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What a difference strings make!

gjohnson441496

gjohnson441496

Dec 14, 2014
2,756
3,433
www.youtube.com
#1
I imagine most of you have gone through billions of dollars in strings. I know I have. Every time I think I've found the perfect set, the next set seems to be better. I started out using Rotosounds Swing bass 77, swearing by them, but was eventually disappointed by their short life-span, and the fact that they are never on sale. Intermittently, I went through GHS, Dunlop, and Hartke strings (I tried the Hartke nickel wounds - 3 sets for $24). Was not blown away by any of those. I did a 180 and decided to try flatwound strings. GHS, Fender, Rotosound flats did not particularly impress me although I did like the feel of the Fender flats over the others. The Rotosound flats sounded superb (as Rotosounds do), but they didn't feel like flatwounds. They still had that roundwound sticky feel to them.

Finally, I found the perfect bass strings - D'Addario Chromes 45 - 100 and 40 -95 and the latter are now on my P bass and I'm happy.

But wait, there's more....

I bought a Jazz bass about 2 months ago and it had some generic roundwound strings on it that wasn't hitting on anything (probably the Fender ones), so I pulled them off and put flatwounds on it. I thought I was happy until 2 hours ago when I decided after reading all the hype and ballyhoo over DR High Beams to buy a set (it's payday so what the hell, right?). I gotta tell you, I love these DR High Beams! They are as sweet as I've read reviews on. I mean, serious WOW factor here. Made me wonder, what the heck I was thinking putting flats on a Jazz bass, right? The D'Addario flats are staying on the P bass because they are floppy and sweet on it, but the Jazz bass now sounds like a Jazz bass should.

So there you have it. The best strings are D'Addario Chromes, 45 - 100 or 40 -95 for P basses, and DR High Beams 45 - 105 for Jazz basses (I wish the DR's came in 45 - 100 though).

Hope this helps.
 
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#4
I'm afraid to try those Thomastik Infeld strings. They are so freaking expensive. But the real reason I've stayed away from them is because I've read that they are stiff.

I understand the Nylon tapewounds have produces a double bass sound. That's not my style.
 
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#6
gjohnson441496 said:
I'm afraid to try those Thomastik Infeld strings. They are so freaking expensive. But the real reason I've stayed away from them is because I've read that they are stiff.

I understand the Nylon tapewounds have produces a double bass sound. That's not my style.
Click to expand...
They... are very stiff. Yes. Very. It's real.

No seriously, where did you read that? Of more than three years reading about strings this is the first time I've read anything like it, up to the point I found it extremely funny. No offense.
 
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#9
gjohnson441496 said:
I'm afraid to try those Thomastik Infeld strings. They are so freaking expensive. But the real reason I've stayed away from them is because I've read that they are stiff.
Click to expand...
They only seem expensive. In the long run, you'll likely spend more on High Beams than TIs.
Don't know where you read about TI stiffness, but I suspect that you cannot find a less stiff string.
 
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#10
gjohnson441496 said:
I understand the Nylon tapewounds have produces a double bass sound. That's not my style.
Click to expand...

actually it's not like that. they were supposed to do that, but never actually sounded like that. I'm using the Rotosound nylon right now, and the sound is brighter than flats (under the nylon tape they are rounds), and it seems to stay brighter and metallic, but with lots of basses.

for example, a small sample (sorry for the noises, but being tape-covered, they are not conductive)



Thomastiks are not stiff, and I can't figure out where you could have red that... flats have a gauge wich is 43-56-70-100 (like if D and A came from a 35-90 set), and they are roundcore (like Hi Beams), so more flexible and soft...

for the price... well, I have a set of the since 2011, and they still sound great (flats! obviously!). I spent 40 euros on them (in Europe they cost less than in the US/Canada, and it's the same price as D'Addario/Rotosound/Fender and other flats)... on the long run, is not that much.

this is the last sample I played with them (and yes, there's a small tapping fill :P with flats!)



they also have a nice drop-D:



PS: I like the Hi Beams for their feeling, they are soft (being roundcore), but I had lots of sets that didn't last me more than two weeks... they started to sound like rubber bands all of a sudden, every time.

I buy them only if I want their sound for a gig or a recording session.

I do prefer the Hi Beam 45-100 or 40-95 set, they feel more balanced. in the 45-105 set I've always found a tension-gap between D and A, with a too stiff A string, wich I can't stand. I like balanced sets :P
 
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#11
Levin said:
They... are very stiff. Yes. Very. It's real.

No seriously, where did you read that? Of more than three years reading about strings this is the first time I've read anything like it, up to the point I found it extremely funny. No offense.
Click to expand...
I don't remember, somewhere, could've been on TB. But I do remember reading that and thinking I have no need to even try these. Maybe it was a joke. So, the Thomastik Infeld strings are pretty flabby, you're saying?
 
#12
Turock said:
They only seem expensive. In the long run, you'll likely spend more on High Beams than TIs.
Don't know where you read about TI stiffness, but I suspect that you cannot find a less stiff string.
Click to expand...
Really? Okay, then. When the High Beams die, I'm going to give them a try. I think I read you saying they last a long time... "In the long run, you'll likely spend more on High Beams than TIs".
 
#13
Pier_ said:
actually it's not like that. they were supposed to do that, but never actually sounded like that. I'm using the Rotosound nylon right now, and the sound is brighter than flats (under the nylon tape they are rounds), and it seems to stay brighter and metallic, but with lots of basses.

for example, a small sample (sorry for the noises, but being tape-covered, they are not conductive)



Thomastiks are not stiff, and I can't figure out where you could have red that... flats have a gauge wich is 43-56-70-100 (like if D and A came from a 35-90 set), and they are roundcore (like Hi Beams), so more flexible and soft...

for the price... well, I have a set of the since 2011, and they still sound great (flats! obviously!). I spent 40 euros on them (in Europe they cost less than in the US/Canada, and it's the same price as D'Addario/Rotosound/Fender and other flats)... on the long run, is not that much.

this is the last sample I played with them (and yes, there's a small tapping fill :p with flats!)



they also have a nice drop-D:



PS: I like the Hi Beams for their feeling, they are soft (being roundcore), but I had lots of sets that didn't last me more than two weeks... they started to sound like rubber bands all of a sudden, every time.

I buy them only if I want their sound for a gig or a recording session.

I do prefer the Hi Beam 45-100 or 40-95 set, they feel more balanced. in the 45-105 set I've always found a tension-gap between D and A, with a too stiff A string, wich I can't stand. I like balanced sets :p
Click to expand...


Pier - Thanks for taking the time to upload the soundclouds. I really appreciate it. I will be purchasing the Thomastiks for sure when the High Beams die.

To ALL - Thanks for your input. I've gained so much knowledge from TB it's like bass guitar school. I appreciate your feedback. :)
 
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#15
gjohnson441496 said:
I imagine most of you have gone through billions of dollars in strings. I know I have. Every time I think I've found the perfect set, the next set seems to be better. I started out using Rotosounds Swing bass 77, swearing by them, but was eventually disappointed by their short life-span, and the fact that they are never on sale. Intermittently, I went through GHS, Dunlop, and Hartke strings (I tried the Hartke nickel wounds - 3 sets for $24). Was not blown away by any of those. I did a 180 and decided to try flatwound strings. GHS, Fender, Rotosound flats did not particularly impress me although I did like the feel of the Fender flats over the others. The Rotosound flats sounded superb (as Rotosounds do), but they didn't feel like flatwounds. They still had that roundwound sticky feel to them.

Finally, I found the perfect bass strings - D'Addario Chromes 45 - 100 and 40 -95 and the latter are now on my P bass and I'm happy.

But wait, there's more....

I bought a Jazz bass about 2 months ago and it had some generic roundwound strings on it that wasn't hitting on anything (probably the Fender ones), so I pulled them off and put flatwounds on it. I thought I was happy until 2 hours ago when I decided after reading all the hype and ballyhoo over DR High Beams to buy a set (it's payday so what the hell, right?). I gotta tell you, I love these DR High Beams! They are as sweet as I've read reviews on. I mean, serious WOW factor here. Made me wonder, what the heck I was thinking putting flats on a Jazz bass, right? The D'Addario flats are staying on the P bass because they are floppy and sweet on it, but the Jazz bass now sounds like a Jazz bass should.

So there you have it. The best strings are D'Addario Chromes, 45 - 100 or 40 -95 for P basses, and DR High Beams 45 - 105 for Jazz basses (I wish the DR's came in 45 - 100 though).

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip! I have D'Addario Chromes on both my P and Jazz... I'll give the DR High Beams a try on the Jazz.
 
#17
Turock said:
TIs last and sound great for years.
Click to expand...

I hope that the Jazz Rounds will do it :P I've orderd a set a couple of days ago, because my DR Hi Beam set died all of a sudden, and I decided to give them a try.

gjohnson441496 said:
Pier - Thanks for taking the time to upload the soundclouds. I really appreciate it. I will be purchasing the Thomastiks for sure when the High Beams die.

To ALL - Thanks for your input. I've gained so much knowledge from TB it's like bass guitar school. I appreciate your feedback. :)
Click to expand...

my pleasure :) the clips were already on soundcloud, made for friends who needed to be hyped about these strings! ahah!

I couldn't believe that the TI can handle the drop D tuning, and when a friend of mine asked me about it, I tried and BANG! what a sound! and it's just a .100 flatwound roundcore string!

I still don't know about TI rounds, but I'll let you know as soon as I get them. I hope they'll be here on monday.

everyone said me that they last forever, even being roundwound, never sounding dull or like rubber bands, and keeping the "bite" of roundwounds. if they do the job, I'm out with strings! ahah! TI for flats, TI for rounds, and goodbye to the market!
 
#18
Pier_ said:
I hope that the Jazz Rounds will do it :p I've orderd a set a couple of days ago, because my DR Hi Beam set died all of a sudden, and I decided to give them a try.



my pleasure :) the clips were already on soundcloud, made for friends who needed to be hyped about these strings! ahah!

I couldn't believe that the TI can handle the drop D tuning, and when a friend of mine asked me about it, I tried and BANG! what a sound! and it's just a .100 flatwound roundcore string!

I still don't know about TI rounds, but I'll let you know as soon as I get them. I hope they'll be here on monday.

everyone said me that they last forever, even being roundwound, never sounding dull or like rubber bands, and keeping the "bite" of roundwounds. if they do the job, I'm out with strings! ahah! TI for flats, TI for rounds, and goodbye to the market!
Click to expand...
Cool man. Keep me posted.
 
#19
gjohnson441496 said:
I understand the Nylon tapewounds have produces a double bass sound. That's not my style.
Click to expand...
Not all of them. Fender strings have round-ish tone to them. La Bella regular blacks are dark like flats, but have great sustain. La Bella whites are rather bright for nylon tapes. D'Addarios have more of a well-settled nickel plated vibe to them. Only the Rotosound's are actually designed to emulate double bass with the darker tone coupled with the "bloom."
 

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