What are the best strings for rock music?

[GrapeBass]

Depends on the bass and your personal preferences. I've gravitated away from round wounds (Rotosound 66 are the defacto standard for rock) and had preferred half-wounds (ground round-wounds) on my custom j/p/j Koa slab. I fell in love w/flats when I picked up a P wrapped with old D'Addario Chromes but eventually bought another P which is wrapped with those Rotosound 66 round wounds... I do have a J, but that's wrapped with Fender 9050L flats.

So, in my 'expert' advice, I'd start with Rotosound 66 round wounds and take it from there. You might not end up sticking with 'em but it's definitely worth a try.

Good luck

 

[iiipopes]

A generation ago or three, the primary choices for what we now call classic rock were either Rotosound Swingbass or GHS Boomers. Now, everything works.

 

[Al Rivera]

I love the sound of roto 66 rounds on a precision bass,classic Rock and roll!

 

[lokikallas]

Pro steels
Hi beams

 

[tindrum]

A generation ago or three, the primary choices for what we now call classic rock were either Rotosound Swingbass or GHS Boomers. Now, everything works.

When I started playing in 1984 those were pretty much the choices you had for roundwound strings.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

There’s quite a few different to choose from. When I was trying to find out which set I liked the best, I tried the brands that seemed to be the most readily available.

If you prefer nickel plated roundwounds, try a set D’Addario XLs, Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys, or a set of GHS Bass Boomers.

IMO XLs sound the brightest, EBs are a very close second. Boomers are the least bright sounding, but they have more of a low mids punch IMO.

If stainless steel roundwounds are your thing, definitely try a set of Rotosound Swing Bass 66’s. D’Addario Prosteels are another set to try. I have a set of GHS Super Steels waiting to try, but this is the first set of them that I’ve bought, so I can’t comment on them yet.

A lot of folks here love DR strings. I’ve only tried Pure Blues, and IMO they’re excellent strings.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Thanks for all the great info!
Last night I ordered a set of the GHS Bass Boomers medium. Next time I’ll try a set of stainless steel strings!

Well, you started off with my all-time favorite nickel plated roundwounds, GHS Bass Boomers!!! Enjoy!

As you’ll see in my previous post, I’ve tried a couple of different brands over the past 45+ years that I’ve been playing, and Bass Boomers are still my Go-To set. IMO they’re excellent on a P-Bass, because they aren’t overly shrill or bright, and they have a killer low mids punch, that I haven’t found in any other set that I’ve tried.

Rock On!!!

 

[G On Bass]

When I do Rock bands, I keep my main strung with flats and the other with the Dunlop Marcus Miller light gauge stainless. I usually 'break in' stainless strings for a minimum of 2 weeks before taking them out of the house and change them every 6-8 months, or more (unlike flats which I never change except to put on a different old set). It doesn't mean that they sound like new all that time, but I don't like nickels or zingy string sound. YMMV...

 

[brocco]

Cobalt flats for me no question. My classic rock group plays a monthly gig in the worst sounding venue I have ever played in, wood and brick everywhere. I had tried several different basses with rounds with not much luck, took my Fender P&J with Cobalt Flats, Bliss! Bump up the treble a little for a little more RW sound if need be.

 

[JW56789]

Loud, jangly ones.

 

[HelpImaRock]

Every string out there for electric bass is intended to play rock music. It's about what you like. I like LaBella Low Tension Flats.

 

[Norman Hunter]

Every string out there for electric bass is intended to play rock music. It's about what you like. I like LaBella Low Tension Flats.

Those are great strings. I put a set on my Jazz Bass not expecting this to work but to my surprise a Fender American Jazz Bass Pro II and the Labella Low Tension Flats. sounded great. The moral is expect the unexpected. I have Dunlop Flats on my two Precision Basses which are sort of in the same ballpark. The LaBellas sound like---LaBellas, but a little more sustain and playing ease.