatsawn maple neck.

I guess it is all about your attack and setup.

Different strings for different things.

I really don't know what to say.

 

[manicbassman]

Anyways I asked you guys before on which strings could get me a more sizzly tone but now I'm feeling I may not need it. So now I ask, which strings will work best for that Jaco tone while at the same time still be able to do Jamerson along with getting a good slap tone. Might seem like alot but I gotta find the right strings

you need two Basses at least... or else get used to swapping string sets over as necessary.

 

[steve66]

I used DR stainless in the past. I now use Slinky Nickel on all my basses except the Jazz gets D'Addario Chrome Flats.

Back to the post.

Play them a little while, they will lose their zing and feel great when they are broke in