What are the best strings for rock?

[herrdruhl]

The best string is the one you like the best. Sorry I'm so unhelpful, but sometimes this is just a trial and error thing, 'till you find what works FOR YOU!

 

[AdamR]

Ive settled on 66s on my Jazz Special and 77s on my P bass. Ive been using boomers previously

 

[lowendgenerator]

I'm not explaining myself very well. What I mean is that many companies (not picking on DR, I really don't have any brand loyalty for strings yet - obviously) have a hex-core round wound and a round core round wound, some are stainless, some are nickel, etc. They are substantially similar technologically, so if I try one hex core nickel round and don't like it, is it worth trying other brands of the same thing? Same with round core stainless, or hex core stainless flat wounds, etc. Is there a huge difference in the same string from different brands, or do you simply find the type of string you like, and go with that?

Ahh I get ya now. I may have looked a little too hard into what you were saying. My bad.

For me personally, it comes down to string life, finger feel, and the overtone/fundamental ratio. Oh and I don't like silk on the end of the strings. Stuff rats up and looks like caterpillars.

 

[basslinejam]

When I played heavier rock music I liked big steel strings that tried to launch the speakers out of my cabinet. DR Lo Riders. Tension was just right -- not too stiff, for expression, but firm enough to handle a heavy hand.

Now I play the Fender CL Flats. I must have gotten old.

 

[Grabowski]

Circle K's are the best strings, period. For any style! They sound bright and new for months too. Can't say enough about 'em.

 

[Nickthebass]

Circle K's are the best strings, period. For any style! They sound bright and new for months too. Can't say enough about 'em.

Circle K's are the worst strings, period. For any style!

This is a fact (aka my opinion )

I hate the sound of new strings and curse the fact that I don't have sweaty hands to dull them down more quickly. On the upside I probably change strings once a year so ... ya know ... swings and roundabouts and all that.

 

[mellowinman]

I switched to DR Black Beauties, and they are still very satisfying for me.

 

[Catbuster]

I use a mix of stainless rounds, mainly Rotosound 66 Swingbass, though I've used D'Addario ProSteels and DR Lo-Riders in the past as well.

I've use them on multiple basses, from the Music Man Bongo 5 HH (I liked the Lo-Riders on this bass more for whatever reason) to a Fender Precision. I liked the Rotos more on this bass, though.

I play everything from light fingerstyle to heavy picking, and these are all relatively high tension strings, so they're responsive and very, very solid.

 

[bassboysam]

You pretty much try strings till you find the ones you like. Then you try some more and go back to the strings you liked. At least thats how it went for me.

+1 to this.

With 4 basses it took time and money but eventually I found what I like. Well almost, I still can't decide if I prefer Nickel Lo Riders or La Bella Slappers on my J-bass. I'm all La Bella though on the rest of my basses. HRS for the Ric, DTR for the Bob Glaub and DTF for the P.

 

[Martin89]

I think that as long as they're not snappy 40's or 35's any brand will do depending on taste.

I use Elixir 45's, and even though they're not having the best sound ever, their overall quality suits my needs. They sound like new by the time other sets would be replaced twice, sound good with fingers pick etc., their smooth feel make gliding the fingerboard much easier, and with their high tension they will not sound sloppy when you dig hard. For me the Elixir 45's win. After I got used to them I couldn't go back to any brand of strings I played before. And that's not just for rock but also R&B, Funk, Reggae and Pop in general.

But as I said before it's a matter of taste.

I currently have Elixir's as well and really like them; only issue is I my hands do sweat a lot and since they don't absorb any of that it feels really slippery fingerstyle when playing a long time. Does this happen to anyone else? Other than Elixir's I like EXP's and other D'addarrio sets....

 

[Nev375]

I am always experimenting and trying something new. So far, what I've discovered(IMO):

GHS products (i've tried almost everything they offer) always let me down.
D'Addario's are my favorite of the cheap strings.
DR has never let me down (have not yet tried their coated ones)
Elixer had a prototype trial string recently and I fell in love with them.
Blue steels were pretty cool back in the day, (late 80's)but there's better stuff now.
Half rounds and groundwound strings are only good in theory.
I am not a flatwound guy. They don't sound good to me.
I like the sound of stainless, but I don't think they are worth the fretwear.
Taper cores are neat, but they seem very inconsistent in how they age.


My next set for my fretless will likely be Elixirs. (that might be the set that sticks)
My fanned fret jazz is difficult to find fitting strings, but the next ones will be nickel and maybe coated.

 

[meatwad]

GHS products (i've tried almost everything they offer) always let me down.
D'Addario's are my favorite of the cheap strings.
I like the sound of stainless, but I don't think they are worth the fretwear.

+1

 

[Ben Noblit]

DR Sunbeams are my go-to string.

 

[deeptubes]

Been using D'Addario 160s for 20+ years.

 

[adamafurious]

Really?!?! You put that cheap crap on your beautiful babies????
I might have to make a few calls to child services on some of you

Since the OP asked about Rock. I use short-scale GHS Boomers on my Gibson SG. They're bright and mean contrasts nicely on my Bass-ey Bass.

Also, once in a pinch, I slapped a set of Boomers on the worst piece of Taiwanese plastic you could imagine...made it sound like a million bucks.

 

[f.c.geil]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I have finally settled on a string! I have Sadowsky Black Label flats on the PBass, and they're everything I could want in a string.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Glad you like the flats. Here's my recent post about flats!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/wow-three-my-basses-have-flats-them-831658/

For others interested in an all purpose general Rock and Roll string, roundwounds seem like a popular place to start.

Roto 66's, a steel roundwound, are it. The hype is real! There is nothing like them for rock. Downside, mine died after 2~3 weeks, not even gigging. Bass Brites couldn't even bring them back. I've read that pros have to put on a fresh set of Roto 66s for each gig.

So rather get hooked on an expensive addiction, I went back to DR Lo-Rider steels. Their hex core makes for a stiffer string than the round core Hi-Beams, so for low action, no problem. Drop D, no problem. For grindy growly tone, they are the next best thing to Roto 66s.

I tried D'Addario XLs. Nickle plated hex core. Nice strings, they have great attack and punch, like no other string. They do lack the harmonic overtones necessary for heavy growl however.

So you have to decide which is most important to you, growl, or attack.

 

[f.c.geil]

I love the Rotosound 66s, too. If you want the round sound, that's where you get it. I get about 6 weeks (2+ hours per day) between sets. Still too expensive, which is why I'm going back to flats.

 

[funkybass]

Been using D'Addario XL's for a few years. My favorite by far.

 

[klokker]

When I played heavier rock music I liked big steel strings that tried to launch the speakers out of my cabinet. DR Lo Riders. Tension was just right -- not too stiff, for expression, but firm enough to handle a heavy hand.

Now I play the Fender CL Flats. I must have gotten old.

My favorite strings are DR Sunbeams, but for straight ahead rock, its Lo Riders on the P bass.