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what a difference strings can make

#23
jwilson67 said:
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.
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Same here. I've tried them many times on many different basses over the years. Each time I have come to the conclusion there is a reason I abandoned them when rounds became widely available. They just aren't for me or anyone regularly hiring me. This never kept me from playing a bass though; I remove bad strings an move on to the next set.
 
#24
I had GHS bright flats on an import j clone about ten years ago and yanked them off after a day. The tension was putting a serious bow in the neck and I didn't exactly find them bright either. I know I didn't throw them out but cannot find them either as I'd like to give them another shot.
 
#26
I recently restrung my MM Sterling 5H with EB Slinky cobalt flats .45-.130 (2816). My very first experience with flatwounds and I really like them. They are quiet when moving up and down the neck and the sound is thicker/fatter. For me these took some "getting used to" because at the beginning (and thankfully not for long) they felt sticky. I play mostly classic rock with the odd country song and we dabble a bit on light jazz. For me these are keepers.
 
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#27
Bassamatic said:
Strings make more difference than any other thing you can do to your bass..
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or to your acoustic guitar - some strings can really change your tone.

quickfix said:
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).
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i liked the pressurewounds a lot but they were a little stiff for me. still, i liked the feel and tone enough to play them till they very suddenly went dead.
 
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#28
Two times. Fender Nylons, and D'Addario Flex Steels.

One set I really wanted to like (and did like the tone) were the GHS Brite Flats. But the el-cheapo string tree on my S-101 bass at the time snapped my G string, and that was that.
 
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#29
Once, a long time ago (30+ years) with half-rounds on a P bass. I remember them feeling okay, just dull sounding compared to the Rotosounds I was used to. That was back when I didn't know a thing about EQ on an amp, so I could think differently now, as I'm not as much into bright rounds as I was back then. I still use rounds, but like them better when they lose about 30% of their zing.

Wich brings up the question for those who know quickly yay or nay on trying new strings. Apart from feel/tensioning
reasons for deciding, how much do you factor in EQ adjustments in deciding, if it's just a tone thing?
 
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#30
Based on a seven year old comment by another TBer, I just got some Fender pure nickel strings. I haven't tried them yet. They're supposed to be more fragile. Apparently to vintage purists, nothing modern comes close tonally.
 
#31
I tried a set of D'Addario lights on my SX.... could not get a good warm sound out of them. The E string sounded like it was muted it was so dead. Maybe a bad set. Also, on my Ibanez bass I've realized I don't like the tone of the Elixer strings compared to my Hartke Transient Attack strings. the Hartkes have a nice bell like tone to them. The Elixirs sounded dull out of the pack. I guess I like the brighter sounding strings. I just don't like clanky or thin sounding strings though, and for me the Hartkes do the job just fine. I'm going to try Ernie Ball Extra Slinky's again because I used to like those a lot. I think I switched to Elixers for my Ibanez because I got some free sets a while back.
 
#32
Only once - DR Sunbeams on a Warmoth mini Precision bass. They aren't bad strings; I just don't think they give me the sound I want from that bass. I'll change them soon; given the pickup and the wood it's made of, I think GHS Precision Flats are the way to go... the Sunbeams will get tried on something else. Maybe... I do have some basses I don't play - much - because of the strings, but I didn't put them on. They came to me that way. Those strings will go away one of these days, but when you have 20 basses, it's so much easier to just reach for your favorite...:rolleyes:
 
#39
pcake said:
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?
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I have a set of stainless steel strings in one bass and they feel a little sticky to my fingers. Not sure if it's the brand or if all stainless feel that way.
 
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