what a difference strings can make

[pcake]

i tried new strings - they were recommended to me, and i felt like trying something new. the catch is that i've stopped playing my go-to bass. i just don't like the feel of the new strings, and after three months, it's time to order something more to my taste so i can enjoy this particular bass again.

the new strings are La Bella RX Series Nickel Plated Steel Bass Strings 40-100s. they seem fatter to me, which is funny because we measured them and they're exactly right. they're also not as responsive as other strings i use when i play lightly. it's not that they're bad strings, and i'm sure some people really like 'em, but for me they're a poor fit on this bass - i'm actually playing my other basses more.

no advice needed - my next strings were on back order, but they're already ordered, so it's just a matter of time.

have you ever put strings on a bass that made you not want to play it?

 

[jwilson67]

i tried new strings - they were recommended to me, and i felt like trying something new. the catch is that i've stopped playing my go-to bass. i just don't like the feel of the new strings, and after three months, it's time to order something more to my taste so i can enjoy this particular bass again.

the new strings are La Bella RX Series Nickel Plated Steel Bass Strings 40-100s. they seem fatter to me, which is funny because we measured them and they're exactly right. they're also not as responsive as other strings i use when i play lightly. it's not that they're bad strings, and i'm sure some people really like 'em, but for me they're a poor fit on this bass - i'm actually playing my other basses more.

no advice needed - my next strings were on back order, but they're already ordered, so it's just a matter of time.

have you ever put strings on a bass that made you not want to play it?

The only strings I've ever put on my bass that made me not want to play it are flats. I've tried twice and they just are not for me.

 

[tlc1976]

Yes awhile after I started, and I put a set of standard gauge GHS Boomers on my Harmony bass. Seemed like a lot of clang and not much else.

Maybe a year ago I put on a set of NOS light gauge Boomers I got from the thrift store. Maybe it's the light gauge, or the fact that they've been sitting around for who knows how long (they have the old packaging but were never used) but they sound good on that bass.

 

[bholder]

I've found some strings work well on some basses but not others, a set I don't like on one bass may work out just fine on another....

 

[pcake]

The only strings I've ever put on my bass that made me not want to play it are flats. I've tried twice and they just are not for me.

yeah, i didn't care for flats much, either, and i've tried several times on several basses.

Yes awhile after I started, and I put a set of standard gauge GHS Boomers on my Harmony bass. Seemed like a lot of clang and not much else.

Maybe a year ago I put on a set of NOS light gauge Boomers I got from the thrift store. Maybe it's the light gauge, or the fact that they've been sitting around for who knows how long (they have the old packaging but were never used) but they sound good on that bass.

i used to use boomers all the time in the '90s because they didn't have much brightness or clang. maybe that first set was a lemon.

I've found some strings work well on some basses but not others, a set I don't like on one bass may work out just fine on another....

it makes sense - after all, each bass has different pickups and some have active pre's, as well. a set of d'addario nickels sounded really nasal and unpleasant to me on my jag but sounds great on my traveler TB-4P.

 

[jwilson67]

I've found some strings work well on some basses but not others, a set I don't like on one bass may work out just fine on another....

Absolutely agree. On my ESP 4 string (African Mahogany body) the best strings I can find for it are D'Addario Prosteels. For my Carvin LB75 (ash body sides/maple neck) the best are EB Cobalt rounds.
That being said I haven't tried Cobalts on the ESP yet so my opinion could change regarding the Prosteels!

 

[jwilson67]

Yes awhile after I started, and I put a set of standard gauge GHS Boomers on my Harmony bass. Seemed like a lot of clang and not much else.

Maybe a year ago I put on a set of NOS light gauge Boomers I got from the thrift store. Maybe it's the light gauge, or the fact that they've been sitting around for who knows how long (they have the old packaging but were never used) but they sound good on that bass.

I haven't tried GHS strings in a long, long time and they have two new products out that I want to try - Round Core Boomers and Balanced Nickels. Extra money must allow for this however.

 

[ZenG]

i tried new strings - they were recommended to me, and i felt like trying something new. the catch is that i've stopped playing my go-to bass. i just don't like the feel of the new strings, and after three months, it's time to order something more to my taste so i can enjoy this particular bass again.

the new strings are La Bella RX Series Nickel Plated Steel Bass Strings 40-100s. they seem fatter to me, which is funny because we measured them and they're exactly right. they're also not as responsive as other strings i use when i play lightly. it's not that they're bad strings, and i'm sure some people really like 'em, but for me they're a poor fit on this bass - i'm actually playing my other basses more.

no advice needed - my next strings were on back order, but they're already ordered, so it's just a matter of time.

have you ever put strings on a bass that made you not want to play it?

Yes. Quite a few times.

 

[pcake]

I haven't tried GHS strings in a long, long time and they have two new products out that I want to try - Round Core Boomers and Balanced Nickels. Extra money must allow for this however.

i want to try round core boomers, too - alas, they aren't available for short scale, so i'll have to wait till my dimension needs new strings, and that's not going to be for quite a while. or i could pull of the existing strings, try the boomers, and if i don't like 'em after a few weeks, i can replace them with the strings i took off.

 

[michael_t]

have you ever put strings on a bass that made you not want to play it?

I've tried two sets of SS rounds and I just couldn't handle the zing.

 

[mikeyjm2]

Whatever the stock strings are that Fender / Squier puts on their basses. I assume they're Fender strings. They sound ok for 2 or 3 weeks and then I can't change them fast enough.

 

[Volunteerk9]

The only strings I've ever put on my bass that made me not want to play it are flats. I've tried twice and they just are not for me.

I second that. I've said it before - as a bassist, I feel that I'm supposed to like flats and Jaco and I can't get into either. The Labella Low Tensions felt better than the rest I have tried, but they were short lived too.

 

[micguy]

I've tried several sets that came off either right away or a day later. Usually, even if I hate 'em when they first go on, I'll get them stabilized, put that bass aside, and come back the next day. Sometimes I still hate them (off they go), but about half the time, I'll find that coming in with a fresh set of ears, I'll actually get along with them.

Too bright is better then dull out of the package - the too bright ones, if you can persist, will usually eventually come into the acceptable window. Too dull, and...well, the ain't gonna get any better with time.

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

Whatever the stock strings are that Fender / Squier puts on their basses. I assume they're Fender strings. They sound ok for 2 or 3 weeks and then I can't change them fast enough

To preface, I LOVE new strings. To me they are like new clean, cool sheets on a bed. I almost have to pace myself to keep from changing them too frequently.

That said, it's funny you say that. I've had the exact opposite feeling with my Precision. I loved the strings that came with it, and tried others unsuccessfully, and went back to the Fender mediums (I believe D'Addario makes the strings for Fender, someone correct me if I'm spreading "fake news" please) and love them. Go figure? But I only like them on that particular bass and I've gotten some good mileage from them.

On my other basses, I really only am comfortable with GHS Boomers. Just the right amount of zing for me. I wish they lasted longer (I can milk about 3-4 weeks out of them), but nothing else I've tried lasts any longer (and I sacrifice the sound and feel I love). I've tried different ways of cleaning and everything else under the sun to no real avail. Just my caustic sweat I guess.

 

[Bassamatic]

Strings make more difference than any other thing you can do to your bass. Pickup changes to me seem to give the least bang for the buck.
By all means try many different strings. My favorites are the T.I. Flats (Well worth the $$) and Sunbeams rounds. The LaBella 760 Flats are really good on my MIA P for "that" sound and last forever.

 

[mikeyjm2]

That said, it's funny you say that. I've had the exact opposite feeling with my Precision. I loved the strings that came with it, and tried others unsuccessfully, and went back to the Fender mediums

For sure to each their own on strings. My P is currently wearing DR Red Devils. I like those coated DR strings (especially the Black Beauties) and I know those aren't everyone's bag. I'm also big on GHS Pressurewounds. Truthfully haven't found too many strings I can really say I dislike.

 

[singlemalt]

If a set of strings isn't working for me, it won't last a week. I'd rather pull the old, already cut and wound set out of my alcohol soaking tube and throw the new set away. I'm down to one bass, so it has to be set up right with great strings.

TI flats are my favorites, but they aren't for everybody. And while I keep TI sets forever, I'll pull them off and run DR Pure Blues for a nickel round wound fix. Then, back to the flats. 100-40. The lightest set.

I don't soak TI's because that's just wrong, the mojo is in the gunk and grease.

The Pure Blues go in the soaking tube with denatured alcohol.

Since my set up doesn't change with these two sets, and they are already cut and wound, it's just ten minutes to change strings for a totally different sound and feel.

Don't waste your time with strings you don't like.

 

[quickfix]

The only strings I've ever put on my bass that made me not want to play it are flats. I've tried twice and they just are not for me.

Just the opposite for me. I'd installed GHS pressurewounds on my American Special Precision.
I just replaced them yesterday with my old Labella 760FS set. Ah yes...toneful, and a pure pleasure to play.

While the Pressurewounds sounded awesome, they played like crap. I'd stopped playing that instrument and fell back on my #2, a Fender 50's Classic Precision with a mix of D'Addario Chromes ECB-82 and ECB-81 (.105, .085, .065, .045).

 

[basscapes]

Tried LaBella flats, oh, about 30+ years ago! LOL

Seriously, back when I first started playing and knew NOTHING about the bass guitar (other than it made the "low notes" in rock, and Geddy Lee played something called a "Ricky"), I put them on my first bass- and ENTRIO P-bass copy (which ironically, DIDN'T have a P pickup in it!). It had as ski-jump for a neck too! Next came learning how to tune it...

Once I discovered round wounds (Rotosound Swing Bass 100-80-60-40) via advice from my (still) guitar player/friend, and how to set up action, the neck was replaced and I "chiseled" out (with hammer and an old screw driver) a spot for a DiMarzio Model P.

In a roundabout way to answer your question- the Rotosounds made me want to play my bass EVEN MORE!

Thankfully, I already knew how to solder...

 

[40Hz]

I'm one of "those people" who think there's an ideal string match for each bass. So I've got different strings on every bass I own. And yes, it can be an moderately expensive process finding just the right one.

I try to give strings a fair trial. But some strings I've bought only stayed on for about 15 minutes before I pulled them back off. When a set of strings just isn't working for a particular bass, you know it pretty quickly.